Amy Aquino Movies
Steady working character actor Amy Aquino has a knack for playing tough, maternal supporting roles. With an impressive history involving Harvard, Yale, Broadway, and repertory theater, she settled down in what could be termed "repertory television." A brief start in films during the late '80s saw small parts in Moonstruck and Working Girl, followed by success on the small screen. In addition to reoccurring roles on Law & Order, Ally McBeal, The Larry Sanders Show, and numerous others, she was a cast member on Picket Fences and the short-lived but well-loved CBS series Brooklyn Bridge. Soon after its cancellation she joined the Screen Actor's Guild board, married a stage carpenter, and played OB/GYN Dr. Janet Coburn on ER. Other choice roles followed, including the therapist Dr. Toni Pavone on Felicity and guest appearances on Judging Amy, Freaks & Geeks, and Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane. Though she had small roles in a few films after that (White Oleander, Undisputed, The Singing Detective), she maintained a strong television presence, appearing on the highly rated shows Everybody Loves Raymond, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Crossing Jordan. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
Two friends who've convinced themselves they would never make a good couple discover they might just be wrong in this romantic comedy. Oliver (Ashton Kutcher) and Emily (Amanda Peet) first met when they were college students sharing a flight from California to New York; Emily spontaneously seduced Oliver on the plane, and they spent the next few days together in the city. When they parted, however, Emily decided not to pursue a relationship with Oliver, even though he was obviously interested. Over the next several years, circumstances kept putting them in one another's paths, and over the years Oliver and Emily became close friends and confidantes. Both are still certain, though, that they're entirely wrong for each other on a romantic level. However, after nearly a decade, with both Oliver and Emily edging into their thirties, they begin to wonder if they've allowed a great opportunity to pass them by. A Lot Like Love also stars Kathryn Hahn, Ali Larter, and Kal Penn. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ashton Kutcher, Amanda Peet, (more)
- 2005
This episode introduces Traylor Howard in the role of Monk's new assistant , single mom Natalie Teeger. Monk (Tony Shalhoub) meets Natalie in a typically unorthodox fashion, after she kills a burglar who had broken into her home--apparently for the purpose of stealing her pet fish! Investigating the reasons behind this bizarre set of circumstances, Monk follows the clues to a science fair. . .and in the process draws ever closer to Natalie, whom he hopes will fill the void left in his life when his former nurse-assistant Sharona Fleming left San Francisco to remarry her ex-husband in New Jersey. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A middle-aged man finds a callow twentysomething usurping his professional life and worming his way into his family in this alternately funny and poignant comedy drama. Dan Foreman (Dennis Quaid) is a middle-aged man who has spent 20 years as the head of advertising sales for Sports America, a leading athletics magazine. Dan is happily married to Ann (Marg Helgenberger) and has a college-age daughter, Alex (Scarlett Johansson), whom he dotes on, but Dan's comfortable life is given a major shake-up when a large multimedia firm buys the magazine. Seen as a bit long in the tooth to be truly competitive, Dan is demoted to second in command of advertising, and his position is handed over to Carter Duryea (Topher Grace), a 26-year-old who talks a good game about sales but has no practical experience in the field. Dan's wounded ego makes working with the arrogant Carter an uphill battle, but when he learns that Ann is expecting another baby, Dan is in no position to quit. Before long, Dan becomes aware of Carter's intense insecurities about his new job as the younger man reaches out to him for guidance, but this doesn't make Dan any less angry when Carter begins a romance with Alex after his marriage to Kimberley (Selma Blair) crashes and burns. In Good Company marked the solo directorial debut of Paul Weitz; he previously worked in collaboration with his brother Chris Weitz, who serves as producer on this film. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dennis Quaid, Topher Grace, (more)
