recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Beverly Hills Cop

**Beverly Hills Cop** is a 1984 American action/comedy film directed by Martin Brest, which was released on December 5, 1984 by Paramount Pictures.

## Plot

Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy), a freewheeling, street-smart police cop from Detroit, Michigan visits Beverly Hills, California to investigate the murder of his best friend.

## Cast

* Eddie Murphy as Axel Foley
* Judge Reinhold as Detective Billy Rosewood
* John Ashton as Sergeant John Taggart
* Lisa Eilbacher as Jenny Summers
* Ronny Cox as Lieutenant Andrew Bogomil
* Steven Berkoff as Victor Maitland
* James Russo as Mikey Tandino
* Stephen Elliott as Chief Hubbard
* Paul Reiser as Jeffrey
* Jonathan Banks as Zack
* Gilbert R. Hill as Inspector Todd
* Bronson Pinchot as Serge
Bulworth

**Bulworth** is a 1998 American political comedy satire film co-written, co-produced, directed by & starring Warren Beatty.

The film was released on May 15, 1998 by 20th Century Fox.

## Plot

Jay Bullsworth (Warren Beatty), a suicidally disillusioned liberal politician puts a contract out on himself and takes the opportunity to be bluntly honest with his voters by affecting the rhythms and speech of hip-hop music and culture.

## Cast

* Warren Beatty as Senator Jay Billington Bulworth
* Halle Berry as Nina
* Oliver Platt as Dennis Murphy
* Don Cheadle as L.D.
* Paul Sorvino as Graham Crockett
* Jack Warden as Eddie Davers
* Isaiah Washington as Darnell
* Christine Baranski as Constance Bulworth
* Amiri Baraka as Rastaman
* Joshua Malina as Bill Feldman
* Sean Astin as Gary
* Barry Shabaka Henley as the bartender
* Helen Martin as Momma Doll
Corky Romano

**Corky Romano** is a 2001 American comedy film directed by Rob Pritts.

It was released on October 12, 2001 by Touchstone Pictures.

## Plot

The film centers on Corky Romano (Chris Kattan), a naive veterinary technician who is forced by his mobster family to infiltrate the local FBI facility to steal evidence that incriminates his long-lost Mafia boss father on charges of racketeering.

## Cast

* Chris Kattan as Corky Romano
* Vinessa Shaw as Agent Kate Russo
* Peter Falk as Francis A. "Pops" Romano
* Peter Berg as Paulie Romano
* Chris Penn as Peter Romano
* Fred Ward as Leo Corrigan
* Matthew Glave as Agent Brick Davis
* Richard Roundtree as Howard Shuster
* Roger Fan as Agent Bob Cox
* Dave Sheridan as Agent Terrence Darnell

## Box Office

"Corky Romano" grossed $9,023,173 during its opening weekend and grossed $25,272,752 worldwide on an estimated budget of $11,000,000.

## Critical Reception

Lisa Alspector from the Chicago Reader wrote:

*"Unlike the pathetic protagonists of many a smart dumb comedy, Corky never becomes sympathetic, and without this fundamental irony the movie doesn't have a leg to stand on."*

TV Guide Magazine wrote:

*"This broad, coarse farce is otherwise as insubstantial a piece of work as you could possibly imagine; in fact, a light breeze could blow it away."*

The New York Daily News said:

*"The writing, directing and acting are all so sketchy, it's a mystery that [Chris] Kattan didn't just try out this material the way he should have: in a three-minute sketch."*

Mark Olsen from the L.A. Weekly stated:

*"What at times feels like a maniacal romp becomes just another sporadically funny, but mostly lame, piece of disposable product."'*

Critic Jonathan Foreman from The New York Post called it *"a lazy, careless film that feels strangely unfinished."*

The Washington Post said:

*"It's depressing enough to sit through an unfunny comedy, but it's worse to watch [Peter] Falk, [Sean] Penn and [Peter] Berg having to earn a living like this."*

The Houston Chronicle wrote:

*"This isn't just bad. It's an abject failure whose lame nuttiness evokes bad dinner theater more than a major studio movie."*

Miles Beller from the Los Angeles Times wrote:

*"With a great many contemporary comedies mistaking excess for invention and hyperactivity for dynamism, Corky Romano displays genuine heart."*

Critic Roger Ebert said:

*"The concept is exhausted, the ideas are tired, the physical gags are routine, the story is labored, the actors look like they can barely contain their doubts about the project."*

## Awards

**World Stunt Awards** (2002)

* Taurus Award for Hardest Hit: Clark Tucker [*Nominated*]
Charley Hannah

**Charley Hannah** is a 1986 American television crime drama film directed by Peter H. Hunt which aired on April 5, 1986 on the ABC network.

## Plot

Charley Hannah, a police captain from Fort Lauderdale, Florida befriends a wayward runaway boy as he tracks down a band of murderous teenagers.

## Cast

* Robert Conrad as Captain Charley Hannah
* Shane Conrad as Frankie Packard
* Christian Conrad as Andy Simms
* Joan Leslie as Sandy Hannah
* Red West as David "OO" Buck
* Kelly Jo Minter as Toni
* B. Miko Machalski as Andre
* Antoni Corone as Marco
* Mario Ernesto Sánchez as Pizer

## Production

Filming for "Charley Hannah" took place in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Casey's Shadow

**Casey's Shadow** is a 1978 American drama film directed by Martin Ritt which was released on March 17, 1978 by Columbia Pictures.

It is based on John McPhee's 1974 story in The New Yorker magazine called "Ruidoso",

## Plot

Casey Bourdelle (Michael Hershewe) is a young boy in a family that trains racehorses. His best friend, a foal that they call "Casey's Shadow", looks to be a loser, but comes out a champion.

## Cast

* Walter Matthau as Lloyd Bourdelle
* Michael Hershewe as Casey Bourdelle
* Alexis Smith as Sarah Blue
* Murray Hamilton as Tom Patterson
* Robert Webber as Mike Marsh
* Andrew Rubin as Buddy
* Stephan Gerard Burns as Randy Bourdelle
* Susan Myers as Kelly Marsh
* Harry Caesar as Calvin Lebec
* Joel Fluellen as Jimmy Judson
* Whit Bissell as Dr. Williamson
* James M. Halty as Donovan
* William Pitt as Dr. Pitt
* Dean Turpitt as Dean
* Sanders Delhomme as Old Cajun
Boys and Girls

**Boys and Girls** is a 2000 American romantic comedy film directed by Robert Iscove, which was released on June 16, 2000 by Dimension Films.

