The Best of Times 1986  PG-13, 105 min.
Genre: Comedy / Drama
Director: Roger Spottiswoode
Cast: Kurt Russell, Robin Williams, Pamela Reed, Holly Palance, Donald Moffat, Margaret Whitton, M. Emmet Walsh, Donovan Scott, R.G. Armstrong, Dub Taylor, Carl Ballantine, Kathleen Freeman, Tony Plana, Kirk Cameron, Robyn Lively
John Dundee (Robin Williams) and Reno Hightower (Kurt Russell) try to overcome their past failings by reliving a missed pass at their Taft high-school football game in which their team lost to Bakersfield. Their solution is to replay the game–if they can convince others that the idea will work.
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Big Girls Don't Cry...They Get Even 1992  PG, 96 min.
Genre: Comedy / Drama
aka: Stepkids
Director: Joan Micklin Silver
Cast: Hillary Wolf, David Strathairn, Margaret Whitton, Griffin Dunne, Patricia Kalember, Adrienne Shelly, Dan Futterman, Jenny Lewis, Ben Savage, Sean Blackman, Joe D'Angerio, Googy Gress, Jessica Seely, Trenton Teigen, Cory Danziger
Thirteen-year-old Laura (Hillary Wolf) gives up on trying to figure out her parents' multiple marriages, divorces, and arguments. Laura runs away from her brother's (Griffin Dunne) home in the woods where new experiences of living on her own teach her how to deal with her feelings about her family. Meanwhile, Laura's worried family members reconcile their differences in the process of searching for her.
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Ironweed 1987  R, 135 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Hector Babenco
Cast: Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep, Carroll Baker, Michael O'Keefe, Tom Waits, Diane Venora, Fred Gwynne, Margaret Whitton, James Gammon, Joe Grifasi, Jake Dengel, Nathan Lane, Will Zahm, Laura Esterman, Hy Anzell
It is 1938 in Albany, New York, where Francis Phelan (Jack Nicholson) and Helen Archer (Meryl Streep) have been drinking companions for years lamenting over their misfortunes in life. Francis was once a professional baseball player but after killing his infant son by dropping him, Francis left his wife Annie (Carroll Baker) and children, and his life spiraled downward. Helen has turned to prostitution to support her drinking and other basic needs. When Francis visits Annie and family, there is a chance for reconciliation. Will he take steps to rehabilitate himself, or will he continue his downtrodden life with Helen? Both Nicholson and Steep were nominated for Oscars.
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Little Monsters 1989 PG, 100 min.
Genre: Family / Fantasy / Comedy / Adventure
Director: Richard Greenberg
Cast: Fred Savage, Howie Mandel, Rick Ducommun, Daniel Stern, Margaret Whitton, Ben Savage, Frank Whaley, William Murray Weiss, Devin Ratray, Amber Barretto, J. Michael Hunter, Tom Hull, Lisa Cain, Magbee, Tony Bonsignore
Eleven-year-old Brian (Fred Savage) meets Maurice (Howie Mandel), a monster that lives under Brian's bed. The two become friends and Maurice takes Brian into his world where ladders connect to other children's beds and where there are fun and games and mischief. Troubles lie ahead when Brian's younger brother Eric (Ben Savage) is taken by monsters Boy (Frank Whaley) and Snik (Rick Ducommun), but Brian and friends Todd (William Murray Weiss), Ronnie (Devin Ratay), Kiersten (Amber Baretto), and Maurice come to the rescue–just before sunrise.
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Major League 1989 R, 107 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: David S. Ward
Cast: Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, Corbin Bernsen, Margaret Whitton, James Gammon, Bob Uecker, Rene Russo, Wesley Snipes, Charles Cyphers, Dennis Haysbert, Chelcie Ross, Andy Romano, Steve Yeager, Peter Vuckovich, Stacy Carroll
The new owner of the Cleveland Indians, Rachel Phelps (Margaret Whitton), wants to break her team's lease and move to Miami. But, the city of Cleveland will not give up its lease unless the year's attendance falls below 800,000. So, Phelps decides to put together the most inept players she can find in order to keep the attendance low. Her players include wild pitcher Rickie Vaughn (Charlie Sheen), Willie Mays Hayes (Wesley Snipes), Roger Dorn (Corbin Bernsen), and, last but not least, Jake Taylor (Tom Berenger). Good plan–until the new team members actually work together and prove that they will end up far from last place as Phelps has planned.
