Tag: Jane Seymour

Top Ten Actors and Actresses Who Should Have Starred in a Hallmark Hall of Fame Movie

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

I haven’t talked about anything Hallmark Hall of Fame related since last August, when I reviewed the 1990 presentation, Face to Face. To make up for lost time, I decided to write a list article about a topic associated with this collection of Hallmark’s movies. With Hallmark Hall of Fame lasting from 1951 to 2019, numerous actors and actresses have graced television screens in one or several projects from this branch of Hallmark programming. But there are some actors and actresses who never received that opportunity. So, in this list, I will be selecting five actors and five actresses who, in my opinion, should have starred in a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie. While the chosen actresses and actors are categorized in no particular order, they were selected based on two criteria: 1) the trajectory of their career in correlation with the existence of Hallmark Hall of Fame and 2) if their acting talents would have been well utilized within the types of stories Hallmark Hall of Fame told.

Hallmark Hall of Fame logo created by Hallmark Entertainment and Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions

1. Stephen Lang

    I will admit I’ve seen only three projects from Stephen Lang’s filmography; Don’t Breathe, Death of a Salesman, and 2009’s Avatar. But from what I remember, Stephen put a great amount of effort and care into his roles. Even based on some of his interviews I have seen and heard, it seems like Stephen takes the roles given to him very seriously. With all this said, I truly believe he would have brought that same amount of care and effort into a Hallmark Hall of Fame title. Plus, according to IMDB, Death of a Salesman is labeled a “tv movie”. Therefore, Stephen has some experience working in the realm of made-for-tv cinema. Had the opportunity to star in a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie presented itself, I wonder what type of role Stephen would have received, let alone what type of movie he would have been cast in?

    2. Jane Seymour

    Throughout her career, Jane Seymour has starred in several Hallmark films; Lake Effects, Dear Prudence, Perfectly Prudence, and A Royal Christmas. You’d think with Jane’s connection to Hallmark, as well as her star power, she would have starred in, at least, one Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation. But surprisingly, this opportunity never came to be. Besides her appearance in Hallmark’s movies, Jane has starred in projects that were related to the historical fiction genre, such as Somewhere in Time and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. In fact, I’m surprised Hallmark Hall of Fame and the creative team behind Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman didn’t work together to create a television event related to the show. This idea actually would have made sense, especially since Hallmark Hall of Fame was broadcast on the same network as Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman during the show’s lifespan.

    Hallmark Hall of Fame’s A Tale of Two Cities poster created by Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions, Marble Arch Productions, Norman Rosemont Productions, and Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

    3. Michael Wincott

    I recently talked about Michael Wincott in my review of an episode from Miami Vice. Based on his performances I’ve seen, Michael has consistently displayed an understanding, as well as control, over his character’s emotions. His adaptability has also been very chameleon-like. If given the opportunity to star in a Hallmark Hall of Fame film, I believe Michael could have helped create a character with a captivating presence. Even though the movies in the Hallmark Hall of Fame collection were primarily dramatic in tone, various genres were covered within this series. Therefore, I think Michael’s acting talents could have been best utilized in a film from either the historical fiction, western, or mystery genre.

    4. Bai Ling

    I’ve seen several projects from Bai Ling’s filmography, including the 2001 Hallmark movie, The Lost Empire/The Monkey King. The one consistent strength I have noticed within these projects is Bai’s strong sense of emotionality. Whether in a made-for-tv movie or a theatrically released title, Bai’s understanding and utilization of her character’s emotions have added depth to her performances. I could have seen this acting strength incorporated into a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, especially since, like I mentioned earlier, movies in the Hallmark Hall of Fame collection were primarily dramatic in tone. Since I have seen Bai star in at least one film from the mystery and fantasy genre, it would have been interesting to see what a fantasy or mystery Hallmark Hall of Fame movie starring Bai would have looked like. Or perhaps the Hallmark Hall of Fame collection could have given her a chance to tackle a genre I haven’t seen her appear in before.

