Against All Odds (1984) – Taylor Hackford

Jeff Bridges, Rachel Ward and James Woods star in this noir-esque film that fumbles visually, as far as I’m concerned. Everyone knows the hit song by Phil Collins that came out of this film, and honestly, when it’s used over the end credits that shows a crying and struggling to smile Ward, it’s got a…

Miami Vice (1986) – Sons and Lovers, and When Irish Eyes Are Crying

Season two comes to conclusion this week when Angelina (Phanie Napoli), last seen in Calderone’s Return from season one, shows up in Sons and Lovers. Written by Dennis Cooper this episode first aired on 9 May, 1986. Angelina shows up in Miami to warn Tubbs (Philip Micheal Thomas) about the arrival of Calderone’s son, Orlando (John…

Miami Vice (1985) – Back in the World, and Phil the Shill

Detective Sonny Crockett (Don Johnson who also serves as director of this episode) recalls his time in Vietnam, when an old friend, Stone (Bob Balaban) resurfaces with a story about some heroin that made it out of Saigon and is now resurfacing in Miami. Back in the World was written by Terry McDonnell and first…

Miami Vice (1985) – Prodigal Son

The season two opener was a feature length entry for the hit series. Directed by Paul Micheal Glaser (Strasky), it was written by Daniel Pyne, the second season got underway on 27 September, 1985. Vice detectives Sonny Crockett (Don Johnson) and Ricardo Tubbs (Philip Micheal Thomas) head north to Tubbs’ old stomping grounds in New…

Miami Vice (1984) – One Eyed Jack, and No Exit

Edward James Olmos joins the main cast this week as the division’s new lieutenant, Martin Castillo, and with his steely eyed glare on Crockett (Don Johnson) the story swings into high gear. One Eyed Jack was written by Alfonse Ruggerio Jr., and first aired on 2 November, 1984. An old flame of Crockett’s Barbara Carrow…

Miami Vice (1984) – Brother’s Keeper

1984. This was a big year for me. It featured one of the biggest most influential moves of my life, as well as helping to define the person I would become. I became more and more immersed in pop culture. When Miami Vice came along, it was getting into pop music in a big way,…

Magnum, p.i. (1987) – Laura and Out of Sync

  Ol’ Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra finds himself in Hawaii this week, with the episode Laura. Written by Chris Abbott, this one aired 25 February, 1987. Sinatra is Michael Doheny, a New York cop, who in the midst of celebrating his retirement party, has his granddaughter kidnapped, and murdered by a pair of sexual predators….

Tarzan (1999) – Chris Buck & Kevin Lima

  It’s Disney’s turn to take on the classic Edgar Rice Burroughs’ character of Tarzan as I continue my exploration in the highly addictive Sci-Fi Chronicles book. Tony Goldwyn lends his voice to the animated film, along with a star-studded ensemble including Lance Henriksen, Minnie Driver, Brian Blessed, Glenn Close Wayne Knight and Rosie O’Donnell. This…