Rosalind Chao Movies
A first-generation Californian, Rosalind Chao's parents ran a successful restaurant near Disneyland. It was Chao's father who encouraged her to audition for her first acting role on the early-'70s TV sitcom Here's Lucy. Enrolling in the communications department at U.S.C., Chao hoped to go into broadcasting, but returned to acting after a disillusioning year at the CBS-owned radio station in Hollywood. Remembering her work on an episode of the 1972 TV series Anna and the King, producer Burt Metcalfe hired Chao to portray Soon-Lee, the Korean war bride of Corporal Klinger (Jamie Farr), in the climactic episodes of the long-running M*A*S*H. She would repeat this role in the short-lived (1983-1984) spin-off series After M*A*S*H. Chao has also been seen as Miss Chung on Diff'rent Strokes (1982-1983) and Keiko O'Brien, the wife of transport chief Miles O'Brien (Colm Meaney) in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1992-1994) and Star Trek: Deep Space 9 (1992-1993). Rosalind Chao's later film roles include Rose in The Joy Luck Club (1993) and "the Chinese Mom" in North (1994). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Filmmaker Bill Guttentag takes a closer look at the atrocities committed by the Japanese after Nanking fell to the Imperial Japanese Army in 1937 with this documentary that was inspired by Iris Chang's novel The Rape of Nanking. Compiled from over 700 hours of footage including news-reel footage, interviews with survivors and soldiers, and staged readings, Nanking was financed in large by millionaire Ted Leonsis, who had read Chang's obituary and subsequently been prompted to read the author's best-selling account of the massacre. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hugo Armstrong, Rosalind Chao, (more)
A former high-school track star who has taken to staving off reality with the all-too-occasional cocktail must summon the strength to save his marriage and pull back from the abyss when his friends and family stage an intervention that goes horribly awry. Michael Elgin (Eion Bailey) may have been a master of the track back in high school, but now he's hit his thirties and his once-perfect form has devolved into a depressing drunken stumble. Life after high school just wasn't what he expected, and when his wife (Ellen Pompeo) threatens to walk out while his career hangs by a thread Michael simply drinks away the pain. Michael isn't alone in life though, and when he crashes his best friend's car and emerges miraculously unscathed the people who care for him most plan an emergency intervention. When Michael arrives home one day to find his friends and family waiting for him it appears as if the jig is up, but the psychiatrist who was supposed to lead the intervention proves a no-show and crafty Michael skillfully convinces his guests to stay and party. Some things just aren't a laughing matter though, and as tensions flare and bottled-up secrets spill Michael finally begins to realize just how dire his situation has truly become. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eion Bailey, Ellen Pompeo, (more)
A couple who live on different sides of the divide of life and death discover just how many boundaries love can cross in this romantic comic fantasy. Elizabeth (Reese Witherspoon) is a hardworking and dedicated medical resident who, after 20 hours on duty, is heading home when she falls asleep at the wheel of her car and is involved in a fatal auto accident. Several weeks later, a man named David (Mark Ruffalo) takes over the lease on Elizabeth's apartment, but he discovers that she hasn't quite vacated the building. Elizabeth's body may be dead, but her spirit is still quite lively, and her ghost is insisting that the apartment is still hers...and that she wants him to move out. David brings in Darryl (Jon Heder), an eccentric man who claims to have psychic powers, to help sweep Elizabeth's spirit out of the apartment, but she refuses to budge, certain that she can't be completely dead, despite all evidence to the contrary. As Elizabeth and David try to share the flat, they discover that their differences aren't as great as they once imagined, and they become attracted to one another. But will Elizabeth's spirit stay in the land of the living long enough for their romance to go somewhere? Just Like Heaven marked Jon Heder's first feature film role after his breakthrough appearance in the independent hit Napoleon Dynamite. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Reese Witherspoon, Mark Ruffalo, (more)
- 2004
Is Jimmy (Tate Donovan) ready and able to reopen the Lighthouse restaurant with Sandy (Peter Gallagher) as his partner -- or is there a hidden problem that may end this business enterprise before it begins? Meanwhile, Summer's (Rachel Bilson) new relationship with another "funny" guy, Danny (Bret Harrison), gets Seth (Adam Brody) riled up; and Julie (Melinda Clarke) has found work as a designer -- and a potential enemy in the form of Kirsten (Kelly Rowan). As for Ryan (Ben McKenzie), he is prepared to risk everything in his life that he holds dear, if only to expose Oliver Trask (Taylor Handley) as a phony. ~ All Movie Guide
- 2003
