Randall Slavin
- 2001
The "signature killer," who has been plaguing the CSI by leaving behind frustratingly tiny bits of evidence at each crime scene, strikes again. Grissom (William L. Petersen) is more convinced than ever that the elusive killer has a working knowledge of forensic procedure -- even to the point of planting contrary evidence that he (or she) knows will be dismissed. As if Grissom doesn't have enough trouble, the FBI insists upon taking over the investigation -- with CSI unit member Sara (Jorja Fox) as bait for the murderer. This was the final episode of CSI's first season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Two women connected by family are drawn closer by fate in this low-key drama. Frances (Jacqueline Bisset) is a woman in her early fifties who had already begun to sense time was running out for her when she learned that she has cancer. While Frances is fighting the disease through medical treatment, she decides it's a good idea to do some travelling before it's too late, and she pays a visit to Bob (Seymour Cassel), a former boyfriend who now owns a farm in rural Pennsylvania. To Bob's surprise, Frances strikes up a fast friendship with his wife Betty (Peggy Gormley), and Frances shares a confession with her -- while Frances maintains a close relationship with her son Morgan (Nick Stahl), she also had a daughter by Bob that she put up for adoption, and she's not certain if she should track down the child while there's still time. Coincidentally, Frances' daughter is Rebecca (Martha Plimpton), a successful lawyer who has begun to express a curiosity about her birth parents. Rebecca has been hired by a large communications firm to deal with the paperwork regarding the purchase of a radio station in Florida, and while in the Sunshine State, Rebecca gets to know the station's manager, Jimmy (Frankie R. Faison). As Jimmy and Rebecca ease into a short-term romance, he shares stories about the "Sleepy Time Gal," a mysterious female disc jockey who worked at the station back in the '50s; what neither Jimmy nor Rebecca know is that the Sleepy Time Gal was actually Frances. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jacqueline Bisset, Martha Plimpton, (more)
- 2000
Wesley (Alexis Denisof) attempts to translate the Scrolls of Obearsain after Angel (David Boreanaz) stole them from Wolfram & Hart (see "Blind Date"). Eventually, he learns that a key word, "shanshu," means "to die" and interprets the passage as a prophesy that Angel, the "vampire with a soul," will die. When Angel acts nonplussed at the news, his friends worry that he has become callous after so many years among the undead. Meanwhile, Wolfram & Hart enlist a powerful demon named Vocah (Todd Stashwick) to sever Angel's ties to the Powers That Be. It kills the oracles, drives Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) mad with a continuous, painful vision, and blows up the headquarters of Angel Investigations while stealing back the ancient scrolls. Angel once again turns to Gunn (J. August Richards) for help, this time to watch over Cordy and the injured Wesley. The spirit of one of the oracles helps Angel track down Vocah, who is using the scrolls to preside over a mystical ceremony with the Wolfram & Hart lawyers. Angel interrupts the ceremony and kills Vocah, then severs the hand of Lindsey McDonald (Christian Kane) when he attempts to burn the scrolls. Later, with everyone recovered from their tribulations, Wesley takes another crack at translation and learns that "shanshu" actually means "to live." It seems that Angel may one day become mortal again. Back at Wolfram & Hart, a snarling creature lurks in a cage -- Darla (Julie Benz), Angel's slain vampire sire, brought back from the dead as an instrument of vengeance. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 1999
After the tragic sacrifice of Doyle (Glenn Quinn) (see "Hero"), Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) and Angel (David Boreanaz) deal with the emotional fallout of their friend's death. Soon, Cordelia learns of a strange side effect of the final kiss Doyle gave her: She is now experiencing the same painful visions he used to. Shortly thereafter, a telepathic demon named Barney (Maury Sterling) shows up at the office looking for protection from an assassin. Angel leaves Cordelia with Barney and heads out to investigate. Soon, he learns that the assassin is none other than Wesley Wyndam-Pryce (Alexis Denisof), who briefly served as Watcher for Buffy and Faith (see Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "Bad Girls") and is now a self-styled "rogue demon hunter." Angel learns that Wesley isn't hunting Barney; he's actually hunting a Kungai demon who wants to steal Barney's powers. But as the plot thickens, it turns out that Barney himself is actually the thief -- and that he's trying to auction off Cordelia for her newfound powers. A Wolfram & Hart lawyer wins the prize, but Wesley and Angel arrive just in time to save Cordy from being turned against her will into a blind oracle. Originally broadcast December 14, 1999, on the WB network, "Parting Gifts" marked season one, episode ten of the supernatural comedy drama. Although he's billed as a guest star for this episode, Alexis Denisof joins the cast permanently beginning with the next installment, "Somnambulist." ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Angel's ex-girlfriend, Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar), arrives in Los Angeles to berate Angel (David Boreanaz) for skulking in the shadows in Sunnydale to protect her without making his presence known (see Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "Pangs"). In the middle of their argument, a demon attacks, and Buffy and Angel take to the sewers to track it. During the ensuing melee, some of the demon's blood mixes with Angel's and he's amazed to discover that he has become completely human. Now that Angel is free from the curse that will turn him into a bloodthirsty monster if he ever experiences true happiness, a blissful day of sex, love, and ice cream soon reunites the ex-lovers. Unfortunately, another demon shows up and Buffy must protect her helpless lover. Angel realizes that without his vampiric abilities, he and those he cares for will be in constant danger. He begs the two Oracles of The Powers That Be to turn him back into a vampire. They use a temporal fold to turn the clock back 24 hours, leaving only Angel with the memory of his perfect day with Buffy and causing everyone else to forget it ever happened. Originally broadcast November 23, 1999, on the WB network, "I Will Remember You" marked season one, episode eight of the supernatural comedy drama. In the Buffy episode "Something Blue," Buffy mentions that she saw Angel in Los Angeles for only a few minutes -- proof that Angel is, indeed, the only one who remembers their tender reunion. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Glenn Quinn
- 1998
Scott Storm made his directorial debut with this intense psychological thriller. Screenwriter Ben Sharpe (Randall Slavin), is attempting to conquer a writer's block when former friend Tom Rice turns up with a completed manuscript and solid publisher connections. Ben pretends to be pleased for his one-time pal, but in truth he harbors much envy and resentment, a situation that worsens when he eavesdrops on Tom's lovemaking with publisher's daughter Amanda (Andrea Roth). At the typewriter, he pecks out a fiendish plot to gain the upper hand on Tom -- with Amanda becoming a pawn in the game. Synthesized music score by Joe Kraemer. Shown at the 1998 Slamdance Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Randall Slavin, David Hayter, (more)
- 1992
Against Roseanne's better judgment, Darlene goes to a concert in Rockford, IL, to see Daisy Chainsaw with next-door neighbor Molly Tilden (Danielle Harris), only to get deserted when Molly meets up with a boy. When she comes home way past curfew, Dan and Roseanne don't believe her story. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