## Plot

When Ryan Walker (Freddie Prinze, Jr.) and Jennifer Burrows (Claire Forlani) met each other on an airplane as kids, they disliked each other.

When they meet up in college years later, the uptight Ryan and the free-spirited Jennifer find that their differences bind them together & a rare friendship develops between them

## Cast

* Freddie Prinze, Jr. as Ryan Walker
	+ Brendon Ryan Barrett as Young Ryan Walker
* Claire Forlani as Jennifer Burrows
	+ Raquel Beaudene as Young Jennifer Burrows
* Jason Biggs as Hunter / Steve
* Amanda Detmer as Amy
* Heather Donahue as Megan
* Alyson Hannigan as Betty
* Monica Arnold as Katie
* Matt Schulze as Paul
Common Ground

**Common Ground** is a 2000 American television drama film directed by Donna Deitch which aired on January 29, 2000 on the Showtime network.

## Plot

The film shows three short stories spanning three different decades including a woman who joins the Navy in the 1950s and discovers that she is a lesbian; a male teacher from the 70s who is struggling with his closeted gay status; and a present day wedding where a father tries to acceptance his son's upcoming wedding to another man.

## Cast

* Brittany Murphy as Dorothy Nelson
* Jason Priestley as Billy
* Steven Weber as Gil Roberts
* Jonathan Taylor Thomas as Toby Anderson
* Edward Asner as Ira
* James LeGros as Amos
* Beau Bridges as Father Leon
* Harvey Fierstein as Don
* Brian Kerwin as Chuck Dawson
* Margot Kidder as Mrs. Nelson
* Eric Stoltz as Johnny Burroughs
	+ Erik Knudsen as Young Johnny Burroughs
* Mimi Rogers as McPherson
* Helen Shaver as Janet

## Critical Reception

Variety magazine said: *"Although it walks on the preachy side of the street at times, [the] pic dramatizes important points about the rights of gays and lesbians, and features a solid cast."*

TV Guide Magazine wrote: *"Although the film hits its targets too bluntly, it effectively chronicles the evolving nature of homophobia and deftly uses the device of an everyman narrator to mirror changing perceptions."*

Daryl H. Miller from The Los Angeles Times stated: *"After a promising start, the movie crumbles under the weight of its ambitions. The action bogs down in historical and sociopolitical detail; the dialogue devolves from conversation to lecture; and the stories indulge in grand gestures that strain plausibility."*

## Awards

**GLAAD Media Awards** 2001)

* Outstanding TV Movie [*Nominated*]
Casebusters

**Casebusters** is a 1986 American television family film directed by Wes Craven which aired on May 25, 1986 on the ABC network as part of "The Disney Sunday Movie."

## Plot

The film follows Jamie & Allie, two siblings working as amateur sleuths who help their grandfather, Sam run a security business and stumble upon a major case.

## Cast

* Pat Hingle as Sam Donahue
* Noah Hathaway as Jamie
* Virginya Keehne as Allie
* Gary Riley as Anthony "Ski" Zabrowski
* Sharon Barr as Loretta Bonner
* Nicholas Worth as Riker
* Boyd Bodwell as Mullaney

## Critical Reception

In his review of "Casebusters", Rafael Motamayor from Slash Film.com said: *"Casebusters is a strange fit in Craven’s filmography in many ways. Beyond the lack of brutal and bloody death scenes, the film looks entirely sanitized, lit like an episode of Full House. Though the plot is very simple, it’s not the worst pilot for a potential show for kids."*

Oh My Disney.com called the film *"slight but lovable."*
Casual Sex?

**Casual Sex?** is a 1988 American comedy film directed by Genevieve Robert which was released on April 22, 1988 by Universal Pictures.

## Plot

The film follows Stacy and Melissa, two women who take a vacation to a health spa in order to search for the perfect man.

## Cast

* Lea Thompson as Stacy
* Victoria Jackson as Melissa
* Stephen Shellen as Nick
* Jerry Levine as Jamie
* Andrew Dice Clay as Vinny
* Mary Gross as Ileen
* Valerie Breiman as Megan
* Peter Dvorsky as Matthew
* David Sergeant as Frankie
* Bruce Abbott as Keith

## Box Office

During its opening weekend, "Casual Sex?" grossed $3,840,032 at the box office and $12,277,096 worldwide.

## Critical Reception

Michael Wilmington of the Los Angeles Times said: *If the script is dubious, the direction matches it. The cast is less directed than exploited."*

Janet Maslin from the New York Times wrote: *"Aside from these confessional flourishes and the very infrequent bright remark ("It was the early 80's, and sex was still a good way to meet new people"), the film is as ordinary as it can be."*

The Chicago Reader said it was *"definitely a lightweight movie, without any heavy ambitions, but for the most part a likable one."*

TV Guide Magazine wrote: *"While profundity is not its aim, Casual Sex? has a ring of emotional truth, as it cleverly pokes fun at the crisis-altered. sexual mores of the 1980s."*

Hal Hinson from The Washington Post said: *"Casual Sex?, the movie, is exactly like the real thing: kinda empty, kinda unfulfilling, and you feel just awful afterward."*
Cocoon: The Return

**Cocoon: The Return** is a 1988 American science-fiction/fantasy/comedy-drama film & sequel to "Cocoon", directed by Daniel Petrie, which was released on November 23, 1988 by 20th Century Fox.

## Plot

Five years after the first "Cocoon," the friendly aliens from the planet Anterea return to Earth to rescue some incubation pods, which have been found by a team of scientists.

The elderly people (Don Ameche & Wilford Brimley) who left Earth with them come along to visit with friends and family in Florida. Resuming their old lives proves to be alluring against the prospect of eternal life on Anterea.

Meanwhile, the aliens try to rescue their children, with the help of scientist Sara (Courteney Cox).

