Shameless Self Expression

Cher Butler and Gregg Gomez Thomsen are teenagers trying their best to stay out of trouble. Unfortunately they live in a shitty, crime-ravaged part of L.A. so it’s only a matter of time. When Thomsen’s cousin gets gunned down by a rival gang, Thomsen decides to rejoin his old gang for some payback. Revenge is sought, someone is murdered and Thomsen goes to prison. Meanwhile, piranhas are circling poor Butler who is quickly turned into a drug addict before being sold for sex slavery. Who is she sold to? A kingpin named Steadman (Jim Brown), that’s who. It only gets worse from there for poor Butler, who is constantly used and abused and hooked on crack. Anthony Geary plays Butler’s school counsellor, who deals heroin that is supplied by Brown, Angel Tompkins plays Butler’s alcoholic mother, and Richard Roundtree is the cop in charge of resolving all of this mess.   Distributed by the fine folks at Cannon, this 1989 urban crime flick from director Michael Fischa ( “Death Spa” , an...

An Oscar-nominated Barbara Stanwyck plays a wealthy bedridden woman trying to get in touch with her husband (Burt Lancaster) who is at work. Due to a crossed line she overhears a conversation between two men planning a murder that night! Ed Begley plays Stanwyck’s father, Wendell Corey is Stanwyck’s psychiatrist, and William Conrad plays an intimidating criminal.   Terrifically tense 1948 Anatole Livak ( “Night of the Generals” , “The Snake Pit” ) screen version of the famed Agnes Moorehead-headlined radio play, with Stanwyck (one of the all-time greats) arguably giving her finest performance amidst a sea of excellent turns throughout her career ( “Double Indemnity” being another standout, as the benchmark femme fatale). She’s is completely commanding, acting her heart out and then some but also playing a more vulnerable character than you might expect from her. Lancaster is terrific and cast against type somewhat as a weak ne’er do well, but he’s better than what is on the pr...