Leonard Roberts Movies
Heroes star Leonard Roberts was certainly no stranger to television. A prolific small-screen presence since the mid-'90s, Roberts had already essayed recurring roles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Providence, and Smallville by the time he joined the cast of NBC's hit fantasy series. Roberts was cast in Heroes as fugitive D.L. Hawkins, who never settled in one place for too long while attempting to elude authorities. In addition to his series work, Roberts has also appeared in such features as Love Jones, Hoodlum, Drumline, and Joe and Max -- the latter of which found the actor cast in the role of legendary heavyweight champion Joe Louis. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
The NBC series' first season begins with the origin stories of several lonely, disconnected people who learn they're destined to become superheroes. At the center of the unfolding tale is Peter Petrelli (Milo Ventimiglia), a nurse haunted by cryptic dreams who believes he's meant to do great things with his life. Peter tries to convince his politico brother Nathan (Adrian Pasdar), who is running for the U.S. Senate, that something strange is happening to both of them, but Nathan is adamant about maintaining a low profile and keeping his personal life out of the press. Meanwhile, a Texas cheerleader (Hayden Panettiere) discovers she's completely indestructible, but she's in for an even bigger shock when she realizes her family is hiding a dark secret. Over in Los Angeles, a beat cop (Greg Grunberg) develops the ability to read minds, and an Internet stripper (Ali Larter) begins to manifest a murderous alternate personality. And in Tokyo, bored cubicle drone Hiro Nakamura (Masi Oka) is desperate for the kind of adventures found in comic books and Star Trek. (In a sly in-joke, Hiro's father shows up later in the season and is portrayed by Star Trek alum George Takei.) Hiro's wish is miraculously granted when he develops the ability to travel through time and space, teleporting himself instantly from a Tokyo subway to Times Square. But Hiro's elation quickly turns to fear when he witnesses a nuclear explosion lay waste to New York City. Upon teleporting home, he realizes he's just seen a glimpse of a catastrophe that will happen in a few weeks unless he can stop it. Heroes from across the globe gradually meet up and form alliances as they try to prevent the nuclear attack and fight back against a shadowy, superpowered serial killer known as Sylar (Zachary Quinto), who is able to murder the would-be superheroes and steal their abilities in the process. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Masi Oka, Milo Ventimiglia, (more)
- 2005
Twenty years after leaving Lake City, Alabama behind, Bobby Jackson returns to his hometown to bury the baseball coach who turned his life around, and reconnect with the childhood friends who have since drifted apart. Growing up in a largely white, military town, Bobby and his friends were always acutely aware of the fact that they were different. With the help of Coach Billy Adams, however, they found a place to call their own - the baseball diamond. They called themselves the 'Bama Rascals, and they could run the bases like it was nobody's business. But later in life, some members of the gang fared better than others. Now, the Rascals have returned to Lake City to be the pallbearers at Coach Billy's funeral. Will their reunion help to heal the wounds that have festered all these years, or will the sight of those familiar faces simply take the "Bama Rascals back to a place they need to leave behind in order to truly grow. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 2003
Jack (Kiefer Sutherland) has caused a riot at the prison, and he and Ramon (Joaquim de Almeida) attempt to escape by knocking out two guards and putting on their uniforms. Unfortunately, they're overtaken by a gang of heavily armed prisoners, and the riot leader, Peel (Lobo Sebastian) forces the two "guards" to play Russian roulette. Michelle (Reiko Aylesworth) learns that Jack is trying to break Ramon out of prison, and orders Chloe (Mary Lynn Rajskub) to search his office for anything pertinent. She finds evidence of his drug use. With Gael (Jesse Borrego) sabotaging their efforts, the CTU team inches closer to finding Kyle. Studying surveillance video, Adam (Zachary Quinto) determines that Kyle (Riley Smith) has been abducted, and Kim discovers the van's license plate number. In an effort to save Linda (Agnes Bruckner), Kyle attempts to kill himself, but she manages to stop him. At the debate, Keeler (Geoff Pierson) makes his accusation against Anne (Wendy Crewson). ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