## Cast

* Don Ameche as Art Selwyn
* Wilford Brimley as Ben Luckett
* Courteney Cox as Sara
* Hume Cronyn as Joe Finley
* Jack Gilford as Bernie Lefkowitz
* Steve Guttenberg as Jack Bonner
* Barret Oliver as David
* Maureen Stapleton as Mary Luckett
* Jessica Tandy as Alma Finley
* Gwen Verdon as Bess McCarthy-Selwyn
* Tahnee Welch as Kitty
* Elaine Stritch as Ruby Feinberg
* Linda Harrison as Susan
* Clint Howard as John Dexter
* Tyrone Power, Jr. as Pillsbury

## Production

Producers Richard D. Zanuck and Lili Fini Zanuck co-owned the rights to the sequel for "Cocoon" with 20th Century Fox. Although they were initially opposed to making a second film, they only went with it out of a need to preserve the integrity of the original.

Ron Howard refused to have any association with the film, feeling concerned that the whole point of the first film would be immediately squandered.

Filming for "Cocoon: The Return" took place from March 14, 1988 to June 8, 1988 in Miami, Florida and San Rafael, California.

Brian Dennehy agreed to reprise his role from the first film as a favor to his castmates and accepted no payment for doing so.

## Box Office

"Cocoon: The Return" grossed $5,68,143 during its opening weekend. Overall, it grossed $25,024,919 on an estimated budget of $17,500,000.

## Critical Reception

"Cocoon: The Return" received negative reception from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an approval rating of 33% based on 12 reviews with an average rating of 4.50\10.

Variety magazine called it *"an overdose of bathos weighs down the sprightliness of the characters, resulting in a more maudlin than magic effort."*

The New York Times wrote: *"Cocoon: The Return is so tired, in fact, that it can barely recapitulate the winning formula of the original hit"* while Rita Kempley of the Washington Post called it *"depressing as it is dull as it is dumb."*

Kim Newman from Empire called "Cocoon: The Return" a *"dreary bore that takes advantage of a terrific cast by moving them about on the screen without giving them anything to do. One long yawn."*

Despite the negative reception, Roger Ebert called it a *"heartwarming film"* while Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times wrote: *"Cocoon: The Return is the best kind of sequel: It doesn't merely cash in on the success of the original but actually continues its story in new directions, eliciting fresh meaning and emotion."*
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders

**Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders** is a 1979 American television comedy-drama film directed by Bruce Bilson which aired on January 14, 1979 on the ABC network.

## Plot

A newspaper editor decides to send his reporter girlfriend undercover to try out for the Dallas Cowboys cheerleading team in order to get an inside story.

## Cast

* Jane Seymour as Laura Cole
* Bert Convy as Lyman Spencer
* Laraine Stephens as Suzanne Mitchell
* Bucky Dent as Kyle Jessop
* Pamela Susan Shoop as Betty Denton
* Ellen Bry as Joanne Vail
* Jenifer Shaw as Kim Everly
* Kathrine Baumann as Ginny O'Neil
* Lauren Tewes as Jessie Mathews

## Production

Principal photography for "Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders" began in October of 1978 and ended in November of 1978.

Filming took place in Dallas, Texas and Irving, Texas.

## Critical Reception

Peter Hanson from the Every 70s Movie website wrote: *"In lieu of narrative interest, the movie offers G-rated cheesecake, with the various lovely starlets disco-dancing and rehearsing in not-very-revealing outfits while horrible music like the original song “Sunday Afternoon Fever” grinds on the soundtrack."*

## Sequel

A sequel, "Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders II" was released in 1980.
Crime of Innocence

**Crime of Innocence** is a 1985 American made-for-TV movie, directed by Michael Miller.

The film aired on October 27, 1985, on the CBS network.

It was inspired by a federal civil rights class action suit known as Doe v. Burwell which challenged the incarceration of children in the Lawrence County jail in Ironton, Ohio.

## Plot

When teenagers Jodi Hayward and Rene Peterson (Shawnee Smith and Tammy Lauren) get in trouble with the law for joyriding, Judge Julius Sullivan (Andy Griffith) sentences them to spend the weekend in county jail.

After Jodi is sexually assaulted while in custody, her parents (Ralph Waite and Diane Ladd) seek legal recourse in order to get justice for their daughter.

## Cast

* Shawnee Smith as Jodi Hayward
* Tammy Lauren as Rene Peterson
* Ralph Waite as Frank Hayward
* Diane Ladd as Rose Hayward
* Andy Griffith as Judge Julius Sullivan
* Steve Inwood as Dennis Spector
* Jordan Charney as Spencer Mulholland
* Brent Spiner as Hinnerman
* Alex McArthur as Cory Yeager

## Production

Filming for "Crime of Innocence" took place in Santa Barbara, California.
Crowned and Dangerous

**Crowned and Dangerous** is a 1997 American television mystery comedy\thriller film directed by Christopher Leitch which aired on the ABC network on September 21, 1997.

## Plot

After beauty queen Danielle Stevens' rival is found dead, she, her stage mother, Cathy and the victim's former lover, Riley are named as suspects.

## Cast

* Yasmine Bleeth as Danielle Stevens
* Jill Clayburgh as Cathy Stevens
* Cassidy Rae as Shauna Langley
* Gates McFadden as Patrice
* George Eads as Riley Baxter
* Oliver Muirhead as Brian
* Mathea Webb as Carla
* Sarah Grace Hubbard as Shannon Dwyer
* Maggie Myatt as Amy
* Angela Lambert as Amanda
* Catherine Staples as Bonnie
* Scott Foley as Matt
Beverly Hills Brats

**Beverly Hills Brats** is a 1989 American comedy film directed by Jim Sotos which was released on October 6, 1989 by Taurus Entertainment Company.

## Plot

The film follows Scooter, a spoiled teenage boy from Beverly Hills, California who hires a man to kidnap him in order to get the attention of his wealthy parents.

## Cast

* Peter Billingsley as Scooter Miller
* Martin Sheen as Dr. Jeffery Miller
* Terry Moore as Veronica
* Burt Young as Clive
* George Kirby as Elmo
* Cathy Podewell as Tiffany
* Ramon Estevez as Sterling
* Natalie Schafer as Lillian
* Fernando Allende as Roberto
* Joe Santos as Spyder
* Robert Tessier as Slick
* Ruby Keeler as Goldie
* Vito Scotti as Jerry
* Pat Renella as Lieutenant Gofield
* Whoopi Goldberg as Herself
* Cort McCown as Bart

## Box Office

"Beverly Hills Brats" grossed $192,561 worldwide at the box office.