    5. Vincent Perez

    If you have followed 18 Cinema Lane long enough, you would know one of the best movies ever reviewed on the blog was Swept from the Sea. Vincent Perez’s portrayal of Yanko is one of the reasons why. There were times in Swept from the Sea where, by utilizing emotion, he was able to say so much without saying anything at all. Vincent’s acting versatility not only made his performance captivating, it was also both heart-warming and heart-breaking. I’ve liked his performance from his other movies I have seen, from his emotional intensity in The Crow: City of Angels to his sincerity in Cyrano de Bergerac. Even in 2004’s Frankenstein (a movie I didn’t like), Vincent’s performance is one of the few good aspects of that film. I guess the 1998 HBO movie, Shot Through the Heart, is the closest thing to seeing Vincent in a Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation I’ll ever get.

    Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Caroline? poster created by Hallmark Hall of Fame productions, CBS, and Republic Pictures Home Video

    6. Jasmine Guy

    Whenever I think of Jasmine Guy, I think of her portrayal of Kathleen on Touched by An Angel. I also think about how strong Jasmine’s performance was on that show. Kathleen became a character I looked forward to seeing appear on screen. This was the result of the expressiveness, sassiness, and charisma Jasmine brought to her role. She even had good on-screen chemistry will Bill Nunn in the Touched by An Angel episode, “Lost and Found”, as it sold the concept of Kathleen and Bill’s character, Frank, being compatible, under different circumstances. Since Touched by An Angel was more dramatic in tone, like the Hallmark Hall of Fame collection, Jasmine’s portrayal of Kathleen gave me an idea how Jasmine’s acting talents could have been utilized within a Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation.

    7. Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje

    Fans of the television show, Lost, will recognize Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as the actor who portrayed Mr. Eko. Adewale’s performance on that show is one of the reasons why I liked Mr. Eko as a character. His captivating presence commanded attention from the audience, which sometimes made Mr. Eko intimidating. Yet, the kind-hearted and thoughtful persona Adewale gave to Mr. Eko also allowed his character to be approachable, making the audience want to get to know Mr. Eko and see where the story took him next. Adewale’s acting versatility would have been such a valuable asset in a Hallmark Hall of Fame project. What also worked in Adewale’s favor is his chemistry with the other cast members on Lost. This acting element would have been beneficial to any Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, especially since some films from Hallmark Hall of Fame featured ensemble casts.

    Redwood Curtain poster created by Chris/Rose Productions, Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions, American Broadcasting Company (ABC), and Republic Pictures (II)

    8. Hayley Mills

    Hayley Mills was at the height of her popularity in the 1960s. Plus, based on her performances I have seen, Hayley has been able to utilize her expressions and emotions to make her characters seem as believable as possible. With these facts in mind, I’m surprised Hallmark Hall of Fame didn’t try to capitalize on Hayley’s popularity and talent by offering her a role in one of their films. When it comes to Hallmark Hall of Fame’s movies from the 1960s, I haven’t seen any of them. But based on my research, it appears these projects were either adaptations of plays, literature, or historical events. Because Hayley has starred in dramatic films like The Chalk Garden, I believe Hayley’s acting talents could have been incorporated well into one of these genres.

    9. Dulé Hill

    Dulé Hill is best known for his role as Burton “Gus” Guster from the television show, Psych. However, I’m more familiar with his performance on Suits as Alex Williams. Though it’s been a while since I’ve seen Suits, I remember Alex was introduced later in the show’s lifespan. Despite this, Dulé’s adaptability allowed his character to share chemistry with the other characters, making me as a viewer feel like Alex was always meant to be on the show. Dulé’s television experience, as well as his experience alongside an ensemble cast, worked in his favor. These acting qualities and Dulé’s name recognition from Psych could have given a Hallmark Hall of Fame film a built-in audience. Plus, I have heard Dulé is a tap dancer, so maybe Hallmark Hall of Fame could have incorporated his dancing talents into a musical.

