What the Hell Happened to Tom Berenger?

Tom Berenger is an Oscar nominee and a Golden Globe winner.  He’s done action, drama and comedy.  He’s been the leading man and a supporting actor.  He’s worked with directors like Christopher Nolan, Oliver Stone and Ridley Scott.  And yet, after nearly four decades in Hollywood, Berenger has never been a major movie star.

What the hell happened?

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Tom Berenger – One Life to Live – 1975-1976

Berenger first appeared on the soap opera One Life to Live. 

From 1975 – 1976, Berenger played law school dropout Tim Siegel.  Berenger was the third actor to play this role on the show.  The part was originated by Bill Fowler in 1969.  From 1970-1971, he was played by William Cox.  Then in 1975, Berenger played Siegel as he returns from law school.  After dropping out of law school, Tim became a construction worker and fell in love with a nun.

Jenny, the nun, left the church and the couple got engaged.  This outraged Jenny’s cousin Vince who couldn’t stand the thought of Jenny leaving the church.  So he gets into a fist fight with Tim which exacerbates a latent brain aneurysm!  As Tim is dying, Jenny arranges a hasty wedding in his hospital room.  Shortly after the wedding, Tim dies!

Oh man, do I wish I had a clip for this!  Sadly, I do not.

Tom Berenger - Rush It - 1977
Tom Berenger – Rush It – 1977

In 1977, Berenger made his movie debut in the independent comedy, Rush It.

The movie was about New York City bike messengers who fall in love.  It co-starred Jill Eikenberry and John Heard.

Rush It is one of those movies that has become a trivia question.  It’s Berenger’s first movie and that’s about the only reason anyone even remembers it.

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Tom Berenger – The Sentinel – 1977

Berenger had a bit part in the 1977 horror movie, The Sentinel.

The movie is about a young woman who moves into an apartment building after attempting suicide.  Her only neighbor is a blind priest, but she hears strange noises.  Eventually it is revealed that the building is a gateway to hell and the old blind priest is the only thing keeping evil at bay.

The movie ends with one of those teasers where a new couple considers moving into the apartment building.  Berenger and Star Trek’s Nan Visitor play the couple.  The star-studded cast includes Chris Sarandon, Cristina Raines, Martin Balsam, Burgess Meredith, Beverly D’Angelo, Ava Gardner, José Ferrer, Eli Wallach, Christopher Walken and Jeff Goldblum.

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Tom Berenger – Looking For Mr. Goodbar – 1977

Later that year, Berenger had a more substantial role opposite Diane Keaton in the drama, Looking For Mr. Goodbar.

The movie was based on Judith Rossner’s novel of the same name which was in turn based on a true story of a school teacher who was *spoilers* brutally murdered.  Keaton played the school teacher who spends her nights at bars picking up men for casual sex and drugs.  She has relationships with men played by Richard Gere, LaVar Burton and Berenger who looks way too innocent to brutally murder a school teacher…

Keaton was a long way from Annie Hall which was released the same year!  Reviews were mostly positive and the movie was a hit at the box office.  Berenger’s role may have been small, but it made an impression.

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Tom Berenger – In Praise of Older Women – 1978

In 1978, Berenger starred in the Canadian-produced World War II drama, In Praise of Older Women.

The movie was set in Hungary during and after World War II.  Berenger played a young man who procures local girls for the occupying G.I.’s.  He starts a relationship with a married woman in her thirties played by Karen Black.  She teaches him about love and romance.  He carries her lessons on to other relationships with mature women.

In Praise of Older Women was the very first movie screened by the Toronto Film Festival.

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Tom Berenger – Butch and Sundance: The Early Days – 1979

 In 1979, Berenger starred opposite the Greatest American Hero, William Katt, in Butch and Sundance: The Early Days.

The original Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid had been a big hit in 1969. Unfortunately, it didn’t really leave a lot of room for a sequel.  And even if it did, good luck getting Redford and Newman to reprise their roles.  After nearly a decade, someone came up with a bright idea that killed two birds with one stone.  Make a prequel and recast the roles with younger actors.

At the time, Katt was considered a dead ringer for Redford, so he was the obvious choice for Sundance.  The studio had to be convinced that Berenger was right for Butch.  They were impressed with his performance in Looking for Mr. Goodbar.  But they weren’t sold on him as a young Paul Newman.  So they paid to fly him from New York to LA to meet with him in person.

The script was written by Allan Burns who was primarily known for writing television.  William Goldman, who wrote the first film, contributed a few scenes which were cut from his original screenplay.  Richard Lester was brought in to direct.  He claimed to have never seen the first movie.

The prequel flopped as prequels often do.

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Tom Berenger – The Dogs of War – 1980

In 1980, Berenger appeared opposite Christopher Walken in the action movie, The Dogs of War.

Walken and Berenger played mercenaries hired to start a revolution in a fictional African country.  It was based on the novel of the same name by Frederick Forsyth.

Berenger has said in interviews that about half of his role was cut from the final version of the movie.

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Tom Berenger – Oltre la PortaI – 1982

In 1982, Berenger appeared in the Italian film, Oltre la PortaI which translates to Beyond the Door.

The movie was, well, very European.  Italian legend Marcello Mastroianni is living in a Morrocan jail where he works as a librarian.  He enjoys conjugal visits from his daughter (ewww) played by Eleonora Giorgi.  Berenger’s character complicates matters when he falls in lust with Giorgi.

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Tom Berenger – Eddie and the Cruisers – 1983

In 1983, Berenger starred opposite Michael Paré, Joe Pantoliano and Ellen Barkin in the rock drama, Eddie and the Cruisers.

Paré played the leader of a 60’s rock band who disappeared after the band’s record studio decided not to release their second album.  Almost 20 years later, a TV reporter picks up on the story.  The reporter, played by Barkin, interviews members of the band which includes Berenger.

Eddie and the Cruisers was supposed to be released during the summer when its target audience was out of school.  Due to a scheduling error, it was not released until September where it flopped at the box office.  Reviews were mixed.

The following year, the song “On the Dark Side” from the soundtrack started climbing the Billboard charts.  When the song became a hit, the movie became popular on cable.  Soon, the movie had a cult following.

The movie’s success on cable lead to it being rereleased in theaters where it bombed a second time.  Six years after the original, a sequel was released.  Eddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives! also bombed.  But like the original it has developed a cult following.

