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Christopher Darga Movies

2011  
PG13  
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Sad-sack divorcée Cal Weaver (Steve Carell) finds his second wind in life after meeting a handsome young ladies' man who teaches him how to become a master of the modern dating scene. A devoted family man who married his high school sweetheart, Cal had a great house and a stable job when his wife, Emily (Julianne Moore), left him to be with another man. When Emily announces that she's filing for divorce, Cal finds himself awkwardly thrust into the dating scene and begins drinking his nights away at the local pub. Just when it's starting to look as if there's no hope for Cal, confirmed bachelor Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling) decides to add some much-needed excitement to the sulking, newly single father's life. Before long, Cal's rough edges have all been smoothed out; he's mastered the fine art of flirting and develops a distinct sense of style that sets him apart from the pack. But just as Cal starts to turn heads, his adolescent son, Robbie, develops a big crush on his teenage babysitter, Jessica. Unfortunately for Robbie, Jessica only has eyes for Cal. Meanwhile, Cal can't help but feel like something substantial is missing from his life, and decides that the only way to set things straight is by listening to his heart. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Starring:
Steve CarellRyan Gosling, (more)
 
2008  
PG13  
A young man fears that he may be the architect of his own destruction in this mind-bending thriller from director Allen Wolf. Marcus' (Philip Winchester) terror begins when he inexplicably wakes up half-naked in a cemetery late one night, with no recollection of the events that led up to his arrival there. He learns that he actually suffers from a rare disorder known as parasomnia, which causes him to engage in bizarre behavior during his sleep that he cannot remember the next day. His life takes a rather grisly turn when he wakes up one morning covered in blood, with a knife at his side -- and then learns that his best friend's wife was just stabbed to death. Uncertain if he might have done this himself to cover up a long-buried secret between himself and the victim, or if someone is setting him up as the fall guy in a murder plot, Marcus vows to track his own after-dark activities. Life grows even more bizarre when several strange phone calls roll in, and suggest to Marcus that someone may be watching or following him. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

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Starring:
Philip WinchesterTim Draxl, (more)
 
2007  
R  
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Can a guy edging into middle age become a success fighting guys half his age? That's the big question behind this independent comedy. Jerry Ferro (Adam Carolla) is almost 40 years old, and he's spent most of his life going nowhere -- and taking his own sweet time getting there. While Jerry enjoyed some success as an amateur boxer when he was young, these days he's out of shape, drinks too much, and scrapes by working in construction. Through his work as a handyman, Jerry has landed a part-time job teaching boxing at a gym in Pasadena, though none of his students are likely to ever move beyond sparring as a hobby. One day, one of Jerry's old friends, Eddie Bell (Tom Quinn), stops by the gym with a promising new fighter he's training. Since he's short on sparring partners, Eddie asks Jerry to step into the ring with the young boxer, and while it's clear that Jerry is in lousy shape and out of practice, he also manages to knock out the challenger with one well-placed punch. Eddie is convinced Jerry still has what it takes, and offers to help Jerry make a comeback, confident that despite his age he can land him a spot on the U.S. Olympic Boxing Team. Also starring Heather Juergensen, The Hammer received its world premiere at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Starring:
Adam CarollaHeather Juergensen, (more)
 
2004  
 
On the night that Sheriff Seth Bullock (Timothy Olyphant) and his friend and business partner, Sol Star (John Hawkes), plan to leave Montana for Deadwood, with plans to open a hardware store, Bullock is faced with a dilemma. He's got Clell Watson (James Parks), a horse thief due to be hanged the next morning, in his jail, and an angry mob outside that wants to kill Watson in a less orderly fashion. After dealing with the situation bravely and honorably, Seth and Sol set out a little earlier than planned. Also among the many making their way to the lawless frontier town are legendary gunfighter Wild Bill Hickok (Keith Carradine) and his cohorts, Calamity Jane (Robin Weigert) and Charlie Utter (Dayton Callie). Already making his mark in town, Whitney Ellsworth (Jim Beaver), a prospector, is talking to the owner of the Gem, Al Swearengen (Ian McShane) about his gold claim. "I don't trust you as far as I can throw you," Ellsworth, a fair judge of character, tells Al, "but I enjoy the way you lie." Al's attention is quickly diverted when one of his prostitutes, Trixie (Paula Malcolmson), guns down an abusive john. He's also involved in conning Brom Garret (Timothy Omundson), a wealthy New Yorker, into buying a seemingly worthless gold claim. Seth and Sol arrive in town, and rent a space for their store from Al, to whom Seth takes an almost immediate dislike. Bill seems eager to spend all his time losing all his money at poker to the obnoxious Jack McCall (Garret Dillahunt), but when a family is found slaughtered not far from town, presumably by Sioux, he joins Seth on a ride out to the scene of the carnage. The premiere episode of Deadwood was directed by Walter Hill (The Long Riders). ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi

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2003  
 
Bad luck has come in spades for the Charmed Ones this week. Piper (Holly Marie Combs) may not be able to reopen P3 due to safety hazards; Phoebe (Alyssa Milano) is slapped with a lawsuit for giving bad advice in her newspaper column; and Paige (Rose McGowan) faces a long jail term after a car accident. Coincidence? No, this streak of misfortune is all the handiwork of the semi-demonic Cole (Julian McMahon), who hopes to get Piper and Paige out of the way, take over the girls' manor, and locate the Nexus of Magic -- all the better to regain Phoebe's love! Further muddying the waters is the fact that the Phoebe who is facing a lawsuit is not the "real" Phoebe, but a malevolent shapeshifter. ~ Rovi

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Starring:
Brian KrauseJulian McMahon, (more)
 
2003  
PG13  
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After a bad day at work, a man suddenly gets a new job -- as the world's new Heavenly Father -- in this comedy. Bruce Nolan (Jim Carrey) is a television reporter working in Buffalo, NY, who has been growing increasingly dissatisfied with his existence, and after an especially bad day, he flies into a rage and curses God for making his life miserable. To Bruce's great surprise, the Supreme Being Himself (Morgan Freeman) appears, and tries to convince Bruce of the enormity of his task. Bruce, however, isn't buying it, so God gives him a chance to find out what he's up against; God bestows all of his powers on Bruce for a week, to see how he'd handle things. At first, Bruce has a great time bending the world around him to his will, much to the puzzlement of his girlfriend, Grace (Jennifer Aniston), but after six days God stops by to remind Bruce he hasn't done much to make the Earth a better place. Disappointed, God presents Bruce with an ultimatum -- he has one day to improve the world in a concrete way, or God will toss the planet back into the void. Bruce Almighty was directed by Tom Shadyac, who previously teamed with Jim Carrey for Liar, Liar and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Starring:
Jim CarreyJennifer Aniston, (more)
 
2002  
PG13  
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Robert DeNiro continues to lampoon his tough-guy persona with this spoof of buddy cop movies that teams him with comic co-star Eddie Murphy. DeNiro is L.A.P.D. detective Mitch Preston, a gruff, no-nonsense 28-year veteran whose bust of a drug gang is botched one night by Trey Sellars (Murphy), a bumbling patrolman who's really a frustrated actor at heart. When Mitch's aggravation is captured by a television news crew, he fires his gun in their direction and becomes an instant media celebrity, while earning himself a temporary suspension at work. After his fame draws the attention of network TV producer Chase Renzi (Rene Russo), Mitch is soon informed that the only way he can get back to work is to allow a production crew to trail him on the job for a new cop reality series called "Showtime". In order to make the taciturn lawman more palatable to the viewing public, he's paired with the camera-friendly, fast-talking Trey. The new partners drive each other crazy, but their mismatched sensibilities make for great TV, while their newfound fame has its advantages in getting them back on the trail of those escaped drug dealers, who possess a powerful new weapon. Showtime co-stars Frankie Faison and William Shatner, who sends up his own TV cop role in T.J. Hooker. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

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Starring:
Robert De NiroEddie Murphy, (more)
 
 
1999  
 
Having been "at liberty" for too long a period, Joey (David Schwimmer) loses his Screen Actors' Guild health insurance -- just as he injures himself during an audition. Ross' (David Schwimmer) opportunity to lecture at NYU proves to be more rewarding than he expected, but strange complications await him vis-à-vis his quickie Vegas marriage to Rachel (Jennifer Aniston). And Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) is given a disturbing peek into the future by her psychic -- whose own future isn't in very good shape either. ~ Rovi

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Starring:
June GableRon Glass, (more)
 
1998  
 
In this TV sitcom, 26-year-old single mom Jesse Warner (Christina Applegate) is a waitress in a Buffalo bar owned by her father, John Warner Sr. (George Dzundza). Jesse's life centers around her ten-year-old son, Little John (Eric Lloyd), her dad, and her eccentric brothers -- nutty John Jr. (John Lehr), an elective mute, and dreamer Darren (David DeLuise), who concocts such get-rich-quick schemes as selling unfinished gnome statues. Jesse has to deal with her romantic feelings after Chilean immigrant Diego (Bruno Campos) moves next door. Filmed in Burbank, this series premiered September 24, 1998 on NBC. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

