Vince Gilligan Movies
- 2011
Will Ferrell stars as a racist who develops a split personality after being the subject of a prank gone wrong in this Columbia Pictures comedic drama. Vince Gilligan (Hancock) provides the script, with Mark Johnson and Jimmy Miller handling producing duties. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Will Ferrell
- 2008
One of several fascinating original series from cable's American Movie Channel, Breaking Bad was produced by Vince Gilligan of X-Files fame. Former Malcolm in the Middle regular Bryan Cranston starred as high school chemistry teacher Walter White, who at age 49 was told that he was suffering from terminal lung cancer--even though he'd never smoked a cigarette in his life. Unable to pay for his medical treatment or provide for the future financial security of his pregnant wife Skyler (Anna Gunn) and his son Walt Jr. (RJ Mitte), the latter a victim of cerebral palsy, Walter began moonlighting at a car wash. When this proved inadequate to make ends meet, Walter entered into a slighly unholy alliance with former student Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul). Using Walter's chemical knowhow, the two partners set up a crystal meth lab, with Walter supplying and Jesse dealing. Now the unfortunate Mr. White found himself straddling two worlds, one legitimate, one definitely not. Adding to Walter's crown of thorns was the omnipresence of his brother-in-law Hank (Dean Norris), a DEA agent who'd been trying to bust Jesse for several months--and who of course had to be kept completely in the dark as to Walter's new "sideline." Breaking Bad debuted on January 20, 2008. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A hard-drinking lush finds himself thrust into superhero mode in director Peter Berg's unconventional look at the private life of a crime-fighter. Will Smith stars as the embittered do-gooder whose lifestyle is more akin to a rock star than a role model, and who has grown as disillusioned with his once-admiring public as they have of him. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Will Smith, Charlize Theron, (more)
- 2002
Scully (Gillian Anderson) again briefly abandons her academic duties to help Reyes (Annabeth Gish) locate the missing Doggett (Robert Patrick). Meanwhile, Doggett awakens in an obscure Mexican town, with no memory of how he got there nor any clue as to his own identity. In this amnesiac state, Doggett is inexorably drawn into a vicious gang of alien smugglers. First telecast on January 13, 2002, "John Doe" represented writer Vince Gilligan's return to The X-Files fold after a lengthy absence. Incidentally, the actress cast as Mrs. Doggett (Barbara Patrick) is the real-life wife of Robert Patrick. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
Like many another child of the 1970s, Agent Reyes (Annabeth Gish) possesses a near-encyclopedic knowledge of the classic TV sitcom The Brady Bunch. Her knowledge comes in handy when a murder occurs outside a house where, legend has it, The Brady Bunch was filmed. Unfortunately, Reyes and her fellow agents fall into the clutches of a TV fanatic named Oliver (Michael Emerson), who has rigged the house with all manner of booby traps -- and sinister shapeshifting lookalikes of Mike, Carol, Greg, Marcia, and the rest of the Brady clan. Its title taken from one of the songs performed by members of the original Brady Bunch, the penultimate X-Files episode "Sunshine Days" was first broadcast on May 12, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
While pursuing his theory that shark cartilage can be used as a cure for cancer, immunologist Prof. Houghton (Timothy Landfield) is the victim of a savage attack. Former Area 51 operative Morris Fletcher (Michael McKean) is convinced that the Lone Gunmen (Tom Braidwood, Dean Haglund, Bruce Harwood), the nerdy trio of conspiracy theorists who have assisted in many an X-Files investigation, are somehow connected to the assault on Houghton. Further complicating matters is the presence of two other familiar characters: the Lone Gunmen's friendly nemesis, Yves Adele Harlow (Zuleikha Robinson) and erstwhile do-gooder Jimmy Bond (Stephen Snedden). Its title drawn from an Internet phrase referring to the moment in which a popular TV show "goes bad" (e.g. Fonzie's water-ski jump over a shark on Happy Days), "Jump the Shark" first aired on April 21, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
A genie named Jen (Paula Sorge) is the catalyst for the May 14, 2000, X-Files episode "Je Souhaite." Upset that the people whom she has served invariably make the wrong three wishes, Jen has decided to do something about it. Unfortunately, that "something" involves serious physical injury, prompting Mulder and Scully to seek some method of rebottling Jen before further damage can be caused. Also appearing in this semi-comic episode is Mad TV's Will Sasso. "Je Souhaite" was written by Vince Gilligan. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