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Tom Berenger – The Big Chill – 1983

Later that year, Berenger appeared as part of a terrific ensemble in Lawrence Kasdan’s Baby Boomer comedy/drama, The Big Chill.

Berenger, Jeff Goldblum, William Hurt, Kevin Kline, Mary Kay Place and JoBeth Williams play old college friends who reunite for the funeral of a friend who committed suicide.  The deceased friend was played by Kevin Costner who shot several flashback scenes for the film.  All of Costner’s scenes were cut from the film and his face was never shown.

Berenger played an actor on a TV cop show.  His character was named TJ Lancer.  He was part Magnum PI and part TJ Hooker.  His character, Sam, is a nice guy who wants to get away from all the nonsense of being famous and reconnect with his friends who knew him before the fame.  Specifically, he reconnects with an old flame played by Williams.  She is interested in rekindling their relationship even though she is a married woman.

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Tom Berenger – The Big Chill – 1983

The Big Chill was both a celebration of and a pity party for Baby Boomers.  The characters do drugs, have sex and break into spontaneous dance to the classic Motown soundtrack while bemoaning their middle class, middle-aged woes.  If you were a Boomer in the 80’s you probably took to this the way I took to Reality Bites in the 90’s.  This movie spoke directly to aging Boomers telling them they were cool and their problems were significant.  Like most movies that speak to a specific generation at a specific time in their lives, it hasn’t aged especially well.

To quote one particularly harsh critics:

“The material is gratingly familiar from innumerable plays and independent films, with the difference that Kasdan is interested only in assuaging the guilt of his characters (and, automatically, his audience) over their failure to follow their youthful ideals. There is no place for depth or nuance in this slickly engineered complacency machine, which roars along at a single tone and pace, neatly dispelling every troubling intimation with a Mary Tyler Moore one-liner and solving all its conflicts with tricks of rhetoric.”

Another common criticism is that Kasdan ripped off John Sayles’ drama, Return of the Secaucus 7.  Both films are about a group of seven college friends reuniting for a weekend and the complications that arise.  Sayles’ film was released three years before The Big Chill.  However, Kasdan claims not to have seen it before making his movie.

I am actually being really hard on The Big Chill.  It’s an entertaining movie if you can deal with the self-congratulatory tone.  Reviews were mostly positive and the movie was a hit at the box office.  It received three Oscar nominations including one for Best Picture.  It also received two Golden Globe nominations.  It was hugely influential inspiring TV show’s like Thirtysomething and a direct adaptation called Hometown which ran for nine episodes in 1985.

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Tom Berenger – Fear City – 1984

In 1984, Berenger starred opposite Lando Calrissian (aka Billy Dee Williams) in Abel Ferrara’s gritty crime drama, Fear City.

Berenger played a boxer who retired after killing a man in the ring.  Now he owns the biggest strip club in New York (Fear) City.  Williams played a cop who is investigating a series of murders.  There’s a serial killer on the loose and he’s killing strippers.  This presents a problem for Berenger professionally.  But also it poses a personal problem as he is in love with one of his dancers played by Melanie Griffith.

Warning, this trailer is not suitable for work.  Or if there are kids in the room.  Or if you are offended by naked strippers, martial arts or pulpy narration like “Everyone is watching them.  Someone is waiting for them.  Now everyone in New York is living in Fear City.”

How gritty was Fear City?  The film had to be drastically reedited in order to get by the MPAA ratings board.  The board felt there was too much sex, violence and drugs.  The cuts were so severe that there are noticeable jump cuts in the finished film during many of the killings.  Ultimately, 20th Century Fox decided to dump their movie to an independent distributor.

They don't make movies like this any more. Instead, they make video games.
Fear City Poster – 1984`

They don’t make movies like Fear City any more.  Instead, they make video games.  Reviews were mostly positive.

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Tom Berenger – Rustlers’ Rhapsody – 1985

In 1985, Berenger starred in Hugh Wilson’s Western musical comedy, Rustlers’ Rhapsody.

Berenger played a singing cowboy in the Roy Rogers tradition who is transported into a more modern Western movie setting.  Berenger’s character eats an unnamed root which gives him knowledge of the Western genre which he uses to save the town.

Wilson was responsible for WKRP in Cincinnati and had just had a hit with his directorial debut with Police Academy.  He was obviously hoping lightning would strike twice.  But Blazing Saddles had essentially mined the Western satire for all it was worth.  Reviews were mixed and the movie flopped at the box office.

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Tom Berenger – If Tomorrow Comes – 1986

In 1986, Berenger starred in the TV mini-series, If Tomorrow Comes which was based on a Sidney Sheldon novel.

Berenger played a conman who hooks up with a woman who seeks vengeance on the mob.  The cast included a young Liam Neeson.

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Tom Berenger – Platoon – 1986

In 1986, Berenger appeared opposite Charlie Sheen and Willem Dafoe in Oliver Stone’s Vietnam war drama, Platoon.

Sheen played a young soldier who enlisted in the army to fight in Vietnam.  His platoon has two officers played by Berenger and Dafoe.  Berenger’s character is hardened and ruthless whereas Dafoe plays a more sympathetic character.  The stress of war leads to conflict within the platoon.

Stone wrote a screenplay titled Break  immediately after returning from his own experiences in the war.  Break was a semi-autobiographical account of Stone’s time in Vietnam.  He sent his script to Jim Morrison in hopes that the lead singer of The Doors would agree to star.  Whether or not Morrison would have agreed will never be known, but he did have the script in his possession when he died.  Although Break was never produced, it did inspire Stone to go to film school.  He would later rework the same material into the script for Platoon.

By the time Stone finally got to direct Platoon, there had been several cast changes.  At one point, Sheen was passed over for the lead role because he was too young.  His older brother, Emilio Estevez was cast instead.  But when the project was postponed, Estevez had to drop out and Sheen inherited the role.  Berenger’s role was originally offered to Kevin Costner.  Stone claims he eventually cast Berenger and Dafoe against type.  He felt Berenger was better known for good guy roles whereas Dafoe typically played the villain.

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Tom Berenger – Platoon – 1986

Stone put all of his actors through a rigorous 14-day boot camp during which they operated as a military platoon and were required to stay in character.  Berenger lost 28 pounds in two weeks.  The scar Berenger wore during filming originally required three hours every day to apply.  By the time filming was done, the process was down to 30 minutes.  The make-up hurt Berenger’s face, so he would only wear it when necessary.

