John Aylward Movies
Andrew Shea's scabrous and brutal psychological drama Forfeit concerns Frank O'Neal (Billy Burke), a man who once murdered his abusive father as an adolescent, and fled from his home in Los Angeles. Now, after years away from that city, a thirtysomething Frank returns to L.A., accepts a job as an armored car guard, and attempts to re-bond with an old sweetheart, Karen (E.R.'s Sherry Stringfield). But in reality, Frank is a clinical sociopath, scheming and plotting to stage a massive robbery and setting Karen up to take the rap. Frank is also a die-hard religious proselytizer, guided in his pursuits by a domineering, manipulative televangelist who controls everything he says and does. In time, as Frank prepares to execute the robbery, the minister pushes him to the edge of a complete mental breakdown. Gregory Itzin and Wayne Knight (Basic Instinct) co-star. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Billy Burke, Sherry Stringfield, (more)
The prophecy of a worldwide spiritual awakening gradually begins to come into focus in director Armand Mastroianni and screenwriters James Redfield, Barnet Bain, and Dan Gordon's sweeping adaptation of James Redfield's best-selling novel. John Woodson (Matthew Settle) was a high-school history teacher before the loss of his job left him disillusioned and facing an uncertain future. When John is contacted by ex-girlfriend and journalist Charlene (Robyn Cohen), who is currently in town on a brief layover after covering a story in Peru, the pair arrange to meet for dinner and Charlene explains that she has just returned from a remote Eden known as Viciente, where scholars are currently studying a mysterious set of eight ancient scrolls. It was there, continues Charlene, that she came into contact with a priest named Father Jose, who explained to her that the scrolls contain a prophesy written before the birth of Christ and foretell a coming time of enlightenment that will redefine life in the 21st century. Though at first skeptical, John is compelled to book a flight to Peru when Charlene states that she appears to have been drawn to him by a higher power, and a travel brochure on Peru appears in his mailbox the following day. A subsequent encounter with a professor who is also on John's flight and has been studying the scrolls reveals that the scrolls were written in 5 or 6 B.C. and buried in a wooden box that was assembled in the 1600s. Though there was, according to legend, a ninth scroll, it has yet to be recovered. A late-night stroll on the streets of Lima soon leads John into the company of Father Jose, who later disappears after a frightening encounter in which a high-ranking operative holds the priest at gunpoint while insisting that he reveal the location of the lost scroll. Later led to Viciente by the guide who was with Father Jose when the cleric discovered the scrolls, John is haunted by dreams of a remote paradise and a young child, setting into motion a spectacular series of events that will ultimately culminate in a transformation of light that promises to reveal the future of humanity. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Matthew Settle, Thomas Kretschmann, (more)
A fictionalized account of one of America's most groundbreaking sexual harassment lawsuits comes to the screen in this hard-hitting drama. In the late '80s, Josey Aimes (Charlize Theron) fled her abusive husband, and needed to find a way to support her two children. Aimes returned to her hometown in Minnesota and followed the lead of her old friend Glory (Frances McDormand), who had bucked tradition and found a job in the iron mines that had long provided employment for much of the community. Aimes found honest labor and a living wage working the mines, but she also discovered she was working with men who were uncomfortable working with women (whose right to work in the mines had been mandated by law almost 15 years prior), and didn't care to show them much respect. However, as Aimes found herself the growing target of sexist jokes and abhorrent behavior, she found that many of her female co-workers were reluctant to stand beside her, afraid of losing a good-paying job at a time when they were increasingly hard to find. But as a personal crisis became a public war of words, Aimes became the center of a nationwide controversy when she attempted to file a class action sexual harassment suit against the mine owners, which put her and her family in a position of scrutiny beyond her worst expectations. North Country also stars Sean Bean, Sissy Spacek, and Woody Harrelson. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charlize Theron, Frances McDormand, (more)