Drumline brings the world of "show-style" marching bands (popular at traditionally black, Southern colleges) to the big screen for the first time. The story, by Shawn Schepps, was inspired by the high school drumline experiences of executive producer/executive music producer Dallas Austin. Devon (Nick Cannon of Nickelodeon's The Nick Cannon Show) is a Harlem drummer who earns a full scholarship to the fictional Atlanta A&T University. There, his talent gets the attention of the school's embattled musical director, Dr. Lee (Orlando Jones), who puts his students' education and appreciation for musical tradition ahead of the marching band's popularity. Devon's brashly egotistical attitude doesn't endear him to Lee, whose slogan for the band is "One band, one sound," or to the drumline's disciplined captain, Sean (Leonard Roberts, late of TV's Buffy the Vampire Slayer). Devon has more success with the dance captain of the marching band, Laila (Zoe Saldana, who played a ballet dancer in Center Stage), a Southern belle who's won over by Devon's confidence. Sean feels threatened by Devon's talent, and his attitude, so when he learns that Devon can't read music, he uses the information to his advantage. With the band facing their archrival at a huge marching band competition, Dr. Lee has to decide whether to allow the brilliant drummer to perform, despite his attitude. Devon has to prove that he can show his skills while still being part of the team. Drumline was directed by Charles Stone III (Paid in Full), and features cameo appearances by musical artists Blu Cantrell and Petey Pablo. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nick Cannon, Zoe Saldana, (more)
In the 1930s and '40s, the rivalry between Joe Louis and Max Schmeling was one of the greatest in the history of professional boxing. Louis was one of the first African-Americans to win the Heavyweight championship, and he was a great symbol of hope and achievement for blacks before the advent of the Civil Rights Movement, while Schmeling was a German who many Nazi supporters cited as an example of the innate superiority of the Aryan race. However, what few people knew is that despite their rivalry in the ring, between bouts Louis and Schmeling were good friends, and that Schmeling was not only never a member of the Nazi party, but spurned the attention of Adolf Hitler and helped save the lives of several Jews during the Nazi pogroms. Joe and Max is a made-for-cable drama based on the true story of the friendship of Joe Louis (played by Leonard Roberts) and Max Schmeling (Til Schweiger), and Schmeling's secret heroism during World War II. The supporting cast includes Peta Wilson, Richard Roundtree, and Bruce Weitz. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leonard Roberts, Til Schweiger, (more)
- 2000
Adam (George Hertzberg) now controls Riley (Marc Blucas) via a chip implanted in his arm by Dr. Walsh (Lindsay Crouse). His plan to create an army of half human/half demon is finally revealed along with new recruits Forrest (Leonard Roberts) and Dr. Walsh. Meanwhile, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) meets up with Giles (Anthony Head), Willow (Alyson Hannigan), and Xander (Nicholas Brendon). After comparing notes, the group realizes they've been tricked by Spike (James Marsters) into being angry with each other. They also piece together Adam's evil plan and break into the Initiative compound to put it to an end. They are captured by Initiative commandos and at the same time Adam releases the demons and chaos ensues. Needless to say, Spike's chip stays implanted. During the final battle sequence, Willow, Xander, and Giles magically imbue Buffy with heightened supernatural powers that seem correlate to each character's best personality trait. ~ All Movie Guide
- 2000