Platoon received positive reviews and was a big hit at the box office.  The movie won Best Picture at the Oscars and the Golden Globes.  Stone also won Best Director at both the Oscars and the Globes.  Dafoe and Berenger were nominated against each other for Best Supporting Actor in the Oscars.  Both lost to Michael Caine for Hannah and Her Sisters.  But Berenger won Best Supporting Actor at the Globes.

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Tom Berenger – Someone to Watch Over Me – 1987

In 1987, Berenger starred opposite Mimi Rogers in Ridley Scott’s thriller, Someone to Watch Over Me.

Rogers played a witness to a murder.  Berenger played the cop who is assigned to protect her.  Naturally, they are drawn to each other.  I mean, just look at them.  Unfortunately, this creates problems with Berenger’s wife.

The sexy neo-noir  received mostly positive reviews.  But it bombed at the box office.

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Tom Berenger – Shoot to Kill – 1988

In 1988, Berenger appeared in several movies.  First he teamed with Sidney Poitier for the buddy action movie, Shoot to Kill.

Poitier plays a cop hunting down a killer who got away.  The killer (played by *spoilers* Clancy Brown) has gone into the mountains where he takes a wilderness guide hostage.  The guide is played by Kirstie Alley who was still on Cheers at the time.  Berenger played Alley’s boyfriend, a woodsman who helps Poitier track down the killer.  Hey, guess what?  They don’t get along but have to put their differences aside in order to achieve a common goal.  What a novel idea!

Poitier had been away from the screen for 10 years.  So the movie got some buzz out of his return.  Reviews were mostly positive and the movie was a modest hit at the box office.

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Tom Berenger and Debra Winger – Betrayed – 1988

Later that year, Berenger starred opposite Debra Winger in the racially charged thriller, Betrayed.

Winger played an FBI agent sent to investigate a farmer suspected of being a white supremacist linked to the murder of a Jewish radio personality.  She starts to fall for the big lug who is way too charming to be a Klan leader.  In spite of mounting evidence, Winger’s character insists that Berenger is innocent until she gets in too deep and starts to see his dark side.  Turns out he has some disturbing hobbies.

Reviews were mostly negative and the film was not a hit at the box office.  But Berenger has stated it is one of his favorites.  He defends the movie against critics saying, “It was exactly what it was meant to be.”

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Tom Berenger – Last Rites – 1988

Berenger rounded out 1988 with the crime thriller Last Rites opposite Princess Vespa (aka Daphne Zuniga).

Berenger played a priest with mafia connections.  His father is the don and his brother-in-law is a mob boss.  His brother-in-law is murdered while having an affair with Zuniga.  Zuniga flees to Berenger’s church for help.  He takes her in and protects her from the hitmen sent to kill her.  Eventually, the couple are forced out of the church and try to escape to Mexico.  On the road, the two become familiar in the biblical sense.  See, because he is a priest.  Oh, never mind.

Reviews were bad.  Roger Ebert named it the worst film of the year.  And Last Rites tanked at the box office.

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Tom Berenger – Major League – 1989

In 1989, Berenger starred opposite his Platoon co-star Charlie Sheen in the baseball comedy, Major League.

The movie focuses on a fictionalized version of the Cleveland Indians.  Berenger starred as the team’s veteran catcher.  Sheen played the rookie pitcher nicknamed Wild Thing.  Corbin Bernsen appeared in a supporting role as a prima donna third baseman.  Wesley Snipes played the cocky new  center fielder Willie “Mays” Hayes and Rene Russo made her movie debut as Berenger’s ex-girlfriend whom he is trying to win back.

Critics gave Major League a passing grade despite the fact that it was a pretty formulaic sports movie.  The laughs and the execution were enough to earn mostly positive reviews.  Audiences liked it as well.  Major League opened in first place at the box office and earned nearly $50 million dollars.  It spawned two sequels one of which Berenger came back for.

Tom Berenger - Born on the Fourth of July - 1989
Tom Berenger – Born on the Fourth of July – 1989

Later that year, Berenger appeared in Oliver Stone’s Vietnam biopic Born on the Fourth of July.

Berenger’s role is really just a cameo.  He plays the military recruiter who gives a speech at a high school that motivates Tom Cruise’s Ron Kovic to enlist.  The movie follows Kovic as he goes to war and returns as a paraplegic veteran.  Slowly, he transforms into a war protestor.

Like Platoon, Born on the Fourth of July received strong reviews and some recognition at awards season.  Thanks to Cruise, it was an even bigger hit at the box office.

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Tom Berenger – Love at Large – 1990

In 1990, Berenger starred opposite Elizabeth Perkins and Anne Archer in Alan Rudolph’s romantic comedy Love at Large.

Berenger plays private eye Harry Dobbs.  A mysterious woman right out of a film noir (played by Archer) hires Dobbs to trail her lover who she believes is having an affair.  Berenger ends up trailing a man played by Ted Levine (aka Buffalo Bill from the Silence of the Lambs).  Turns out the man is a bigamist with wives played by Kate Capshaw and Annette O’Toole.  Meanwhile, Berenger is being tailed by a female detective played by Perkins.

Reviews were not positive (despite the current 71% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes).  Roger Ebert praised the film for trying something different even if he admits it ultimately failed:

“Love at Large” doesn’t work, but at least it doesn’t fail because it’s safe and predictable. It goes drifting off into some kind of moonstruck reverie about private eye pictures and lipstick. It allows Berenger to create a performance so goofy he will probably not want to try the same note again – but seen simply as a performance, it’s unusual and entertaining.

Berenger has said he became disillusioned after Love at Large received bad reviews.  It also flopped at the box office.

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Tom Berenger – The Field – 1990

Later that year, Berenger had a supporting role in Jim Sheridan’s drama, The Field.

Richard Harris played a farmer who decides he must own the land he has been working when it goes up for auction.  The town folk know not to bid against him.  But Berenger plays an American who wants the land to build a highway.

Reviews were mixed and the film failed at the box office.  However, Harris won an Oscar and a Golden Globe for his performance.

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Tom Berenger – Shattered – 1991

In 1991, Berenger starred opposite Bob Hoskins, Greta Scacchi, Joanne Whalley and his Major League co-star Corbin Bernsen in Wolfgang Petersen’s thriller, Shattered.