Director Peyton Reed and screenwriters Eve Ahlert and Dennis Drake pay homage to the frothy romantic comedies of the early '60s -- in particular the Doris Day/Rock Hudson vehicles -- in this light-hearted and affectionate spoof. Barbara Novak (Renée Zellweger) is a sweet but savvy small-town librarian who has arrived in New York City with big plans to take on the town. Embracing a feminist philosophy years before it becomes common or fashionable, Novak writes a book called "Down With Love," in which she presents her theory that romantic relationships cause more problems than they solve for women, and urges women to focus instead on what will truly make them happy -- self-reliance, a solid career, and a healthy sex life (or chocolate if the latter is unavailable at the moment). Almost overnight, "Down With Love" becomes a minor scandal and a major bestseller, but not every man is America is happy with the new breed of liberated (and demanding) women spawned by the book's success, and Catcher Block (Ewan McGregor), a lady-killing bachelor who writes for Know Magazine, decides to put Novak to the test. Posing as a shy, retiring type, Block is determined to make Novak fall in love with him, and then share the details with the world through an article in Know. Block's editor Peter MacMannus (David Hyde-Pierce) thinks this is a splendid idea, but to Block's distress, he discovers himself developing real feelings for Novak. Down With Love also features Tony Randall, who significantly appeared in three films with Rock Hudson and Doris Day. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Renée Zellweger, Ewan McGregor, (more)
- 2003
Weaver (Laura Innes) again does a secret favor for "closeted" Chicago politician John Bright (Bruce Weitz) -- this time with disastrous results and calamitous consequences. Elsewhere, Kovac (Goran Visnjic) uses unorthodox methods to get a grip on his personal problems. And the romance between Carter (Noah Wyle) and Abby (Maura Tierney) may be on the rocks. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
Was Abby's (Maura Tierney) bipolar brother piloting the plane that has plunged into Lake Michigan? As Abby agonizes over this possibility, other dramas play themselves out at the ER. A teenaged driver who may have deliberately run down her taunting classmates is brought in; Chen (Ming-Na) reveals a hidden chapter of her past; and the disabled Romano (Paul McCrane) reacts violently to some bad news about his future as a surgeon. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
Kovacs' (Goran Visnjic) car accident and disastrous misdiagnosis has left a patient with profound brain damage. While Weaver (Laura Innes) suffers from the side effects of her "secret" pregnancy, Abby (Maura Tierney) covers for her at the ER. The heightened security measures at County General ensnare Pratt (Mekhi Phifer), who is packing a gun -- thereby placing Carter (Noah Wyle) in an unenviable position. Gallant (Sharif Atkins) squares off against the mercenary young bride (Sofia Milos) of an elderly patient (Patrick Cranshaw). And Lewis (Sherry Stringfield) keeps a suicide watch on a self-admitted child molester. Edward Asner makes the first of several appearances as Dr. James McNulty, the crusty head of a storefront clinic. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
Season nine of ER begins ten minutes after season eight left off, with the County General ER still in lockdown in the face of a possible smallpox epidemic. Though most of the patients and staffers have been evacuated, a handful are quarantined at the ER for two weeks, among them Carter (Noah Wyle), Abby (Maura Tierney), Chen (Ming-Na), and Pratt (Mekhi Phifer), now a full-fledged series regular. In the midst of the chaos and confusion, Carter and Abby have managed to find the opportunity to lock lips, thereby inaugurating a whole new phase in their relationship. Meanwhile, on the roof of the hospital, Romano (Paul McCrane) throws another temper tantrum, with disastrous consequences when, in mid-rant, he backs into the tail rotor of a helicopter. And in faraway London, the newly widowed Elizabeth Corday (Alex Kingston) has joined her father's business -- but may now be too "Americanized" for her family's tastes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
An infant left in the care of nurse Abby Lockhart (Maura Tierney) is kidnapped from the hospital. A young patient taking steroids is more worried about his father's wrath than his illness. The results of Greene's (Anthony Edwards) competency test are in. The relationship between Weaver (Laura Innes) and Legaspi (Elizabeth Mitchell) reaches an impasse. And Carter (Noah Wyle) makes a surprising discovery about new pediatrics intern Rena (Lourdes Benedicto). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Originally slated to air on September 20, 2001, the eighth-season opener of ER was bumped to September 27 due to ongoing network coverage of the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. This inaugural episode hopscotches through time, presenting its events from several sharply differing points of view. First off, several loose ends from the end of season seven are wrapped up, notably the aftermath of Greene's (Anthony Edwards) decision to "terminate" a man who had killed several people before being shot himself, and the aftereffects of the treatment given to Cleo Finch (Michael Michele) when she cut her hand on a vial of HIV-infected blood. In new developments, the ER staff treats the victims of a TV talk show brawl; Abby (Maura Tierney) and Carter (Noah Wyle) attend his grandfather's funeral, where Carter is brought into a confrontation with his estranged parents (Michael Gross, Mary McDonnell); Benton (Eriq La Salle) helps his sister Jackie (Khandi Alexander) cope with the death of her son; returning from vacation, Weaver (Laura Innes) worries that she has been "outed" by Romano (Paul McCrane); and Chen (Ming-Na) is appointed chief resident. ~ 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)