## Critical Reception

Comeuppance Reviews said: *"[Burt] Young puts in his usual likable performance. He and [Peter] Billingsley have good chemistry and you care about their plight. Without Young there would be no movie."*

TV Guide Magazine wrote: *"The film has the ingredients for a sharp, corrosive farce, but to do so, it also needed a sharp, corrosive sensibility behind the camera."'*
Boyfriend Killer

**Boyfriend Killer** is a 2018 American television drama\thriller film directed by Juan Bofill and Alyn Darnay. The film aired on January 8, 2017 on the Lifetime network.

## Plot

When Sandra's son, Preston is killed in a car crash, she suspects that his ex-girlfriend, Krystal may have been involved with his death.

## Cast

* Barbie Castro as Sandra Cruz Durro
* Patrick Muldoon as Charles Durro
* Kate Mansi as Krystal Kellers
* Yancy Butler as Carrie Ellington
* Frank Licari as Nathan Kellers
* Kiki Harris as Elise Kellers
* Rico Aragon as Jack Davis
* Miguel Fasa as Troy Krieger
* Taylor Castro as Liz
* Michael Ryerson Uribe as Preston Durro
* Susan Gallagher as Marley Michaels
* Todd Bruno as Devin
* Jeremy Boros as Dominic
* Alea Figueroa as Rita

## Critical Reception

Trevor Wells from the Geeks website wrote: *"In terms of acting, Boyfriend Killer excels. Kate Mansi may be new to the Lifetime world, but that doesn't stop her from excelling as the compelling psychotic Krystal, tearing into the role with a fierceness that might make one root for her despite her malevolent deeds. Barbie Castro is also a newcomer to Lifetime, but has firmly established herself as a compelling actress."*

Andy Webb of the Movie Scene called the film *"pretty over the top with the script featuring the usual mix of cliches, inconsistencies and coincidences."*

Lisa Marie Bowman of the Through the Shattered Lens blog said: *"Boyfriend Killer is a fun melodrama, one that pretty much epitomizes everything that we love about Lifetime movies."*

## Awards

**Boston International Film Festival** (2017)

* Indie Spirit Award for Best Director: Alyn Darnay [**Winner**]
Bugsy Malone

**Bugsy Malone** is a 1976 British-American musical gangster comedy film written & directed by Alan Parker, which was released on June 26, 1976 by Paramount Pictures.

## Plot

The film tells the story about the rise of Bugsy Malone (Scott Baio) and the battle for power between Fat Sam (John Cassisi) & Dandy Dan (Martin Lev).

## Cast

* Scott Baio as Bugsy Malone
* Jodie Foster as Tallulah
* Florrie Dugger as Blousey Brown
* John Cassisi as Fat Sam Staccetto
* Martin Lev as Dandy Dan
* Paul Murphy as Leroy Smith
* Sheridan Earl Russell as Knuckles
Death Cruise

**Death Cruise** is a 1974 American television mystery film directed by Ralph Senensky which aired on October 30, 1974 on the ABC network.

## Plot

Three couples win tickets to a luxury ocean cruise; however, they discover that they have been lured onto the ship to be killed when each of the winners start ending up dead.

## Cast

* Richard Long as Jerry Carter
* Polly Bergen as Sylvia Carter
* Edward Albert as James Radney
* Kate Jackson as Mary Frances Radney
* Celeste Holm as Elizabeth Mason
* Tom Bosley as David Mason
* Michael Constantine as Dr. Burke
* Cesare Danova as Captain Vettori
* Amzie Strickland as Lynn
Critters 3

**Critters 3** is a 1991 American science fiction/comedy/horror film directed by Kristine Peterson which was released on December 11, 1991 by New Line Home Video.

It is the third installment in the "Critters" film franchise.

## Plot

While at a rest stop, a group of Critters who attach themselves to the car belonging to a family of three and wreck havoc in their apartment building in Los Angeles, California.

## Cast

* Leonardo DiCaprio as Josh
* Aimee Brooks as Annie
* Don Keith Opper as Charlie MacFadden
* John Calvin as Clifford
* Nina Axelrod as Betty Briggs
* William Dennis Hunt as Briggs
* Geoffrey Blake as Frank
* Christian & Joseph Cousins as Johnny
* Terrence Mann as Ug
* Jose Luis Valenzuela as Mario
* Diana Bellamy as Rosalie
* Katherine Cortez as Marcia
* Frances Bay as Mrs. Menges
* Bill Zuckert as Mr. Menges

## Production

Filming for "Critters 3" took place from February 27, 1991 and ended on June 15, 1991 on location in Los Angeles, California.

## Critical Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, "Critters 3" has an approval rating of 0% based on 7 reviews with an average rating of 3.40/10.

Kurt Dahlke from the Apollo Guide said the film *"suffers from an anemic, episodic plot, weak special effects, and most damning, membership in a virtually worthless film genre - little monster comedies."*

Scott Weinberg from eFilmCritic.com said that it was *"three times stupider than its pair of predecessors and they were pretty stupid."*
Dangerous Curves

**Dangerous Curves** is a 1988 American comedy film directed by Davis Lewis which was first released in the United Kingdom on September 23, 1988 and in the United States in February of 1989 by Vestron Pictures & Lightning Pictures.

## Plot

A college student is offered a deal to deliver a Porsche for a client in order to join the company of his dreams; however, when the car gets stolen, he and his friend have to go to a beauty pageant in San Diego to get it back.

## Cast

* Tate Donovan as Chuck Upton
* Danielle von Zerneck as Michelle West
* Grant Heslov as Wally Wilder
* Valerie Breiman as Blake
* Robert Stack as Louis Faciano
* Leslie Nielsen as Greg Krevske
* Karen Lynn Scott as Shawn
* Michael Rosenberg as Jackie Diamond
* Elizabeth Ashley as Miss Reed
* Robert Romanus as Hector
* Martha Quinn as Tympani Charles
* Robert Klein as Bam Bam

## Production

Principal photography for "Dangerous Curves" began on July 27, 1987 in San Diego, California.