Berenger plays a man who awakens from a car crash with no memories.  He finds out that he is married to Scacchi and in business with Bernsen who is married to Whalley.  But the stories of those around him don’t add up.  So he tracks down a private eye played by Hoskins who helps him piece the puzzle of his past together.

Reviews were negative and the movie bombed at the box office.

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Tom Berenger and Daryl Hannah – At Play in the Fields of the Lord – 1991

Later that year, Berenger starred opposite Aidan Quinn, Daryl Hannah, John Lithgow and Kathy Bates in the drama, At Play in the Fields of the Lord.

The movie is based on the novel of the same name.  Berenger played an American pilot who is hired to wipe out a group of natives but instead ends up joining them.  So, basically the plot of Avatar.  Along the way he starts up an affair with a missionary’s wife played by Hannah.

James Cameron later cited At Play in the Fields of the Lord as an influence on Avatar.  And by “influence” he means they have the same plot.

Reviews were mixed and the movie bombed at the box office.

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Tom Berenger and Billy Zane – Sniper – 1993

In 1993, Berenger starred opposite Billy Zane in the action film, Sniper.

Berenger played a veteran sniper going on one last mission to kill a Columbian drug lord.  Since his last spotter was killed in action, Berenger is paired with a civilian played by Billy Zane.  The civilian, though a sharp shooter, has never killed a man before.  Zane’s orders are to take Berenger down should he divert from the mission.  But Berenger doesn’t follow orders which leads to conflict between the two men.

Reviews were mixed.  The movie opened at second place at the box office behind Aladdin.  While not exactly a hit, the movie did develop a cult following and spawned three sequels.

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Tom Berenger and Sharon Stone – Sliver – 1993

Later that year, Berenger starred opposite Sharon Stone and one of the Baldwin triplets (Skippy maybe?) in Phillip Noyce’s Sliver.

Stone played a book editor who moves into an exclusive New York apartment building.  The previous tenant fell to her death from her balcony.  Probably not too surprising considering Sliver is based on a book written by the author of Rosemary’s Baby.  Petey Baldwin played the sexy owner of the building with whom Stone starts a relationship.  Berenger played Baldwin’s romantic rival.

At the time, Stone was hot coming off of Basic Instinct,  She earned $2.5 million to star in the film which was written by Basic Instinct writer Joe Eszterhas.  Eszterhas had also written Berenger’s favorite movie, Betrayed.  Originally, Billy Baldwin’s character was supposed to be the killer.  But test audiences hated the ending which they found incomprehensible.  So reshoots were done in which the killer’s identity was changed.

In spite of bad reviews, the movie was a hit at the box office.  Not as big of a hit as Basic Instinct, but a hit all the same.

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Tom Berenger – Cheers – 1993

Meanwhile, Berenger appeared in the final two episodes of Cheers.  He played a plumber who marries Kirstie Alley’s character, Rebecca.  Berenger and Alley had played a couple previously in Shoot to Kill.

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Tom Berenger – Gettysburg – 1993

Berenger ended the year starring opposite Jeff Daniels and Martin Sheen in Gettysburg.

Berenger played  Lieutenant General James “Pete” Longstreet, the senior lieutenant-general in the Confederate Army and second-in-command of the Army of Northern Virginia.  The movie is basically one long Civil War reenactment.

Gettysburg  was originally developed as an ABC mini-series.  When ABC backed out of the project, Civil War buff Ted Turner stepped in.  He planned to air the mini-series on TNT.  But when he saw the film in post production, he decided to release it theatrically.

Despite mostly positive reviews, Gettysburg was a flop at the box office.  With a running time of over four hours, it could only be shown twice a day at theaters.  It has since become successful on home video.

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Tom Berenger – Major League II – 1994

In 1994, Berenger, Sheen and Bernsen returned for the baseball comedy sequel, Major League II.

The film which was made five years after the original covers the Cleveland Indians’ next season after the winning season depicted in the first film.

Snipes was the only actor not to return for the sequel.  He was replaced by Omar Epps.

Reviews were scathing and the movie was not a hit at the box office.  In spite of that, another sequel was released in 1998.  Major League: Back to the Minors starred Scott Bakula and Bernsen.  There has been talk of making a Major League 3  which would ignore Back to the Minors.

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Tom Berenger – Chasers – 1995

Later that year, Berenger starred opposite Playboy Playmate and Baywatch Babe, Erika Eleniak in the comedy, Chasers.

Berenger plays a chief petty officer tasked with escorting a prisoner.  But get this!  Are you ready?  She’s a hot blonde who keeps trying to escape!  How can that not be funny?  So what if it has the same plot as The Last Detail with a Playmate in the Randy Quaid role.

Chasers was directed by actor Dennis Hopper.  It received terrible reviews and bombed at the box office.

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Tom Berenger – The Last of the Dogmen – 1995

In 1995, Berenger starred opposite Barbara Hershey in the Western The Last of the Dogmen.

Berenger played a bounty hunter seeking three dangerous fugitives in the mountains.  He finds the fugitives who have been murdered.  So he sets off with  a Native Indian history professor played by Hershey to solve the mystery.  The trail leads them to a tribe of Indians who were believed to be extinct.

Reviews were mixed and the movie was not a hit at the box office.

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Tom Berenger – The Substitute – 1996

In 1996, Berenger starred in The Substitute.

There had been a lot of “tough teacher” movies around this time.  Edward James Olmos starred in Stand and Deliver in 1988.  Morgan Freeman starred in Lean on Me in 1989.  And Michelle Pfeiffer starred in Dangerous Minds in 1995.  But none of them were as tough as Berenger.  He played a Vietnam vet turned mercenary who goes undercover as a substitute teacher to take on a gang!

Nathin Rabin of the A.V. Club summed up The Substitute thusly:

There have been plenty of movies about white people coming into inner-city schools and whipping the students into shape, but nothing quite like The Substitute, which brings the subtly racist, paternalistic elements of those films right to the surface. The film accepts as a given that an urban high-school classroom would be chaotic and dangerous, loaded with black and Hispanic street toughs who listen to gangsta rap, stencil graffiti on the desks and blackboards, and conceal ice-picks and other weapons in their pockets. Cold-blooded mercenary Tom Berenger isn’t having any of it: He wants to teach his class about Vietnam, and if they aren’t willing to listen, he’ll snap their fingers like dried twigs.

