Bryan Cranston Movies
A familiar face to a nation of television viewers thanks to his role as the more-than-slightly demented father on the popular FOX sitcom Malcolm in the Middle, longtime stage and screen actor Bryan Cranston has had a rich and varied career, lending his talents to everything from anime voice work (Armitage III and Macross Plus) to daytime television (as an original cast member of Loving). His commanding but off-kilter presence and quirky charm have easily provided Cranston with the necessary range to essay such diverse roles, and the longtime actor can always be counted on to inject a healthy dose of personality into his performances, no matter how large or small the role may be.Though the San Fernando Valley native made his television debut as a commercial actor at the age of eight, it wasn't until college that Cranston truly realized his calling as an actor. Following college graduation, Cranston's passion eventually drew him to Daytona Beach, FL, where the burgeoning actor appeared in such community-theater productions as Barefoot in the Park and Death of a Salesman. In 1982, he joined the cast of the then-new soap opera Loving, and though he would only remain with the daytime drama for a short time, appearances in Airwolf and Hill Street Blues, among various other series, found the actor maintaining a notable presence on television. Following a series of supporting feature performances, Cranston moved back to the small screen with a regular role in the 1988 sitcom Raising Miranda. In the years that followed, he would frequently shift between film (Clean Slate) and television (The Louie Show) while supplementing his income with voice-over work for such popular anime series as Armitage III.
Supporting performances in such high-profile features as That Thing You Do! and Saving Private Ryan helped to increase the busy actor's recognition factor, and in 1999, Cranston wrote, produced, directed, and starred in his first feature film, a low-key drama entitled Last Chance. Though the film failed to gain much attention, Cranston was soon receiving numerous positive notices for his Emmy-nominated role as the hapless father in the breakout television hit Malcolm in the Middle. His performance alternately eccentric and endearing, Cranston injected the role with the perfect balance of fatherly weirdness and down-to-earth charm, and the series embarked on a healthy run. In the years that followed, Cranston became an increasingly familiar face to television and film viewers, and in addition to offering vocal work for the short-lived animated television series Clerks, he would contribute to such family-friendly fare as 'Twas the Night and The Santa Claus Brothers. After taking the lead in the 2003 made-for-television feature Thanksgiving Family Reunion, Cranston could be spotted opposite screen legend Kirk Douglas in the 2004 drama The Illusion. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 2009
Things go from breaking bad to breaking worse for Walter White (Bryan Cranston), the cancer-stricken chemistry teacher, and Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), his former student and partner-in-crime, in Season 2 of the drama about two methamphetamine cookers. Having watched drug dealer Tuco (Raymond Cruz) "beat a dude to death...for nothing," Walt and Jesse decide they need to cut ties with the psychotic pusher. Impetuous Jesse devises a half-baked plan of attack, but cooler-headed Walt has a more surefire way to get rid of Tuco. Once free of him, Walt and Jesse face a new pair of problems. First, their business takes a financial hit, and second, Walt's brother-in-law, DEA agent Hank (Dean Norris), gets a major break in the investigation into the meth ring-and it just may put Walt and Jesse in his crosshairs. In response, Walt cooks up an elaborate ruse that has him spinning intricate webs of deceit and misdirection, while a rattled Jesse establishes a shaky alibi that places him in Hank's sights. To get their product back on the streets, Jesse organizes a crew of dealers, and one of them is jacked by two drug-addled losers who make off with his stash and cash. Arguably the season's most riveting episode, it ends in a shocking scene of crushing finality. Meanwhile, on the home front, Skyler (Anna Gunn) is extremely concerned about Walt's mysterious disappearances. When he finally makes overtures to reconnect with the family, she keeps him at arm's length, still wondering what he's been up to while he was away. As for Jesse's personal life, he once again finds himself on the streets, and his quest for living quarters not only proves successful, but lands him a girlfriend as well. ~ Ray Stackhouse, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn, (more)
- 2009
Helen Mirren and Joe Pesci star as a married couple whose faithfulness is tested with deadly results after starting Nevada's first legal brothel in this Capitol Films drama. Mark Jacobson adapts the screenplay based on a true story that ended with the death of boxer Oscar Bonavena at the Mustang Ranch in 1976. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Helen Mirren, Joe Pesci, (more)
When a pudgy, bespectacled seven-year-old, Olive (Abigail Breslin), voices her desire to take home the coveted Little Miss Sunshine crown at an upcoming beauty pageant, her wildly dysfunctional family sets out on an interstate road trip to ensure her a clear shot at realizing her dreams in former music video directorial team Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris' quirky feature debut, starring Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell, and Toni Collette. Despite early career success as an outspoken motivational speaker, family patriarch Richard (Kinnear) continues to cling to his "Refuse to Lose" philosophy, much to the chagrin of his increasingly annoyed spouse, Sheryl (Collette). Add into the mix a Nietzsche-reading teenage son (Paul Dano) who has taken a vow of silence until he finds his fate as a fighter pilot; a horny, heroin-happy grandfather (Alan Arkin) with a penchant for creative profanity; and a suicidal genius (Carell) and Proust scholar still reeling about losing both his male lover and his MacArthur Foundation genius grant -- and the stage is set for a road trip in which sanity is sure to take the back seat. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette, (more)
