Adam Arkin Movies
The oldest of three sons of Broadway star Alan Arkin, American actor Adam Arkin has had stage and movie work, but is best known for his TV assignments. In 1977 Arkin was starred in his first series, the one-season sitcom Bustin' Loose, wherein the 21-year-old actor played a man finally escaping his overprotective parents. Arkin went on to play an inner-city biology teacher in the brief 1982 TV series Teachers Only; a Chicago bookie in the short-lived 1986 weekly Tough Cookies; and an attorney in 1988's A Year in the Life, which lasted eight months of our lives. In 1990, just when it seemed as though Arkin was going to become the King of Cancellation, he made the first of many guest appearances on the quirky CBS series Northern Exposure as Adam, the sociopathic, in-your-face hermit/gourmet chef. The character reappeared sporadically until 1993, sometimes as a welcome touch of anarchy, other times as merely a loud-mouthed royal pain. In 1994, Adam Arkin was given his most recent crack at regular weekly series work, playing a dedicated but mercurial doctor on the TV drama Chicago Hope, where he was matched insult for insult by the equally obstreperous Mandy Patinkin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2009
As originally aired and seen on PBS, this documentary program explores the life, times and innumerable accomplishments of Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915), one of the chief proponents of the 'Arts and Crafts Movement' - a sort of creative renaissance in American handiwork that blossomed between about 1880 and 1910. Some championed Hubbard as a great talent and a visionary; others derided him as a charlatan and a huckster, driven his own need to attain immortality. Drawing from vintage archival materials and incisive historical analysis, this program explores the many facets of Hubbard's world and the legacy he left behind. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Liev Schreiber, Adam Arkin, (more)
- 2007
In the conclusion of a three-part story arc, the Seattle Grace staffers race against time to save Meredith (Ellen Pompeo), who after nearly drowning at the site of the ferryboat tragedy has been rushed to the hospital showing no signs of life. As she hovers between this world and the next, Meredith undergoes a spectacular near-death experience, "starring" several of her late friends and acquaintances--ranging from bomb-squad detective Dylan Young (Kyle Chandler) to her dear departed dog Doc! Meanwhile, the bond between Alex (Justin Chambers) and the seriously injured "Jane Doe" (Elizabeth Reaser) grows stronger; Izzie (Katherine Heigl) has serious issues with both Callie (Sara Ramirez) and George (T.R. Knight); Cristina (Sandra Oh) has yet another meltdown; and a major recurring character bids a sort-of-fond farewell. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2007
Ken Burns continues his exploration of massive, sweeping subjects with his 15-hour documentary The War; in this case, the conflict in question is World War II. Yet within the scope of that gargantuan subject, Burns and co-director Lynn Novick narrow their scale of emphasis, honing in on four "average" American towns and charting the experiences of individual young men who enlisted to go overseas and fight against the encroaching shadow of fascism. The film covers each major "region" of the U.S. by transporting audiences to the west coast (Sacramento, California); the south (Mobile, Alabama); the east coast (Waterbury, Connecticut) and the Midwest (the farming community of Luverne, Minnesota). Within that geographic framework, Burns uncovers a series of astonishing tales about bravery in the midst of adversity - from the story of a young man who transported 12 American soldiers from the Normandy beach on D-Day, to the accounts of innumerable young men who falsified their ages and enlisted early. Burns and Novick thus repeatedly emphasize the human side of war - an aspect all too often glossed over when documentarians treat WWII on a broader scale. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Glenn Frazier, Sam Hynes, (more)
- 2006
Cristina (Sandra Oh) agrees to keep secret the fact that Burke (Isaiah Washington) has been suffering from hand tremors since his surgery. Izzie (Katherine Heigl) pays a visit to the hospital for the first time since she walked out. Alex (Justin Chambers) is perplexed by his latest patient, a foster child named Megan (Abigail Breslin) who seems unfazed by her many injuries. Another patient's wife (Lanai Chapman) vents her wrath at her husband (Gabriel Casseus) over his repeated surgeries. Addison has a tense, terse meeting with Mark (Eric Dane). And George (T.R. Knight) insists that Callie (Sara Ramirez) find somewhere else to live (guess where!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
