Lindsay Crouse Movies
Tall, thin, and blonde, Oscar-nominated actress Lindsay Crouse has been appearing onscreen since the mid-'70s -- though contemporary, television-savvy fans may be more familiar with her thanks to memorable small-screen roles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Providence, and Hack. Crouse is a New York City native and the daughter of Life With Father author Russel Crouse; her literary father named her after his longtime writing partner Howard Lindsay. An education at Radcliffe first led Crouse to a career as a dancer, though it wasn't long before she began leaning toward acting; she made her screen debut in 1976's All the President's Men. Roles in Slap Shot (1977) and The Verdict (1982) found Crouse managing to hold her own opposite screen heavy Paul Newman, and after remaining under the direction of Sidney Lumet for Daniel (1983), Crouse earned an Oscar nod for her performance opposite Sally Field in the 1984 drama Places in the Heart. With the exception of a season of Hill Street Blues, Crouse would stick mainly to feature films for the remainder of the 1980s. Her leading role as a conflicted psychiatrist in 1987's House of Games (under the direction of then-husband David Mamet) seemed to capitalize on her status as one of John Willis' Screen World's "Most Promising New Actors of 1984."If the 1990s found Crouse edging almost exclusively into small-screen work, the occasional feature, such as The Juror (1996) and Prefontaine (1997), proved that she had lost none of her enduring big-screen appeal. Indeed, Crouse was equally effective in both film and television; small-screen roles in Norma Jean and Marilyn and If These Walls Could Talk (both 1996) proved just as compelling as her turn in Michael Mann's acclaimed 1999 drama The Insider. In 2000, Crouse took on the role of Caroline Ingalls in the made-for-TV family film Beyond the Prairie: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Before returning to the character in the 2002 sequel, she played supporting roles in Imposter and Cherish (both 2002). ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 2007
Filmmakers Christine Lundberg and Rawn Fulton explore the life and work of acclaimed author/illustrator Virginia Lee Burton in this documentary profile of the woman behind such beloved children's books as Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel and The Little House. A woman whose dynamic sense of design, illustration, typeface, and space made her one of the most successful author/illustrators of the 20th Century, Burton backed up her striking illustrations with richly textured stories about the importance of teamwork, environmental awareness, perseverance, and adapting to change while still recognizing the importance of the past. The wife of renowned sculptor George Demetrious, gifted textiles designer Burton also founded the Folly Cove Designers - a talented collective whose works were sold throughout the United States - in Gloucestor, Massachusetts in 1940.
~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lindsay Crouse
A hardened detective enters into a tenuous symbiotic relationship with the vicious serial killer she is tracking after earning the respect of the murderous madman in this vicious psychological thriller starring Demi Moore, Kevin Costner, and William Hurt. Earl Brooks (Costner) is a successful businessman, noted philanthropist, and loving father. He's the kind of man whom no one would ever suspect of being a notorious serial killer, but then again history's most dubious psychopaths are often the quiet neighbor whom no one would ever suspect was capable of committing such unspeakable atrocities. Until now, no one has had any reason to link Earl Brooks with the heinous crimes of the dreaded Thumbprint Killer. Even his beautiful wife (Marg Helgenbeger) and teenage daughter (Danielle Panabaker) could never conceive of such an awful truth. But when Mr. Brooks' dark side begins to outshine his sane exterior, an amateur photographer (Dane Cook) captures the killer succumbing to his murderous instinct on film. Now, as Mr. Brooks is pursued by tenacious detective Tracy Atwood (Moore) and forced to bend to the will of an opportunistic bystander, the killer who was once able to keep his murderous alter ego (Hurt) in check finds his control steadily slipping. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Costner, Demi Moore, (more)
- 2002
Master chef Wolfgang Puck appears as himself in this episode, wherein Niles (David Hyde Pierce) busily prepares for the big moment when he will propose to Daphne (Jane Leeves). Leaving nothing to chance, Niles has planned an all-out assault on Daphne's heart, complete with a stirring speech, an expensive ring, a string quartet, a trumpet player, and a choir. As a final touch, he has arranged for Daphne's intrusive mom (Millicent Martin) to be far, far away. Unfortunately, he has overlooked one minor item...Daphne herself. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
