Nicholas Stamos Movies
The dejected habitués of a run-down New Jersey bar currently teetering on the brink of bankruptcy receive an encouraging boost of morale when a one-time drinking buddy about to get his big break in show-business returns to find the girl he once left behind as the popular stage drama comes to the screen in a film starring Kim Dickens, Debi Mazar, Nick Chinlund, and Paul Sorvino. A locals-only dive where whiskey flows free and evenings pass in a bitter, alcohol-fueled haze, Charlie's Bar and New Crystal Ballroom is a holding tank for lost souls and forgotten dreams. Despite the dreary nature of the place, however, things suddenly start to look up when one-time local Joey Parker returns to his old watering hole in search of the woman he once left behind. It seems that the celebrated crooner from Manhattan has recently been booked for his first appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and in order for his success to truly be complete Joey is convinced that he must first wed his long lost love. Now, as the dreams of the weary are re-awakened by the same winds that blew in the man determined to take hold of his fate, the regulars at Charlie's are about to find out why some dreamers are better left asleep. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nick Chinlund, Paul Sorvino, (more)
In the years following a gruesome murder at a sprawling Louisiana plantation, local legend states that anyone who sets foot on the cursed property will suffer an excruciating and agonizing death. Compelled by the horrific tales and determined to prove the stories to be nothing more than urban legend, a local student convinces four friends to accompany him on an excursion into the unwelcoming backwoods property. As the group begins to learn more about the blood-soaked history surrounding the property, they are forced to confront their worst fears in a terrifying explosion of unimaginable horror. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeff Davis
- 2002
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Despite living in what she considers to be a less than perfect environment to raise the perfect family, pregnant teen Rena Grubb (Jena Malone) vows to escape the squalid trailer park that she calls home with a little help from the father she barely knows. If her living situation wasn't bad enough, Rena's frustration is compounded when she is rejected by her selfish boyfriend (Erik Von Detten) and forced to fend for herelf as she prepares to give birth to her child. As Rena sees it, the only chance her child has for happiness is the love of a stable family, so she convinces her mother (Michelle Forbes) to drive her family to the annual prison picnic in hopes that she can hold her family together for a bright future. Surrounded by barbed wires and high fences, Rena slowly begins to understand both her father's plight and the important role she can play in giving her child everything that she never had in life. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jena Malone, Brad Renfro, (more)
Noted hip-hop producer DJ Pooh, who co-wrote the urban comedy Friday, makes his directorial debut with this comedy-drama. A young African-American man is enjoying his freedom after his second stretch in prison. Under the "three strikes and you're out" law, another brush with the police could mean life behind bars, so he's determined to stay out of trouble. He quickly learns, however, that trouble has a way of finding him, no matter where he goes. DJ Pooh also stars in 3 Strikes, alongside N'Bushe Wright and Brian Hooks. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brian Hooks, N'Bushe Wright, (more)
- 1994
Justin Lazard plays a crack-cocaine dealer who is caught in a police dragnet. The cops cut a deal with Lazard: they'll let him off the hook if he agrees to be trained as a professional assassin. Not unexpectedly, Lazard finds the police no more trustworthy than his former drug cronies. The last time we saw this story, it was called La Femme Nikita and the leading man was a leading lady. Dead Center is rated R, for several very good reasons. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Some sources list John Morrissey as director of 9 1/2 Ninjas, while others credit Aaron Worth. There's no confusion, however, as to whom the "one-half" is. That honor goes to leading lady Andee Gray, who joins an all-male Ninja training group. Gray gets a big kick out of her lessons (no pun intended), until she realizes that she's been followed. It seems that a rival contingent of ninjas intends to assassinate her. And that's only one of the many surprises in store for the viewers of 9 1/2 Ninjas; this is no run-of-the-mill chopsocky effort, but a dizzy plunge into near-surrealism. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Phenicie, Andee Gray, (more)
- 1976
Circumstantial evidence has implicated Nico Triforos (George Pan Casselman), a reclusive young Greek immigrant, in the murder of a prostitute. Assigned to solve the case, Kojak (Telly Savalas) runs afoul of his fellow Greek-Americans, who disapprove of his "persecution" of a downtrodden countryman. Featured in the supporting cast as heavily accented Greek characters are Alan Napier (Batman) and Oscar Beregi, respectively born in England and Hungary. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