Never mind that every other TV sitcom about a talking baby had been virtually strangled in its crib: CBS boldly went forward with yet another variation on the theme, Baby Bob. The title character was a six-month-old infant, who, with the aid of voice-over artist Ken Hudson Campbell and Clutch Cargo-like special effects, was gifted not only with the power of speech, but also with the ability to crack wise and insult his elders. Baby Bob's mom Lizzy (Joely Fisher) would have loved to tell the world about her miracle infant, but dad Walter, a neurotic PR executive, was determined to keep Bob's loquaciousness a secret -- especially from his dour father Sam (Elliott Gould) and his flighty mother-in-law Madeline (Holland Taylor). Even so, Baby Bob regularly carried on spirited conversations with his babysitter Teala (Marissa Tait), who figured it was best not to tell anyone about her new "pal." Baby Bob first gurgled onto the airwaves on March 18, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adam Arkin, Joely Fisher, (more)
- 2002
Monk (Tony Shalhoub) suspects that 800-pound tycoon Dale "The Whale" Biederbeck (Adam Arkin) is the murderer of one Judge Lavinio. But how can this be? Dale the Whale is so obese that he can't even get out of his bed, much less leave his room. Also, it looks as though Monk is acting on a personal vendetta against Biederbeck, stemming from a devastating lawsuit a few years before. Even so, Monk is obsessed (surprise, surprise!) with proving Biederbeck's guilt, and his nurse-assistant Sharona (Bitty Schram) offers her services to prove Monk right--even if it kills her. With this episode, Max Morrow joins the cast as Sharona's son Benjy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
Monk (Tony Shalhoub) has sworn to remain faithful to the memory of his late wife Trudy, but beautiful divorcee Monica Walters (Maria Del Mar)--who so closely resembles Trudy that it is genuinely frightening!--may make him change his mind. But there's a problem: Monica is among the suspects in the murder of attorney Lou Pratt and Pratt's assistant. Despite a preponderance of evidence, Monk is convinced that Monica is not guilty --and nearly gets himself killed in his dogged efforts to prove her innocence. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
Based on Mark Twain's 1872 autobiographical novel, this made-for-cable film is presented in flashback form, as aged humorist Mark Twain (James Garner) is invited to be keynote speaker at the Bryn Mawr graduation ceremonies of 1891. At first worried that his reputation as a verbal japester will embarrass his daughter Suzy, who is among the graduates, Twain elects to throw all caution to the winds by delivering an inspirational speech in which he recalls his own early days as a Missouri-bred greenhorn on the wild western frontier. Admitting that his recollections may stretch the truth a bit ("When I was younger, I could remember it, whether it happened or not"), Twain spins a tale of two brothers, Sam and Orion Clemens ("Sam Clemens" was of course, Twain's given name). Envious over the fact that Orion (Greg Spottiswood) has landed a job as secretary to the governor of Nevada Territory, young Sam Clemens (Robin Dunne) insists upon tagging along, thereby launching an extended adventure which would include a rugged interlude digging for gold under the baleful eye of a brutal foreman (Eric Roberts), a bone-chilling winter, and an episode involving a gang of outlaws headed by a man (Ned Beatty) so mean that he bit off the ears of his victims as a "calling card." Also in the cast are Jill Eikenberry as Twain's wife Livy and Adam Arkin as a wild-eyed "character" named Henry. Filmed in Calgary, the four-hour miniseries version of Mark Twain's Roughing It was presented by the Hallmark cable channel beginning March 16, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Garner, Greg Spottiswood, (more)
In this made-for-cable comedy-drama, a ten-year-old boy (Rory Culkin), who is still coming to terms with the death of his parents, is sent to spend the summer with his aunt (Sherilyn Fenn), who works as a lounge singer at a Florida resort hotel that's seen better days. While living at the hotel, the boy makes the acquaintance of Sam (Hume Cronyn), an elderly man who is enjoying an extended vacation in the Sunshine State. As the boy becomes friendly with Sam, he begins to wonder if the older, bearded man might actually be Santa Claus looking to get away from the North Pole prior to the year's toy-building season. Off Season was directed by veteran actor Bruce Davison, who also appears in a supporting role. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rory Culkin, Hume Cronyn, (more)
- 2001