In spite of bad reviews, the movie was a modest hit at the box office.  That was enough to spawn three direct-to-video sequels.  Treat Williams replaced Berenger in The Substitute 2, 3 and 4.  According to Berenger, he would have made The Substitute sequels, but the studio wouldn’t pay his asking price.

They didn’t want to pay me on that. They didn’t want to pay me so they made it actually a different character.  They go, “Oh, we’re not paying him.” I go, “Well, they made money on it but they were cheap bastards.

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Tom Berenger – Rough Riders – 1997

In 1997, Berenger played future president Teddy Roosevelt in  John Milius’ TV mini-series, Rough Riders.  Sam Elliott and Gary Busey co-starred.

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Tom Berenger – The Gingerbread Man – 1998

In 1998, Berenger appeared opposite Kenneth Branagh in Robert Altman’s thriller The Gingerbread Man.

Branagh plays a lawyer who has a one night stand with a beautiful woman played by Embeth Davidtz.  Afterwards, he finds out the woman’s father (played by Robert Duvall) is a dangerous psychopath, so he has the father arrested.  Berenger played the woman’s ex husband whom Branagh subpoenas.  They get Duvall thrown into an asylum but of course he escapes.

Robert Downey, Jr., Daryl Hannah and Famke Janssen co-starred.  The Gingerbread Man was written directly for the screen by John Grisham.  It was the first Grisham movie not to be adapted from one of his books.  When a test screening did not go well, the studio took Altman’s cut and re-edited it.  When the studio cut tested even worse, they went ahead and released Altman’s cut of the movie.

Ultimately, Grisham had his name removed as screenwriter because he didn’t like the language Altman had added to his script.  So while Grisham is credited with the story, the screenplay is credited to Al Hayes – a pseudonym.

The Gingerbread Man opened to mixed reviews and bombed at the box office.

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Tom Berenger and Melanie Griffith – Shadow of Doubt – 1998

Berenger also appeared opposite his Fear City co-star Melanie Griffith in the direct-to-video thriller, Shadow of Doubt.

Griffith played a brilliant defense attorney whose client, a rising rap star who is prone to violent outbursts, has been accused of murder.  But it wouldn’t be much of a movie if he was guilty, so Griffith investigates.  Berenger played Griffith’s ex-husband who also happens to be the D.A.  Huey Lewis co-stars.  Sadly, The News was a no-show.

berenger - murder of crows
Tom Berenger and Cuba Gooding Jr. – A Murder of Crows – 1998

This is the point at which Berenger starts to slide from a movie actor who supplements his film roles with TV work to an actor who appears primarily in direct-to-video and TV movies.  Berenger also appeared opposite Cuba Gooding Jr. in the direct-t-o-DVD thriller, A Murder of Crows.

Gooding played a lawyer who retires to Key West where he meets an old man who has written a book.  When the old man (who is very clearly a young man in old man make-up) dies, Gooding’s character passes the book off as his own.  When the book becomes a bestseller, Gooding is arrested by Berenger because the book contains details of murders that were not released to the public.

One of my favorite things about this trailer is the narration over the cast.  Gooding is listed as an Academy Award Winner.  No mention of his Golden Globe nomination.  Berenger is called an Academy Award nominee.  No mention of his Golden Globe win.  Marianne Jean-Baptiste is then credited as an Academy Award nominee AND Golden Globe winner!? And Eric Stoltz (who I am guessing is under that old man make-up without ever having seen the film) is credited as a Golden Globe nominee.  Look, either list Golden Globes or don’t.  But Jean-Bapitiste has the same awards and nominations as Berenger and the trailer ignore his Golden Globe win.  Stoltz doesn’t even have a win to his name and his nomination gets mentioned.

And I just wrote more about A Murder of Crows than anybody ever should.

berenger - diplomatic siege
Tom Berenger – Diplomatic Siege – 1999

In 1999, Berenger appeared in three direct-to-video releases.  Diplomatic Siege (pictures) co-starred Darryl Hannah and Peter Weller.  Berenger also starred in One Man’s Hero and appeared opposite Craig Sheffer and Jennifer Beals in Turbulence 2: Fear of Flying.  Somehow, I missed the first Turbulence movie.  Apparently it starred Ray Liotta and Lauren Holly.  There’s even a third film in this forgotten franchise, Turbulence 3: Heavy Metal.

berenger - company of spies
Tom Berenger – In the Company of Spies – 1999

Additionally, Berenger appeared opposite Ron Silver and his old Shoot to Kill nemesis Clancy Brown  in the TV movie, In the Company of Spies.

Tom Berenger - Cutaway - 2000
Tom Berenger – Cutaway – 2000

In 2000, Berenger appeared in an action movie called Takedown which starred Skeet Ulrich.  He also starred opposite Dennis Rodman and yet another Baldwin brother in the movie Cutaway.  If Berenger can just find a way to work with Daniel Baldwin, he will have pulled off the difficult hat trick of working with all of the lesser Baldwins (aka Baldwins not named Alec.)

Usually when we start seeing signs like direct-to-video movies starring Cuba Gooding Jr, Skeet Ulrich and Dennis Rodman, you can stick a fork in it.  The article is done.  Not so with Berenger.  He still had some life left in him as a character actor.

berenger - training day
Tom Berenger – Training Day – 2001

In 2001, Berenger appeared opposite Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke in Antoine Fuqua’s Training Day.

Berenger’s role is a small one.  But the movie was a big critical and commercial hit.

berenger - sniper 2
Tom Berenger – Sniper 2 – 2002

In 2002, Berenger starred in a sequel to his 1993 action movie, Sniper in Sniper 2.  He also appeared opposite Sylvester Stallone in the direct-to-video release, D-Tox (aka Eye See You).

In 2004, Berenger completed the Sniper trilogy with Sniper 3.  A fourth sniper film, Sniper: Reloaded was released in 2011 without Berenger.  His original costar, Billy Zane, returned to the series instead.

Over the next several years, Berenger popped in on cheap action movies like Stiletto, Breaking Point and Smokin’ Aces 2: Assassins’ Ball.  A good actor lost to direct-to-video limbo.  But he wasn’t quite done yet.

berenger - inception
Tom Berenger – Inception – 2010

In 2010, Berenger had a small but significant role in Christopher Nolan’s twisty sci-fi thriller, Inception.