    10. Joanne Whalley

    Back in 1994, Joanne Whalley starred in the movie/mini-series, Scarlett. When I reviewed it back in 2021, I said the mini-series/movie was a competently made project where the creative team behind it clearly knew what they were doing. This statement holds true for Joanne’s performance, as she did a fine job with the acting material provided. Since Hallmark was one of Scarlett’s distributors and since the movie/mini-series premiered on the same network Hallmark Hall of Fame’s movies aired on, it would have made sense if Joanne had been chosen to star in a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie. I’ve also seen Joanne star in at least one historical fiction and one fantasy film, which are two genres that have been explored within the Hallmark Hall of Fame collection. But, for whatever reason, the opportunity to work on a Hallmark Hall of Fame project never came to fruition for Joanne.

    Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Christmas Everlasting poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel. Image found at https://www.crownmediapress.com/Shows/PRShowDetail?SiteID=142&FeedBoxID=845&NodeID=302&ShowType=&ShowTitle=Christmas+Everlasting

    Have fun at the movies!

    Sally Silverscreen

    Take 3: Heart of a Stranger Review + 495 Follower Thank You

    On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

    Here at 18 Cinema Lane, some of my most popular content is Hallmark related. In fact, the top three most viewed articles are two of my Sunset Over Hope Valley re-cap posts and my list of the top ten worst Hallmark movies of all time. This popularity can sometimes overshadow other genres of film as well as other made-for-TV networks. One of those networks is Lifetime. Throughout my six years of blogging, I’ve reviewed Lifetime’s movies so infrequently. So, to kind of make up for that, I selected the 2002 picture, Heart of a Stranger, for this Blog Follower Dedication Review! While I had seen this film years ago, I had vague recollections of it. All I remembered was how the protagonist received heart surgery and that the protagonist and her daughter wanted to see The Nutcracker. Since my last two Blog Follower Dedication Reviews featured films that were new to me, I thought revisiting a picture from yesteryear would be a nice change. Let’s talk about Heart of a Stranger so we can get to the heart of this review!

    Heart of a Stranger poster created by Fogwood Films, Von Zerneck-Sertner Films, and Lifetime Television

    Things I liked about the film:

    The acting: In the introduction of my review, I mentioned how Heart of a Stranger’s protagonist received heart surgery and that the protagonist and her daughter wanted to see The Nutcracker. This story revolves around a mother and daughter’s changing relationship after the mother receives a heart transplant. Jane Seymour’s and Maggie Lawson’s performance created a believable familial relationship. That is what made the crux of the story work. At a local restaurant, Maggie’s character, Amanda, is excited by how her violin performance turned out. Jane’s character, Jill, is proud of her daughter. Their big smiles and warm demeanor are soon followed by changed feelings when Amanda makes a confession to her mother. Jill’s initial confusion transforms into anger as she and her daughter get into an argument. During this argument, Amanda’s frustrations are on full display, from the sharp tone in her voice to her eyes intensely focusing on her mother. Maggie and Jane helped make the scene I just described feel realistic!

    Not only did Jane and Maggie create a believable familial relationship, their individual performances are believable as well! A perfect example is when Jill goes to a local car wash. Before the car wash process begins, Jill excitedly tells her daughter over the phone how she’s about to do a mundane task like going to the car wash. The reason for Jill’s excitement is how, before her heart surgery, she used to be too sick to run errands. But as the car wash continues, Jill receives flashbacks she believes are from her heart donor. These flashbacks, along with being in a confined space, cause Jill to become nervous. Her eyes, filled with concern, quickly scan her surroundings. Jill also develops a frown out of worry. Eventually, her emotions get the better of her as she runs out of her car mid-car wash. The scene ends with Jill flinching from a car wash employee. The way Jane used her acting talents to adapt to the changing emotions in that scene was fluid and never missed a beat. Jane and Maggie worked as a team carrying this film!