## Critical Reception

Jedadiah Leland from the Pop Politics blog called "Dangerous Curves" a *"dumb, dumb film from the late 80s"* and that neither Tate Donovan & Grant Heslov has the *"screen presence necessary to make us overlook how stupid their characters are."*

John Bishop from the Mind of Frames blog called it a *"vessel for PG-rated cheesecake, undistinguished turns from overqualified actors"* and *"as many then-contemporary teen film clichés one could cram into a 90-minute run time."*
Choices of the Heart

**Choices of the Heart** is a 1983 American television drama film directed by Joseph Sargent.

It aired on December 5, 1983 on the NBC network.

## Plot

The film is based on the true story of Jean Donovan (Melissa Gilbert), a young missionary woman from the United States who was murdered in El Salvador in 1980 along with an archibishop & three other missionaries.

## Cast

* Melissa Gilbert as Jean Donovan
* Peter Horton as Doug
* Helen Hunt as Cathy
* Mary McCusker as Sister Maura Clarke
* Mari Gorman as Sister Ita Ford
* Pamela Bellwood as Sister Dorothy Kazel
* Mike Farrell as Ambassador Robert E. White
* Martin Sheen as Father Phelan
* René Enríquez as Archbishop Romero

## Production

Filming for "Choices of the Heart" took place in Churubusco Studios, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico.

## Critical Reception

The New York Times described "Choices of the Heart" as *"profoundly disturbing"*, adding that there was nothing ambigious about the message that was powerfully delivered.
Blues Brothers 2000

**Blues Brothers 2000** is a 1998 American musical comedy film and sequel to the 1980 film, "The Blues Brothers", which was directed & co-written by John Landis and released on February 6, 1998 by Universal Pictures.

## Plot

The now-brotherless Elwood Blues (Dan Aykroyd) is finally out of prison and tries to reunite the old band and find two new partners in crime, Mighty Mack McTeer & Buster Blues (John Goodman and J. Evan Bonifant).

Elwood battles the Chicago police, sings and dances his way out of numerous sticky situations, and manages to get the old band on the road for a hair-raising adventure.

## Cast

* Dan Aykroyd as Elwood J. Blues
* John Goodman as "Mighty" Mack McTeer
* Joe Morton as Commander Cabel Chamberlain/Cab Blues
* J. Evan Bonifant as Buster Blues
* Steve Cropper as Steve "the Colonel" Cropper
* Donald "Duck" Dunn as Donald "Duck" Dunn
* Murphy Dunne as Murphy "Murph" Dunne
* Willie Hall as Willie "Too Big" Hall
* Tom Malone as Tom "Bones" Malone
* Lou Marini as "Blue Lou" Marini
* Matt Murphy as Matt "Guitar" Murphy
* Alan Rubin as Alan "Mr. Fabulous" Rubin
Brown Sugar

**Brown Sugar** is a 2002 American romantic comedy film directed by Famuyiwa.

It was released on October 11, 2002 by Fox Searchlight Pictures.

## Plot

The film follows two childhood friends: a hip-hop record executive (Taye Diggs) and a magazine editor (Sanaa Lathan), who fall in love with each other.

## Cast

* Taye Diggs as Andre "Dre" Ellis
	+ Marc John Jefferies as Young Dre Ellis
* Sanaa Lathan as Sidney "Sid" Shaw
	+ Aaliyyah Hill as Young Sidney
* Mos Def as Christopher "Cavi" Vicho
* Nicole Ari Parker as Reese Marie Wiggam Ellis
* Boris Kodjoe as Kelby Dawson
* Queen Latifah as Francine
* Wendell Pierce as Simon
* Erik Weiner as Ren
* Reggi Wyns as Ten

## Critical reception

The San Francisco Chronicle called the film a *"delightful love story."*

Joe Morgenstern of The Wall Street Journal said: *"This isn't great filmmaking, but, under Rick Famuyiwa's direction, it's more than good enough."*

The Boston Globe wrote: *"Brown Sugar fails to produce an image of hip-hoppery as fascinating and complex as the moment when Halle Berry set her tongue wagging during a ghetto-fabulous grind with Warren Beatty in Bulworth."*

TV Guide Magazine said: *"Given the film's focus on the importance of hip-hop, its soundtrack (crammed with current artists though it is) doesn't make the impression it should."*

Entertainment Weekly wrote: *"As a love-jones soap opera, Brown Sugar feeds right into Dre's nostalgic crankiness."*
David's Mother

**David's Mother** is a 1994 American television drama film directed by Robert Allan Ackerman. The film aired on April 10, 1994 on the CBS network.

## Plot

The film follows Sally Goodson, a woman who is fully devoted to taking care of her autistic teenage son, David.

## Cast

* Kirstie Alley as Sally Goodson
* Michael A. Goorjian as David Goodson
	+ Steven Ivany as David (ages 5-9)
* Sam Waterston as John Nils
* Stockard Channing as Bea
* Chris Sarandon as Philip
* Phylicia Rashad as Gladys Johnson
* Renessa Blitz as Susan (age 8)
* Amanda Blitz as Susan (ages 10-12)

## Critical Reception

Entertainment Weekly wrote: *"David’s Mother is one of those laugh-to-keep-from-crying melodramas that, thanks to [Kirstie] Alley, actually taps into deeper emotions."*

Roberta Bernstein of Variety said: *"In addition to [Kirstie] Alley — who plays her role without an ounce of self-pity — good performances are turned in by the eternally patient [Sam] Waterston and by [Stockard] Channing, who, in just a few scenes, captures the complexities of the sisters’ relationship. [Michael A.] Goorjian deserves special mention for his realistic portrayal of the autistic teen."*
Cooley High

**Cooley High** is a 1975 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film directed by Michael Schultz, which was released on June 25, 1975 by American International Pictures.

## Plot

The film follows the narrative of high school seniors and best friends, Leroy "Preach" Jackson (Glynn Turman) and Richard "Cochise" Morris (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs).