I’m not about to try to summarize the plot of Inception or Berenger’s role in it.  If you haven’t seen it, you should really check it out.

Since Inception, it’s been back to direct-to-video movies for Berenger.  But at this late stage of his career, a meaty cameo in a critical and commercial hit is nothing to sneeze at.

So, what the hell happened?

The Big Chill launched most of its cast to stardom.  Kevin Kline, Glenn Close and Jeff Goldblum in particular went on to big things.  William Hurt certainly got a boost out of it.  But Berenger, Mary Kay Place and JoBeth Williams didn’t seem to benefit as much.  In fact, his career seemed to be cooling off until he received his Oscar nomination and Golden Globe for Platoon.

Unfortunately, Berenger didn’t seem to be able to capitalize on the buzz from Platoon.  Both he and co-star Charlie Sheen seemed to be in career free-fall until they both got another boost from Major League.  After Major League, Berenger never starred in another big hit.  But he remained very prolific and had several modestly budgeted hits like Sniper and the Substitute as well as supporting roles in bigger movies like Sliver and Inception.

That’s a very successful career for an actor.  But why didn’t Berenger hit the same heights as Kline and Goldblum?  I think at least in part, it’s because Berenger never really found a niche to fit into.  Goldblum found most of his success in science fiction films like The Fly, Independence Day and Jurassic Park.  While Kline starred in a wide variety of roles, he was best known for his comedies.  Berenger didn’t really have that.

Also, Berenger had that thing where even when he appeared in a hit movie, he was never the main draw.  No one thinks of The Big Chill, Platoon or Major League as a Tom Berenger movie.  They are movies that happen to include Tom Berenger.

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admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago

That Fear City trailer is juicy fun. Rae Dawn Chong Rae Dawn Chong Rae Dawn Chong Berenger just never had that movie star quality that makes most A-List actors. I’m always happy to see him in a movie, but he’s not a draw all by himself. Even the blandly weird William Hurt seemed more like a movie star than Berenger did. I endorse Gettysburg for some nice cinematography and some excellent acting, most notably from Sam Elliot. Avoid Gods & Generals like the plague. I liked Shattered a lot when I saw it on video, but I haven’t seen it… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

lol – you sound a little loop. I like your Fear City haiku. When I started the article (which was actually a long time ago. I started researching back in the summer.) I went in with the idea that Berenger was basically a big, handsome guy with a charisma deficiency. Good for a supporting player, but not a leading man. Having now watched or rewatched a lot of his movies, my opinion has changed a little. I do think he had enough star power to be a lead. But just barely. I think part of the problem is that he… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

No, but he leapt into a bounty hunter who was handcuffed to a hot blonde who gave him more than he could handle.

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  admin

Tom Berenger in theory, if could’ve arguably been a Kevin Costner or Harrison Ford type of leading man/action star if his luck worked out better. I don’t know if things didn’t work out for Tom Berenger because of poor timing or lack of quality filmmakers/collaborators on his side. Even Kurt Russell had John Carptenter on his side to fall back on.

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  admin

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecinefiles/permalink/10153617238430795/

Is there any Cinefiles love for Abel Ferrara’s FEAR CITY?

Knowingly clichéd and packed with overwrought performances, there’s also a fantastic noir-influenced style and mood to the film.

Tom Berenger’s ex-boxer-turned-pimp substitutes for a corruption of the Philip Marlowe type of character in a world in which there are pretty much no likable people and the women are all objects to be bought and sold and murdered, including Melanie Griffith.

The depictions of New York’s 42nd St., particularly at night, are especially captivating.

All in all, an excellent 80s action thriller.

RB
RB
10 years ago

well dang it Lebeau, this is not only another welcome WTHH entry, it’s liberally sprinkled with written gemstones…. and it’s about an actor I’ve truthfully not given much thought to. Tom Berenger has had a lengthy, respectable career yet you are right, i’ve never heard anyone say they were going to see the new Tom Berenger movie. Although there a few that I am going to take a look at after reading this.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  RB

I was surprised when Berenger was requested initially. It’s probably been about a year since his name first came up. And I have been surprised how many people have echoed that request since then. I am not sure if his fans come from Platoon, Big Chill, Major League, Sniper, The Substitute or heck even Fear City. Probably some combination. The reason I was surprised to hear requests for Berenger is that I never gave the guy all that much thought either. And I had seen the majority of his mainstream movies. He just never made a strong impression on me… Read more »

Dutch Schultz
10 years ago

Tom Berenger with Al Pacino is the best actor in the world. Tom Berenger along with Debra Winger (another great actress), is the most hated actor in Hollywood. Message in His staff should have one for 2 Oscars (Platoon) where it was stolen in a shameful manner, and the other for Gettysburg. Tom Berenger starred in an extraordinary way in big movies like “Playing In The Fields of the Lord”, “Bretayed”, “Sniper”, “Shattared”, “Major League,” “Platoon,” “Love at Large”, “Someone to Watch witness “,” The Substitute “” The Last of the Dog Men”, ” Rough Riders “, “Fear City” e… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Dutch Schultz

I get the impression you’re a fan? 😉

RB
RB
10 years ago

I can see where Berenger with Pacino would be a great actor, because Pacino’s mere presence elevates other performers. I don’t know how he does it, it’s like stage or movie magic. Berenger in the Big Chill may have been a solid performer who got eclipsed by the others. It’s been so long since I saw that movie, can’t remember much about it. Time to watch it again, especially for certain references that Kasdan included in it.

Dutch Schultz
10 years ago

I am definitely not a fan of Tom Berenger . But I’m an admirer , for the extraordinary way of acting, and when he recites Tom Berenger is a great actor . The article written above, I do not agree at all. In the movie Platoon , everyone spoke only of Tom Berenger , Tom Berenger and was Platoon . It ‘s true that playing opposite Al Pacino, also co-star reads well. But if Tom Berenger stars alongside Al Pacino, reads very well, without the positive influence of Al Pacino and vice versa. Jeff Goldblum and William Hurt, what they… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Dutch Schultz

Hey Dutch – nice to hear from you again. Sorry you disagree with the article. To be honest, I couldn’t tell from your comments what parts of it you disagreed with. All I really get from your comments is that you really, really like Berenger and Pacino. Beyond that, something got lost in translation.

Oh and the movie you are probably thinking of is Mad Dog and Glory starring De Niro, Murray and Uma Thurman.

