Daniel Minahan Movies
The second season begins in the wake of Barb's disqualification at the awards ceremony. While she leaves home to sort things out on her own, Bill is determined to discover who outed the family. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
As Season Three of Grey's Anatomy gets under way, Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) has only a few fleeting moments to ponder her romantic rendezvous with Derek (Patrick Dempsey) at the end of Season Two before Derek and George (T.R. Knight) are quarantined in the same room by a flu epidemic. In another unresolved issue from the previous season, Izzie (Katherine Heigl) is so devastated by the death of heart patient Denny Duquette that she decides to give up her medical career completely. Elsewhere, the wife (Loretta Devine) of surgery chief Webber (James Pickens Jr.) forces him to choose between the hospital and her; and two of the surgeons look after an infant found in a most unexpected place. This episode is highlighted by an extensive flashback to that wonderful night in 2005 just before the series' regulars began their "tour of duty" at Seattle Grace Hospital. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The male staffers at Seattle Grace go on a camping trip in the mountains, which culminates in a "slap fight" (so to speak) between George (T.R. Knight) and Alex (Justin Chambers]). Addison (Kate Walsh) and Callie (Sara Ramirez) have a lot to talk over as they team up on a medical case. Bailey (Chandra Wilson) tears into Cristina (Sandra Oh) concerning her strange actions vis-à-vis Burke (Isaiah Washington). And Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) enters unchartered territory (for her) as she assists Sloan (Eric Dane) with a very delicate "corrective" procedure (Hint: the patient is named Donna, but she used to be Daniel). This episode earned a special award from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The day's rounds require that George (T.R. Knight) team up with Derek (Patrick Dempsey)--and, less harmoniously, that Callie (Sara Ramirez, now a series regular) team up with Meredith (Ellen Pompeo). In other developments, Finn (Chris O'Donnell) gets an update on the wellbeing of Meredith's dog Doc; Denny (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is all primed for the transplant, but the donated heart suddenly becomes unavailable, forcing Izzie (Katherine Heigl) to take drastic measures; and Callie has something very important to say to George. The episode comes to a shocking climax as Burke (Isaiah Washington is literally laid low by an unexpected catastrophe. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Rosanna Arquette guest stars as convict Constance Ferguson, who tries to get out of solitary confinement by swallowing four razor blades--an act of pathetic bravado that earns the contempt of Cristina (Sandra Oh). Elsewhere, the newborn quintuplets and their mother (Margaret Welsh) are suffering serious post-natal problems, with one of the infants close to death. As Izzie (Katherine Heigl) cares for the ailing child, Addison (Kate Walsh) decides that it is time to teach the idealistic intern a painful but necessary lesson. Also, Alex (Justin Chambers) broods obessessively over a medical mistake, which only serves to make Izzie (Katherine Heigl) even more angry with him; and under pressure, George (T.R. Knight) agrees to treat a skin-cancer patient with leeches. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
William (Josh Eriksson) has been critically injured by Fields' (Franklyn Ajaye) horse. Martha (Anna Gunn) regrets bringing William to Deadwood, and wants to bring him back to Michigan. Doc (Brad Dourif) privately notes that if the hoof had come down an inch to the right, the boy, mercifully, would have died instantly. "I doubt He's omniscient," Doc laments. "I know He's myopic." Fields has to convince Hostetler (Richard Gant) not to kill himself. They leave town, Hostetler insisting that they track down the horse and return with it. Without Seth's (Timothy Olyphant) presence for protection, Miss Isringhausen (Sarah Paulson) refuses to sign Al's (Ian McShane) incriminating documents. Al gets Silas (Titus Welliver) to help him persuade her. Al learns from Merrick (Jeffrey Jones) that Jarry (Stephen Tobolowsky) is returning to the camp, probably in response to Al's planted article in the Pioneer about