Spike (James Marsters) assists Adam (George Hertzberg) in his plan to estrange Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) from her friends. He begins planting lies among the slayer's friends in hopes of pitting them against each other. Xander (Nicholas Brendan) thinks Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and Buffy have been saying he is stupid. Willow begins to doubt her involvement with Tara (Amber Benson) and Giles (Anthony Head) -- fearing he has become useless -- falls into a drunken stupor. Meanwhile, in a crossover plot line with "Angel," Angel (David Boreanaz) returns to Sunnydale and comes to blows with Riley (Marc Blucas). Buffy intervenes and admits the connection between her and Angel is over. Another connection might be over as well after Buffy has a major falling out with Willow, Giles, and Xander. She leaves the situation unresolved to seek sympathy from Riley -- who is meeting with Adam at the same moment. ~ All Movie Guide
- 2000
Buffy's (Sarah Michelle Gellar) friends begin expressing bad feelings toward the Initiative (see "The Initiative"). Anya (Emma Caulfield) doesn't appreciate their anti-demon policies and Xander (Nicholas Brendon) doesn't trust the secretive commando operation. Buffy couldn't disagree more, especially after Dr. Walsh (Lindsay Crouse) asks her to join the Initiative. Buffy and Riley (Marc Blucas) fight a demon together unaware that Maggie is watching them via hidden camera. Later, Dr. Walsh sends Buffy out to capture a harmless monster which turns out to be two large, strong demons. Dr. Walsh is watching as Buffy is cornered by the demons and the hidden camera cuts out. As she is telling Riley of Buffy's death, Buffy appears in her lab alive and angry. Afterwards, Dr. Walsh enters room 314 (see "A New Man") and awakens some kind of half-human monster who mutters the word "Mommy." It is implied in this episode that as Tara (Amber Benson) and Willow spend the whole night together, their feelings change toward each other. ~ All Movie Guide
- 2000
Riley (Marc Blucas) is acting strangely around Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and catching her with Spike (James Marsters) -- or Hostile 17 -- makes him even more antagonistic. Meanwhile, Adam (George Hertzberg) kills Dr. Walsh (Lindsay Crouse) and leaves the Initiative compound. Later, Buffy is confronted by Riley with the news of Dr. Walsh's death. Then, while searching for Adam, Buffy, and Xander (Nicholas Brendon) sneak into the Initiative compound and discover that drugs were being secretly given to the commandos and Riley's in withdrawal. Riley confronts Adam who seriously wounds him. Elsewhere, Willow (Alyson Hannigan) attempts to perform a spell with Tara (Amber Benson) to magically locate all of the demons in Sunnydale. Tara sabotages the spell while Willow's eyes are closed. ~ All Movie Guide
- 2000
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Riley (Marc Blucas) are getting it on. Like, really getting it on. They don't want to stop -- not even as the Lowell House becomes cold and creepy around them. Preparing for a house party, the commandos try to build a fire in the fireplace which briefly explodes, leaving Mason (Neil Daly) severely burned. Meanwhile, Anya (Emma Caulfield) and Xander (Nicholas Brendon) break-up over not having sex for the first time in their relationship. Anya decides to take Spike (James Marsters) to the Lowell House party where Xander is also getting a little post relationship sympathy from Julie (Casey McCarthy). Soon, some partygoers discover that touching a certain wall fills you with intense sexual pleasure. All the while, Riley and Buffy become more isolated from the rest of the house. Then, Julie kisses Xander and runs away to cut off her hair because she feels dirty. A spin-the-bottle game comes to a disturbingly unsatisfactory end as the bottle explodes. Then, after encountering the ghost of a boy drowned in the bathtub, Willow (Alyson Hannigan) escapes the house to find Giles (Anthony Head). They discover the house was once an orphanage run by a women who tortured the children as punishment for their sinful desires. Buffy and Riley, still making love, are trapped in the house as the repressed children's ghosts threaten to destroy them. ~ All Movie Guide
- 2000
Oz (Seth Green) returns. Having traveled widely -- he mentions Tibet -- Oz has discovered how to control his werewolf transformations. Willow's (Alyson Hannigan) joy over his return is compromised now that she loves Tara (Amber Benson). Seeking advice, Willow reveals the true nature of her relationship with Tara to Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) -- up until now she has kept her homosexuality as secret. Meanwhile, a commando is attacked by what he assumes to be a werewolf. Oz is subsequently captured by the Initiative. Surprisingly, Spike (James Marsters) leads Buffy into the Initiative compound to free Oz. More surprisingly, Riley (Marc Blucas) helps liberate Oz, subsequently severing his ties to the Initiative. Now, with her boyfriend AWOL from the Initiative, Buffy feels free to reveal her past relationship with Angel (David Boreanaz). Elsewhere, Adam (George Hertzberg) offers to remove Spike's anti-violence chip if he assists in his plan to unleash worldwide chaos. ~ All Movie Guide
