Maggie Egan Movies

As the year 2262 draws to a close, so does the saga of Babylon 5. The Alliance relocates to Minbar, requiring Sheridan and Delenn to go along for the ride. G'Kar and Garibaldi have already said their farewells to their fellow crew members and gone their separate ways. And Dr. Franklyn launches a second career on Earth. So does everyone live happily ever after? Not so far as Lennier is concerned; a past mistake will cost him dearly before episode's end. Written by J. Michael Straczynski and first telecast November 18, 1998, "Objects at Rest" was, technically, the last episode of Babylon 5, though the series' "official" finale, "Sleeping in Light" (actually filmed in 1997) would not air until the following week. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

President Clark is dead, and the civil war on Earth is over. Delenn triumphantly stage-manages the convergence of the Earth, the Minbari and the Narn into a new alliance. Captain Sheridan's role in the Alliance must, however, wait until the Earthgov decides his ultimate fate. Elsewhere, Ivanova grieves over the apparent death of Marcus --- and what has become of Lise? First seen in America during the week of October 20, 1997, "Rising Star" was written by J. Michael Straczynski. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

As conditions on Earth deteriorate, the population is placed under martial law by the Nightwatch, and the government steels itself for an all-out civil war. The loyalties of B5 crewman Zack --- and his friendship with Garibaldi --- are strained to the breaking point when the Nightwatch takes charge of the station's security. And Londo is given a peek into his future by the prognosticating widow of the Centauri Emperor. Star Trek perennial Majel Barrett guest-stars as Lady Morella. Originally shown in America during the week of February 26, 1996, "Point of No Return" was written by J. Michael Straczynski. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Amidst a heavy caseload including alleged parental abuse, suicide, and a teenage prostitute with aids, Ross (George Clooney) makes the acquaintance of Diane Leeds (Lisa Zane) from Risk Management. Meanwhile, Lewis (Sherry Stringfield) defends herself against the charges leveled by Kayson (Sam Anderson), with an unexpected payoff. And Benton (Eriq La Salle) argues with Jackie (Khandi Alexander) over how best to care for their ailing mother. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Garibaldi is forced to become a fugitive from justice when he is framed on charge of causing a tragic explosion in one of the fighter bays. His chief persecutor is Elaine Thomas (Lianna Kemmer), head of the President's security, who vengefully hopes to settle an old score. Will the experience push Garibaldi into hitting the bottle again? Originally titled "A Knife in the Shadows", "Survivors" was written by Marc Scott Zicree, author of the essential TV-history volume The Twilight Zone Companion. The episode was originally telecast on May 4, 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Investigating the death of a friend, Garibali is himself nearly killed when overhears an assassination plot against the President of Earth. Amidst the havoc stirred up when the murder takes place, Sinclair finds time to propose to Catherine -- but not before he is entrusted with a secret by Delenn, who is about to enter a chrysalis state. And Londo is given an alternative to war with the Narn: turn over a very valuable "peace offering." Written by J. Michael Straczynski, "Chrysalis" was originally slated for an August 1994 telecast, but the Paramount syndication network opted to run the episode on October 26, 1994, as the opener of Babylon 5's second season (which it really wasn't). As a result, the episode made its world debut in the United Kingdom on October 3, 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Developed by Tina Sinatra and approved by Frank himself, Sinatra is a made-for-television mini-series following the life and times of Frank Sinatra, one of the most popular and acclaimed singers of the 20th century. Opening with his childhood in Hoboken, New Jersey, the film follows Sinatra's (Philip Casnoff) rise to the top in the '40s, through the dark days of the early '50s and his triumphant re-emergence in the mid-'50s, to his status as pop culture icon in the '60s, '70s and '80s. In between, the film hits all of the main events, including his three marriages, his connections with the Mafia and his notorious friendship with the Rat Pack. Even with the presence of Tina Sinatra as executive producer, Sinatra doesn't gloss over the more unsavory portions of Frank's life, which makes it all the more impressive. With the exception of a couple of early songs, all the music in the movie is taken from the original Sinatra recordings. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

This made-for-cable-TV film focuses on a police detective (Bruce Boxleitner) bored by life in the missing-persons bureau. While on the trail of a missing mother, however, he gradually realizes that the clues lead to a gruesome serial killer. The detective gains the reluctant help of a psychic (Laura Johnson) while tracking the murderer. ~ John Bush, Rovi

In this made-for-TV drama, a Vietnam vet's family life is shattered when the child he fathered during wartime suddenly appears on his doorstep. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi

In this action thriller, a group of Islamic terrorists, led by Nagi Hassan (David Suchet), highjacks a 747 jetliner with 400 passengers aboard, but Lt. Col. Austin Travis (Steven Seagal), a United States intelligence agent, is convinced that this isn't an ordinary case of air piracy. His suspicions are soon confirmed; Hassan's men have obtained a large cache of stolen Soviet nerve gas, and they are using the 747 to smuggle the deadly gas into the United States, where they intend to use it to wipe out Washington D.C. and possibly the entire East Coast. As the jet approaches the U. S., engineer Dennis Cahill (Oliver Platt) designs a plan in which a military plane will be able to transfer U.S. soldiers onto the 747 and regain control of the plane and its deadly cargo. However, when Travis dies in the course of the mission, intelligence agent Dr. David Grant (Kurt Russell) is forced to take his place alongside explosives expert Cappy (Joe Morton), commando Rat (John Leguizamo), and stewardess-turned-anti-terrorist Jean (Halle Berry). Executive Decision was the first directorial assignment for veteran film editor Stuart Baird; he cut the film as well. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Adapted by Whitley Strieber from his book about his alleged contacts with aliens, Communion dramatizes a story all the more compelling for the author's insistence that it is true, complemented by Christopher Walken's enigmatic performance as Strieber. The film begins in October 1985, as Strieber is living in New York City with his wife Anne (Lindsay Crouse) and son Andrew (Joel Carlson). He is hunting for new book ideas without making much headway. He spends his days pacing around his apartment, thinking out loud or videotaping himself as he improvises bits of dialogue. It is soon decided that a vacation is in order, so, with their friends Alex (Andreas Katsulas) and Sara (Terri Hanauer), the Striebers head for their cabin in Upstate New York. In the middle of the night, an illumination descends on the cabin and surrounding forest, causing Strieber to wake up abruptly. In the semi-darkness of the cabin, he is able to make out a long face with narrow, tear-shaped eyes quietly observing him from a corner of the room. The next morning, he has forgotten -- or been made to forget -- the whole experience. He even shrugs off Alex's and Sarah's concern about "seeing lights" outside their bedroom window, claiming to have slept through the event. Back in New York, it becomes evident to Strieber and his family that something unusual did happen. He begins to have powerful hallucinations, and, after an inconclusive medical examination, he is encouraged by his wife to seek professional help from psychiatrist Janet Duffy (Frances Sternhagen). During hypnotic regression therapy, Strieber's lifelong contact with the "visitors" is brought to light, as well as the details of his more recent encounters. Still unable to accept these revelations, he returns to the cabin alone and finally communicates with the visitors, discovering that, although they are unable to reveal their true identity, their purpose may be to act as agents of personal transformation for himself and for others. An interesting and uneven film, Communion is bolstered considerably by Christopher Walken, whose role in the film, though appropriate for the subject matter, quickly transforms into a thesis on his own eccentricities as an actor. ~ Anthony Reed, Rovi