Fab Filippo Movies

One of two sci-fi/fantasy series that premiered October 27, 2000, on UPN (see separate entry for Freedom), Level 9 was co-created by executive producer John Sacret Young and mystery novelist Michael Connelly. The series is based on the not-entirely-incredible premise that the next generation's security leaks, federal crimes, and international crises will be the handiwork of rogue computer hackers. What is needed, then, is a highly skilled team of "technological enforcers" to take on the new breed of cyber-crooks. The members of the top-secret government agency Level 9 include Annie Price (Kate Hodge), Jerry Hooten (Romany Malco), Jargon (Esteban Powell), Roland Travis (Fabrizio Filippo), Joss Nakano (Susie Park), Sosh (Kim Murphy), and Wiley (Max Martini). Appearing in the pilot episode is Tim Guinee as Detective John Burrows, whose plot function is promptly taken over by the "maverick" Wiley. Burdened with surprisingly unlikable characters, Level 9 has to rely upon its story values and top-level special effects. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is finally readmitted to Sunnydale High by Principal Snyder (Armin Shimerman). Buffy also flirts with Scott Hope (Fab Filippo) a cute senior. Buffy's mood is brightening until the arrival of the slick Mr. Trick (K. Todd Freeman) and the ancient and demonic-looking Kakistos (Jeremy Roberts), two vampires, spoil it. Later, at the Bronze, Buffy and friends notice an extroverted and sexy new girl dancing who is also about to be hit on by a vampire. They rush to her aid just in time to see her dust the vamp in true slayer style. She introduces herself as Faith (Eliza Dushku), a slayer from Boston whose Watcher is at an annual Watcher's Retreat. Faith proves equally adept and vampire slaying as Buffy, but reckless enamored with violence. Meanwhile, Mr. Trick and Kakistos plan to kill the slayers, but as Giles (Anthony Head) discovers that Faith's Watcher is not at a retreat, but dead, suspicion begins to surround Faith. ~ Rovi

Three Canadian boys are riding around in a car one long winter night on a weekend, looking for fun. One of the boys, Jim, is a loud-mouthed fellow, and is not happy to see his best friend Ted hitched up with a girlfriend; he takes out his frustration on the other boy in the car while Ted and his girl try to make peace. Fun is not on the agenda this night, for they are soon held hostage by a loud-mouthed, gun-wielding ex-con. Jim purports to see good possibilities in the situation, because he can identify with the villain, which arouses the general indignation of the others in the car. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

The title of this made-for-TV period drama refers to a low-income suburban New Jersey housing project, which in the year 1958 represents the life's dream of vivacious Brooklyn housewife Gloria Goodman (Kirstie Alley. Weighed down with a well-meaning but boorish husband (Clancy Brown) and a pair of unruly children (Adam Lamberg, Tori McPetrie), Gloria can only dream of life beyond the four walls of her drab little apartment. Enter Bert Kramer (Gil Bellows), a freewheeling young "beat" writer who may well be the only person capable of liberating Gloria and paving the way towards that El Dorado known as Radiant City. The film made its ABC debut on March 31, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In Michael Moore's political satire, the U.S. president (Alan Alda) decides to wage a cold war against Canada in an attempt to reverse his slipping popularity, and, as a result, he drives a small group of incensed Canadians to take matters into their own hands. Alda is the first president in years not to lead his country into war, which naturally means that his approval rating is dangerously low. The sure-fire way to boost his popularity is to start a war and demonstrate American superiority. Unfortunately, as his advisors point out, the U.S. has run out of enemies. That is, until Alda's National Security Advisor Stuart Smiley (Kevin Pollak) happens to catch a segment on the news about a brawl at a Canadian hockey game that began when local American sheriff Bud Boomer (John Candy) made a remark about Canadian beer. This incident gives Smiley the notion to make the public believe that Canada is their new enemy. Determined to demonstrate the mighty power of America to the Canadians, Boomer gets a group of equally angry fellow Americans together to cross the border and perform the most serious of all Canadian crimes -- littering. However, the invasion is foiled and Boomer's numerous blunders threaten to turn a fabricated war into a real one. Written, directed, and produced by Michael Moore, Canadian Bacon takes lighthearted jabs at the differences between the U.S. and Canada, while also satirizing America's obsession with its military strength. The film features John Candy in his last complete screen performance. ~ Don Kaye, Rovi