- 2000
An earthquake hits Sunnydale, unleashing some demons seeking the ingredients to bring about the end of the world -- "Again," Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and her friends groan. Meanwhile, Spike (James Marstens), tied up at Xander's (Nicholas Brendon) and utterly dispirited over losing his ability to kill (see "Pangs"), attempts suicide by falling on a stake. Buffy and friends decide that maybe taking him along to stop the end of the world might cheer him up. Then, Giles (Anthony Head) is attacked by the demons who steal a talisman from him, thereby collecting all they need to start the end of the world. Earlier in the episode, Buffy and Riley (Marc Blucas) -- who fought "The Gentlemen" together in "Hush" -- reveal their secret lives to each other. Buffy keeps the information about The Initiative from Giles. ~ All Movie Guide
- 2000
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) finds herself inside Faith's (Eliza Dushku) body and being carted off on a gurney by the police. Having used a mystical Katra to switch her body with Buffy's, Faith marvels at her perfect disguise, mocking Buffy's do-gooder persona in front of the Summers' bathroom mirror. Meanwhile, while the police are transporting "Faith" to jail, a van pulls in front of the squad car, and three men jump out -- members of "the team" from the Watcher's Council -- kidnapping "Faith." Elsewhere, "Buffy," instead of hunting for Adam (George Hertzberg), goes to party at The Bronze. There, she meets Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and Tara (Amber Benson). Assuming they've met up with Buffy, Willow leaves Tara alone with her while she orders drinks. "Buffy" ridicules Tara, making fun of her stutter and telling her how in love Willow is with Oz (Seth Green). Afterwards, Tara tells Willow that Buffy didn't seem like herself. They both devise a spell to switch Buffy and Faith back into their own bodies. Ironically, while Faith is attempting to cause trouble while in Buffy's body, she experiences her first taste of love and kindness, being thanked by a person she saves from a vampire and even making tender love with Riley (Marc Blucas) -- who admits he loves Buffy for the first time. Adam also launches his war on humanity, sending vampires to attack a church, that, luckily, Riley is attending Sunday morning. ~ All Movie Guide
Originally aired as a two-part miniseries on NBC, The 60's follows two families whose lives mirror much of the political and social tumult of that decade. The Herlihys are a working class family from Chicago whose three children take wildly divergent paths: Brian (Jerry O'Connell) joins the Marines right out of High School and goes to Vietnam, Michael (Josh Hamilton) becomes involved in the civil rights movement and after campaigning for Bobby Kennedy and Eugene McCarthy becomes involved in radical politics, and Katie (Julia Stiles) gets pregnant, moves to San Francisco and joins a hippie commune. Meanwhile, the Taylors are an African-American family living in the deep South. When Willie Taylor (Charles S. Dutton), a minister and civil rights organizer, is shot to death, his son Emmet (Leonard Roberts) moves to the city and eventually joins the Black Panthers, serving as a bodyguard for Fred Hampton (David Alan Grier). The 60's incorporates much newsreel footage from the era in an attempt to give the proceedings a greater realism, as well as a soundtrack of many popular songs of the era, including a new recording of Bob Dylan's Chimes Of Freedom by Dylan and Joan Osborne. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Josh Hamilton, Julia Stiles, (more)
- 1999