Dutch Schultz
10 years ago

Ciao Lebau, Unfortunately, I write and speak bad English language – American. When I write a comment I will “google translator”, which translates from My comment ‘from Italian to English and’ English to Italian properly to 50% – 60% You are a great: the title of the movie that you wrote is right: with Robert DeNiro, Bill Murray, Uma Thurman and a young David Caruso.

I am Italian, and I write by the Region of Piedmont – North Italia

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Dutch Schultz

Wonderful. That explains it. I thought that might be the case. We have a contributor from Italy as well.

Thanks for taking the time to read and comment!

Dutch Schultz
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

Many Thanks Lebau, I was very honored to write to the Cinema of Your Blog Very Nice and Accurate.

Ciao and Good Day

Mastro
Mastro
10 years ago

Love the criticism of the Big Chill- absolutely a pity party for Boomers- note that everyone is doing well financially- all the angst is Upper Middle Class White People Problems- yawn.

I never liked the subplot of Jobeth Williams cheating on her husband- because he’s boring! They could have actually examined that- but no- they just cruise along to ’60’s pop-

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Mastro

I had a very weird experience with The Big Chill. I saw it when I was a kid. I was way too young to relate to it in any way, shape or form. What’s more, I saw the edited-for-TV version which was missing all of the sex, drugs and language. But the comedy elements appealed to me. I practically had it memorized. In college, I finally saw the unedited version and realized how much I was missing. I still enjoy the movie. But watching it now, I wonder how I ever related to it. Its flaws have become more apparent… Read more »

RB
RB
10 years ago

I’m really not sure what was so offensive about my comment that someone felt the need to downvote it… but whatever. Big Chill was eventually recycled into the TV series ‘thirtysomething” which was similar, yuppie angst and totally unsympathetic characters, to me anyway. One episode was all it took to turn me off from the series. I still plan to see BC again, because of a respect for Kasdan who made the transition from the Midwest to Hollywood. Back in the day I was fortunate enough to be present at a college auditorium where he was speaking to a smallish… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  RB

People go crazy when they have the power to select digital thumbs to voice their approval or disapproval. I can never figure out why people do what they do – especially online.

Very cool about Kasdan. I was a fan back in the days when he was the writer of Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi and director of Body Heat and The Big Chill.

Craig Hansen
Craig Hansen
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

Kasdan also co-wrote Raiders of the Lost Ark, which just happens to be my favorite movie of all time. I’ve long meant to check out The Big Chill but just have never gotten around to it. Your comments make me wonder if I might enjoy it now. Kasdan has a wonderful lyricism to his writing and I for one am thrilled that he’s returning to the Star Wars universe as head writer on Star Wars 7.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Craig Hansen

I love me some Raiders. And Kasdan also wrote Empire. So, he can do great things. But it’s been a long time since he’s been great. So I’m less optimistic about Star Wars 7. Especially given the mess JJ made of Star Trek and the rushed time table. Hopefully it will be a return to greatness for Kasdan. Empire was made under worse conditions. I would recommend checking out The Big Chill. It’s entertaining. At the end of the day, it feels a little empty. But you will have laughed and enjoyed some good Motown music. You just have to… Read more »

johnny 88
10 years ago

Very nice as usual. Tom Berenger’s career seems very similar to Kurt Russell’s career. Both being very near to stardom but never been truly able to shine on their own. About “The Big Chill” I also found that movie a bit overrated. Not bad, but also not good, but maybe it’s just a matter of a movie aging bad. About the WTHH I had an idea. Some days ago I was helping my sister packing her own things and I found lots of CDS of artists who now have fallen from grace. So, why don’t expand the series in the… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  johnny 88

Glad you liked it. There are definitely similarities between Russell’s and Berenger’s careers. There’s also a lot of differences. Russell was a child actor with ten years of Disney movies under his belt. Then he went the independent/cult route with Carpenter. Berenger was much more celebrated for a short time than Russell ever was. I’m sure a WTHH-type series could be applied to almost anything. Music would certainly work. But I’m not the guy to write that series. I have neither the background nor the passion for it. I could one day see expanding to include film directors. But I… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  johnny 88

And like Kurt Russell, maybe Tom Berenger’s versatility if you want to call it that, kind of hurt him. Berenger could do ensemble comedy (“Major League”), ensemble drama (“The Big Chill”), heavy period drama (“Platoon”), etc. It seems like with his biggest movies, while he had an important role, he wasn’t necessarily always the main focus 100%.

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

What Ever Happened To… Tom Berenger? http://www.chud.com/1124/what-ever-happened-to-tom-berenger/ There are a number of actors with whom I’d like to see on the silver screen again simply because of their untapped talent. But there are others who deserve to be looked upon in a new light because of their screen presence. Whether or not their acting is up to par is beside the point; sometimes, presence can go a long way. Tom Berenger falls in the latter category. Now I’m not going to say that I miss seeing Berenger on screen because he’s an undiscovered talent who made unsuccessful decisions throughout his… Read more »

babette
babette
10 years ago

I agree with all you say about Berenger. Thought, and still think, he was one of the handsomest as well as a very talented actor.

Shale: I’m in charge of this class. I’m the warrior chief. I’m the merciless god of anything that stirs in my universe. You fuck with me, and you will suffer my wrath.

babette
babette
10 years ago

I meant I agree with the perspicacious and thoughtful Terrence Clay’s comments re. Berenger.

Great work, Lebeau.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  babette

Thanks babette. Glad you enjoyed it!

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

I’m Glad I’m Done: Tom Berenger on the State of Hollywood:
http://www.craveonline.com/film/articles/187107-im-glad-im-done-tom-berenger-on-the-state-of-hollywood

The Sinners and Saints star describes the sad state of the industry, and reminisces about Major League, Platoon and Inception.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago

I read that interview with Berenger during my research. The headline is kind of misleading. He’s glad he’s almost done because he doesn’t like the way modern tech has changed the way movies are made. But it’s not the indictment of the film industry the headline had me expecting. He doesn’t really say movie making is in a sad state.