## Cast

* Glynn Turman – Leroy "Preach" Jackson
* Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs – Richard "Cochise" Morris
* Cynthia Davis – Brenda
* Sherman Smith – Stone
* Norman Gibson – Robert
* Garrett Morris – Mr. Mason
* Corin Rogers – Pooter
* Joseph Carter Wilson – Tyrone
* Maurice Marshall – Damon
* Steven Williams – Jimmy Lee
* Christine Jones – Sandra
* Jackie Taylor – Johnny Mae
* Juanita McConnell – Martha
Boomerang

**Boomerang** is a 1992 American romantic comedy film directed by Reginald Hudlin.

The film was released on July 1, 1992 by Paramount Pictures.

## Plot

A womanizing executive (Eddie Murphy) discovers that his lifestyle choices have turned his back on him when his new female boss (Robin Givens) turns out to be an even bigger deviant than he is.

## Cast

* Eddie Murphy as Marcus Graham
* Robin Givens as Jacqueline Broyer
* Halle Berry as Angela Lewis
* David Alan Grier as Gerard Jackson
* Martin Lawrence as Tyler Hawkins
* Grace Jones as Helen Strangé
* Geoffrey Holder as Nelson
* Eartha Kitt as Lady Eloise
* Chris Rock as Bony T
* Tisha Campbell as Yvonne
* Lela Rochon as Christie

## Box Office

During its opening weekend, "Boomerang" grossed $13,640,706 and ranked at #3 at the box office. Overall, it grossed $131,052,444 on an estimated budget of $42,000,000, making it the 18th highest-grossing film in the United States in 1992.

## Critical Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, "Boomerang" has an approval rating of 44% based on 36 reviews with an average rating of 5.2\10. The site's consensus reads: *"Boomerang injects some fresh color into the corporate rom-com formula, but the frothy fun is undercut by off-putting gender dynamics and misjudged gags."*

Roger Ebert gave the film a positive review, calling it *"predictable, but enjoyable all the same"*, adding: *"The real surprise of the movie is Eddie Murphy, who finds his character and stays with him."*

The Washington Post wrote: *"The movie benefits from a stylish, high-gloss look, a hit-filled soundtrack and up-to-the-minute dialogue (there's even a Korean shop-owner joke) that feels winningly off the cuff."* TV Guide Magazine called it *"more interesting than entertaining and too long by far."*

Jonathan Rosenbaum of the Chicago Reader said: *"The general idea is to exploit a certain amount of role reversal, and Reginald Hudlin, who directed "House Party," does a fairly good job of making this fun."*

The New York Times wrote: *"The funniest parts of this uneven, ostentatiously upscale comedy are those that find Mr. [Eddie] Murphy's Marcus adopting the behavior of a sexually insecure woman."*

Variety magazine said: *"The film might have worked if the thoroughly selfish characters were striving after something."*

The Austin Chronicle gave the film a negative review, stating: *"It's not even funny. Nor does it contain half the wit or charm as the old Doris Day sex comedies it so resembles."*

## Awards

**BMI Film & TV Awards** (1993)

* Most Performed Song from a Film: Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, L.A. Reid and Daryl Simmons (for "End of the Road") [**Winner**]

**Image Awards** (1993)

* Outstanding Motion Picture [*Nominated*]

**MTV Movie Awards** (1993)

* Best Breakthrough Performance: Halle Berry [*Nominated*]
* Most Desirable Female: Halle Berry [*Nominated*]
* Best Comedic Performance: Eddie Murphy [*Nominated*]
* Best Movie Song: End of the Road [*Nominated*]
Beyond Betrayal

**Beyond Betrayal** is a 1994 American television drama\thriller film directed by Carl Schenkel which aired on October 11, 1994 on the CBS network.

## Plot

A woman changes her identity and moves to Seattle, Washington in order to escape from her abusive police officer husband and meets a man who is separated from his obsessive wife.

## Cast

* Susan Dey as Joanna\Emma Doyle
* Richard Dean Anderson as Bradley Matthews
* Dennis Boutsikaris as Sam
* Annie Corley as Iris McKay
* James Tolkan as Joe Maloney
* Michael O'Neill as Ray Pasquerello
* Brigitta Dau as Lynn McKay

## Production

Filming for "Beyond Betrayal" took place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

## Critical Reception

Variety magazine said: *"Susan Dey plays an abused wife in “Beyond Betrayal,” a TV-pic with an unremittingly sick edge that will appeal to some and turn others off. In either event, credit Richard Dean Anderson with a performance so creepy that masks of his character could be Halloween bestsellers."*
Body Rock

**Body Rock** is a 1984 American musical drama film directed by Marcelo Epstein, which was released by New World Pictures on September 28, 1984.

## Plot

The film centers on Chilly (Lorenzo Lamas), a young man from the streets who has a talent for break-dancing. After his talent is discovered by an industry pro, he finds his dreams of fame and fortune coming true, for better or for worse.

## Cast

* Lorenzo Lamas.....Chilly
* Vicki Frederick .... Claire
* Cameron Dye .... E-Z
* Michelle Nicastro .... Darlene
* Ray Sharkey .... Terrence
* Seth Kaufman .... Jama
* Rene Elizondo .... Snake
Black Beauty (1994)

**Black Beauty** is a 1994 American drama film written and directed by Caroline Thompson which was released on July 29, 1994 by Warner Bros. Pictures under their Warner Bros. Family Entertainment label.

It is based on Anna Sewell's 1877 novel of the same name.

## Plot

The film follows a horse named Black Beauty as he narrates the story of his life as he finds himself in the care of various owners.

## Cast

* Docs Keepin Time as Black Beauty (horse)
	+ Alan Cumming as Black Beauty (voice)
* Andrew Knott as Joe Green
* Ian Kelsey as older Joe Green
* Sean Bean as Farmer Grey
* David Thewlis as Jerry Barker
* Jim Carter as John Manly
* Peter Davison as Squire Gordon
* Alun Armstrong as Reuben Smith
* John McEnery as Mr. York
* Eleanor Bron as Lady Wexmire
* Peter Cook as Lord Wexmire
* Keeley Flanders as Dolly Barker
* Niall O'Brien as Farmer Thoroughgood

## Production

Principal photography for "Black Beauty" took place in August of 1993.

Filming took place in England (in Hampshire; Thame, Oxfordshire; and Buckinghamshire, England).

Peter Davison (who played the role of Squire Gordon) filmed his scenes in 10 days.