KACL manager Kenny (Tom McGowan) figures that Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) could improve his following amongst younger listeners if he agrees to appear on the station's public-service program "Teen Scene." Confidentially, Frasier gears up for questioning from the show's panel of high-school journalists. Unfortunately, the show's host has nothing but contempt for Frasier, and as a result, our hero ends up a laughing stock to listeners of all ages. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Finn Taylor's quirky comedy Cherish concerns Zoe (Robin Tunney), a woman unlucky in love. She is berated at work and always seems to strike out with the opposite sex. After being asked by an attractive co-worker (Jason Priestley) to dance at a party, Zoe is kidnapped by a stalker who has fallen in love with her. During a scuffle, they accidentally kill a police officer. The stalker disappears and Zoe is charged with the crime. Soon she is under house arrest. The technician in charge of her ankle bracelet (Tim Blake Nelson) is as socially awkward as she is. Soon they grow close and he gets her a nine-hour window in which the pair tries to find the stalker and clear her name. Rocker Liz Phair and Saturday Night Live alumnus Nora Dunn round out the cast of this film that was screened at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robin Tunney, Tim Blake Nelson, (more)
- 2002
Erstwhile "James Bond" Roger Moore guest stars as Edward Poole, an SD-9 leader who has startling information about a turncoat in the Alliance of Twelve. Elsewhere, Sydney (Jennifer Garner) is not the only one who is astonished to find her own image on a sketch drawn 500 years earlier by the prophetic Milo Rambaldi. The text surrounding the sketch is partially decoded, revealing an ominous message regarding the fate of the world. Alas, the key to the entire code is locked somewhere in the Vatican -- compelling Sydney to prevail upon Vaughn (Michael Vartan) to pull off his most daring burglary. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
- PG
The site of James Dean's legendary, fatal car crash is the setting for this reflective, eccentric drama about idolatry, lost hopes, and aging. Max Harris (John Mahoney) owns and operates a diner/service station in the small, deserted town of Cholame, CA, just down the street from the James Dean Memorial. His placid existence is disrupted by the appearance of a slick movie crew, eager to shoot a quickie flick in the area that references Dean's life. Max is nonplused, although his employees (Ian Gomez and Virginia Madsen) are smitten with the flashy production. Even more aggravating to Max is the emergence of a reporter (Linda Emond) who suspects that he has a long-buried secret regarding the fallen idol. Almost Salinas premiered at the USA Film Festival before making the rounds of the country's second-tier fests. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
This long-delayed science fiction thriller from director Gary Fleder was actually filmed prior to his box-office hit Don't Say a Word (2001), which preceded it in theaters by several months. Based on a 1953 short story by Philip K. Dick, the film shares that schizophrenic author's long-running obsessions with concealed identity and humanity's potential inferiority to alternative life forms. Gary Sinise stars as Spencer John Olham, a respected government scientist in the year 2079 trying to devise a secret weapon that will help his fellow humans win a decade-long war with invading aliens that are cloning human subjects and using the replicas as walking time bombs. Suddenly, Olham is accused of being an alien spy and a nationwide manhunt to capture him ensues. With even his doctor wife (Madeleine Stowe) unsure that she can trust him, Olham must uncover the truth on his own, even as he's relentlessly pursued by Hathaway (Vincent D'Onofrio), a federal agent charged with destroying the clones. Imposter has a complicated history, originally produced in early 2000 as a 30-minute short to be included in an anthology entitled "The Light Years Trilogy," a project that never got off the ground. So impressed was Dimension Films with the completed piece, however, that the footage was incorporated into a new feature version. That film was then shuffled around the release schedule for more than a year as effects were completed, reshoots were ordered, and the film was recut for a PG-13 rating instead of its original R. The R-rated "director's cut" was later released on DVD. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gary Sinise, Madeleine Stowe, (more)
- 2000
Four of the autobiographical novels of Laura Ingalls Wilder served as the basic source material for this made-for-TV movie. Covering some of the same ground as the Wilder-inspired TV series Little House on the Prairie, the film stars Meredith Monroe as 19th-century teenager Laura Ingalls, who at the beginning of the story is still living on her South Dakota family farm with her father (Richard Thomas), mother (Lindsay Crouse), and three siblings. Acknowledging her dad's insistence that she has "the wandering strain," Laura yearns for life beyond the prairie, but is obliged to accept a nearby schoolteaching position to help support her loved ones. After her marriage to homesteader Almanzo Wilder (Walt Goggins), Laura endures the usual trials and tribulations of life as a farmer's wife, further complicated by the loss of her first child and a raging diphtheria epidemic. Yet, somehow, Laura and Almanzo survive their many ordeals with renewed hope for the future. Tess Harper, cast as the "older" Laura, narrates the story. Originally broadcast by CBS on January 2, 2000, Beyond the Prairie: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder was followed by a TV-movie sequel over two years later, on the same network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Meredith Monroe, Tess Harper, (more)
- 2000
Buffy's (Sarah Michelle Gellar) friends begin expressing bad feelings toward the Initiative (see "The Initiative"). Anya (Emma Caulfield) doesn't appreciate their anti-demon policies and Xander (Nicholas Brendon) doesn't trust the secretive commando operation. Buffy couldn't disagree more, especially after Dr. Walsh (Lindsay Crouse) asks her to join the Initiative. Buffy and Riley (Marc Blucas) fight a demon together unaware that Maggie is watching them via hidden camera. Later, Dr. Walsh sends Buffy out to capture a harmless monster which turns out to be two large, strong demons. Dr. Walsh is watching as Buffy is cornered by the demons and the hidden camera cuts out. As she is telling Riley of Buffy's death, Buffy appears in her lab alive and angry. Afterwards, Dr. Walsh enters room 314 (see "A New Man") and awakens some kind of half-human monster who mutters the word "Mommy." It is implied in this episode that as Tara (Amber Benson) and Willow spend the whole night together, their feelings change toward each other. ~ All Movie Guide
- 2000
At Buffy's (Sarah Michelle Gellar) surprise birthday party, Xander (Nicholas Brendon) lets slip that Riley (Marc Blucas) is not only Buffy's new boyfriend, but also in the Initiative. Giles (Anthony Head) is flabbergasted, as he is the last one to find out this information. Feeling out of the loop and obsolete as a Watcher, Giles gets drunk with old buddy, and black magic sorcerer, Eathan Rayne (Robin Sachs). Rayne relates a rumor that demons are fearing the coming of something named 314 (see "The I in Team"). After passing out, Giles awakens to discover he's been turned into a Fyarl demon and can only speak in demon grunts and growls. He goes to Xander for help only to be chased off with pots and pans. Meanwhile, Buffy and Riley discover Giles missing, and, suspecting Eathan Rayne's involvement, go looking for him. Fortunately, Spike (James Marstens) speaks Fyarl and promises to help Giles -- for money. ~ All Movie Guide
- 2000
Adam (George Hertzberg) now controls Riley (Marc Blucas) via a chip implanted in his arm by Dr. Walsh (Lindsay Crouse). His plan to create an army of half human/half demon is finally revealed along with new recruits Forrest (Leonard Roberts) and Dr. Walsh. Meanwhile, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) meets up with Giles (Anthony Head), Willow (Alyson Hannigan), and Xander (Nicholas Brendon). After comparing notes, the group realizes they've been tricked by Spike (James Marsters) into being angry with each other. They also piece together Adam's evil plan and break into the Initiative compound to put it to an end. They are captured by Initiative commandos and at the same time Adam releases the demons and chaos ensues. Needless to say, Spike's chip stays implanted. During the final battle sequence, Willow, Xander, and Giles magically imbue Buffy with heightened supernatural powers that seem correlate to each character's best personality trait. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1999
One of several direct-to-video movies to make their American TV bows on the Lifetime cable channel, Total Stranger was filmed under the title Stranger in My House. Having just emerged from a nasty divorce, and with her daughter off at college, lawyer Patti Young (Lindsay Crouse) decides to make financial ends meet by taking in a younger female tenant, a student named Lara (Zoe McLellan). What Patti does not suspect--until it is too late--is that the deceptively sweet-natured Lara is a "serial invader", who has a habit of taking over the houses and lives of the people who trust her. The problem: Patti cannot get anyone to believe that Lara is sinister as Patti (and the viewer) knows she really is! Also starring Jay Thomas and Dan Lauria, this psychological thriller made its cable-TV debut several years after filming wrapped in 1999. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lindsay Crouse, Zoe McLellan, (more)