At first glance, this 150th episode of The X-Files looks for all the world like a typical installment of the Fox Network reality series Cops -- right down to the "Bad Boys" theme music and the familiar opening-credits graphics. With cameras and portable mikes in hand, the Cops production crew accompany L.A. County Sheriff's deputy Wetzel (Judson Mills) as he investigates a 911 call-in report about a "monster." Arriving in a crime-ridden neighborhood, Wetzel comes upon two armed suspects -- none other than Mulder and Scully. It turns out that the two agents are conducting an investigation of their own, tied in with an outbreak of bizarre activity during the full moon. The best moments in this episode occur when Mulder relishes the notion of "proving" his long-standing theories on a popular national TV show. Written by Vince Gilligan, "X-Cops" first aired February 20, 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Investigating the murder of the father-in-law of a prominent surgeon, Mulder and Scully have only one clue to go on: the word "Theef," hastily scrawled in blood at the scene of the crime. At first, the two agents assume that the killer had misspelled the word "thief." But all bets are off when an autopsy reveals that the victim was going progressively insane -- and that just before his death, he evinced an unhealthy interest in the occult. Written by Vince Gilligan, John Shiban, and Frank Spotnitz, "Theef" was first telecast on March 12, 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Real-life magician Ricky Jay plays the title role in the X-Files episode "The Amazing Maleeni." Responding to a heckler in the audience, Maleeni performs the infamous "Egyptian Dedi," in which his head appears to turn a full 360 degrees. A scant few minutes after the performance, the magician's decapitated body is found in his car. Scully assumes that the victim was murdered, pure and simple, but Mulder suspects otherwise, especially after learning that Maleeni's heckler was disgruntled rival magician Billy LaBonge (Jonathan Levit). First broadcast January 16, 2000, "The Amazing Maleeni" was written by Vince Gilligan, John Shiban, and Frank Spotnitz. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Scully (Gillian Anderson) goes off on her own to act as a consulting investigator in a mysterious murder that has occurred in remote Juah County, UT. Just after phoning in to her partner, Doggett (Robert Patrick), Scully finds herself trapped in a tiny village, where the locals oblige her to care for another stranger in town, Hank Gulatarski (David Barry Gray). Little do either Scully or Hank suspect that the village harbors a large religious cult, which is preparing to offer up a human host for a hideous sluglike monster that has been "firmly identified" as the Second Coming. "Roadrunners" made its first American TV appearance on November 26, 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Mulder and Scully head to Costa Mesa, CA, to investigate the discovery of a man's body in a submerged car. The body's brain has been removed, obviously by someone who knew exactly what he (or she) was doing. The trail of evidence leads the agents to the local Lucky Boy Burgers restaurant, a fast-food emporium which boasts an unusually voracious steady customer. Written by Vince Gilligan, "Hungry" was originally broadcast November 21, 1999. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
With Y2K rapidly approaching, Mulder and Scully pay particular attention to an apocalyptic cult called the Millennium Group. Their investigation begins with an apparent grave robbery -- which takes a peculiar turn when the evidence proves that the missing corpse broke out of the casket. The agents seek out the assistance of criminal profiler Frank Black (Lance Henriksen), repeating his role from the TV series Millennium, who expresses a pronounced lack of willingness to cooperate with the authorities. First telecast November 28, 1999, "Millennium" was written by Vince Gilligan and Frank Spotnitz. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Attending a defense contractor conference in Las Vegas, Mulder and "Lone Gunman" Byers (Bruce Harwood) notice that one of the guests is eerily familiar. It turns out that Susanne Modeski (Signey Coleman), the scientist who brought together Mulder and the Lone Gunmen back in 1989, is in attendance. Perhaps now the two men, with Scully's reluctant assistance, will solve the mystery of Susanne's kidnapping ten years earlier -- and then again, perhaps not. Originally telecast May 2, 1999, "Three of a Kind" was written by Vince Gilligan and John Shiban. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