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Starring:
Christina ApplegateBruno Campos, (more)
 
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, Rovi

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1996  
 
While filming "Buchman," the documentary about his family, Paul (Paul Reiser) pays a visit to his childhood neighborhood with dad Burt (Louis Zorich). As both Buchmans recall events which transpired in their old apartment building, Paul's pregnant wife, Jamie (Helen Hunt), sits fuming in the offices of her gynecologist, Joan Golfinos (Suzie Plakson). It seems that Paul has forgotten all about his appointment to hear his baby's heartbeat.... ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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1996  
 
Any resemblance that Boy Meets World ever had with the REAL world was smashed to bits in this episode, wherein a microwave accident transports Cory (Ben Savage) back to the year 1957. Because of his foreknowledge of Russia's Sputnik space satellite, Cory is suspected of being a Soviet spy by everyone except a pair of oddly familiar high schoolers named Shawnzie (Rider Strong) and T.L. (Danielle Fishel). The episode's "Happy Days" ambience is amplified by the presence of Tom Bosley, Anson Williams and Pat Morita in the guest cast! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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1995  
 
Hicks (CCH Pounder) warns Benton (Eriq La Salle) that he's spending too much time worrying over his ailing mother and not enough time concentrating on his job. Ross (George Clooney) has a violent showdown with an abusive father. The rivalry between Carter (Noah Wyle) and Deb (Ming-Na) intensifies. And Carol (Julianna Margulies) and Taglieri (Rick Rossovich) consider adopting six-year-old AIDS victim Tatiana (Milana Vayntrub). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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1995  
 
With store employee Nora threatening to sue Drew (Drew Carey) for creating a "hostile workplace" by posting a harmlessly ribald newspaper cartoon, Winfred-Louder's attorneys Fenn and Geller (played, appropriately, by magicians Penn & Teller) pressure Drew to settle the suit out of court. When our hero refuses, Kate (Christa Miller) recommends that he hire her slimy ex-boyfriend Brad (Christopher Darga) as his lawyer. Ultimately, however, Drew chooses to represent himself in court--and we're going to refrain from making that "fool for a client" crack, even though it's true. Meanwhile, Oswald (Diedrich Bader) finds himself attracted to the promiscuous Peaches (Julie McCullough), who's already gone on record with her case of the hots for Drew! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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1995  
R  
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In the original box-office smash Under Siege, action hero Steven Seagal played Casey Ryback, a U.S. Navy SEAL who saved the world from nuclear destruction by outsmarting and killing off terrorists who had commandeered a submarine. In this sequel, Seagal's Ryback character does the same sort of thing aboard a train. Ryback now has retired from the Navy and is taking his niece Sarah (Katherine Heigl) on a vacation. They board a train traveling through the Rocky Mountains. Criminal mastermind Travis Dane (Eric Bogosian) is using the train as a control center in his effort to kidnap a top-secret government outer space super-weapon. Dane built the weapon but then was fired by the government before it was deployed. He has hooked up with shadowy Middle Eastern terrorists who have offered him $1 billion to use the satellite to blow up the Eastern seaboard by targeting a secret nuclear reactor underneath the Pentagon. Dane shows the Pentagon that he's got control of the weapon by blowing up a Chinese chemical plant. Officials can't stop him because they can't locate his headquarters. As long as the train keeps moving, his location can't be fixed. Ryback learns of the plot and enlists a porter named Bobby (Morris Chestnut) to help him in his battle. ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi

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Starring:
Steven SeagalEric Bogosian, (more)
 
1995  
 
The ongoing war between the Narn and Centauri threatens to escalate throughout the universe. G'Kar implores Sheridan to fight on the side of the Narns. Elsewhere, Ivanova must negotiate with the Lumati, a hostile alien species, and Londo begins to allow his newly acquired power to supercede his good judgment. Paul Williams guest-stars as Taq. Written by J. Michael Straczynski, "Acts of Sacrifice" first aired on February 22, 1995. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Starring:
Bruce BoxleitnerClaudia Christian, (more)
 
