Keith Diamond Movies
- 2005
Working in concert with a death-obsessed alchemist (John Kassir), Zankou (Oded Fehr) begins savagely attacking innocents in order to render the Charmed Ones vulnerable. Zankou's latest victim is Phoebe's fellow grad student Tim (Colin Egglesfield), who drops dead at her feet. Convinced that Tim's demise is entirely her fault (she has in fact been "accused" by the dead man's spirit), Phoebe (Alyssa Milano) asks Daryl (Dorian Gregory) to investigate the phenomenon -- while Zankou mounts his next and even more horrible offense. Meanwhile, Paige (Rose McGowan) senses that her new student Joanna (Laura Regan) has the "wrongest" boyfriend of all time, and Piper (Holly Marie Combs) and Leo (Brian Krause) forget their past differences to plan a birthday party for baby Chris. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brian Krause, Dorian Gregory, (more)
In 1971, filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles released his third film, Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song, which he wrote, directed, and scored. Despite boasting an all-black cast, an X rating, a low budget, and a decidedly non-Hollywood approach to moviemaking, the ground-breaking independent film went on to gross over ten million dollars while inspiring countless other films of the genre that would come to be called blaxploitation. Mario Van Peebles, the director's son, was 13 at the time and got his first taste of show business with a small role in the film. Over three decades later, the younger Van Peebles directed and co-wrote this film, in which he stars as his father. BAADASSSSS! chronicles the director's struggles to get the film made by highlighting the social roadblocks and production pitfalls Van Peebles faced, as well as the personal sacrifices he was forced to make. Also starring T.K. Carter, Ossie Davis, and Nia Long, BAADASSSSS! premiered at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mario Van Peebles
- 2002
Connie McDowell (Charlotte Ross) arrests her scummy brother-in-law, Frank (Nicholas Lea), on a charge of spousal abuse. The abduction of a five-year-old girl leads to a suspicious ice-cream vendor -- and an unexpected defense of the often homophobic Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) by gay cop John Irvin (Bill Brochtrup). And the murder of an NBA draftee's pregnant girlfriend leads to a solution straight out of Becket ("Will no one rid me of this man?"). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Henry Simmons
- 2000
Greene (Anthony Edwards) confronts unforeseen perils as he flies to Indiana and back with a heart-transplant patient. Carter (Noah Wyle) treats teenaged patient Trent Larson (Blake Heron), whose parents have not informed him that he is HIV-positive. Kovac (Goran Visnjic) tries to learn the identity of the mugger he has killed. And no sooner has Benton (Eriq La Salle) returned to work than he is placed in charge of the ER. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Alan Young guest stars as Archie Mellonston, a nursing-home patient who raises a ruckus in the ER when he flashes back to a traumatic incident during the Korean War. Other developments: blacklisted throughout Chicago by the vengeful Romano (Paul McCrane), the unemployed Benton (Eriq La Salle) is saddled with additional problems courtesy of his pugnacious nephew Jesse (Andrew McFarlane); Greene (Anthony Edwards) treats a beauty contestant who was injured in a freak "cosmetic" accident; and Chen (Ming-Na) takes care of a terminal patient whose mother is in a state of denial. All this, plus a shoot-out in the ER -- and a mugging in which Kovac (Goran Visnjic) ends up killing his attacker. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
A big corporation wants to buy all the houses in Drew's neighborhood so they can be torn down and replaced by a new mall. On the verge of selling, Drew (Drew Carey) discovers that his duplicitous boss Mrs. Louder (Nan Martin) is behind the deal. Refusing Mrs. Louder's offer, Drew is ultimately persuaded by a promise of being given some choice lake property--but the promise turns out to be a lie, and as a result Drew finds himself living in only one-half of his old house! Watch for the classic "Beer-robics" finale, courtesy of Drew's pal Lewis (Ryan Styles). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