Resuming its first-season run after a six-week hiatus, The O.C. picks up shortly after the disastrous "vacation" in Tijuana. As Marissa (Mischa Barton) recovers from her drug overdose, her mother, Julie (Melinda Clarke), accuses Ryan (Ben McKenzie) of causing Marissa's pain -- oblivious to the fact that it was Julie's divorce from Jimmy (Tate Donovan), along with Marissa's boyfriend Luke's (Chris Carmack) betrayal, that set Marissa off. Meanwhile, Ryan's "foster father," Sandy (Peter Gallagher), is faced with a daunting workload at his new job, and Sandy's wife, Kirsten (Kelly Rowan), is none too thrilled with her husband's co-worker Rachel Hoffman (Bonnie Somerville). As the episode draws to a close, Ryan's fall enrollment in Newport's prestigious Harbor High School is placed in jeopardy, not least by the school's highly judgmental dean, Dr. Kim (Rosalind Chao); and Marissa faces the likelihood of being sent away from the O.C. permanently. ~ All Movie Guide
- 2003
Gossip buzzes like a swarm of bees on the first day back at Harbor High School. Thanks largely to his vindictive rival Luke (Chris Carmack), new student Ryan (Ben McKenzie) feels like the proverbial square peg in a round hole. Ultimately, Marissa (Mischa Barton) is forced to choose between Ryan and Luke, and her decision may spark yet another punch-fest. Meanwhile, Summer (Rachel Bilson) feigns indifference to Seth (Adam Brody), and as a consequence may lose him to Anna (Samaire Armstrong). And outside the walls of the school, Sandy's (Peter Gallagher) newest legal case threatens to cause friction between his wife, Kirsten (Kelly Rowan), and her father, Caleb. ~ All Movie Guide
A high-strung mom and her punky daughter learn what it's like to walk in each other's shoes -- literally -- in Disney's second update of their 1977 teen fantasy comedy. The new-millennium Freaky Friday has disgruntled teen Anna Coleman (Lindsay Lohan) living, sans father, with her uptight therapist-author mom Tess (Jamie Lee Curtis) and bratty brother Harry (Ryan Malgarini). The angst between the two reaches a fever pitch on the eve of Tess' wedding rehearsal: Anna wants to ditch the proceedings for an all-important band audition, but Tess sees the conflict as a show of resentment toward imminent step-dad Ryan (Mark Harmon). When the whole clan goes out to dinner at their favorite Chinese restaurant, their sage waitress (Lucille Soong) picks up on the tension between the mother and daughter and casts a spell on them via two magic fortune cookies. The next day, Tess and Anna must put up with life in each other's bodies -- until, as the fortune says, they can come to a greater understanding of one another. Freaky Friday was previously remade for TV in 1995 with Shelley Long and Gaby Hoffman in the leads. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jamie Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan, (more)
- 2003
Season Two of Monk begins as television's favorite obsessive-compulsive detective (Tony Shalhoub) hires on as a substitute teacher at Ashton High School. This enables him to investigate the death of English teacher Beth Landow (Erica Yoder), who fell from the school's clock tower while most of the students were taking a Saturday-morning SAT exam. Principal Arlene Cassidy (Rosalind Chao) doesn't buy the official theory that Beth committed suicide--and neither does Monk, once he's perused certain bits of evidence overlooked by the police (including a suicide note filled with grammatical errors). In a further complication, the Most Likely Suspect has an airtight alibi: He was proctoring the SATs in full view of a roomful of students at the time Beth fell! With this episode, Kane Ritchotte returns to the role of Benjy Fleming, the son of Monk's loyal nurse-assistant Sharona Fleming (Bitty Schram). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
James Cromwell starred on this weekly, hour-long drama series as veteran politician Elliott Baines. After three successful terms as senator, Baines is cast adrift when a fourth-term bid comes a cropper. Knowing no other life but politics, the widowed Baines returns home to Seattle, there to contend with the exigencies of being a private citizen -- and to reestablish family ties with his three grown, estranged daughters. Yes, the whole thing sounded a lot like King Lear, which of course was the producers' intention. Also in the cast were Embeth Davidtz as Baines' lawyer daughter, Ellen; Jane Adams as Baines' unhappily married "middle child" Reeva; and Jacinda Barrett as youngest daughter Dori, the obligatory iconoclastic "bohemian." Originally titled The Second Act, Citizen Baines was to have made its CBS debut on September 22, 2001, but was moved to September 29 due to TV coverage of the World Trade Center bombing. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Cromwell, Embeth Davidtz, (more)
How does a man convince the woman he loves that attempting to make him the toast of Broadway could be a really bad idea? Paul Halpern (David Paymer) is a cynical, middle-aged comedy writer who primarily works in television. Paul once had dreams of becoming a successful playwright, but after a passionate, short-lived relationship with a beautiful woman, he wrote a stage drama that became a notorious flop when it was presented for the first (and only) time by a Los Angeles theater company. Paul has come to believe that his play is cursed, and he has spent years trying to distance himself from the ill-fated project. Paul is more single than he'd like to be these days, and he's encouraged when he's approached by Carla (Rosalind Chao), an attractive, intelligent woman who seems quite fond of him. However, while Carla is attracted to Paul personally, she also has a professional interest in him. Carla is a director who wants to stage Paul's play in New York, and while he'd like to make her happy, he thinks it would be inviting disaster to put his drama back on the boards. Enemies of Laugher also features Judge Reinhold as a filmmaker directing a documentary about Paul, Peter Falk and Bea Arthur as Paul's parents, and cameos from Marilu Henner and Kathy Griffin. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Paymer, Judge Reinhold, (more)