Bill Gates guest stars on this, the 200th episode of Frasier. It so happens that this landmark event occurs on the same day as the 2000th radio broadcast of Frasier's radio call-in show. Having accumulated all but one of his broadcast tapes, Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) must now negotiate with the overly obsessive fan (Adam Arkin) who owns the only surviving copy of the missing show. This episode orginally ran 35 minutes and was shown in tandem with a special comprised of clips from previous Frasier seasons. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A young girl learns a difficult lesson about the bonds of family in this drama based on the novel for young adults by Kimberly Willis Holt. Tiger Ann Parker (Kelsey Keel) is a girl growing up in the small rural community of Saitter, LA, and she's not especially happy with her life. Her mother (Amelia Campbell) suffered brain damage after a childhood accident that significantly reduced her IQ, and her father (Chris Owens) is "slow" and has trouble reading and writing, which has made Tiger Ann the subject of a lot of cruel taunting from her classmates at school. When Tiger Ann's Aunt Dorie (Juliette Lewis) offers to let her stay with her in the "big city" of Baton Rouge, the young girl is eager to see what the world has to offer beyond the city limits of Saitter. But Tiger Ann soon discovers that leaving her home and family behind is not as simple as she imagined. My Louisiana Sky also features Shirley Knight; actor Adam Arkin directed, in what was his first feature-length project. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kelsey Keel, Shirley Knight, (more)
- 2000
Amy Goldstein directs this hip, indie look at the ups and downs of a trio of New York roommates from 1985 to 1995. The film opens as Peter (Patrick Breen), Reggie (Nadine Van Der Velde), and Chart (Scott Kraft) take out a 10-year lease on a musty warehouse loft on Manhattan's gritty A street. Their landlord is also Reggie's beau, Hiro (Glen Chin). Set against such historic events as the 1986 Reds-Mets World Series and the Stock Market Crash of 1987, the roommates lives change as Reggie dumps Hiro for Peter -- only to marry Sylvester (Adam Arkin), Chart struggles with heroin addiction, and Peter cares for AIDS-infected children. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adam Arkin, Patrick Breen, (more)
- 2000
Mark Osborne directs this dark Hollywood satire about TV, suicide, and good lighting. L.A. couch potato Emile (Kent Osborne) gets so much satisfaction from television -- particularly sitcoms and nature documentaries -- that it borders on the indecent. While not watching the telly, he plots his own demise. One day, in the throes of a messy suicide attempt, he gets a call informing him that he landed a job at a nearby motel. Emile is soon assigned the nightshift with dour, officious Henry (David Koechner). While on break, he ventures into a massive, fluorescent supermarket where he slips into a bizarre state of consumeristic bliss, drifting among the aisles. But like his TV binges, this trip soon devolves into thoughts of offing himself. He resolves videotape the deed and send the tape to the girl who jilted him. Unfortunately, such a task cannot be done alone, so Emile soon enlists the help of Henry, who in turn brings in self-proclaimed movie expert Andrew (Vince Vieluf). Before long, Emile's simple desire to record his final act has turned into a full-scale production, complete with gaffers, make-up artists and Hollywood types traipsing about with their cell phones. In the midst of all this, Emile is rethinking the whole deal, especially the part about him committing suicide. His handlers, however, are less than eager for him to stray from the script. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kent Osborne, David Koechner, (more)
- 1999
- Add Not for Ourselves Alone: The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Susan B. Anthony to QueueAdd Not for Ourselves Alone: The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Susan B. Anthony to top of Queue
Upon finding a written biography of pioneering women's rights activist Elizabeth Cady Stanton, film producers Paul Barnes and Ken Burns (director of "The Civil War") were shocked and outraged that her story -- which is also that of Stanton's longtime friend and political partner Susan B. Anthony -- had been almost entirely omitted from their history courses. So together they began work on Not For Ourselves Alone: the story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, a groundbreaking look at one of the greatest untold chapters in American history. Over a span of more than fifty years, Stanton and Anthony struggled ceaselessly to organize a movement for basic rights that would not be won until after their deaths. Their story is the story of freedom fighters everywhere, complete with tragedies, triumphs, and unconquerable hope -- but it is also the story of two passionate and talented women, whose close friendship sustained them in times of loneliness and despair. An unforgettably personal, inside look at the birth of the modern women's movement, this film is at once a study of where we have been and a profound reflection upon who and where we still are. Ideal for classroom and educational use. ~ Sarah Welsh, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sally Kellerman, Ronnie Gilbert, (more)