When the Buzz Beer tank explodes, Drew's next door neighbors Greg and Janet Clemens (Keith Diamond, Rachel True) generously offer to pay for the damage and pump new money into the business--provided that Greg is put in complete charge. The result: Not only is Drew (Drew Carey) worked to death at home, but thanks to a diabolical deal struck between Greg and Mr. Wick (Craig Ferguson), he is run ragged at the office as well. Meanwhile, Lewis (Ryan Stiles) dates a pig--a human guninea pig for DrugCo, that is. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
It's the "Rush Limbaugh" episode, with the peppery right-wing radio host appearing as himself. In an effort to prove that she has enough "class" to be promoted to the position of Winfred-Louder's wardrobe buyer, Kate (Christa Miller) arranges a meeting with store owner Mrs. Louder (Nan Martin) at an elite salon--which Drew (Drew Carey) has set up in his own house. Alas, all hopes for promotion seem to be dashed when ultra-liberal Kate argues with ultra-conservative Mrs. Louder over the topic of free speech. It is up to "El Rushbo" (Limbaugh, that is), to show up as deux-ex-machina to resolve the argument--and will you be surprised by the way he does it! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
With her marriage to Oswald (Diedrich Bader) only days away, Kate (Christa Miller) despairs over not being able to afford her dream wedding dress. Drew (Drew Carey) literally ponies up the necessary $5000 by agreeing to let his neighbors the Clemenses store a broken-down horse in his backyard. Alas, Drew's grand gesture is reward with hostility from Oswald, who has already purchased a cheap knockoff of the wedding dress and is convinced that Drew is trying to embarrass him in front of Kate. With all this going on, do we really need the drunken antics of the redoubtable Mr. Wick (Craig Ferguson)? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Though Drew (Drew Carey) beats the drug rap thrust upon him by loopy Larry (Ian Gomez), the government seizes Drew's house and puts it up for auction, forcing our hero to take up residence with Larry and Oswald (Diedrich Bader). To extricate himself from his current financial mess, Drew follows the advice of Nicki (Kate Walsh) and declares bankruptcy, then contrives to win back his house by having Larry make the biggest auction bids. Unfortunately, Drew reckons without the connivances of his nasty neighbors--to say nothing of Mimi (Kathy Kinney). Meanwhile, there's trouble afoot in the relationship between Oswald and Kate (Christa Miller). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Two roommates, both strippers, are murdered, sending Simone (Jimmy Smits) and Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) off on another trail of contrary clues. Tipped to a possible assassination by ex-cop Sheedy (Jason Andrews), Medavoy (Gordon Clapp) wants to pose as a hitman to catch the perp, but it is determined that Martinez (Nicholas Turturro) would be better casting. Jill (Andrea Thompson) and Diane (Kim Delaney) deal with a possible diamond necklace robbery. And Diane is more convinced than ever that a baby is on the way. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Continuing to exert her evil influence over her traumatized boss Mr. Wick (Craig Ferguson), who remains locked in her house under the delusion that a tornado is still raging outside, Mimi (Kathy Kinney) has taken full charge of running Winfred-Louder. Drew (Drew Carey) is getting suspicous over Wick's disapperance, so Mimi fires him--which proves to be one dirty trick too many. Elsewhere, the relationship between Drew and Nicki (Kate Walsh) hits a snag, while the news that Kate (Christa Miller) and Oswald (Diedrich Bader) are dating doesn't sit well with Larry (Ian Gomez). Finally, we learn the source of Larry's sudden spurt of wealth when DEA agents descend upon Drew's house and arrest everyone in sight! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Entering a contest held by a fast-food restaurant, Drew (Drew Carey) wins a replica of the famous Batmobile, only to become extremely paranoid thanks to his friends' admonition that he should have accept an alternate prize of $250,000. Then he goes into full "obsession" mode after Lewis (Ryan Stiles) and Oswald (Diedrich Bader) borrow the Batmobile for a joyride--and to make matters worse, jealous Nicki (Kate Walsh) concludes that Drew is more in love with the car than with her. In the end, however, it is Nicki who is sexually aroused by the Batmobile, with dire consequences for our hero! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Jumping fairly late on the slasher-movie bandwagon, this stylish but hollow effort from director Manny Coto stars L.A. Law's Larry Drake as the psychopathic Evan Rendell, who fancies himself a misunderstood medical genius. In an inventive opening scene, Rendell performs a bit of impromptu surgery on his keepers at the asylum (who had given him the title nickname due to his fits of nervous laughter) and escapes to his hometown to set up his "practice." This medical mania seems to run in the family, as we are shown in flashback: Evan's daddy once butchered several local women in his search for a replacement heart for his wife, and although he was unable to save her, Pops managed to spirit away young Evan and keep him safe (in a very, very nasty hiding place) before being lynched by the locals. Hiding out in the abandoned family home, "Dr. Giggles" begins a random killing spree in town with his bag of medieval-looking surgical instruments... but he finds new purpose when he sees the medical records of young Jennifer (Holly Marie Combs), who is in line for a heart transplant, and vows to "cure" her himself. This film eschews the possibilities of its demented premise, choosing instead to serve up a flavorless hash of '80s slasher clichés (wisecracking killer, stupid teenage victims, virginal heroine, 20-years-later motif, etc.). The only truly inspired moment occurs in flashback, when we discover the actual hiding place the elder Dr. Rendell chose for his son. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Larry Drake, Holly Marie Combs, (more)
- 1991
A grim-visaged Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) puts his social life on hold in order to study for an economics exam that could very well place him on the Dean's List. Unfortunately, he is sidetracked by a pretty exchange student from Barbados, whom he impulsively invites to the party that he had previously turned down in order to cram for the exam. Vanessa Williams plays the girl who unwittingly throws temptation in poor Theo's path. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
A double homicide yields two likely suspects: Melanie Cullen (Shirley Knight), widow of the male victim, and Douglas Phillips (David Lansbury), the obsessive ex-boyfriend of the female victim. The key to the case ultimately rests in the hands of Melanie's son, James (Geoffrey Nauffts). Jerry Orbach, who would later join the series' regular cast as detective Lennie Briscoe, is here seen in the adversarial role of the Cullens' defense attorney, Frank Lehrman. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
On the occasion of Rudy's first period, Clair (Phylicia Rashad) declares a "Woman's Day" in order to bond with her daughter. But Rudy (Keshia Knight Pulliam) refuses to talk to her mom about the situation, preferring instead to listen to the misinformation about menstruation being dispensed by her highly imaginative girlfriends. Meanwhile, Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) encounters several roadblocks in his efforts to write a "psychological profile" on his dad Cliff (Bill Cosby)--the biggest obstacle being Cliff himself. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Based on a true story as related by neurologist Oliver Sacks, Awakenings stars Robin Williams as the Sacks counterpart, here named Dr. Malcolm Sayer. Something of a klutz and naif, Dr. Sayer takes a job at a Bronx psychiatric hospital in 1969. Here he's put in charge of several seemingly catatonic patients who, under Sayer's painstaking guidance, begin responding to certain stimulati. Apprised of the efficacy of a new drug called L-DOPA in treating degenerative-disease victims, Sayer is given permission to test the drug on one of his patients: Leonard Lowe (Robert De Niro), who has not communicated with anyone since lapsing into catatonia as a child. Gradually, Lowe comes out of his shell, encouraging Sayers to administer L-DOPA to the other patients under his care. Julie Kavner and John Heard also star. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robin Williams, Robert De Niro, (more)
- 1989
Cliff (Bill Cosby) is upset that his son Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) hasn't invited him to his new apartment, all because Theo is worried that Cliff's long-winded anecdotes would bore his roommates. Happily, this proves not to be the case; unhappily, Theo and his buddies are evicted after trying to replicate one of Cliff's childhood stunts! Anthony Quinn guest stars as Theo's irascible landlord in this episode, which also introduces two new sets of twin child actors as the children of Cliff's eldest daughter Sondra (Sabrina LeBeauf). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