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Major League II 1994 PG, 104 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: David S. Ward
Cast: Charlie Sheen, Corbin Bernsen, Tom Berenger, Dennis Haysbert, James Gammon, Omar Epps, Bob Uecker, Margaret Whitton, Randy Quaid, David Keith, Eric Bruskotter, Takaaki Ishibashi, Alison Doody, Michelle Burke, Steve Yeager
The Cleveland Indians won the pennant last year, and now their star player Roger Dorn (Corbin Bensen) is the new team owner. The catcher Jake Taylor (Tom Berenger) also retired and is now the team manager. The star pitcher Rick Vaughn (Charlie Sheen) has become a yuppie, and the Indians are back in last place–until Margaret Whitton (Rachel Phelps) buys back the team, and they end up winning the World Series.
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The Man Without a Face 1993 PG-13, 114 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Mel Gibson
Cast: Mel Gibson, Nick Stahl, Margaret Whitton, Fay Masterson, Gaby Hoffmann, Geoffrey Lewis, Richard Masur, Jean De Baer, Viva, Michael DeLuise
Twelve-year-old Chuck (Nick Stahl) dreams of being a military academy cadet. To help him achieve his goal, a former teacher (Mel Gibson), whose face has been badly scarred, helps the young boy achieve the knowledge he needs.
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Nine 1/2 Weeks 1986  R, 112 min.
Genre: Drama / Romance
aka: 9 1/2 Weeks
Director: Adrian Lyne
Cast: Mickey Rourke, Kim Basinger, Margaret Whitton, David Margulies, Christine Baranski, Karen Young, William DeAcutis, Dwight Weist, Roderick Cook, Victor Truro, Justine Johnston, Kim Chan, Cintia Cruz, Lee Lai Sing, Rudolph Willrich
Wealthy businessman John (Mickey Rourke) and recently divorced, art gallery dealer Elizabeth (Kim Basinger) begin an erotic affair filled with raunchy sex. Elizabeth's world is thrown into chaos, and she has trouble thinking straight–until nine 1/2 weeks later when Elizabeth realizes that John is using her and that their relationship is unhealthy. She walks out the door and down the lonely streets crying over her doomed love affair.
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The Secret of My Succe$s 1987 PG-13, 110 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Herbert Ross
Cast: Michael J. Fox, Helen Slater, Richard Jordan, Margaret Whitton, John Pankow, Fred Gwynne, Mercedes Ruehl, Christopher Murney, Gerry Bamman, Carol Ann Susi, Elizabeth Franz, Drew Snyder, Susan Kellerman, Barton Heyman, Ira Wheeler
Young Brantley Foster (Michael J. Fox) heads for the Big Apple with lots of dreams and ambitions. Once he gets there, his uncle, Howard Prescott (Richard Jordan), gives Brantley a mailroom job in his corporation. Reality hits Brantley head on with a menial job and squalid apartment. Not discouraged, he continues to look for that big break, and when he meets junior executive Christy Wills (Helen Slater), he sees his chance. To impress Christy, Brantley poses as an executive and finds an empty office in the corporate building that he can pretend that he is working in–all this while trying to keep the secret from his uncle and Christy. Craziness ensues.
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Trial by Jury 1994 R, 107 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Heywood Gould
Cast: Joanne Whalley, Armand Assante, Gabriel Byrne, William Hurt, Kathleen Quinlan, Margaret Whitton, Ed Lauter, Richard Portnow, Lisa Arrindell Anderson, Jack Gwaltney
Mob boss Rusty Pirone (Armand Assante) goes on trial and juror Valerie (Joanne Whalley) is paid a visit by his henchman with a message: acquit or she and her son will be killed. What WILL she do? A premise with promise is torpedoed by weak acting (except by Assante) and lame storyline.
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| 1. The Best of Times (1986)
2. Big Girls Don't Cry...They Get Even (1992)
aka: Stepkids
3. Ironweed (1987)
4. Little Monsters (1989)
5. Major League (1989)
6. Major League II (1994)
7. The Man Without a Face (1993)
8. Nine 1/2 Weeks (1986)
aka: 9 1/2 Weeks
9. The Secret of My Succe$s (1987)
10. Trial by Jury (1994)
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