Kenneth Ross Movies

Debuting September 22, 1999, NBC's multi-award-winning The West Wing was America's first truly successful political drama series. Producer Aaron Sorkin had allegedly created the property to make fuller use of the White House interior sets built for his 1999 theatrical film, The American President. Whatever the case, the weekly, hour-long series disproved the long-held theory that the American TV viewing public was bored stiff by fictional political intrigue. The series was largely set during the administration of U.S. president Josiah "Jed" Bartlet (Martin Sheen), a Liberal Democrat (and a devout Catholic) from New Hampshire. The first lady was Dr. Abigail "Abby" Bartlet (Stockard Channing), who, though she publicly supported her husband in every aspect, privately expected him to hold to his promise that he would serve only one term. The Bartlets had three daughters, the youngest of whom, free-spirited Zoey (Elizabeth Moss), was a great source of consternation in many ways. President Bartlet was backed up by a fiercely loyal staff, including his venerable chief of staff, Leo McGarry (John Spencer); his blunt-talking deputy chief of staff, Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford); Josh's wisecracking assistant, Donna Moss (Janel Moloney); witty, idealistic press secretary C.J. Cregg (Allison Janney); deceptively unkempt-looking communications director Toby Ziegler (Richard Schiff); and deputy communications director Sam Seaborn (Rob Lowe), who had trouble keeping his tempestuous private life from spilling over into his work. As originally conceived, Sam was to have been the main character, with President Bartlet merely a recurring presence. Rob Lowe left the series near the end of season four, reportedly distressed by his ever-diminishing screen time; it was explained that Sam had gone off to run for a seat in the House of Representatives. He was replaced by Joshua Malina as the new deputy communications director (and later the vice president's chief of staff) Will Bailey.

The Bartlet administration, like many before it, had as many tribulations as triumphs. The first season ended with an attempted assassination, which turned out to be directed not at the president but at his personal aide Charlie Young (Dule Hill). During season two, it was revealed that Bartlet suffered from multiple sclerosis, a fact he kept secret from the public until the beginning of season three. Despite his illness and an unpleasant congressional investigation in which both the president and the first lady faced charges of conspiring in a cover-up, Bartlet handily won re-election at the end of the third season, trouncing his conservative opponent (played by James Brolin) and emerging more popular than ever. In other developments, Bartlet was forced to find a new vice president after the defection of John Hoynes (Tim Matheson), who had never truly liked his running mate; "First Daughter" Zoey was kidnapped, compelling Bartlet to briefly relinquish power to avoid conflict-of-interest charges, placing the government under the control of Speaker of the House Glenallen Walken (John Goodman), a hard-line Republican; Leo was sidelined by a massive heart attack; and at the end of Bartlet's second term, a battle royal ensued between Democratic candidate Matthew Santos (Jimmy Smits) and Republican senator Arnold Vinick (Alan Alda) for the Presidency. Though decidedly left of center in its political viewpoint, The West Wing used advisors from both parties to ensure a modicum of accuracy. Many felt that the series' quality diminished after producer Aaron Sorkin left the show after season four, but The West Wing made a remarkable recovery, both in terms of its writing and its viewership, during its sixth season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The Fourth War finds director John Frankenheimer delving into the same Cold-war territory he'd previously cultivated in films like The Manchurian Candidate. Col. Jack Knowles (Roy Scheider), serving at a faraway post on the German-Czech border, carries on a personal war with his Soviet counterpart, Colonel Valachev (Jurgen Prochnow). Both have been hardened by past combat experiences, and both have been embittered by the exigencies of red tape, bureaucracy, and diplomatic deal-making. Their friendly rivalry snowballs (literally so!) into a guerilla-like combat situation, culminating in a one-on-one showdown. It's essentially a shaggy dog story, but a compelling one. Based on a novel by Stephen Peters, The Fourth War was given surprisingly short shrift by Cannon Films' distribution channels. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

These further adventures of director Alby Mangels take him from Oceania to Latin America as he travels by sailboat, jeep, small planes, and motorbikes to encounter everything from crocodiles to car crashes and fires. Although more in the vein of an amateur home movie, events keep eyes on the action as Mangels starts off on his sailing ship, the "Gretta Marie," with a minimal crew and a tough little bull terrier named Sam. Many nautical and land miles later, Mangels finds himself in the Australian outback competing in a horse race and searching for wild animals -- while other dangers lie ahead that neither he nor his series of female companions could have predicted. As a sequel to his 1975 documentary World Safari, this film should be just as popular among audiences interested in real-life adventure.
~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Bruce Dern is ideally cast as Lander, a crazed Vietnam veteran, in Black Sunday. Lander joins terrorists Dahlia (Marthe Keller) and Fasil (Bekim Fehmu) in a plot to create a bloodbath at the annual Super Bowl. Piloting the ubiquitous Goodyear blimp, Lander is to ram the aircraft into the capacity Orange Bowl crowd, then fire thousands of poisoned darts into the fleeing spectators. Israeli military officer Kabakov (Robert Shaw) struggles to thwart Lander's plan before it comes to fruition. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

St. Francis of Assisi was an extraordinarily complex and difficult figure whose effect on his contemporary society was electrifying. Even today, many people are moved by his visionary message of universal toleration. Twelfth-century Italy had an exceptionally grim and regimented society, but the barefoot monk from Assisi undoubtedly had the courage that comes from deep faith and was able to transcend the oppressiveness of the time. In this Italian/British-produced film, director Franco Zeffirelli attempts to bring his vision of this great man to the screen. The contemporary (1970s) example of the hippie movement contributed a great deal to the style in which the story is told. The musical score, using ancient Italian melodies, was arranged by Donovan. The film is visually beautiful in a way which tends to minimize the squalor of the times. As the movie begins, Francis (Graham Faulkner) is the son of wealthy merchants, and enjoys his share of wine, women and song without serious thought. When war and disease devastate his neighborhood, Francis undergoes an anguished transformation which culminates in his appearing before the local bishop and removing his clothes to renounce his previous life and family before dedicating himself to God. The culminating dramatic moment is Francis' appearance before Pope Innocent III (Sir Alec Guinness), to make his case for an independent religious order under new rules. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi