Amy Brenneman

Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Sheryl Crow, George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Tom Petty, Al Pacino, and many more entertainment industry luminaries teamed up on September 21, 2001, for this live telethon raising funds for the families of the victims of the September 11th terrorist attacks. The focus of America: A Tribute to Heroes were 21 musical performances, interspersed with speeches and personal histories commemorating the lives lost at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania some ten days prior. Simulcast commercial-free on almost 40 networks, the event garnered more than 200 million dollars in support before being released to home video in December of 2001. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide

Based on the popular cartoon character, this family-oriented "ghost story" is about a not-so-scary spirit who bonds with a little girl (Christina Ricci). The eternally irritable Ms. Carrigan (Cathy Moriarty) discovers that the only thing she's been left in her recently departed father's will is a rickety old house in New England. Naturally, the woman is furious about this, until her "close personal friend" and assistant, Dibbs (Eric Idle of Monty Python fame), discovers a secret message that a treasure may be concealed somewhere in the house. The two take off for Maine, only to learn that the house is haunted by Casper "the friendly ghost" and his three ghostly uncles Stinky, Stretch, and Fatso. After futilely recruiting an exorcist (Don Novello, more or less reviving his Father Guido Sarducci character from Saturday Night Live) and a "professional ghost exterminator" (Dan Aykroyd), she brings in a "ghost psychiatrist" (Bill Pullman) and his daughter Kat (Ricci). Innocently attracted to the young girl, Casper befriends Kat as they try to save the ghosts' home from the evil Carrigan. Eye-popping special effects highlight this magical story that touches (albeit lightly) on the theme of what lies at the heart of human desires. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide

A self-destructive housewife takes what may be her final step into the abyss in this independent psychological drama. Nancy Stockwell (Maria Bello) is a woman edging into her forties who has fallen into a deep and prolonged state of depression, finding her only solace in self-inflicted pain. Nancy has grown weary of her relationship with her husband Albert (Rufus Sewell), and one day he comes home from work to find a note in which Nancy says she's decided to visit an old friend for a few days. When Nancy doesn't call after several days, Albert begins to worry that something is wrong, and he soon learns that Nancy hasn't told him the truth. Nancy has struck up an on-line relationship with Louis Farley (Jason Patric), who has a passion for violent sex, and she has decided to meet with him in person, but she has more in mind than just a fling -- she believes that Louis is the man who can end her misery by killing her. Also featuring Amy Brenneman as Nancy's analyst, Downloading Nancy was the first English-language feature from Swedish filmmaker Johan Renck. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

The Christmas season affords Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) yet another opportunity to advance his love life -- or bollix it up. It all starts when Frasier is rescued from an embarrassing shopping blunder by a certain Mrs. Helen Moskowitz (Carole Shelley). This leads to a deepening relationship between Frasier and Helen's attractive daughter Faye (played by future Judging Amy star Amy Brenneman). The trick now is to convince Mrs. Moskowitz's that Frasier is Jewish! This episode won an Emmy Award for writer Jay Kogen. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of Frasier's season-six finale, all three of the Crane men continue to encounter big problems in their respective love lives. Niles (David Hyde Pierce) decides his new girlfriend is too "hip" for his room; Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) is caught between two lovers, whose names he can't keep straight; and the relationship between Martin (John Mahoney) and his lady friend Bonnie (Alice Playten) hits a serious snag thanks to Eddie the dog. Originally telecast as a one-hour "special," this episode has since been re-edited as two separate half-hours for syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the first episode of a two-part story, Addison (Kate Walsh) heads to LA for a reunion old medical-school friends, blissfully unprepared for what it is in store for her. Meredith's stepmom Susan (Mare Winningham) is brought in with a truly bad case of hiccups, just as Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) thinks she has come to terms with their relationship. "Jane Doe" (Elizabeth Reaser) has been identified as "Ava", and Alex (Justin Chambers) is happy with her by any name. And Cristina (Sandra Oh) prepares for her wedding with the dubious input of her own mother (Tsai Chin) and Burke's mom (Diahann Carroll). This episode serves to introduce the future costars of the Grey's Anatomy spinoff Private Practice: Tim Daly (Pete), Amy Brennerman (Violet), Taye Diggs (Sam), Chris Lowell (Dell) and Paul Adelstein (Cooper) (the character of Naomi, here played by Merrin Dungey, would be taken over by Audra McDonald in Private Practice). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A successful career criminal considers getting out of the business after one last score, while an obsessive cop desperately tries to put him behind bars in this intelligent thriller written and directed by Michael Mann. Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) is a thief who specializes in big, risky jobs, such as banks and armored cars. He's very good at what he does; he's bright, methodical, and has honed his skills as a thief at the expense of his personal life, vowing never to get involved in a relationship from which he couldn't walk away in 30 seconds. Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino) is an L.A.P.D. detective determined to catch McCauley, but while McCauley's personal code has forced him to do without a wife and children, Hanna's dedication has made a wreck of the home he's tried to have; he's been divorced twice, he's all but a stranger to his third wife, and he has no idea how to reach out to his troubled step-daughter. While McCauley has enough money to retire and is planning to move to New Zealand, he loves the thrill of robbery as much as the profit, and is blocking out plans for one more job; meanwhile, he's met a woman, Eady (Amy Brenneman), whom he's not so sure he can walk away from. The supporting cast includes Val Kilmer as Chris, one of McCauley's partners; Ashley Judd as his wife Charlene; Jon Voight as Nate; Hank Azaria as Alan Marciano; and Henry Rollins as Hugh, who is beaten up by Hanna. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

The six-part made-for-television Artists' Specials Series is an entertaining and educational collection of children's films. Programs focus on a significant segment of a famous artist's life. Biographical information is mixed with fiction to create compelling stories reflecting turning points in the lives of revered art world figures. In Mary Cassatt: American Impressionist, children are introduced to one of the country's foremost printmakers and women artists. The story revolves around a visit from Cassatt's brother and his three rowdy children just days prior to an important Paris exhibition, and a meeting with painter Edgar Degas. Other videos in the series include Degas and the Dancer, Rembrandt: Fathers and Sons, and Monet: Shadow and Light. The highly acclaimed series is designed for youngsters age eight and older. ~ Sally Barber, All Movie Guide