I know a number of people who write novels for a living. Some of their fiction comes from their life experiences but most of it is made up using sources like libraries, experts in a particular field or notes made in past years of events they’ve noticed. When the fiction closes in on reality, they take care not to describe anyone real and alive or restrict it to those in the public domain. I’ve appeared as a character in two books that I know about and had to swear on my soul that I wouldn’t sue. When journalist David Raybourne (Andrew McCarthy) has a novel stolen that describes the kidnapping of the Italian Prime Minister, he didn’t know how much trouble he’d be in both with the authorities and the Red Brigade’s terrorists. His friend Alison King (Sharon Stone), a photojournalist, may be able to help but she seems to know a lot more about what is going on than one would expect.

Director:  John Frankenheimer Writer:  Michael Mewshaw; David Ambrose Cast:
Andrew McCarthy -  David Raybourne Sharon Stone -  Alison King Valeria Golino -  Lia John Pankow -  Italo Bianchi George Murcell -  Pierre Bernier Mattia Sbragia -  Giovanni Roberto Posse -  Lucio Thomas Elliot -  Marco		Carla Cassola -  Lena Darren Modder -  Joe Bob Carol Schneider -  Mattie Ron Williams -  Lanky Youth Antonio Degli Schiavi -  Man in Cafe Aldo Mengolini -  Aldo Moro Francesca Prandi -  Woman Terrorist Maurizio Fardo -  Questioner

When you have one of those jobs that creeps people out, it is hard to make friends and have an usual life. You can mask what you do with euphemisms, you can pretend that you do something else or you can lie. It can lead to all sorts of problems in life like substance abuse, no marital life and few friends you can trust. How do you handle any or all of the situations that come up? One way is to get out of that job. Another is to tell all and sundry what it is that you actually do. Take Frank Falenczyk (Ben Kingsley). He is an alcoholic hitman from Buffalo, New York who is sent to dry out in San Francisco. While working through his 12-step program, he meets and begins dating Laurel Pearson (Téa Leoni) in whom he finds someone who is understanding but ambivalently supportive of his desire to become a better person despite his chosen profession. While getting Frank back in the game, she decides she needs to learn the skills he uses such as target tracking, throat slitting and knife wielding.

Director:  John Dahl Writer:  Christopher Markus; Stephen McFeely Cast:
Ben Kingsley -  Frank Falenczyk Téa Leoni -  Laurel Pearson Cory Cassidy -  Restaurant Patron Luke Wilson -  Tom Jayne Eastwood -  Kathleen Fitzgerald Bill Pullman -  Dave Dennis Farina -  Edward O’Leary Philip Baker Hall -  Roman Krzeminski		Scott Heindl -  James Doyle Aaron Hughes -  Stanley Lorraine James -  Brenda Micheline Marchildon -  Emily Devin McCracken -  Henry Tracy McMahon -  Sales Clerk Katie Messina -  Becky Joanne Rodriguez -  Janet