The Insider tells the true story of a man who decided to tell the world what the seven major tobacco companies knew (and concealed) about the dangers of their product. Jeffrey Wigand (Russell Crowe) was a scientist employed in research for a tobacco firm, Brown and Williamson. Not long after he was fired by Brown and Williamson, Wigand came into contact with Lowell Bergman (Al Pacino), a producer for 60 Minutes who worked closely with journalist Mike Wallace (played here by Christopher Plummer). Bergman arranged for Wigand to be interviewed by Wallace for a 60 Minutes expose on the cigarette industry, though Wigand was still bound by a confidentiality agreement not to discuss his employment with the company. Despite Wigand's willingness to talk, CBS pulled his interview from at the last minute after Brown and Williamson threatened a multi-billion dollar lawsuit. The staff of 60 Minutes and CBS News were soon embroiled in an internal struggle over the killing of the story, and Wigand found himself the subject of lawsuits and a smear campaign, without his full story reaching the public. The Insider was directed by Michael Mann and also features Diane Venora, Philip Baker Hall, Debi Mazar, Colm Feore, and Rip Torn. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Al Pacino, Russell Crowe, (more)
- 1999
In the fourth season opener, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Willow (Alyson Hannigan) have entered college in Sunnydale and set about choosing courses. Despite a roommate who snores, Willow is confident in the new intellectual environment, but Buffy feels unsure of herself and completely out of place. Soon, she meets Eddie (Pedro Balmaceda), another insecure freshman clutching his favorite book, Of Human Bondage. After they part ways, Eddie is attacked by a group of vampires led by Sunday (Katherine Towne), a punkish vampire on campus. Later, Buffy realizes that Eddie was not in class and goes to his dorm room only to find his things missing, except for the book. While on slayer patrol, a newly vamped Eddie lures Buffy into a confrontation with Sunday. In other plot developments, Xander (Nicholas Brendon) has not entered college, but gone on a trip across America, ending in Oxnard and a stint in a male strip club -- as a dishwasher. Buffy also meets Riley (Marc Blucas), a psychology grad student who will factor more prominently in her life in the future. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1999
Ever studious, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) falls asleep during a class lecture and has a dream about a little girl holding a box and reciting a fairy tale about "The Gentlemen." Meanwhile, Willow (Alyson Hannigan) attends a campus Wicca meeting where she meets Tara (Amber Benson), a demure young coed. Later that night, a group of tall, thin, ghoulish, undertaker-types -- The Gentlemen -- come floating into Sunnydale stealing everyone's voices as they sleep. Perplexed by her inability to speak, Buffy goes to Giles (Anthony Head) to figure out what to do. At the same time, The Gentleman cut the heart out of their first victim, who can only writhe in silent torture. Tara seeks out Willow, hoping to perform a spell with her to combat The Gentleman, who also go after her heart. Then, Giles uncovers the fairy tale about The Gentleman in which only the scream of a Princess can stop their silent evil -- but Princess Buffy can't even whisper. Largely directed as a silent episode, this groundbreaking effort from series creator Joss Whedon was nominated for an Emmy. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1999
Riley (Marc Blucas) likes Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar). He even punches Parker (Adam Kaufman) for making disparaging remarks about her. Despite his masculine confidence as an Initiative Commando -- an elite sect of the military that hunts and studies monsters -- he is nervous about asking Buffy out. He even goes to Willow (Alyson Hannigan) for advice. This leads to Riley proffering some cheese squares for Buffy at a party. Needless to say, they are both unaware of each other's secret night life. Meanwhile, Spike (James Marsters) -- or "Hostile 17," as he is now called -- is languishing in a holding cell in the Initiative's underground compound below Riley's fraternity house. Spike soon breaks out and attacks Willow in her dorm room. Mysteriously, he is unable to bite her. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1999