- 2005
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Twelve men who belong to one of the world's most exclusive fraternities -- people who've walked on the surface of the moon -- are paid homage in this documentary. Using newsreel footage, rare NASA photographs, and digitally animated re-creations, Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon examines the Apollo missions between 1969 and 1972 which put astronauts on the moon. In addition to explaining the technological know-how necessary to take our fliers to the moon, the film shares the thoughts of astronauts about what they saw and experienced in space, taken from their speeches and writings and read by a cast of distinguished actors, including Paul Newman, Morgan Freeman, Scott Glenn, Bill Paxton, and many more. Narrated by Tom Hanks (who also co-produced), Magnificent Desolation was shot and originally exhibited using the IMAX high-definition film format. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 2004
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If you thought your family was crazy, just wait until you meet the Snyders! Upon learning that he has a long-lost cousin living in Idaho, anesthesiologist Mitch Snider (Judge Reinhold) decides to pack up the family wagon and spend the upcoming Thanksgiving getting to know his free-spirited kin. Things go from bad to worse as the conservative Mitch and cousin Woodrow (Bryan Cranston) quickly clash, and between a turkey that won't die and an odd occurrence in the shower, it looks as if Mitch and his family are better off spending the holidays at home -- if they can make it out alive! ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Director Michael A. Goorjian's Illusion tells the tale of a dying film director who, after leading a lavish life of fame and fortune, finds out too little too late what it truly means to live and be loved. Mr. Baines (Kirk Douglas) is a Hollywood icon who has agreed to grant one final interview before drifting into that good night. As Mr. Baines drifts wearily in and out of consciousness throughout the course of the interview, his long deceased editor returns to join him in going back over the footage of his life. While Mr. Baines never married, he did father an illegitimate son named Christopher (Goorjian) whom he abandoned as a child and never returned to. Now, on the screen before him, Mr. Baines watches mournfully as the tragic life of his long lost son plays out to its devastating conclusion. Upon viewing the heartbreaking footage Mr. Baines begins to realize that it was his own cowardice that ultimately fed his son's crippling sense of worthlessness and cemented the boy's grim fate. Despite Christopher's lifelong love of his childhood sweetheart Isabelle, an endless series of fateful mishaps constantly seemed to prevent the boy from finding true happiness with the ethereal beauty. As the film of Christopher's life careens towards tragedy time and again, the dying director implores his faithful editor to allow him the final cut that will save the picture. After living a lifetime of missed opportunities, the man who thought he had it all will now attempt to summon the dying might for one last opportunity to let his son know what it truly means to love, and be loved in return. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kirk Douglas, Michael A. Goorjian, (more)
Directed by Wallace Wolodarsky, Seeing Other People features Jay Mohr and Julianne Nicholson as Ed and Alice, a soon-to-be married couple with one rather significant problem facing them: Alice doesn't think she's had enough sex to excuse settling down with one man for the rest of her life. Though reluctant, Ed agrees, at Alice's insistence, to have a premarital free-for-all of sorts; a period in which both Alice and Ed are allowed to explore sexual and emotional relationships with other people. Complications ensue when it turns out that fooling around with multiple partners as a method of strengthening the sanctity of marriage isn't as easy as it appeared. Seeing Other People also stars Lauren Graham, Bryan Cranston, Josh Charles, and Matthew Davis. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jay Mohr, Julianne Nicholson, (more)
- 2001
- PG
The Ramayana, an enduring classic of Indian literature, comes to the screen in this animated adaptation that combines the visual styles of traditional Indian illustration with the bold look of Japanese animé. Ravan (voice of Tom Wyner) is the intolerant king of Lanka, who is determined to lay claim to any neighboring territories. Ravan, however, has yet to face off against noble King Dasharatha (voice of Mike R. Reynolds), who rules with the help of his sons Lakshman (voice of Richard Cansino) and Ram (voice of Bryan Cranston), the latter possessing magical powers and great strength. Ram is forced to do battle with the evil witch Tataka (voice of Catherine Battistone), but while he emerges victorious and wins the hand of the beautiful Sita (voice of Edie Mirman), a poor choice by King Dasharatha forces Ram and his new bride into exile alongside his brother. While in hiding in the forest, Sita is captured by Ravan, and Ram must find and defeat the corrupt monarch in order to rescue the woman he loves. While produced with the cooperation of Indian filmmakers, The Prince of Light: The Legend of Ramayana tones down the Hindu theological overtones of the original story in favor of its action and adventure-oriented narrative. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bryan Cranston, Edie Mirman, (more)
- 2001