- 1999
With this episode, recurring character "Dr. Dave" Malucci (Erik Palladino) becomes a regular. Elsewhere, John Cullum returns as Greene's (Anthony Edwards) cantankerous father, who arrives in Chicago from San Diego -- and promptly gets lost. As Kovac (Goran Visnjic) and Weaver (Laura Innes) try to save the life of a rape victim, Corday (Alex Kingston) puts her career on the line as she tends to the rapist. Lucy (Kellie Martin) has reasons to be reluctant to release the leader of a choir that has been injured in a bus accident. Finch (Michael Michele) tests teenager Chad Kottmeier (Emile Hirsch) for possible drug abuse. And before exiting the ER, the benighted Gabe Lawrence (Alan Alda) rises to the challenge of an extremely problematic medical emergency. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Based on a metaphysical 1978 novel by science fiction and horror author Richard Matheson, this romantic fantasy-drama won an Oscar for its expensive and impressive visual vistas depicting an imaginative afterlife. Robin Williams stars as Chris Nielsen, a doctor who has suffered with his artist wife Annie (Annabella Sciorra) through the devastating loss of their children, Marie and Ian, who were killed in a car accident. Although Annie's all-consuming depression nearly destroyed their marriage, the couple rebuilt their relationship and are now living out a comfortable middle age. Stopping one night to help a motorist in a wreck, Chris is struck by a car and killed. At first confused about where he is, Chris meets Albert (Cuba Gooding Jr.), a spiritual guide who helps him to realize he's passed away and that he must move on to the next world. After trying with only limited success to communicate with the devastated Annie, Chris moves on and discovers an afterlife that can become whatever one envisions, where even his pet dog awaits him. What Chris envisions as paradise are the paintings of his wife, and he happily takes up residence there, awaiting the far-off day when Annie will eventually join him. He also meets his children, although they have chosen different appearances than the ones they had in life. Then tragedy strikes when Annie, inconsolable, commits suicide and goes to Hell. Although it is rarely done, Chris insists on traveling there, risking his eternal soul to save the woman he loves. Accompanied part of the way by Albert and a wizened guide called The Tracker (Max von Sydow), Chris finally reaches Annie in Hell, and must convince her of the truth in order to release her from her dark prison. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robin Williams, Cuba Gooding, Jr., (more)
Wim Wenders directed this allegorical drama about the emotional impact of violence in our culture, set against the backdrop of California's entertainment business. Mike Max (Bill Pullman) is a Hollywood producer who has earned a great deal of money and power in the film industry through his success with a series of brutally violent action pictures. While Max can juggle any number of tasks while working, he can't find time for his wife Paige (Andie MacDowell), and when she announces that she's divorcing him, he admits to himself (but not to her) that he deliberately put her through emotional trauma; Paige leaves to do volunteer work in the Third World, hoping to bring new meaning to her life. Very little reaches Max on an emotional level until Cat (Traci Lind), a stunt performer, is seriously injured on the set of Max's latest project. Not long after, Max is first car-jacked, then kidnapped by a pair of desperate thugs. He escapes and is given shelter by a group of Mexican-American gardeners. Wanting to retreat from the physical and spiritual violence that has become a key part of his life, Max opts to work with the gardening crew and stay away from his old life, remaining "missing" in the eyes of the world as he searches for a new life. Meanwhile, Max and his secretary Claire (Rosiland Chao) become aware of a secret plan that Ray Bering (Gabriel Byrne) has prepared for the city of Los Angeles, which will essentially put the entire town under constant surveillance, with the goal of ending violent crime once and for all. Frederic Forrest, Udo Kier, and legendary director Samuel Fuller also star; Ry Cooder composed the film's striking original score. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bill Pullman, Andie MacDowell, (more)
- 1997
Carrying Keiko and O'Brien's child in her womb, Kira goes into labor, resulting in a flurry of activity and interest amongst her fellow crew members. The only person unaffected by the excitement is Odo, who has his hands full with his own baby, a Changeling infant who he has purchased from Quark. As Odo struggles with the trials and tribulations of parenthood, his former mentor and eternal nemesis, Dr. Mora (James J. Sloyan) arrives. Written by Rene Echevarria, "The Begotten" first aired January 27, 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Returning from his home planet, Quark announces that he has contacted the dreaded disease Dorek Syndrome. With only a week to live, Quark must, according to Ferengi custom, square all his debts before shuffling off his mortal coil. Meanwhile, a pregnant Keiko loses her unborn child in an accident, only to discover that the fetus has been transferred to Kira. Scripted by Hans Beimler from a story by Louis P. DeSantis and Robert J. Bolivar and directed by Avery Brooks, "Body Parts" was first telecast June 10, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
O'Brien is in for a shock when his wife Keiko returns from a visit to Bajor. Still speaking in her own voice, Keiko announces that her mind and body have been taken over by a mysterious alien entity. Threatening to murder Keiko from within, the ill-tempered entity demands that O'Brien sabotage DS9's communication and sensor systems. First broadcast October 28, 1996, "The Assignment" was scripted by David Weddle and Bradley Thompson from a story by David R. Long and Robert Lederman. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Directed by series semi-regular Andrew Robinson, this exotically titled Deep Space Nine episode first aired October 14, 1996. Mary Kay Adams guest stars as Grilka, Quark's Klingon ex-wife. Paying a visit to DS9, Grinka unwittingly causes friction when Worf falls in love with her. Meanwhile, O'Brien develops romantic yearnings towards Kira. "Looking for Par'Mach in All the Wrong Places" was written by Ronald D. Moore. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Sydney Carpenter (Vanessa Marcil) has just learned that her husband is a low-down crook. Not long afterward, both Sydney's husband and her son are lost at sea. Though she grieves for her son, there is clearly an air of relief about Sydney whenever she discusses her hubby. Even so, when evidence surfaces that the deaths have been faked and that at least one of the two "victims" may still be alive, Sydney engages the services of a police detective, Jim Sanders (James Wilder), to uncover the truth--this despite the fact that the FBI has ordered Sanders and his department to steer clear of the case. To Love, Honor and Deceive first aired December 15, 1996 on ABC. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vanessa Marcil, James Wilder, (more)
- 1996
Having been given up for lost some 200 years earlier, a Bajoran space vessel suddenly emerges from the wormhole. Its sole passenger is Akorem Laan (Richard Libertini), a legendary Bajoran poet and political activist. Making up for lost time, Akorem claims to be the Emissary of the Prophets, a position currently -- and very reluctantly -- held by Sisko. As Akorem lays the groundwork for a full-scale return to the "old ways," Keiko returns to DS9 with important news for O'Brien. Written by Jane Espenson, "Accession" was first telecast February 26, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Convicted of espionage by the Argathia, O'Brien is punished by having memories of 20 years' imprisonment implanted in his brain. As a result, when he returns to DS9 he is convinced that two decades have passed, and he refuses to be persuaded otherwise. The painful false memories of his prison time not only threaten O'Brien's sanity, but also the safety of his fellow crew members. First broadcast April 15, 1996, "Hard Time" was scripted by Robert Hewitt Wolfe from a story by Daniel Keys Moran and Lynn Barker. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
This made-for-TV movie is staged in the form of an ongoing news report, unfolding in "real time." The year is 2014, and the men and women of the Global News Network are covering the final two hours of the first manned space mission to Mars. Suddenly, before an audience of billions, things begin to go horribly awry: Eugene Slader (Keith Carradine), captain of the spaceship "Destiny", falls ill and the ship's computer malfunctions. But what seems to be an unavoidable tragedy is revealed to be a massive corporate conspiracy when a group of protesters "hijacks" the telecast with the intention of exposing the whole truth. In the tradition of the similar Special Bulletin, the film is capped by a surprise ending that is both shocking and eminently logical. Unfortunately, NBC chose to premiere Special Report: Journey to Mars on March 25, 1996, directly opposite ABC's Academy Awards telecast--meaning that probably the only people who saw it were the Martians (unless, they too, wanted to find out if Bravehart would beat out Apollo 13 for the Best Picture Oscar). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Murder, She Wrote's 241st episode largely takes place in a trendy Fifth Avenue beauty salon. A powerful financier has been found murdered in the establishment, and a hairdresser who has been passing along "trade secrets" is among those suspected. It is possible, however, that a burglar may be the culprit--or that the victim had been involved in a lethal love triangle. Whatever the cast, leave it to Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) to unentangle this "bad hair day" and solve the mystery. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
