Randy Thompson Movies
- 2007
The revelation that Izzie (Katherine Heigl) once gave up a daughter for adoption is a challenge which George (T. R. Knight) is willing to face, or so he thinks. Down in the dumps over her vacillating relationship with Derek (Patrick Dempsey), Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) must also contend with her stepmother Susan (Mare Willingham). Cristina (Sandra Oh) and Burke (Isaiah Washington) have trouble summoning enthusiasm over their impending marriage as long as Colin (Roger Rees) remains on the scene. Alex (Justin Chambers) is convinced that he has found the family of the beleagured "Jane Doe" (Elizabeth Reaser). And in a lighter moment, Dr. Mark Sloan (Eric Dane) teaches an old dog--namely Dr. Webber (James Pickens Jr.)--a few new tricks. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2004
As the third-season finale of 24 begins, the subway station has been shut down, and agents are searching and photographing all the male passengers who fit the profile of the terrorist. At one point, Chase (James Badge Dale) tells Jack (Kiefer Sutherland) that he's decided to transfer out of field work in order to salvage his relationship with Kim (Elisha Cuthbert), rather than develop the kind of emotional detachment that Jack says is a requirement of the job. While Tony (Carlos Bernard) is trying to defend his efforts to save Michelle's (Reiko Aylesworth) life, Michelle has a tender moment with him, and convinces Hammond (Randle Mell) to let him run tactical on the operation to catch the terrorist carrying the last vial of the virus. Gael's widow, Theresa (Kamala Lopez-Dawson), is arriving at CTU to claim his belongings, while Saunders (Paul Blackthorne) is brought in to study the photos being transmitted from the subway station. Unfortunately, the grieving Theresa sees him, realizes who he is, and shoots him before he can identify Arthur Rabens (Salvator Xuereb). Rabens manages to escape from the station, leading Jack and Chase on a high-speed pursuit, which ends when Rabens abandons his car and runs into a middle school. Jack and Chase deal with terrified teachers and students in their frantic search for Rabens. Chase finds him, and as the detonator counts down, he's forced to handcuff himself to the device in order to make sure that Rabens doesn't escape with it. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi
- Starring:
- Zachary Quinto
- 2002
The CSI team is called in after four monks are shot to death at close range while worshipping in a Buddhist temple. As Grissom (William L. Petersen) looks into this possible hate crime -- and also advises Sara (Jorja Fox) to be more respectful of the dead than usual -- Catherine (Marg Helgenberger) dolefully reopens a homicide case in which her best friend was killed. It seems that the man convicted of the crime has sworn on his deathbed, and before the cameras of a TV news program, that he is innocent. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2001
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) returns home, chattering animatedly to her mother until she discovers Joyce (Kristine Sutherland) cold and apparently dead on the couch. She dials 911, makes an unsuccessful attempt at CPR, and watches, dumbfounded, as the paramedics meet with similar failure. Alone with the body, she waits until Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) arrives and comforts her, then heads to the school, where she has to break the news to a devastated and hysterical Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg). Elsewhere, the Scoobies gather to join the Summers family. Willow (Alyson Hannigan) shares a tender kiss with Tara (Amber Benson) but later grows incensed at what she perceives as the insensitivity of Anya (Emma Caulfield). The normally snide ex-demon then tearfully reveals her ignorance of mortal vulnerabilities and her anger and confusion at the fleetingness of life. Her boyfriend, Xander (Nicholas Brendon), deals with his feelings the old-fashioned way: he puts his hand through a wall. Eventually everyone gathers at the hospital, where Dawn, needing to see her mother one last time, wanders to the morgue and is attacked by a newly risen vampire. Buffy finds her and struggles to kill the vamp through her sea of grief. In the protracted battle, the sheet falls away from Joyce's body, leaving Dawn and Buffy to face the reality of simple, human death, so different from the theatrical dustings and beheadings to which they're accustomed. Originally broadcast February 27, 2001, on the WB network, "The Body" marked episode 94 of the cult-favorite series. Written and directed by series creator Joss Whedon, this episode contains no score or incidental music besides the standard theme song. It also marks the first on-screen physical intimacy between longtime same-sex lovers Willow and Tara. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
- 2000
As the hospital-bound Joyce (Kristine Sutherland) continues to battle her brain cancer, she's unaware that several of her fellow patients are people driven insane by having their mental energy devoured by the ravenous Glory (Clare Kramer). One such unfortunate tells Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) that there's nobody inside of her, but Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) -- eager to protect her sister from the truth that she's actually the human incarnation of the mystical Key that Glory seeks -- reassures the girl that the patient's ramblings mean nothing. Soon, though, the sisters become concerned about their own mother's sanity when the cancer causes Joyce to experience bouts of dementia. Even more acute danger presents itself when an apparent UFO sighting by Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and Tara (Amber Benson) turns out to be the arrival of a demon whose breed feeds exclusively on the insane. Xander (Nicholas Brendon) suspects that Glory summoned the demon, but the truth turns out to be more surprising. Meanwhile, the mental patient who unnerved Dawn becomes the creature's first victim. Then Joyce, who has returned home to await surgery, almost falls victim to it in her own bedroom. Buffy defeats the beast with help from Dawn -- and from Spike (James Marsters), who just happens to be in the Summers' basement filching photographs of his beloved Slayer. After the dust settles, a less loopy Joyce tells Buffy that in her altered mental state, she was able to recognize the truth about Dawn. Nonetheless, she declares that Dawn is precious to the world and that Buffy must protect her -- especially if something happens to Joyce. As the Scoobies watch forlornly, Joyce heads into surgery. Meanwhile, Riley remains convinced he's being shut out of Buffy's life and continues his kinky vampire encounters. Originally broadcast November 28, 2000, on the WB network, "Listening To Fear" marked episode 87 of the cult-favorite series. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