Adversaries become wary allies in this free-wheeling action comedy. Hank Rafferty (Steve Zahn) is a Los Angeles Police Department officer who finds himself out of a job after he becomes involved in a violent altercation with police academy flunk-out Earl Montgomery (Martin Lawrence), escalating into a media event which brings the LAPD a wealth of bad publicity. Unable to find work, Hank finally takes a job as a "rent-a-cop" with a private security firm -- and discovers to his annoyance that his new partner is Earl. While neither of them are thrilled to be working together on the lowest strata of the law enforcement community, the two find themselves dealing with bigger crime than they expected when they stumble across evidence of a elite smuggling network operated by criminal mastermind Nash (Eric Roberts). Hank and Earl want to put Nash out of business, and they try without success to persuade the police of the importance of the case. But before long they discover it's not just Nash's men who are after them, but two high-ranking LAPD officials, Lt. Washington (Bill Duke) and Detective McDuff (Colm Feore). National Security was directed by Dennis Dugan, who'd previously helmed antic comedies starring Adam Sandler and Chris Farley; this film also marked Martin Lawrence's entry into the elite of Hollywood's comedy stars, with Lawrence taking home a 20-million-dollar paycheck for his work on the picture. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Martin Lawrence, Steve Zahn, (more)
From director Keith Gordon (Mother Night, A Midnight Clear) comes this American feature adaptation of the 1986 BBC miniseries, The Singing Detective. Robert Downey Jr. returns to the big-screen for the first time since 2000's Wonder Boys as Dan Dark, a novelist who is hospitalized with a severe case of psoriasis. As he lays in bed, Dark hallucinates that he is actually a World War II-era private dick embroiled in an oddball web of mystery, intrigue, and musical numbers. Written by the late Dennis Potter (Pennies From Heaven, Gorky Park) and co-starring Mel Gibson, Robin Wright Penn, Katie Holmes, and Adrien Brody, The Singing Detective premiered at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Downey, Jr., Robin Wright Penn, (more)
The Oprah Book Club best-seller by Janet Fitch makes it to the big screen in this adaptation from British director Peter Kosminsky. White Oleander recounts the traumatic adolescence of Astrid Magnusson (Alison Lohman), who finds herself an orphan after her short-fused, enigmatic artist mother Ingrid (Michelle Pfeiffer) is carted off to prison on murder charges. Astrid first finds herself in the care of Starr (Robin Wright Penn), a garish, born-again mother of two with a gruff but sensitive boyfriend (Cole Hauser). From there, she's shunted back to a state-run facility, where she tangles with other troubled teens and finds temporary solace in the arms of Paul (Patrick Fugit), a dough-faced comic book artist with dreams of moving to New York City. Astrid then lucks into a living arrangement with a successful but insecure actress (Renee Zellweger) who offers her unconditional love. But Ingrid's stifling influence continues to haunt her daughter, whether through the occasional prison visit or via manipulative letters to Astrid's caretakers. White Oleander received a Gala North American premiere at the 2002 Toronto Film Festival before reaching multiplexes later that fall. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alison Lohman, Michelle Pfeiffer, (more)
- 2002
Now convinced that Jack (Victor Garber) was telling the truth about her mother Irina's treachery, Sydney (Jennifer Garner) is warned by Vaughn (Michael Vartan) that even Jack can't be trusted. With this in mind, the rest of the episode -- involving Sydney's efforts to stop the activities of a vice cartel called the Triad in Budapest -- takes on several extra layers of significance. Upon discovering that the Triad is training children to be enemy sleeper agents, Sydney is shocked to learn the identity of the person who thought up this insidious method of indoctrination in the first place. "The Indicator" was originally scheduled to air on October 26, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Director and screenwriter Walter Hill returns to one of his favorite themes -- desperate and violent men using force to escape from an unforgiving environment -- in this action drama set behind bars. Monroe Hutchen (Wesley Snipes) was once a promising heavyweight contender until he was convicted of murder and sentenced to life without parole at the Sweetwater maximum security prison in California. Now, Hutchen boxes behind bars, and he's become the champion of a loosely organized prison fighting circuit. When heavyweight champion James "Iceman" Chambers (Ving Rhames) enters Sweetwater after being convicted of rape, Hutchens finds the serious competitor in the same lockup for the first time, though Chambers scoffs at the jailhouse champ. After Hutchens challenges the arrogant Chambers to a bout, aging mafioso Emmanuel "Mendy" Ripstein (Peter Falk) swings a deal that will earn Chambers an early release from prison and pull in a million dollars in bets from guards and inmates if the two men will meet in the ring for a last-man-standing bout without referees. Undisputed also features Michael Rooker, Fisher Stevens, rapper Master P, and former Yo! MTV Raps host Ed Lover. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ving Rhames, Wesley Snipes, (more)