Seth's "rumored" contacts with Montana. Al summons Sol (John Hawkes) to school Silas about Montana politics, in order to convince Jarry that the camp is in play. Sol objects to being summoned, as he stands vigil outside Doc's, but Dan (W. Earl Brown) threatens to carry him across the thoroughfare if he doesn't come peacefully. Sol is further dismayed to find that Trixie (Paula Malcomson), in her grief, has returned to the Gem. Mose (Pruitt Taylor Vince), critically wounded by Cy's men, is brought to the Chez Amis to recuperate. A reformed Andy Cramed (Zach Grenier) returns to the camp, having become a preacher. Cy (Powers Boothe) explains to the worried Jarry that the article in the Pioneer was Al's concoction, but Jarry won't listen. "Doesn't take much, does it," Cy asks the commissioner, "to get your balls tucked up?" "They are very sensitive to changes in weather," Jarry responds, pointedly. "You feel one coming on?" ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
Al (Ian McShane), cleaning a bloodstain off the floor of the Gem, offers some advice. "You might, Dan (W. Earl Brown), want to learn how to indicate interest in a girl without murdering another person." E.B. (William Sanderson) has murder on his mind, suggesting to Al that offing Seth (Timothy Olyphant) and Alma (Molly Parker) in their sleep might be the best way to gain control of Alma's gold claim. But then smallpox vaccine arrives in the camp, along with news of a probable treaty with the Sioux, and Al, sensing a change of times, preaches patience. "We are about to be swimming in money," he tells E.B. Alma, having taken Trixie's (Paula Malcolmson) words to heart, is ready to accept E.B.'s bid and return with the girl (Breeseanna Wall) to New York, but Seth insists on assaying her claim first. Ellsworth (Jim Beaver) is just the man to do it, but at the claim, he lets Seth get far enough ahead of him that he can say to Dan, "If I'm to get my throat cut...I'd rather not exert myself further." With Dan's reassurance, Ellsworth points out a rich vein of gold to Seth. Trixie, meanwhile, has apparently decided that her prospects for continued survival in Deadwood are poor. On returning to camp, Seth meets with Al, who tells him, "If a treaty is signed, it'd be wise for you and me to paddle in the same direction." Seth wants Al to guarantee Alma's safety, and he does. Flora (Kristen Bell), knowing that Cy (Powers Boothe) suspects her, convinces Miles (Greg Cipes) that it's time for them to make their move. Joanie (Kim Dickens) tries to protect her, but as Cy puts it to one dismayed onlooker, "You could help your delicate sensibilities by turning the f*ck away." ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
Seth (Timothy Olyphant) is not happy in his new post as health commissioner. He proposes a town dump and infirmary to the mayor, E.B. (William Sanderson), whose lack of interest sends Seth to make his case to the media, in the form of A.W. Merrick (Jeffrey Jones). Seth is also looking into purchasing another piece of property in camp. Smith's (Ray McKinnon) health continues to deteriorate. He seems soothed by the music of the new piano at the Gem, but Al is forced to throw him out to keep him from humiliating himself. Doc (Brad Dourif) explains that the reverend has a tumor, and there's nothing to be done. Joanie (Kim Dickens) tells Eddie (Ricky Jay) that she doesn't want to take Cy's (Powers Boothe) money for her new place. Eddie offers to steal from Cy to back her himself. One of Mr. Wu's (Keone Young) couriers is killed and robbed of some dope that was meant for Al's (Ian McShane) business. Al agrees to help Wu track down and punish the thieves. Soon enough, he determines that a dope fiend in his employ, Jimmy Irons (Dean Rader-Duval), collaborated on the murder/robbery with one of Cy's underlings, Leon (Larry Cedar). This presents a dilemma for Al. As he explains to Wu, if he turns over two white men for one dead Chinese, "When they finish stringing you up, they'll come get me." Al goes to Cy for advice, but Cy is unsympathetic. Because Cy doesn't have to maintain a business relationship with Wu, he "can stand on principle." In other words, as Cy puts it, "A white dope fiend is still white." Al has more trouble when Magistrate Claggett's bagman, Silas Adams (Titus Welliver), arrives from Yankton with a demand for more money to make Al's murder warrant disappear. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