On the night before Halloween, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and friends attend a costume party at the Alpha Delta house. Oz (Seth Green) helps prepare the sound system, subsequently cutting himself and dripping blood onto an occult symbol a frat brother is painting on the floor. Unbeknownst to everyone, the symbol summons the fear demon Gachnar, who forces everyone to face their fears. As Buffy, still hung up on Parker (Adam Kaufman), fears being alone, Oz fears the monster within himself. Meanwhile, Willow (Alyson Hannigan) fears she cannot control her magic, and Xander (Nicholas Brendon) fears his friends will forget about him. His may be the most well-founded worry, as no one tells him about the party and he (almost) stays home alone to watch Phantasm instead. This is also the first time that Buffy actually notices the Initiative Commandos -- see "The Initiative" -- but mistakes them for costumed students. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1999
Having opted out of college, Xander (Nicholas Brendon) takes a job at the local student pub as a bartender. His first night is a humiliating one with snobby student Colm (Eric Matheny) antagonizing him "like a Bad Will Hunting." Colm and his buddies then proceed to guzzle case after case of Black Frost beer. Meanwhile, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar), still pining over Parker (Adam Kaufman), decides to come to the pub. She bumps into Riley (Marc Blucas), who disparages Parker's slimey behavior toward women. Feeling even worse, Buffy joins Colm and his friends in downing the Black Forest beer. Soon the group has reverted to their baser instincts, literally, as the beer was prepared by the pub owner using warlock magic. Soon, they've all gone Cro-Magnon, dragging girls into the Grotto -- the local student coffee bar -- with Buffy hunching away, grunting, "Parker, bad." ~ All Movie Guide
- 1999
Oz (Seth Green) and Willow (Alyson Hannigan) go to see a local band perform. Oz is strangely attracted to the lead singer Veruca (Paige Moss), much to Willow's annoyance. Later, while Willow attends a Wicca meeting, Oz transforms into a werewolf and breaks out of his cage only to meet up with Veruca -- also now a werewolf. Soon, Willow becomes suspicious when Oz is not in the mood to make love. Her worries are confirmed when she brings Oz breakfast one moring and finds Vercua lying naked with him in his cage. She quickly devises a black magic spell to hurt the hairy lovers, but is interrupted when Veruca attempts to kill her. All of this leads Oz to question his humanity and make a hard decision about the future. Meanwhile, Spike (James Marstens) returns from Los Angeles without the Gem of Amarra -- see "The Harsh Light of Day" -- and is summarliy nabbed by the Initiative. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1999
Lindsay Crouse guest stars as Denise Grobman, a civil court judge who is shot in her building's parking garage. The detectives haul in an extremely likely suspect, only to discover that Grobman refuses to prosecute -- nor even to believe that the suspect had anything to do with the attack. Clearly, someone is hiding something, but what and why? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
In the opening episode of Touched by an Angel's sixth season, Heavenly caseworker Monica (Roma Downey) hopes to awaken the conscience of Senator Kate Cooper (Lindsay Crouse), and persuade the woman to make public the horrible plight of women and children in war-torn Sudan. Unfortunately, Kate stands to lose a major endorsement from a candy company which is exploiting Sudan's slave-labor pool, so she remains silent. The issue is ultimately forced when, with the gentle encouragement of Monica and fellow angel Andrew (John Dye), Kate's own son Thomas (Jake Thomas) mounts a well-publicized fundraiser for the victims of the Sudan crisis. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Brian Yuzna directed this sci-fi horror film with creature design by Screaming Mad George. Sherry (Jillian McWhirter) and Craig Burton (Arnold Vosloo) are zapped by a white light while making love, suffer a later memory loss of the incident, and see a psychiatrist (Lindsay Crouse) and UFO investigator Dr. Clavell (Brad Dourif). Hypnotic sessions prompt memories of steel medical instruments, tentacled aliens, and an operating table. When Sherry's gynecologist (Wilford Brimley) checks with ultrasound, alien technology zaps his pacemaker, and the situation begins to get grim. Progeny was shown at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Arnold Vosloo, Jillian McWhirter, (more)
- 1998
In this romantic comedy, Rob Lowe plays an emissary of the Devil who is sent to Earth to corrupt the spirit of a sweet, well-meaning waitress (Alexandra Powers). However, the plan backfires when the imp finds that he's falling in love with his intended victim. One Hell of a Guy also stars Michael York and Lindsay Crouse. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rob Lowe, Alexandra Powers, (more)