The character of Black Beauty is a colt/stallion (male); however, the newly born foal playing Black Beauty in this film is a filly (female).

In the barn fire scene, Docs Keepin Time (who played Black Beauty) was coated with a fire retardant gel that protected him from the flames.

## Box Office

"Black Beauty" grossed $1,285,820 during its opening weekend. Overall, it grossed $4,630,377.

## Critical Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, "Black Beauty" has an approval rating of 80% based on 15 reviews with an average rating of 6.6\10.

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film a mediocre review, objecting to the horse's voiceover, saying that it *"plays like a cross between New Age mysticism and anthropomorphism run amok."*

Lisa Schwarzbaum of Entertainment Weekly found the narration to have *"the effect of making a basically charming story go drippy."* However, she concluded her review by conceding that *"girls will inevitably love all this."*

Variety wrote: *"Although already filmed three times in the sound era, Black Beauty has never been put onscreen faithfully or well, a situation partially remedied by this affecting, rather grave rendition of the children's perennial."*

Janet Maslin of The New York Times said: *"This level of equine empathy takes getting used to, but it's worth the trouble. Ms. Thompson's film may be precious, but it's also rapturously pretty and filled with surprising passion."*

The Washington Post described "Black Beauty" as *"stalwart, evocative and in every respect passable."*

Also writing for the Washington Post, Desson Thomson said: *"Assuming a good picture is one that transcends its own material, pulls in a variety of people with no special interest in the subject, then "Black Beauty" is a lumbering candidate for the glue factory."*
Deep Dark Secrets

**Deep Dark Secrets** is a 1987 American television drama/thriller film directed by Robert Michael Lewis which aired on October 26, 1987 on the NBC network.

## Plot

The wife of a country inkeeper discovers hidden truths after her husband disappears and is presumed dead.

## Cast

* James Brolin as Michael Wakefield
* Melody Anderson as Julianne Wakefield
* Pamela Bellwood as Anna
* Morgan Stevens as Paul
* Joe Spano as Eric Lloyd
* Merrilyn Gann as Susan

## Production

Filming for "Deep Dark Secrets" took place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Dead & Buried

**Dead & Buried** is a 1981 American horror film directed by Gary Sherman.

It was released on May 29, 1981 by AVCO Embassy Pictures.

## Plot

The film focuses on a small coastal town where a few tourists are brutally murdered by mobs of townspeople, but their corpses reanimate and come back to life.

## Cast

* James Farentino as Sheriff Dan Gillis
* Melody Anderson as Janet Gillis
* Jack Albertson as William G. Dobbs
* Dennis Redfield as Ron
* Nancy Locke as Linda
* Lisa Blount as Lisa
* Robert Englund as Harry
* Bill Quinn as Ernie
* Michael Currie as Herman
* Christopher Allport as George LeMoyne / Freddie
* Joseph G. Medalis as The Doctor
* Macon McCalman as Ben
Blue Crush

**Blue Crush** is a 2002 American sports/romantic drama film directed by John Stockwell based on Susan Orlean's Outside magazine article, "Life's Swell", which was released by Universal Studios on August 16, 2002.

## Plot

Nothing gets between Anne Marie Chadwick (Kate Bosworth) and her surfboard.

Living in a beach shack with three roommates (Michelle Rodriguez & Sanoe Lake), including her rebellious teenage sister, Penny (Mika Boorem), Anne Marie is up before dawn every morning to conquer the waves and count the days until the Rip Masters surf competition.

Anne Marie finds all she needs in the adrenaline-charged surf scene until professional quarterback Matt Tollman (Matthew Davis) comes along and she falls in love with him.

## Cast

* Kate Bosworth as Anne Marie Chadwick
* Coco Ho as Young Anne Marie
* Matthew Davis as Matt Tollman
* Michelle Rodriguez as Eden
* Sanoe Lake as Lena Olin
* Mika Boorem as Penny Chadwick
* Faizon Love as Leslie
Cage

**Cage** is a 1989 American martial arts\action film directed by Lang Elliott which was released on September 1, 1989 by New Century Vista Film Company.

## Plot

After two male friends are injured during the Vietnam War (which left one of them with brain damage), they decided to open up a bar together, but when local gangsters start making things hard for them, they begin participating in brutal steel cage matches.

## Cast

* Lou Ferrigno as Billy Thomas
* Reb Brown as Scott Monroe
* Michael Dante as Tony Baccola
* Mike Moroff as Mario
* Marilyn Tokuda as Morgan Garrett
* Al Leong as Tiger Joe
* James Shigeta as Tin Lum Yin
* Branscombe Richmond as Diablo
* Tiger Chung Lee as Chang
* Al Ruscio as Costello
Butterfly

**Butterfly** is a 1982 American independent crime drama film directed and co-written by Matt Cimber which was released on February 5, 1982 by Analysis Releasing and Par-Par Productions.

It is based on James M. Cain's 1947 novel of the same name.

## Plot

A nymphet (Pia Zadora) flirts with a father figure (Stacy Keach) in Nevada and a judge (Orson Welles) runs an incest trial.

## Cast

* Stacy Keach as Jess Tyler
* Pia Zadora as Kady Tyler
* Lois Nettleton as Belle Morgan
* Edward Albert as Wash Gillespie
* James Franciscus as Moke Blue
* Orson Welles as Judge Rauch
* Stuart Whitman as Reverend Rivers
* Ed McMahon as Mr. Gillespie
* June Lockhart as Helen Gillespie
* Ann Dane as Janey Tyler
* George Buck Flower as Ed Lamey
* John O'Conner White as Billy Roy
* Paul Hampton as Norton
* Peter Jason as Allen

## Production

Filming for "Butterfly" took place in Goldfield, Nevada and principal photography lasted from September 14, 1980 to October 30, 1980.

The film was financed by Meshulam Riklis, who was married to Pia Zadora at the time.

## Critical Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, "Butterfly" has an audience score of 33%.

The New York Times wrote the the film *"looks parched and dry, everything so dusty and unwashed you can almost smell it in a way that [James M.] Cain might have appreciated."*
Bull Durham

**Bull Durham** is a 1988 American romantic comedy sports film directed & written by Ron Shelton, which was released on June 15, 1988 by Orion Pictures.