As the lives of the Fisher clan drift into isolation, the funeral of Keith's great aunt (Ann Weldon) sets the stage for a major showdown between discontented lovers Keith (Mathew St. Patrick) and David (Michael C. Hall). En route to San Diego for the memorial, the couple quarrel over Keith's continuing enthusiasm for extracurricular sex -- and David's emerging distaste for same. But the real conflict comes when Keith decides that it's time to confront his father (James Pickens Jr.) about the physical abuse he once heaped on his kids. The outraged patriarch lashes out, and when David comes to Keith's defense, Keith tells him to butt out of his family business. A disconsolate David heads back to L.A., where Nate (Peter Krause) is growing worried about his wife, Lisa (Lili Taylor), who hasn't checked in since leaving on a road trip. Nate busies himself by consoling Brenda (Rachel Griffiths) over an icky run-in with her insane brother Billy (Jeremy Sisto). Confessing that his latest antics include a stab at physical, instead of the usual emotional, incest, she nonetheless finds herself breaking her own sexual taboos during an impassioned, although abortive, kiss with Nate. Claire (Lauren Ambrose) learns that Russell (Ben Foster), too, has gone beyond the pale when he confesses to a sexual dalliance with bisexual art teacher Olivier (Peter MacDissi). The youngest Fisher dumps her boyfriend as forcefully as possible, although Russell doesn't seem to get the hint. As for the Fisher matriarch, Ruth (Frances Conroy) gets the hint that shy embalmer Arthur (Rainn Wilson) isn't capable of the physical relationship she craves. She, too, dumps her man. Originally broadcast May 4, 2003, on HBO, "Everyone Leaves" marked season three, episode ten of the made-for-cable drama. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
The "reality TV" craze is taken to its final, logical extreme as six people hunt each other down in a small town for the benefit of network TV cameras in this darkly comic satire. "The Contenders" is a top-rated television game show in which six contestants are set loose in the same Connecticut community, with orders to kill or be killed; the last of the six who is still alive is declared the winner. As "The Contenders" goes into its seventh season, Dawn (Brooke Smith) is a two-time champion who is hoping to hold on to her title, despite the fact that she's due to have a baby in a month. Dawn's rivals this time out are Tony (Michael Kaycheck), an unemployed blue-collar worker with a taste for violence; Connie (Marylouise Burke), a middle-aged nurse who doesn't like to hurt people but is an experienced hand with a syringe; Lindsay (Merritt Wever), an 18-year-old dance student whose parents are eager to see her compete; Franklin (Richard Venture), an elderly conspiracy theorist with a tenuous hold on reality; and Jeff (Glenn Fitzgerald), who is dying of testicular cancer -- and was Dawn's boyfriend years ago. Series 7: The Contenders marked the directorial debut for Daniel Minahan, who previously employed pop culture and America's obsession with violence as themes in his screenplay for I Shot Andy Warhol. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brooke Smith, Glenn Fitzgerald, (more)
The true story of Valerie Solanas, the radical feminist who became notorious after shooting art world icon Andy Warhol, is portrayed in this fact-based drama. In an attempt to present a fair assessment of her actions, writer-director Mary Harron focuses on Solanas' troubled life, from her childhood as an abuse victim to her life as teenage prostitute in New York City. These experiences left Solanas (played by Lili Taylor) deeply scarred, contributing to a hatred of men that later found full flower in her famous "SCUM Manifesto," an extremist tract calling for the establishment of a "Society for Cutting Up Men." Deeply troubled, she nevertheless briefly finds hope after befriending young transvestite Candy Darling (played by Stephen Dorff) and discovering herself on the fringes of the wild, colorful world surrounding the eccentric Warhol. She becomes obsessed with the idea that Warhol's support could change her life, only to become violently enraged when the artist and his friends begin to turn away from her. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lili Taylor, Jared Harris, (more)