Lots of people find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time, but this comic fantasy takes that notion to a whole new level. Count Thibault of Malfete (Jean Reno) is a brave warrior and respected nobleman in 12th century France. Count Thibault has won the heart of the lovely Princess Rosalind (Christina Applegate) and has a loyal servant in the loyal but half-bright Andre (Christian Clavier). But Thibault's world is turned upside down when an aging wizard demonstrates a new potion that can allow people to travel though time. The concoction works a bit too well, and Thibault and Andre find themselves transported to the year 2000, landing in a museum in Chicago where relics of Thibault's reign are on display. Julia, a museum employee who bears a striking resemblance to Princess Rosalind, finds the visitors and becomes their unofficial guide to life in the Windy City at the dawn of the 21st century. Thibault soon discovers that the young woman is actually descended from his family, and he realizes he has to get back to the 12th century before his absence prevents Julia from existing. Andre also discovers that indentured servitude is no longer common in the 21st century, and he and Thibault have to adjust to the American notion of freedom and equal rights for all. Just Visiting is based on the popular French comedy Les Visiteurs; Jean Reno and Christian Clavier reprise their roles from the earlier film, and the director of the original version, Jean-Marie Poire, also helmed this remake; Clavier and Poire collaborated on the script, as they did for Les Visiteurs. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean Reno, Christina Applegate, (more)
- 2000
Veteran screenwriters John Brancato and Michael Ferris created this X-Files-esque supernatural thriller series about a group of psychics who help the haunted and the doomed. Each of the group has their own metaphysical strengths: Warren (Kevin J. O'Connor) is a high-strung psychic, Mark (Gabriel Macht) is a med student with an innate empathy for suffering, Satori (Melissa) uses trendy occult imagery to connect to the supernatural, and Albert (John Aylward) is both grumpy and blind with a heightened sixth sense. The pilot opens with university student Marian (Julianne Nicholson) freaking out over visions of her dorm room's dead former resident. She is invited to sit with the "others" along with Elmer Greentree (Bill Cobbs), a sage-like medium who has the ability to see the afterlife. Soon Marian joins the group and starts ghost-busting. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Julianne Nicholson, Gabriel Macht, (more)
- 2000
In the shattering conclusion of a two-part story, Carter (Noah Wyle) finds Lucy (Kellie Martin) lying in a pool of blood, stabbed and near death. No sooner has this sunk in than Carter is himself attacked and stabbed by Lucy's patient, delusional lawyer Paul Sobricki (David Krumholtz). Both victims are rushed to the operating room -- but only one will emerge alive. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Carter's (Noah Wyle) ongoing personal problems -- including unauthorized injections of pain medication -- culminate in a tense confrontation with the ER staff. Elsewhere, Benton (Eriq La Salle) and Kovac (Goran Visnjic) are helicopter-dropped into a deadly shooting incident at a school, where they are forced into a tough decision as to which shooting victim should be treated first. This final episode of ER's sixth season culminates in a cliffhanger involving a plane flight to Atlanta and two of the aforementioned characters. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Carol (Julianna Margulies) tells Greene (Anthony Edwards) that she is pregnant, and offers some encouraging words to schizophrenic new mother Coco (Sheila Kelley). Jeanie (Gloria Reuben) finds her faith renewed as she cares for Rev. Matthew Lynn (Roscoe Lee Browne). Lucy (Kellie Martin) discovers that her young patient has been overmedicated. Carter (Noah Wyle) mentors a teenager named Antoine Bell (Corey Parker Robinson). And Romano (Paul McCrane) forces Benton (Eriq La Salle) into a crucial decision. There are a few light-hearted moments in this episode -- before everything is literally plunged into darkness. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Teri Garr guest stars as patient Celinda Randlett, who claims to possess the incredible power of seeing "inside" people. In other developments, everyone in the ER finds out that Carol (Julianna Margulies) is pregnant with twins; Weaver (Laura Innes) brings in an abandoned child; Benton (Eriq La Salle) gets more bad news; a teenager (Corey Parker Robinson) whom Carter (Noah Wyle) previously mentored returns as a patient; and Lucy (Kellie Martin) is becoming more and more dependent upon Ritalin. Two romances -- one new, one renewed -- cap this episode, the last of ER's fifth season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