    Amanda’s subplot: Like I previously mentioned, Jill receives a heart transplant. The surgery is not only a success, it allows Jill’s view on life to change. Amanda’s perspective on life is also impacted because of her mother’s newfound health. In her subplot, Amanda is trying to apply for a music conservatory. To prevent burnout and fatigue, she learns a new musical style from performers at a local restaurant. Using music as a compass to guide Amanda’s new journey was, in my opinion, a smart creative choice. Through Maggie’s performance as well as the screenwriting, Amanda’s dedication for her craft turned into motivation to mold her own future! This subplot also gave Amanda character development as she slowly, but surely gained independence.

    The honesty surrounding post-surgery: Made-for-TV movies about characters receiving transplants usually build up to the transplant surgery. Because the story’s climax is the aforementioned surgery, there is little to no time to highlight the characters’ life post-surgery. In Heart of a Stranger, Jill’s surgery takes place at the beginning of the movie, with the rest of the film showing Jill adapting to her new heart and health. Throughout the story, Amanda reminds her mother to take her medicine prescribed after surgery. Even though the surgery was successful, Jill follows doctor’s orders to prevent her body from rejecting her new heart. Later in the film, Jill attends a support group with other transplant patients. This part of the story addresses loneliness that could occur after experiencing a major medical transformation. Weaving honesty into Heart of a Stranger presents a more realistic depiction of patients receiving transplant organs. For viewers unfamiliar with this medical process, the movie may give them an idea of what transplant patients may experience.

    Heartbeat image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/medical-logo_763775.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/logo”>Logo vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

    What I didn’t like about the film:

    An overshadowed mystery: According to a synopsis I read for Heart of a Stranger, the movie is about Jill trying to solve the mystery of who donated her heart. This is what led me to believe the story would emphasize Jill’s search for her donor. But when I revisited this film, I discovered the creative team chose to prioritize Jill’s new perspective on life after heart transplant surgery. I recognize how important that part of the story is, especially how it connects to the theme of taking advantage of second chances. However, the emphasis on Jill’s new perspective on life not only caused the mystery of Jill’s donor to, sometimes, be overshadowed, it gave the mystery a lack of urgency. While the mystery did get solved, I wish that had been the story’s main focus.

    Unresolved parts of the story: As I just said in my previous point, the mystery of Jill’s donor was, sometimes, overshadowed because Jill’s new perspective on life was prioritized. But the aforementioned mystery is not the only overlooked part of the story. After unsuccessfully searching for information on Jill’s donor, Beth, a friend of Jill’s, shares her disapproval with Jill over locating the donor and their family. The rest of the story does not revisit this disapproval, despite showing Beth sharing Thanksgiving dinner with Jill. Later in the movie, Amanda has a fight with her boyfriend, Billy. Since this situation took place toward the end of the movie, there is little to no time to resolve this conflict. The creative team should had taken the time to tie up these loose ends instead of putting most of their eggs in one basket.

    Brian’s subplot: One of Jill’s friends is a restaurant manager named Brian. When she visits the restaurant he works for, Brian shares with Jill his dream of starting his own restaurant. He even encourages her to become co-owner of the establishment. Despite this subplot receiving a satisfying conclusion, it was ignored for most of the movie. Even Brian himself made very few appearances in the story. The emphasis of Jill’s new perspective on life prevented Brian’s subplot from receiving a bigger role in Heart of a Stranger.