Ever studious, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) falls asleep during a class lecture and has a dream about a little girl holding a box and reciting a fairy tale about "The Gentlemen." Meanwhile, Willow (Alyson Hannigan) attends a campus Wicca meeting where she meets Tara (Amber Benson), a demure young coed. Later that night, a group of tall, thin, ghoulish, undertaker-types -- The Gentlemen -- come floating into Sunnydale stealing everyone's voices as they sleep. Perplexed by her inability to speak, Buffy goes to Giles (Anthony Head) to figure out what to do. At the same time, The Gentleman cut the heart out of their first victim, who can only writhe in silent torture. Tara seeks out Willow, hoping to perform a spell with her to combat The Gentleman, who also go after her heart. Then, Giles uncovers the fairy tale about The Gentleman in which only the scream of a Princess can stop their silent evil -- but Princess Buffy can't even whisper. Largely directed as a silent episode, this groundbreaking effort from series creator Joss Whedon was nominated for an Emmy. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1999
Riley (Marc Blucas) likes Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar). He even punches Parker (Adam Kaufman) for making disparaging remarks about her. Despite his masculine confidence as an Initiative Commando -- an elite sect of the military that hunts and studies monsters -- he is nervous about asking Buffy out. He even goes to Willow (Alyson Hannigan) for advice. This leads to Riley proffering some cheese squares for Buffy at a party. Needless to say, they are both unaware of each other's secret night life. Meanwhile, Spike (James Marsters) -- or "Hostile 17," as he is now called -- is languishing in a holding cell in the Initiative's underground compound below Riley's fraternity house. Spike soon breaks out and attacks Willow in her dorm room. Mysteriously, he is unable to bite her. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1999
At the groundbreaking ceremony for the U. of C. at Sunnydale's Cultural Center, Xander (Nicholas Brendon), working on the grounds crew, falls into the remains of the old Sunnydale Mission. Ironically, he releases the angry spirit Hus, of the Chumash tribe, who begins unleashing the atrocities committed against his tribe by European settlers; a professor gets his throat cut and Xander comes down with smallpox. Meanwhile, Angel (David Boreanaz) has come to town to check on Buffy's (Sarah Michelle Gellar) safety. He alerts Willow (Alyson Hannigan), Anya (Emma Caulfield), and Xander that Buffy -- essentially the warrior leader of her tribe -- is most likely Hus's next victim. Angel keeps his presence a secret from Buffy, which leads to a crossover plot development with Angel, in the episode "I Will Remember You." Humorously, Spike (James Marstens) -- unable to hurt or kill since "The Initiative" -- attends Thanksgiving dinner at Giles' (Anthony Stewart Head). ~ All Movie Guide
What do you do after love at first sight? That's the question posed in this romantic comedy-drama set in Chicago. Darius Lovehall (Larenz Tate) is a novelist who is giving a reading at the Sanctuary, an upscale club presenting jazz and poetry to a bohemian clientele. Shortly before his set, he meets Nina Mosley (Nia Long), a woman who is a gifted photographer, despite the fact that she just lost her job. They exchange small talk, and Darius makes his interest clear when -- on the spot -- he retitles a love poem "A Blues For Nina." A mutual attraction is sparked between them; soon Darius finds Nina's address on a check and shows up unannounced at her apartment, a visit resulting in a photo session that turns seriously sexy. So far, so good, but neither Darius or Nina are sure where to go next after this promising start. She's just gotten out of a relationship and isn't sure if she still cares for her old boyfriend or not, while Darius' buddies read him the riot act for wanting to give up his freedom so early on in the game. Love Jones was the debut feature for African-American writer and director Theodore Witcher; Isaiah Washington, Bill Bellamy, and Lisa Nicole Carson lead the supporting cast. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Larenz Tate, Nia Long, (more)
- 1995
Pro basketball star Isaiah Thomas) appears as himself in this episode, in which Ray (David Marciano) and Fraser (Paul Gross) try to save a teenaged basketball player named Tyree (Leonard Roberts) from going to jail. Tyree has been persuaded to take an attempted-murder rap for local drug dealer Lou Robbins (Tab Baker). Fed up with Fraser's interference, Lou decides to make sure that there will be one less mountie in Chicago before the week is out. Originally broadcast on Canadian television, this episode made its US debut on April 5, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Gross, David Marciano, (more)