1995  
 
Deep Space Nine inaugurated its fourth season with this two hour nail-biter. The story begins as a group of visiting Klingon warriors swarm through DS9, harrassing the passengers and obstructing the crew. Sisko hits upon an idea to solve the dilemma: Assign former Next Generation regular Lt. Worf (Michael Dorn), a Klingon himself, to quell the disturbances. But though he has proven his loyalty to the Federation again and again, Worf is troubled by the notion of turning against his own people. Written by Ira Steven Behr and Robert Hewitt Wolfe, "The Way of a Warrior" was telecast on October 2, 1995. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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1995  
PG13  
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Irwin Winkler's paranoid thriller focuses on a high-tech nightmare, as a computer programmer finds herself on the run from an unknown enemy dedicated to ruining her life by digital means. Sandra Bullock stars as Angela Bennett, a programmer who unwittingly comes into possession of software that allows access to secret government information. At first, she thinks little of it, heading off to Mexico on vacation. However, thanks to a series of odd events that culminates with the death of a close friend, Angela starts to suspect she may be in danger. This fear is confirmed when she returns to America to find that her identity has been erased, with police computers showing her as a wanted criminal. She soon realizes that a group of evil conspirators are after the program, and she sets out to clear her name and keep the program from falling into the wrong hands. The central concept later inspired a cable TV series. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

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Starring:
Sandra BullockJeremy Northam, (more)
 
1994  
PG  
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Joel Coen and Ethan Coen concocted this stylish screwball comedic amalgam of Frank Capra and Howard Hawks. Tim Robbins stars as Norville Barnes, a dull-wit from Muncie, Indiana who wrangles a job with the big Hudsucker Industries. He has a singular idea for a new children's toy that he wants to present to corporate executive Sidney J. Mussberger (Paul Newman). As he makes his way up to Mussberger's office, the company president Waring Hudsucker (Charles Durning) is on his way down -- through the window of the forty-fourth floor boardroom! Hudsucker's death sets off a panic that Mussberger sees as an opportunity for taking over the company -- by installing a total incompetent in Hudsucker's place and devaluing the stock. When Barnes stumbles into Mussberger's office, Mussberger sees his pigeon and appoints Barnes as the new company president. The only problem is that the new product Barnes proposes for the company, the Hula Hoop, turns out to be a tremendous success, and Mussberger has difficulty manipulating his new corporate president. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

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Starring:
Tim RobbinsJennifer Jason Leigh, (more)
 
1994  
 
An autistic boy is a police officer's only hope at catching some robbers in this made-for-TV crime drama. Kelsey Grammer stars as Detective Frank Marlow, a cop assigned to track down some thieves who committed murder. He pins his hopes on a eight-year-old autistic boy (Keegan MacIntosh) who was the only one to see the murderer's face without a mask. ~ Bernadette McCallion, Rovi

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Starring:
Kelsey GrammerPolly Draper, (more)
 
1994  
PG13  
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Hyperactive mayhem results when a mild-manned banker discovers an ancient mask that transforms him into a zany prankster with superhuman powers in this special-effects-intensive comedy. The wildly improvisational Jim Carrey plays Stanley Ipkiss, a decent-hearted but socially awkward guy who one night finds a strange mask. Carrey's trademark energy reveals itself after Stanley puts on the mask and the banker transforms into The Mask, a green-skinned, zoot-suited fireball. The rubber-faced Mask possesses the courage to do the wild, fun things that Stanley fears, including romancing Tina Carlyle (Cameron Diaz). In addition to Carrey's physical talents, the film makes effective use of digital visual effects that bestow the Mask with superhuman speed, insane flexibility, and popping eyes out of a Tex Avery cartoon. The larger narrative, involving the efforts of Tina's gangster boyfriend to destroy Stanley and use the mask's powers for evil, prove less interesting than the anarchic comic set pieces, including a particularly memorable dance number to "Cuban Pete." The film delivered enough laughs to become a surprise hit and, along with the same year's Dumb and Dumber, establish Carrey's status as a comedy superstar. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

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Starring:
Jim CarreyCameron Diaz, (more)
 
1993  
PG13  
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Fatal Instinct is an Airplane-style spoof of the late-'80s, early-'90s cycle of erotic crime thrillers. Setting the plot in motion is a kinky murder. Armand Assante plays the cop assigned to the case; he's also the prosecuting attorney; the "Sharon Stone" part is essayed by Sean Young. A dash of Body Heat is thrown in the pot as Assante's wife Kate Nelligan plots her hubby's demise. Tony Randall has a bit as a judge, while the film's semi-mocking jazz score is provided by Clarence Clemmons -- who shows up on screen to toot his sax at various crucial plot junctures. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Starring:
Armand AssanteSherilyn Fenn, (more)