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

CAREER MAKEOVER CANDIDATE: Tom Berenger: http://www.themoviesnob.net/2009/07/career-makeover-candidate-tom-berenger.html From time to time, actors for some reason or another, simply disappear. Unless you peruse the direct to DVD shelves at your local video store, there are a handful of once prominent actors who used to star in mainstream films, popular films, great films, films with merit and substance and creativity, who are nowhere to be found. This happened to actors the likes of John Travolta in the eighties, until his star was resurrected thanks to Quentin Tarantino. Some of these actors need a reboot. Some of them have a quality; a quality that… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

When I posted this article on Tom Berenger’s IMDb message board, somebody suggested to me that maybe Berenger’s biggest problem has been simply making bad choices in scripts at times when his career is hot. He’s obviously picked a few winners, but unfortunately, more often than not, he has chosen mediocrity.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago

Interesting. Of course I take everything Eszterhas says with a giant grain of salt. But there is probably some truth there.

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

If you look at the poster (for “War Flowers”), it still ties into Tom Berenger: http://www.cinemablend.com/new/10-Movie-Stars-Who-Could-Really-Really-Use-Hit-Right-Now-40183-p5.html Christina Ricci Because of her general personality, her abundance of tattoos and her interests, Christina Ricci was never going to be Julia Roberts, but with a ton of acting talent and a willingness to walk out onto ledges, she was well on her way to carving out a career as an actress in gritty dramas and off-beat films like Black Snake Moan, Monster and Penelope, but sometime around Speed Racer’s release date, the wheels came off. In fact, a strong case could be made… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago

Yeah, Ricci is someone I keep meaning to get around to. I should get to her soon.

RB
RB
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

Interesting. Ricci was in the all too short lived TV series (yes, there actually was a TV series this decade I watched and got hooked on) “PanAm.” I’m STILL hoping they decide to bring it back for another season.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  RB

I hate to break it to ya, but I think it’s time to let that hope die.

RB
RB
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

OK so it’s been a few years. but they left it with a CLIFFHANGER!

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  RB

I hate it when that happens. I’m still angry about Twin Peaks.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

remember Lebeau, the end of Twin Peaks was not a cliffhanger. It was an unhappy ending.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

It depends on your point of view. From a real world perspective, I know that Lynch and company had every intention of freeing Cooper in the show’s third season. In fact, they ended the season with every character in jeopardy in hopes that viewers would demand another season. Also, if any characters weren’t invited back, they had an easy out. But even viewing Twin Peaks purely from an “in story” perspective, there were hints in Fire Walk With Me about Cooper’s fate. This makes it feel less like an unhappy ending and more like a dangling plot line. The frustrating… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  admin

Inexplicable Career Arcs:
http://goneelsewhere.wordpress.com/2014/02/19/inexplicable-career-arcs/#comment-78441

I’ve got a good one: Christina Ricci. She started off with a lot of attention for her work in The Addams Family films, did a few forgettable kid’s flicks, and then blasted into adulthood with The Ice Storm, The Opposite of Sex, Buffalo ’66, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas back-to-back.

She then followed that with 15 years of some of the worst career choices imaginable. The few highlights in her resume (Sleepy Hollow, Monster, Speed Racer, Black Snake Moan) are surrounded by forgettable performances in terrible films.

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

Career Prospectus: Christina Ricci: http://www.laineygossip.com/Career-Prospectus-Christina-Ricci/29678?categoryId=1290 Sarah, At first glance at Ricci’s filmography, it seemed as though she escaped the child actor curse, but she doesn’t appear to be working often or getting any good projects—she seems to be turning into a mocktress. Her biggest project this year is the Lizzie Borden Lifetime movie, which says it all about her career at the moment. –Elizabeth Sarah, She was fantastic in Black Snake Moan, and yes Pan Am sucked, but it wasn’t because of her. I just think she is way too talented to be playing second string to Katy Perry in… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  admin

Why Hollywood won’t cast Christina Ricci anymore

http://www.looper.com/33479/hollywood-wont-cast-christina-ricci-anymore/

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago

I think he was born in the wrong era. He’d have made an excellent cowboy back when Westerns were popular.

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  admin

https://forum.dvdtalk.com/13133885-post41.html Quote: Originally Posted by rw2516 View Post Timing is also important. The one thing they are really good at also has to be very popular in movies at the same time. In the 1960s westerns were very popular. This enabled Eastwood and McQueen to transition to the big screen. Magnificent Seven made McQueen a big star, he then reinvented himself with Great Escape and became a superstar. Eastwood became a big western movie star which enabled him to try different things. He made Dirty Harry and became a megastar. I see the western as the thing Tom Selleck is… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
6 years ago

Wow, if it wasn’t for Tom Berenger, my mom (oh my goodness, watching that one episode of “Major Crimes”), and the great Terrence Clay, I never would’ve known about this site. I Imagine we’d all be a bit less weird, but hopefully more enriched:-)

admin
Admin
admin
6 years ago
Reply to  admin

Thanks to Tom, your mom and Terrence!

admin
Admin
admin
6 years ago
Reply to  admin

Ha, Ha, without mom, Terrence, and Tom, I’d be in bad shape. But we’d have to have “The Big Chill” (I kind of always thought “Return of the Secaucus Seven” was better, by the way:-)

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago

Honestly, I’d be surprised if the divorce had any real impact on his career. Scientologists can be vengeful, but his career was already on the slowing down by then.

babette
babette
10 years ago

Say, Lebeau, what about that swish, giraffe-necked, spittoon-headed Brit “actor” who dawdled and sniffed his way through films like “The Comfort of Strangers” and “An Ideal Husband”?

Best Regards.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  babette

lol – Yeah, I’ll get to him eventually. May have to quote you when I do.

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

Tom Berenger to play Scott Caan’s dad on “Hawaii Five-0”:
http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/12/11/hawaii-5-0-casts-tom-berenger/

He’ll appear with Melanie Griffith, who will play Danny’s mom.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago

Those two always seem to find each other. I guess the bonds formed making Fear City are strong.

Bil
Bil
10 years ago

Gettysburg was originally developed as an ABC mini-series. When ABC backed out of the project, Civil War buff Ted Turner stepped in. He planned to air the mini-series on TNT. But when he saw the film in post production, he decided to release it theatrically. Gettysburg was a theater release? Wow I didn’t know that. It’s something I usually catch in reruns and I thought it was a PBS movie. As a amateur historian, I thought it was very well done, and Berenger’s performance as Longstreet was good; but this was actually a theatrical release? I recently saw him on… Read more »

Dave
Dave
10 years ago

And he was in Cheers!

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Dave

The finale no less.

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