- 2001
Back from maternity leave, Chen (Ming-Na) returns to the ER just as the staff is confronting a somewhat startling case of the measles. In other developments, Benton (Eriq La Salle) offers to act as mentor for African-American medical student William White (Keith Robinson) -- until he finds out the real reason that White was accepted as an applicant. Weaver (Laura Innes) begins to question her relationship with Kim Legaspi (Elizabeth Mitchell). And despite his own deteriorating state of health, Bishop Stewart (John Cromwell) insists upon taking charge of an ordination. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
When a woman is found murdered, the detectives learn that virtually everyone in the victim's family wanted to see her dead -- but the only fingerprint found on the scene is that of Marcus Potter (Alimi Ballard), the obligatory least likely suspect. In other developments, Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) is immediately suspicious of a man (Richard Libertini) who claims to be Italian but seems to be putting on an act. And an alibi for another possible murderer is provided by, of all people, the wife of Lt. Fancy (James McDaniel) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Abigail Bartlet (Stockard Channing) makes some bold statements concerning policy during an appearance on a talk show, causing a rift between her staff and the White House staff. When the head of the Federal Reserve passes away, President Bartlet (Martin Sheen) must consider appointing his wife's college boyfriend to the position. Toby (Richard Schiff) is asked by Josh (Bradley Whitford) to soften his prickly persona before attending a sensitive meeting with a powerful member of Congress. Charlie (Dulé Hill) and Zoey (Elisabeth Moss) clash over what to do when the Secret Service asks them not to attend a public event together because of credible death threats from racists. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Worn out after his first night shift since returning to the ER, Carter (Noah Wyle) is summoned back to assist in Chen's (Ming-Na) delivery. Meanwhile, the people who want to adopt Chen's baby have reason to suspect that she'll renege on the agreement. Later, Abby (Maura Tierney) and Carter share their experiences with substance abuse after he toys with the notion of using a stimulant to stay awake. And in other developments, Greene (Anthony Edwards) is in New York, hoping to find someone that can treat his brain tumor; Kynesha (Toy Connor) continues hiding out from her would-be assassin with the help of Benton (Eriq La Salle) and Finch (Michael Michele); and Weaver (Laura Innes) is startled by a spontaneous act of affection -- from another woman. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
The ER is the site of several personal crises: the parents of a premature infant implore the staff to save the child, a gay woman (Rosemary Forsyth) is prevented by legal red tape from getting treatment for her comatose life partner, and a homeless patient who refuses to show up for dialysis sparks a quarrel between Benton (Eriq La Salle) and Romano (Paul McCrane). In another development, Carter (Noah Wyle) attends his first AA meeting, where another of his ER colleagues agrees to be his sponsor. And Greene (Anthony Edwards) pops the question to Elizabeth Corday (Alex Kingston). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
The premiere episode of ER's seventh season gets under way by solving the mystery surrounding Carter (Noah Wyle), Benton (Eriq La Salle), and that plane flight to Atlanta. Returning to Chicago after undergoing rehab, Carter finds that things are as hectic as usual at the ER; a group of teenagers are brought in after a riot at a football game, and the custodians have gone on strike. Elsewhere, Chen (Ming-Na) finds out she is pregnant, Abby (Maura Tierney) is prevented from attending medical school when her ex-husband fails to pay her tuition, and Greene (Anthony Edwards) develops a rather embarrassing case of poison ivy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Carter's (Noah Wyle) ongoing personal problems -- including unauthorized injections of pain medication -- culminate in a tense confrontation with the ER staff. Elsewhere, Benton (Eriq La Salle) and Kovac (Goran Visnjic) are helicopter-dropped into a deadly shooting incident at a school, where they are forced into a tough decision as to which shooting victim should be treated first. This final episode of ER's sixth season culminates in a cliffhanger involving a plane flight to Atlanta and two of the aforementioned characters. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Going into labor just before Thanksgiving, Carol (Julianna Margulies) gives birth to twins, with OB nurse Abby Lockhart (Maura Tierney, in her first series appearance) and Kovac (Goran Visnjic) in attendance. At first, things go relatively smoothly, but complication quickly set in, forcing Carol's Lamaze coach, Greene (Anthony Edwards), to skip Elizabeth Corday's special Thanksgiving dinner. As a result, poor Corday (Alex Kingston) is left alone to entertain Greene's irascible father (John Cullum) and surly daughter (Yvonne Zima). And back at the ER, Dr. Dave (Erik Palladino) collaborates with Carter (Noah Wyle) on a difficult diagnosis. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Several weeks after being assaulted and beaten, Greene (Anthony Edwards) returns to work, but it is obvious that he is the worse for his horrendous experience. When Carla (Lisa Nicole Carson) goes into premature labor, Benton (Eriq La Salle) can only stand by helplessly and wait. Carter (Noah Wyle) considers giving up his dreams of being a surgeon so that he can continue with ER work. And Ross (George Clooney) isn't about to let Carol (Julianna Margulies) have a quiet birthday. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
The ER staff is galvanized by the brutal beating of Greene (Anthony Edwards) in the men's room. Jeanie (Gloria Reuben) is forced to make several difficult decisions involving the three men in her life. Carol (Julianna Margulies) accuses Ross (George Clooney) of giving preferential treatment to the child of a wealthy and influential family. Carter (Noah Wyle) and Benton (Eriq La Salle) forget their differences long enough to work together during a kidney transplant. And everyone is entranced by a sexy novel that has popped up mysteriously at the admittance desk. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
After seven weeks of reruns and pre-emptions, ER resumed its third season on April 10, 1997, with a steady string of new episodes. In this one, Greene (Anthony Edwards) is accused of favoring a white patient over a black one when both teenagers arrive at the same time in the ER with gunshot wounds. Elsewhere, Jeanie (Gloria Reuben) discovers by accident that Carla (Lisa Nicole Carson) is pregnant with Benson's (Eriq La Salle) baby; Carol (Julianna Margulies) suspects that an 18-year-old patient was drugged and date-raped; and Carter (Noah Wyle) devotes his entire shift to a case that has already been written off as hopeless. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Fearing that something may be wrong with Carla's (Lisa Nicole Carson) unborn baby, Benton (Eriq La Salle) illegally obtains a copy of her ultrasound. Jeanie (Gloria Reuben) finds that she has much in common with would-be suicide patient Suzane Alner (Gia Carides). Anspaugh (John Aylward) refuses to operate on a dying patient, but Carter (Noah Wyle) has other ideas. And Ross (George Clooney) contends with a determined young lady who refuses to miss her senior prom -- even if it kills her. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Ally defends a young transvestite (Wilson Cruz) on charges of prostitution, using a modified insanity defense. Meanwhile, Richard fights to have his dead uncle's unusual last request carried out. ~ TV Guide, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Calista Flockhart, Courtney Thorne-Smith, (more)
- 1996
After finding religion and inviting Rabbi Susan Klein (Amy Aquino) to the set, Beverly (Penny Johnson) becomes upset because her previous request to give her pastor a tour was rejected. Despite Artie's (Rip Torn) repeated pleas to Hank to keep his religious beliefs separated from the show, Hank rebels by donning his yarmulke on-air, upsetting the network brass who fear loss of sponsors. Despite the stress of this holy war, Larry (Garry Shandling) finds refuge on his new massage chair until it becomes apparent that he's not the only one enjoying it's relaxing effects. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 1996
An already crowded ER is besieged by a dozen very pregnant females, among them a 13-year-old who now regrets her promise to give her child to an adult couple, a nervous crack addict, and a mentally unbalanced woman who insists that she was impregnated by space aliens. Making a bad situation worse, the fourth-floor sprinkler system malfunctions at OB/GYN, meaning that the ER staff will have to deliver eight of the babies -- and an attending physician named Dr. Anna Castigliano (Lindsay Crouse) suddenly goes into labor herself. Amidst all this chaos, is it any wonder that desk attendant Jerry (Abraham Benrubi) can't convince anyone that basketball star Scottie Pippen (playing himself) has dropped into the ER for a visit? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
In this Emmy award-winning episode, Greene (Anthony Edwards) takes a potentially career-destroying risk after he misdiagnoses the condition of a woman (Colleen Flynn) and her unborn child. Although Greene's OR battle to save his patients' lives is the episode's focal point, several other subplots wend their way through the story. Among these is the ever-deteriorating condition of Benton's (Eriq La Salle) mother, and the accidental poisoning of young Joey Page (Theodore Borders). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