The ER staffers treat three teenagers injured in a fiery car crash while on their way to their prom. An AIDs patient and her son are flown into County General after a fishing mishap. Greene (Anthony Edwards) and Corday (Alex Kingston) grow closer, while Benton (Eriq La Salle) awaits word about the Trauma Fellowship. And amidst all this confusion, the hospital is besieged by obstreperous FBI agents who demand immediate and preferential medical treatment for a wounded stripper -- but is this incredible scenario too "good" to be true? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A man who leaves humanity behind to live with animals returns to society under unpleasant circumstances, but with valuable lessons about human and animal relationships. Anthony Hopkins stars as Ethan Powell, a noted anthropologist studying the behavior of mountain gorillas in Rwanda. The longer Powell follows the apes, the more he comes to admire their simple but peaceful society. He begins to spend most of his time with the apes until one day he ventures into the jungle and doesn't return. Powell throws in his lot with the gorillas and lives among them as primitive man once lived in the wild with animals. However, two years later, poachers kill several of the gorillas, and Powell flies into a murderous rage, killing two of the men who attacked his friends. Extradited to the United States, Powell is sent to a grim maximum-security prison in Florida, where he will be held while awaiting trail. A psychological evaluation must be performed on Powell, and the task falls to Theo Caulder (Cuba Gooding Jr.), an ambitious young psychiatrist who sees this as a case with the potential to make him famous. However, since Powell initially won't speak to anyone, getting through to him will be a challenge, and Powell's daughter Lyn (Maura Tierney) has little insight on the father she barely knew. As Caulder slowly builds a rapport with Powell, he comes to realize what Powell has learned from his experience with the gorillas -- and how much Powell can teach him about living with others. Loosely adapted from the novel Ishmael by Daniel Quinn, Instinct also features supporting performances from Donald Sutherland and George Dzundza. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anthony Hopkins, Cuba Gooding, Jr., (more)
- 1999
Two new doctors join the Emergency staff at Chicago's County General Hospital as ER begins its sixth season: Pediatric resident Cleo Finch (Michael Michele) and Croatian émigré Luka Kovac (Goran Visnjic). Getting things off to a lively start, a truck crash through a coffee shop window results in a larger than usual volume of ER patients. Elsewhere, rumors fly that the prickly Dr. Romano (Paul McCrane) will replace the retiring Dr. Anspaugh as chief of staff -- a contingency that Greene (Anthony Edwards) tries to prevent, only to be ruthlessly undercut by the ambitious Weaver (Laura Innes). John Carter (Noah Wyle) treats his former sister-in-law Elaine (Rebecca De Mornay) after she has a minor accident, thereby triggering a whole new romantic chapter in Carter's life. And Jeanie (Gloria Reuben) receives a marriage proposal. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
As the battle of wills between Greene (Anthony Edwards) and attending physician Gabe Lawrence (Alan Alda) continues, Lucy (Kellie Martin) cannot help but notice that Lawrence is more forgetful than he should be. Expectant mother Carol (Julianna Margulies) extends a helping hand to Meg (Martha Plimpton), a pregnant waitress with no medical insurance. A little girl who has been checked into the ER with iron poisoning causes trouble for Cleo Finch (Michael Michele) and is the unexpected harbinger of tragedy. Brash Dr. Dave (Erik Palladino) has issues while tending to a dying accident victim. And Corday (Alex Kingston) inadvertently brings bad publicity to County General. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
The hospital's future funding is jeopardized when Ross (George Clooney) bucks procedure, giving a sample of a new pain medication to young ALD patient Ricky Abbott (Kyle Chambers), the subject of government-backed "double blind" study. Elsewhere, Greene (Anthony Edwards) weighs an opportunity to go to work for NASA. Doyle (Jorja Fox) levels a charge of harassment against Romano (Paul McCrane). And Benton (Eriq La Salle) and Lucy's (Kellie Martin) patient Charley Barnes (Bill Henderson) claims that he is 140 years old -- and immortal. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
New ER chief Amanda Lee (Mare Winningham) continues to display erratic behavior as she fantasizes about a night of torrid sex with Greene (Anthony Edwards). Digging into Lee's past, Greene discovers serious discrepancies in her medical school records -- not to mention a major problem with her "famous" journal article. Elsewhere, Lucy (Kellie Martin) fends off the amorous Dr. Edson (Matthew Glave); Jeanie (Gloria Reuben) dates a policeman; and Weaver (Laura Innes) receives a startling phone call. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