## Plot

Set in Durham, North Carolina, baseball fanatic Annie Savoy (Susan Sarandon) meets rookie pitcher Nuke LaLoosh (Tim Robbins) and experienced pitcher Crash Davis (Kevin Costner), who has been assigned to LaLoosh.

## Cast

* Kevin Costner as "Crash" Davis
* Susan Sarandon as Annie Savoy
* Tim Robbins as Ebby Calvin "Nuke" LaLoosh
* Trey Wilson as Joe "Skip" Riggins
* Robert Wuhl as Larry Hockett
* William O'Leary as Jimmy
* Jenny Robertson as Millie
* Danny Gans as Deke
* Max Patkin as Himself

## Critical Reception

Sheila Benson of the Los Angeles Times stated:

*"[Ron Shelton is] uncanny at putting us inside his players' heads when they're on the mound or up at bat, running their private litanies of encouragement and subversion to psych themselves up."*

The Chicago Tribune called the film *"a warm, droll, deftly cracked romantic comedy."*

Carrie Rickey of the Philadelphia Inquirer said:

*"Screwball Annie and hardball Crash aren't playing the same game, which is Shelton's conceit as well as a possible screen-writing miscalculation."*

The Philadelphia Daily News wrote:

*"Bull Durham is the feel-good movie of the Summer of '88. The sooner you see it, the happier your summer's going to be. So what are you waiting for?"*
Deceived

**Deceived** is a 1991 American thriller film directed by Damian Harris which was released on September 27, 1991 by Touchstone Pictures

## Plot

The film follows Adrienne and Jack Saunders, a happily married couple whose lives are disrupted when secrets from the past are revealed.

## Cast

* Goldie Hawn as Adrienne Saunders
* John Heard as Jack Saunders
* Ashley Peldon as Mary Saunders
* Tom Irwin as Harvey Schwartz
* Beatrice Straight as Adrienne's mother
* George R. Robertson as Adrienne's father
* Robin Bartlett as Charlotte

## Production

Principal photography for "Deceived" began on January 22, 1991 and ended on April 16, 1991. Filming took place in New York City and Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Mary Agnes Donoghue wrote the initial screenplay and was inspired by the thought of having a safe, middle-class life turn out to be a complete lie.

When Donoghue declined to make changes to the script, Bruce Joel Rubin was hired, under the pen name "Derek Saunders."

## Box Office

During its opening weekend, "Deceived" grossed $4,316,719 at the box office. Overall, it grossed $28,738,096.

## Critical Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, "Deceived" has an approval rating of 37% based on 19 reviews with an average rating of 4.84\10.

Roger Ebert from the Chicago Sun-Times wrote: *"Deceived opens with an ancient thriller formula, elevates itself to passages of genuine suspense, and then ends with a climax so absurd that it takes a real effort of memory to recall that parts of the movie were really pretty good."*

David Ansen from Newsweek said: *"Given these fundamental caveats, Deceived is diverting, if disposable, fun. Director Damian Harris knows how to keep an audience's attention."*

Owen Gleiberman from Entertainment Weekly gave "Deceived" a B-minus, saying: *"A movie like Deceived works, or should work, by teasing us into a state of queasy uncertainty, but the script, by Mary Agnes Donoghue and Derek Saunders, tips its hand early on, and in a fairly clumsy fashion."*

Kathleen Maher from the Austin Chronicle gave the film a two-in-a-half star rating, stating: *"For a love story, the characters are insufferable and for a thriller, it is predictable."*
Cries from the Heart

**Cries from the Heart** is a 1994 American television drama film directed by Michael Switzer.

The film aired on October 16, 1994 on the CBS network.

## Plot

A mother (Melissa Gilbert) sends her non-verbal autistic son (Bradley Pierce) to a special residential school and is shocked when he reveals that he has been sexually molested by a caretaker (Peter Spears).

## Cast

* Patty Duke as Terry Wilson
* Melissa Gilbert as Karen Barth
* Bradley Pierce as Michael Barth
* Markus Flanagan as Roger Barth
* Lisa Banes as Marla Tolbert
* Roger Aaron Brown as Eliot
* Peter Spears as Jeff
* Shelley Morrison as Lupe

## Release

"Cries from the Heart" was initially scheduled to air on September 25, 1994; however, CBS feared low ratings because of another made-for-TV movie, "The Innocent" aired on the same night, so the film was pushed back three weeks.

## Critical Reception

Variety magazine wrote: *"While [Michael] Switzer and writer Robert Inman manage to give the boy life, they are not so successful with [Patty] Duke and [Melissa] Gilbert. Duke’s all-knowing, idealistic, near-patronizing demeanor wears on viewers’ patience, and Gilbert, particularly before she begins to soften her edges, is a nervous, nagging presence."*

Andy Webb of The Movie Scene called "Cries from the Heart" both an *"interesting and entertaining movie as it tells a touching but hard hitting story. But at the same time it falls foul of a problem which caused many TV movies from the 90s to flounder and that is trying too hard to be both uplifting and hard hitting.*

## =Awards

**American Cinema Editors** (1995)

* Eddie for Best Edited Motion Picture for Commercial Television: Robert Florio [*Nominated*]
Death Benefit

**Death Benefit** is a 1996 American television drama\thriller film directed by Mark Piznarski.

The film aired on March 13, 1996 on the USA Network. It is based on David Heilbroner's 1993 book of the same name.

## Plot

A corporate attorney from Kentucky (Peter Horton) tries to prove that the death of a young woman was not accidental.

## Cast

* Peter Horton as Steven Keeney
* Carrie Snodgress as Virginia McGinnis
* Wendy Makkena as Wynn Burkholder
* Penny Johnson as Sylvia Guzman
* Elizabeth Ruscio as LouAnne Wilkens
* Belita Moreno as Sarah West
* Lee de Broux as Mark Vandenberg
* Dean Norris as Rod Montgomery
* M.C. Gainey sd D.K. Graham
* Jack Kehler as Dick Coates
* Brittany Ashton Holmes as Cynthia Coates
* Sharen Camille as Melissa Wilkens

## Critical Reception

Maj Canton from Radio Times gave the film a three-star rating, saying: *"Peter Horton is a knockout as Keeney and he's ably supported by Carrie Snodgress."*