    Blue sparkly Christmas tree image created by Macrovector at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/frame”>Frame vector created by Macrovector – Freepik.com</a>. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/merry-christmas-card_2875396.htm’>Designed by Macrovector</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

    My overall impression:

    Before I share my thoughts on Heart of a Stranger, I want to thank all the followers of 18 Cinema Lane! Whenever it’s time to write a Blog Follower Dedication Review, I try to select movies that I feel good about recommending. I would actually suggest this 2002 made-for-TV production as an ‘alternative Christmas movie’. While the story leads up to Christmas, the holiday is not the story’s primary focus. Instead, the film prioritizes a mother and daughter’s life post heart transplant surgery, as well as the mother’s new perspective on life. At best, Heart of a Stranger is a fine, decent movie. The depiction of patients receiving transplant organs is more realistic due to the honesty woven into the story. Maggie’s and Jane’s performance helped create a believable familial relationship. But compared to the types of films Lifetime creates today, especially in the 2020s, Heart of a Stranger is more mundane and pedestrian. This would explain why the network has moved away from creating movies like this one.

    Overall score: 7 out of 10

    Have you seen Heart of a Stranger? Are there any older Lifetime movies you’d like to see me review? Let me know in the comment section!

    Have fun at the movies!

    Sally Silverscreen

    Take 3: Lake Effects Review

    On By 18cinemalane3 Comments

    ‘Family Vacation Films’, that’s the theme of August’s Genre Grandeur. When one mentions this subject, the idea of happy times or fun destinations usually come to mind. What also comes to mind is how a family chooses to go on these trips, mostly to have a good experience. But what if a family takes a vacation out of necessity? And what if it wasn’t possible for that family to take a literal trip? Perhaps a “staycation” would have to be in order. A figurative trip away from personal hardships, doubt, and stresses of everyday life. This is the case of Lake Effects, the movie I’ve selected for this month’s event. While Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia, could be a vacation spot, the protagonist and her family live in that location. But due to a family tragedy, they are forced to take a break from their daily lives. Whether a family vacation is close to home or travels abroad, what’s important are memories shared together.

    Lake Effects poster created by Life Out Loud Films (LOL), Hallmark Channel, and Anchor Bay Entertainment 

    Things I liked about the film:

    The acting: Around the time of this film’s release, 2012, Jane Seymour appeared in several Hallmark productions. Whether starring in Dear Prudence and Perfectly Prudence or in a supporting role in A Royal Christmas, these roles have been enjoyable to watch. In Lake Effects, Jane’s portrayal of Vivian was one of the strongest performances in this movie! A tradition Vivian and her husband, Ray, shared was Ray giving Vivian a pink rose every Friday. While cleaning out the closet, Vivian finds a box of old roses from Ray. Out of the blue, she starting sobbing. Because of Ray’s death, all Vivian’s bottled-up feelings bubbled over.

    Another strong performance came from Scottie Thompson, who portrayed the protagonist, Sara. While sharing a drink with her sister, Lily, Sara reminisces over memories of her father. But when she remembers a secret her father kept from the family, Sara’s demeanor quickly changes. Her face falls in a serious expression, not sugarcoating anything she’s saying. Sara’s tone of voice is also serious, attempting to get Lily to see things from her perspective.

    I was pleasantly surprised by Ben Savage’s performance in Lake Effects. His character, Carl, was very different from his portrayal of Corey Matthews from Boy Meets World and Girl Meets World. Carl was an enthusiastic man who was passionate about finding a mythical creature called the Smithy. But there are times when he can be awkward. This is the case when being interviewed by a television host. During the interview, Carl has a blank look on his face, unsure of what to do. Sitting tense on a couch, Carl is nervous about being filmed, especially since he’s never been interviewed before. What made this performance work was how believable it was.

    The scenery: At the end of Lake Effects, on-screen text states the movie was “filmed entirely on location at Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia”. As someone who never knew this location existed until I watched this movie, I was impressed by the natural beauty it had to offer! The film opens with the sun rising over the lake. The peach-gray glow of the rising sun reflected off the water, creating a peaceful environment. In an overhead, cutaway shot, the lake was shown during the day. The clear, blue water was surrounded by green lawns and a mixture of green and orange trees. Topped off with a clear sky, this location appeared inviting!

