With 20-plus years to refine the style of car chases, plot misdirection, wardrobe changes, set decoration and dialogue, the Hollywood folks who made this TV movie show hints of where we are today. Cassie Bascomb (Sharon Stone) had been is recovering from the effects of a stalker and Dan Stoner (Tom Skerritt) thinks she is the key to solving the murder of magazine centerfolds. He keeps close to her until he discovers she knows more that she is saying.

Unexpected plot twists make this movie something more that usual fare. Cassie makes a move on Dan but he chooses to remain faithful to his family. Cop banter rises above the usual banal guy drooling over beautiful centerfolds. The magazine publisher is a stand-up guy rather than something slimy. On the whole this 1984 movie is better than you expect it to be.

Director:  William A. Graham Writer:  Gregory S. Dinallo; Scott Swanton Cast:
Tom Skerritt -  Lieutenant Dan Stoner Sharon Stone -  Cassie Bascomb Barbara Bosson -  Nancy Robert Beltran -  Mooney Pat Corley -  Tony Robert Morse -  Nat Couray Alan Thicke -  Alan Conti Silvana Gallardo -  Detective Rose Hernandez		Michael C. Gwynne -  Krell Robert Culp -  Richard Trainor Barbara Parkins -  Cleo Banks Wendy Kilbourne -  Heather English Victoria Tucker -  Pam Pamela West -  Gail Keating Claudia Christian -  Kara Donald Hotton -  Mr. English

Love takes many forms. You can love your new cell phone technology, you can love your girl friend, you can love your life. But when all three are entwined, events can interfere and smack up across the face. Sam Treadwell (David Andrews) and Cherry (Pamela Gidley) are having an intimate moment, rolling about in the suds from an overflowing washer when, pop…, an electrical spark flares. Cherry’s eyes roll up into her head. She’s short-circuited. Poor Sam, he’ll have to find some replacement parts if he wants his relationship with Cherry to continue.

Director:  Steve De Jarnatt; Steven de Jarnatt Writer:  Michael Almereyda; Lloyd Fonvielle Cast:
David Andrews -  Sam Treadwell Jennifer Balgobin -  Glory Hole Hotel Clerk Marshall Bell -  Bill Harry Carey, Jr. -  Snappy Tom Larry Fishburne -  Glu Glu Lawyer Pamela Gidley -  Cherry 2000 Melanie Griffith -  Edith ‘E.’ Johnson, Tracker Michael C. Gwynne -  Slim, Robot Designer		Brion James -  Stacy, Tracker Ben Johnson -  Six-Fingered Jake, Tracker Jeff Levine -  Marty Jennifer Mayo -  Randa, Snappy Tom’s Woman Cameron Milzer -  Elaine aka Ginger, Lester’s Woman Howard Swain -  Jim Skeet Jack Thibeau -  Stubby Man Tim Thomerson -  Lester

Morality tales masquerading as teen comedies. Can happen, eh? High school graduation sees the jocks as having their last hurrah (especially if they don’t have an athletic scholarship), keen vixens trolling for that one who’ll set them up for life, geeks hoping to lose their virginity any way possible and wasters hoping to last the night until tomorrow when they can do it all again. So it goes at the party when Amanda Beckett (Jennifer Love Hewitt) shows up. She’s blossoming into the woman she hopes to be, Mike Dexter (Peter Facinelli) is hoping he can shed the rep he has spent years cultivating, Kenny Fisher (Seth Green) is trying to be anyone but whom he is, Denise Fleming (Lauren Ambrose) is trying to knock some sense into anyone who’ll listen.

Director:  Harry Elfont; Deborah Kaplan Writer:  Deborah Kaplan; Harry Elfont Cast:
Jennifer Love Hewitt -  Amanda Beckett Ethan Embry -  Preston Meyers Charlie Korsmo -  William Lichter Lauren Ambrose -  Denise Fleming Peter Facinelli -  Mike Dexter Seth Green -  Kenny Fisher Michelle Brookhurst -  Molly, Girl Whose Party It Is Alexander Martin -  Olaf, Exchange Student		Erik Palladino -  Cousin Ron Channon Roe -  Jake, Jock #1 Sean Patrick Thomas -  Ben, Jock #2 Freddy Rodríguez -  T.J., Jock #3 Joel Michaely -  Geoff, X-Phile #1 Jay Paulson -  Murphy, X-Phile #2 Brian Hall -  Real Homeboy Brandon Williams -  DJ Sammy, Homeboy #1

Christmas is a time of tradition. What we did last year, we do this year. Or at least we do what we remember as being in the spirit of the season and not yucky (which is deep-sixed from memory). Try to stray from it and watch out. The noble season police pop out of woodwork and grind your guilt into a paste that absorbs any thought of changing family traditions. Just ask Luther Krank (Tim Allen) and his wife Nora (Jamie Lee Curtis) who decide to skip Christmas and go on a cruise since their daughter Blair (Julie Gonzalo) is heading off to Peru with the Peace Corps. Telling the neighbours proves to be a bit of a mistake. Vic Frohmeyer (Dan Aykroyd), the neighbourhood’s self-elected Christmas conscience is irate and starts up a group to harass the Kranks for their lack of holiday spirit, causing Luther and Nora to take refuge behind their curtains and sofa.

Director:  Joe Roth Writer:  John Grisham; Chris Columbus Cast:
Tim Allen -  Luther Krank Jamie Lee Curtis -  Nora Krank Dan Aykroyd -  Vic Frohmeyer M. Emmet Walsh -  Walt Scheel Elizabeth Franz -  Bev Scheel Erik Per Sullivan -  Spike Frohmeyer Cheech Marin -  Officer Salino Jake Busey -  Officer Treen		Austin Pendleton -  Umbrella Santa/Marty Tom Poston -  Father Zabriskie Julie Gonzalo -  Blair Krank René Lavan -  Enrique DeCardenal Caroline Rhea -  Candi Felicity Huffman -  Merry Patrick Breen -  Aubie John Short -  Ned Becker

It is tough to be taken seriously when you’re blonde even in the IRA. Jude (Miranda Richardson) decides to be a brunette when she returns to enlist the aid of Fergus (Stephen Rea). He thought he’d shed all of the intrigue of the past. She brings it all back now that their cell has moved their activities to London. Fergus declines and Jude threatens his girlfriend Dil (Jaye Davidson), following them around town until he capitulates. As a result he is hustled into a car where Jude plans an assassination that has all the trappings of a suicide run for whomever is sent to lead the assault.

Director:  Neil Jordan Writer:  Neil Jordan Cast:
Forest Whitaker -  Jody Miranda Richardson -  Jude Stephen Rea -  Fergus Adrian Dunbar -  Maguire Breffini McKenna -  Tinker Joe Savino -  Eddie Birdie Sweeney -  Tommy Jaye Davidson -  Dil		Andree Bernard -  Jane Jim Broadbent -  Col Ralph Brown -  Dave Tony Slattery -  Deveroux Jack Carr -  Franknum Josephine White -  Bar Performer 1 Shar Campbell -  Bar Performer 2 Brian Coleman -  Judge