Based on a novel by Donald E. Westlake, this seriocomic tale of murder and manipulation stars William H. Macy as nerdish but powerful movie critic Terry Thorpe. During an argument with his lover, Terry accidentally kills the woman, forcing him to go great lengths to cover up his crime. Unfortunately, the dead woman was being tailed by smarmy private eye John Edgerson (James Cromwell), who suspects foul play and blackmails Thorpe accordingly. Meanwhile, the case is being officially investigated by police detective Fred Stapelli (Adam Arkin), an aspiring screenwriter who hopes that Thorpe will help him make a Hollywood sale. Playing Stapelli like a fine piano, Thorpe not only shifts suspicion from himself to a third party, but also begins an affair with Stapelli's wife Patricia (Julia Campbell). And how does Thorpe's current girlfriend Kit (played by Macy's real-life spouse Felicity Huffman) figure into all this intrigue? Also known as A Travesty, A Slight Case of Murder made its TNT cable network debut on September 19, 1999. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William H. Macy, Adam Arkin, (more)
- 1998
This two-hour TV entertainment special takes a surface skim (95 minutes minus commercials and promos) over the history of CBS, quickly skipping past decades of CBS radio to concentrate on CBS television from the late '40s to the present. It features more than a dozen hosts (Adam Arkin, Ed Bradley, Carol Burnett, David Copperfield, Roma Downey, Fran Drescher, Don Johnson, Angela Lansbury, David Letterman, Cheech Marin, Mary Tyler Moore, Dan Rather, Della Reese, Ray Romano, Jane Seymour) introducing a parade of primetime clips covering a variety of shows, events, and people -- Ed Sullivan, The Carol Burnette Show, 60 Minutes (Mike Wallace interviewing Barbra Streisand), Gunsmoke, The Honeymooners, Edward R. Murrow (his oft-seen editorial on Joe McCarthy), I Love Lucy, The Twilight Zone, The Waltons, Dan Rather reporting from Vietnam, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Green Acres, Dallas, Petticoat Junction, The Beverly Hillbillies, M*A*S*H, The Andy Griffith Show, Murphy Brown, the JFK assassination, and more -- with reminiscences from Tom and Dick Smothers, David Letterman (on Ed Sullivan), Larry Hagman (on "Who shot J.R.?"), Alan Alda, Ron Howard, Walter Cronkite, and others. At 95 minutes, these nostalgic nods, truncated tributes, and familiar faces might leave many viewers yearning for an archeological dig through the little-seen rarities and antiquities buried in the Museum of Television & Radio collection while waiting for the major networks to cover broadcasting history in depth. Premiered May 20, 1998 on CBS. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adam Arkin, Ed Bradley, (more)
- 1997
A wife and mother from Billings, Montana takes a stand against a white supremacist hate group in Not In This Town. Tammy Schnitzer (Kathy Baker) and her husband Brian (Adam Arkin) hope to raise two young children in the quiet town. Henry Whitcomb (Ed Begley Jr.) leads the hate group into distributing their ant-Semitic and racially intolerant ideology through handbills. She becomes a target of the sinister group when she forms the Montana Coalition for Human Rights. Brian, a respected dentist, fears for his wife's safety but backs away from involvement until a brick goes through the window of the children's bedroom. Newly appointed police chief Wayne Inman (Max Gail) is the white man married to a black woman who moved to Montana to escape the big-city problems of racism. Inman helps Tammy in her cause as both families become the target of the hate mongers. The film is based on actual incidents that occurred in Billings, Montana in 1993. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kathy Baker, Adam Arkin, (more)
- 1995
In this crime drama, a detective investigating the murder of a state trooper finds himself caught up with terrorists. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adam Arkin, Nicholas Turturro, (more)
- 1992
Adam Arkin guest stars as George Costas, the Greek-immigrant owner of a New York jewelry business. After killing two intruders in his store, both of whom had long police records, Costas pleads self-defense: "They shoot at me, I shoot back, I killed them." But as all the facts come to light, the D.A.'s office arrives at the conclusion that Costas had appointed himself judge, jury, and executioner long before anyone pulled the trigger. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Set during the Watts riots of the mid-'60s, the made-for-cable Heat Wave follows the story of Los Angeles Times reporter Robert Richardson (Blair Underwood), who was the only journalist on staff able to cover the story, since White reporters were unable to gain access to the area and the rioters. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Blair Underwood, Cicely Tyson, (more)
- 1990
Strange things always happen in Cicely during the Aurora Borealis, and those "things" are even stranger in this final episode of Northern Exposure's first season. Lost in the woods, Joel (Rob Morrow) is rescued by a legendary sasquatch-like creature named Adam -- who turns out to be a human being, a sociopath, and a damned good gourmet cook. Elsewhere, Chris gives up his radio job to construct a towering sculpture and along the way forms a symbiotic relationship with an African-American stranger named Bernard (Richard Cummings Jr.), who has motorcycled into Cicely on a mission...and who is no stranger after all. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