In this holiday-themed comedy, Danny (Josh Zuckerman) is a teenage boy who doesn't always have the good sense to ignore the bad advice of his Uncle Nick (Bryan Cranston), a good-natured small-time con man. The night before Christmas, Danny and Uncle Nick make an amazing discovery -- Santa Claus has designed a new, state-of-the-art sleigh, and Danny and Nick can't resist the temptation to take it out for a ride. But once they head out, the question becomes: can they get the sleigh back in one piece -- and in time for Santa to deliver his toys? Produced for The Disney Channel, 'Twas the Night first aired on December 7, 2001. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bryan Cranston, Josh Zuckerman, (more)
- 2000
- R
John Ritter stars in this three-part horror anthology as Bob Carter, a real estate salesman trying to sell a home to a pair of young newlyweds. But each of the three available houses has been the site of a grisly murder, and Bob insists on recalling the grim details of each case for his potential customers. In the first story, when a man discovers his wife is having an affair, the cheating wife and her lover murder the husband, but he gets his revenge from beyond the grave. The second story concerns a little girl who finds a lost monkey and insists the family adopt it as a pet. Her father, however, discovers the monkey has a demonic mean streak. And finally, a teenager who has been having horrible visions of brutal murders has to convince his psychiatrist that they may have a basis in fact. Also starring Bryan Cranston, Carmine Giovinazzo, and Rachel York, Terror Tract was released on DVD as a video double-feature with the inventive slasher variant Cherry Falls. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Ritter, Bryan Cranston, (more)
When dreams collide in a small café located in the dry California desert, a woman and a man must decide between giving up on their past or gambling on an uncertain future in this quiet romantic drama from director Bryan Cranston. A woman who has lived in the wilderness feels as if she has been stripped of all her aspirations in life, but when she makes the acquaintance of a man who has lived his entire life as defined by his dreams, she may find the courage and inspiration to start anew and truly live life to its fullest. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 1998
President John F. Kennedy issued the challenge to America in a speech to Congress in 1961: Land a man on the moon within the decade. This HBO mini-series, produced by Tom Hanks, chronicles the story of NASA's efforts to carry out the vision. In episode six, the goal is in sight, as astronauts Michael Collins, Neil Armstrong, and Buz Aldrin take off on a historic flight to the moon, and Neil Armstrong makes that "one small step for a man" onto the moon's surface. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
Originally aired on HBO and directed by Apollo 13 star and space enthusiast Tom Hanks, among others, From the Earth to the Moon explores the ups and downs of space travel, beginning with President Kennedy's famous speech before Congress on May 25, 1961, and chronicling the journey to putting the first man on the moon. This highly acclaimed, Emmy-nominated, 12-episode series is available in a six-tape VHS set and a four-disc DVD set. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Andrews, Bryan Cranston, (more)
Steven Spielberg directed this powerful, realistic re-creation of WWII's D-day invasion and the immediate aftermath. The story opens with a prologue in which a veteran brings his family to the American cemetery at Normandy, and a flashback then joins Capt. John Miller (Tom Hanks) and GIs in a landing craft making the June 6, 1944, approach to Omaha Beach to face devastating German artillery fire. This mass slaughter of American soldiers is depicted in a compelling, unforgettable 24-minute sequence. Miller's men slowly move forward to finally take a concrete pillbox. On the beach littered with bodies is one with the name "Ryan" stenciled on his backpack. Army Chief of Staff Gen. George C. Marshall (Harve Presnell), learning that three Ryan brothers from the same family have all been killed in a single week, requests that the surviving brother, Pvt. James Ryan (Matt Damon), be located and brought back to the United States. Capt. Miller gets the assignment, and he chooses a translator, Cpl. Upham (Jeremy Davis), skilled in language but not in combat, to join his squad of right-hand man Sgt. Horvath (Tom Sizemore), plus privates Mellish (Adam Goldberg), Medic Wade (Giovanni Ribisi), cynical Reiben (Edward Burns) from Brooklyn, Italian-American Caparzo (Vin Diesel), and religious Southerner Jackson (Barry Pepper), an ace sharpshooter who calls on the Lord while taking aim. Having previously experienced action in Italy and North Africa, the close-knit squad sets out through areas still thick with Nazis. After they lose one man in a skirmish at a bombed village, some in the group begin to question the logic of losing more lives to save a single soldier. The film's historical consultant is Stephen E. Ambrose, and the incident is based on a true occurance in Ambrose's 1994 bestseller D-Day: June 6, 1944. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Hanks, Edward Burns, (more)
- 1997
Yes, this is the one in which George's current girlfriend uses the phrase "yada yada" -- and drives George (Jason Alexander) crazy by leaving out the important details between the "yadas."Tim Whatley, Jerry's dentist (played by Malcolm in the Middle's Bryan Cranston) converts to Judaism, and Jerry suspects that his only motivation may be the ability to get away with telling Jewish jokes. Meanwhile, Kramer (Michael Richards) and his actor friend Mickey (Danny Woodburn) fight over which girl they'll get on a double date. And Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) thoroughly louses up the chances for her married friends Beth (Debra Messing) and Arnie (Stephen Caffrey) to adopt a child. This is also the episode in which real life marrieds Robert Wagner and Jill St. John turn up at the end (as Mickey's parents, Dr. Abbott and Mrs. Abbott) and accuse Jerry of being an "Anti-Dentite."
. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
The strike at the bagel place ends after 12 long years -- but will Kramer (Michael Richards) go back to his old job? In trying to blow off a guy in a bad denim jacket, Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) may also blow her chances to win a free sub sandwich. George (Jason Alexander) harks back to the all-purpose "Festivus" holiday created by his dad to cover both Christmas and Hanukkah. And Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld) finds out that his new girlfriend is "two-faced" -- that is, her looks alter radically depending upon the time of day, the lighting, and the location. (And speaking of location, wait till you see what the bagel place does to Elaine!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Captain Sheridan and Delenn summon their forces for a final showdown with both the Vorlons and the Shadows. Londo's ruthlessness pays off when he receives a promotion in the Royal Court of Centauri. And as G'Kar struggles to escape, Centauri Emperor Cartagia (Wortham Kimmer) has his own rendezvous with destiny. Written by J. Michael Straczynski, "The Long Night" was syndicated to American television during the week of January 27 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bruce Boxleitner, Claudia Christian, (more)
- 1996
This week, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) is visiting the set of "Floppieville", a TV puppet show based on one of her children's stories. But it isn't kid stuff when the designer of the puppets finds out that someone is profiting from his ideas without proper credit or remuneration. Inevitably, a murder takes place--with one of the smiley-face Floppieville puppets as the weapon! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
In this fluffy romantic comedy, Miranda Castillo, a Latin American woman, comes to LA as a mail-order bride where she is to marry Raul, an executive for a uniform manufacturer. The trouble begins when Raul's close buddy and colleague, Gib Nash, falls in love with Miranda and she with him. Raul is not at all happy at being jilted, and neither is Gib's fiancee, who is also his employer. Miranda has troubles of her own, especially when the US government tries to deport her. Fortunately, she is assisted by a caring INS agent. It is later revealed that she had been tortured as a political prisoner in her native country. In addition to dealing with his tangled love life, Gib's company must decide whether they will buy products made in other countries by non-unionized companies. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1995
The title of this episode refers to a character called The Jimmy who constantly refers to himself in the third-person in addition to making odd-looking athletic shoes. When Kramer attends a benefit for handicapped adults, fresh from getting Novocain at the dentist's office and decked out in a pair of The Jimmy's shoes, crooner Mel Torme mistakes him for one of the guests-of-honor. Meanwhile, Elaine inadvertently finds herself making a date with The Jimmy, George's sweating makes him look guilty at work, and Jerry suspects the copies of Penthouse magazine in his dentist's waiting room have affected the behavior of the doctor and his assistant. Bryan Cranston, later of FOX's Malcolm in the Middle, reprises the role of dentist Tim Whatley and "The Velvet Fog," Mel Torme, appears as himself. Originally airing March 16, 1995, "The Jimmy" was the 17th episode shot for the show's sixth season, despite being the 18th one shown. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Posing as a journalist, Monica (Roma Downey) is assigned to write a story about Sheriff John Mackey (John Amos), who is regarded as a hero for his actions during a hostage crisis in which both the gunman and Mackey's partner were killed. Under intense pressure to measure up to his father's standards, Mackey's son Matthew (Bumper Robinson) cheats on his US Naval Academy entrance exams, then tries to kill himself so his dad will never find out. As Matthew hovers between life and death, Monica endeavors to bring redemption to both father and son, a task that requires Sheriff Mackey to face up to his own failings--and his own self-serving lies. This is the final episode of Touched by an Angel's abbreviated first season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
A computer with a mind of its own is the subject of this made-for-television thriller. Set sometime in the future, the film tells the story of a female writer who goes to a secluded cabin to work. She decides to take a programmable male android with her for company. She changes his programming to suit her specific needs but gets more than she bargained for when the android gets his own ideas on what she wants. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