    Evening view from the shore image created by 0melapics at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/landscape-in-a-swamp-at-night_1042860.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by 0melapics – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

    What I didn’t like about the film:

    On-the-nose music: As I’ve stated before, music can highlight a scene’s intended mood and elevate emotions among the characters. Even if there are lyrics within the music, those songs should appropriately fit what’s happening on screen. But in the case of Lake Effects, the music was so on-the-nose, it was, honestly, cringey. One example happens when Sara and Lily are sharing drinks at a local restaurant. A live band performs a song containing the lyrics “there’s a storm that’s brewing outside”. A few minutes later, Sara shares Ray’s secret, causing animosity between her and Lily. Because this happened on more than one occasion, the on-the-nose music became annoying.

    Inconsistent elements: There were some elements of the story that were inconsistent. Technology was one of them. When Sara is arriving at Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia, she is experiencing technical issues with her Bluetooth earpiece. She even says “is it still stringing tin cans around here”? A few scenes later, Sara accepts a call on her cell phone in her parents’ driveway. Based on that short call, it seems like her phone is working perfectly fine. As I already mentioned, Sara has a Bluetooth earpiece, as well as a cell phone. This phone looks like a smartphone from around the early 2010s. Meanwhile, Carl receives a call on a flip-phone from the previous decade. In one scene, a cassette boombox was featured at an event. With all that said, it seems like Hallmark forgot when Lake Effects was meant to take place.

    Too many cliches: Back in 2020, I reviewed JL Family Ranch: The Wedding Gift. One of the flaws of that film was how many Hallmark movie cliches were featured in the story. Lake Effects has the exact same issue. The 2012 production was filled with cliches typically found in Hallmark Channel movies. A few of these cliches are the “woman from the city coming back to her small hometown” cliché, the “save the (insert establishment here)” cliché, the “business person is a jerk and/or out of touch” cliché, and the “small town festival conveniently taking place” cliché. What’s frustrating about Lake Effects is how it was originally shown on what is now known as Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. This second network has historically created films that were more dramatic and serious from Hallmark Channel’s lighter content. The inclusion of these cliches made the purpose of this story confusing. Was this film meant to be a Hallmark Channel movie, but Hallmark ended up premiering it on the second channel? Or was Lake Effects always meant to have a serious tone, border-lining Hallmark Hall of Fame?

    So many story ideas: Like I just mentioned, there were too many cliches found in Lake Effects. These cliches lent themselves to several story ideas. Because of the inclusion of the “save the (insert establishment here)” cliché, part of the story revolved around Sara attempting to save her family’s home. Since so much emphasis was given to this part of the plot, other story ideas weren’t fully developed. In Smith Mountain Lake, there was a group called the “She-Doos”. This group consisted of women who take occasional trips on their jet-skis. With the “She-Doos”, there was an interesting story idea waiting to come to fruition. Unfortunately, it was competing with several other story ideas, trying to win over the audience’s attention.

    Colorful travel suitcase image created by Pikisuperstar at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/beautiful-illustration-of-travel_2686674.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/watercolor”>Watercolor vector created by Pikisuperstar – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

    My overall impression:

    Lake Effects is a movie Hallmark fans typically don’t talk about. It also seems to have been forgotten over the years. Now that I’ve seen the film, I think I have an idea why this is the case. The 2012 title is uninspiring. It’s filled with too many cliches, but doesn’t take the initiative to try anything new. Lake Effects attempts to adopt many different stories. However, the execution of these stories was weak. I will admit the scenery was aesthetically pleasing. But, as I’ve said before on 18 Cinema Lane, “the scenery can’t save you”. Like I’ve also said, a film’s script can make or break a production. If the script isn’t strong, there’s only so much a creative team can do to remedy the issue. While watching Lake Effects, there were a few story ideas trying to burst out of the murkiness of poor content. Sadly, these ideas couldn’t reach above the surface.

    Overall score: 4.5 out of 10

    Have you seen Lake Effects? Are there any lesser known Hallmark movies you’d like to see me review? Please tell me in the comment section!

    Have fun at the movies!

    Sally Silverscreen