- 2000
A nervous Scooby Gang finally has reason to celebrate when Joyce (Kristine Sutherland) pulls through her brain cancer surgery. Just as her mother is returning to health, however, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) must confront her ailing relationship with Riley (Marc Blucas) and come to grips with the sick behavior he's been exhibiting. After the relieved couple enjoy their first romantic evening in ages, Riley sneaks away in the night to a vile brothel where human beings pay vampires for the thrill of being bitten. Spike (James Marsters) -- himself smitten with the Slayer -- takes it upon himself to tell Buffy about her boyfriend's deception. Spike leads her straight to the charnel house of ill repute, where she glimpses Riley in the throes of his new hobby. She flees, then learns the history of such sordid institutions from Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) and Anya (Emma Caulfield). Buffy returns to the brothel and burns it to the ground, shocking her friends with her vehemence. When she and Riley finally hash things out, he reveals that his nocturnal activities were an attempt, however pathetic, to find the one thing Buffy hasn't been giving him: a sense of being needed. He then delivers the ultimatum that unless she gives him reason to do otherwise, he's going to leave on a demon-hunting expedition to Belize the very next day. A hurt, angry Buffy takes out her frustrations on the keepers of the vampire whorehouse, then receives a stern warning from Xander (Nicholas Brendon) to make sure she won't regret it if she lets Riley walk away. The Slayer runs a desperate race to reach Riley before he leaves, but she arrives just in time to see his helicopter disappearing into the night. Meanwhile, an impassioned Xander reaffirms his love for Anya. Originally broadcast December 19, 2000, on the WB network, "Into the Woods" marked episode 88 of the cult-favorite series. Although this marks Marc Blucas' final appearance as a regular cast member, the actor would reprise his role as Riley Finn the following season in "As You Were." ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
- 1998
After camping out in line all night to score two tickets for a one-time-only Van Gogh exhibit, Cory (Ben Savage) is upset that Topanga (Danielle Fishel) has gone to the exhibit with Angela (Trina McGee-Davis) instead. Worse still, while staring at the immortal "Starry Night", Topanga meets a handsome guy named Ricky (Jonathan Jackson). The plot thickens when, after several weeks of refusing to believe Cory's insistence that his kissing of another girl "means nothing", Topanga is herself the recipient of a lip-lock from Ricky! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Set amidst the burgeoning Seattle alternative music scene of the early '90s, Singles follows a group of twentysomethings as they try to find love and try to come to terms with their passage into adulthood. Arranged as an episodic comedy, the film follows a group of friends who live in the same apartment building and hang out at the same coffee shop. The central couple is Steve Dunne (Campbell Scott) and Linda Powell (Kyra Sedgwick), a pair who meet at an Alice In Chains concert and eventually fall in love. Singles follows the tumultuous relationship between Steve and Linda and their friendship with Janet Livermore (Bridget Fonda), who is trying to win the affection of grunge-rocker Cliff Poncier (Matt Dillon). The film also has a number of cameos, including actors Eric Stoltz, Tom Skerritt, Peter Horton, director Tim Burton and the film's author/director, Cameron Crowe. From the musical side of the fence, Singles features appearances by Sub Pop executive Bruce Pavitt, musicians Chris Cornell (Soundgarden), Pat DiNizio (Smithereens), Tad (Tad), and Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, Jeff Ament, and Stone Gossard, who play Dillon's backing band, Citizen Dick. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi
- Starring:
- Bridget Fonda, Campbell Scott, (more)
- 1992
The dreary realities faced by struggling stand-up comedians provides the basis of this sometimes funny drama. The story centers on three comics who are hired by promoter Doug Atkin to do a brief tour of college campuses and a few redneck bars. snooty Andy Miller is used to headlining gigs in San Francisco. Divorced mother and rookie comic Charlie McKnight and the rude-crude emcee Brock Mason are his traveling companions. Suffering the worst possible accommodations, wretched food, hostile crowds, penurious club owners, and in-fighting caused by a brief affair between Charlie and Andy coupled with Brock's constant drinking and womanizing the trip becomes a nightmarish endurance contest. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1990
This independent comedy/drama follows the backstage and onstage lives of three neophyte stand-up comedians who have been signed up for a tour, as they move from venue to venue, slowly getting to know one another. They must of necessity help one another out, as this tour throws them into the "the deep end of the pool." ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ron Reid, Dan Lishner, (more)