After a series of unusual occurrences during a hiking trip in North Carolina, a husband and wife retire to bed. Three days later, their skeletons, locked in a final embrace, are found in a field located in an area infamous for its "atmospheric phenomena." While attempting to solve the mystery, Mulder and Scully also try to determine the origin of a luminous, gooey yellow secretion -- but this is only the tip of the iceberg. Written by Vince Gilligan and John Shiban, "Field Trip" originally aired May 9, 1999. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Ever have one of those Monday mornings where everything -- but everything -- goes wrong? That's what happens to Mulder and Scully in the February 28, 1999, X-Files episode "Monday." Making things worse, the disaster begins repeating itself in a seemingly endless cycle, forcing the agents to take drastic action to prevent an all-but-inevitable tragedy. "Monday" was co-written by frequent X-Files contributors Vince Gilligan and John Shiban. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Accompanied by new partner Peyton Ritter (Richard Ruccolo), Scully investigates the incredibly good luck of crime-scene photographer Alfred Fellig (Geoffrey Lewis). No matter where a murder has occurred, Fellig is always the first man on the scene, forever out-scooping his competition. Scully suspects that Fellig may well be drumming up his own business by killing his "models." Written by Vince Gilligan, "Tithonus" -- a designation which, like many other X-Files episode titles, makes sense only in context -- first aired January 24, 1999. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
Robert Wisden returned as mind-manipulating serial killer Robert Modell (aka "Pusher") in the January 4, 1998, X-Files episode "Kitsunegari." Escaping from prison, Pusher inaugurates another of his fiendish cat-and-mouse games with his pursuers Mulder and Scully. The villain seems particularly anxious to settle several old scores with Scully -- and he has the capacity to "persuade" innocent bystanders to help him in this sinister endeavor. "Kitsunegari" was written by Vince Gilligan and Tim Minear. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Dean Parisot, who won a live-action short Oscar, made his feature directorial debut with this black comedy from a producer team that included Barry Levinson and Lawrence Kasdan. A philandering stepdad is the victim of vengeful Mrs. Lever (Catherine O'Hara), who sends her sons out to scare him to death. Cobra helicopter pilots Dorian (Luke Wilson) and Angus (Jake Busey) accomplish this by strafing the forest at night as the stepdad runs in terror. No one knows that pregnant Burger-Matic cashier Sally (Drew Barrymore) was the stepdad's mistress. However, since Burger-Matic and Cobra headsets share the same radio frequency, the notion surfaces that maybe Burger-Matic workers overheard something; Angus suggests that Dorian take a job at the fast-food joint in order to determine just who knows what. Once on the job, however, the situation gets twisted after Dorian falls hard for Sally. The chain-smoking Mrs. Jackson (Shelley Duvall), Sally's trailer-trash mother, turns up, as does her redneck father, Red (Lanny Flaherty). In an inside film reference, Angus mentions the classic "Lamb to the Slaughter" episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Shown at the 1998 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Drew Barrymore, Luke Wilson, (more)
- 1998
In part one of the two-part X-Files drama "Dreamland," Mulder and Scully's visit to the legendary Area 51 resulted in a freakish personality transference, with Mulder literally changing places with "Man in Black" Morris Fletcher (Michael McKean). Unaware of the switch, Scully -- who is down in the dumps after being placed on suspension -- accepts "Mulder's" invitation to a home-cooked meal, and is in for the first in a long line of surprises. Meanwhile, "Fletcher" is stuck in the Area 51 brig, unable to convince anyone that, despite all appearances, he's not Fletcher -- and that things had better be returned to normal before something cataclysmic happens. Written by Vince Gilligan, John Shiban, and Frank Spotnitz, "Dreamland II" was originally broadcast December 8, 1998. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
Written by Vince Gilligan, John Shiban, and Frank Spotnitz, "Dreamland" was part one of a landmark two-part X-Files episode. At long last, Mulder and Scully gain access to the fabled Area 51, the mecca of UFO enthusiasts the world over. There, the two agents bear witness to a mysterious, low-flying aircraft. When the vessel passes, Mulder finds that he has literally traded places with Area 51 official Morris Fletcher (Michael McKean). "Dreamland" first aired November 29, 1998. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
Still on probation, Agent Mulder investigates an X-File case without official sanction. As a result, he finds himself the hostage of a seemingly insane carjacker named Patrick Crump (Bryan Cranston), who insists that his wife was killed by an "inner-ear explosion." It soon becomes clear that Mulder's captor is suffering from a bizarre illness, which may also claim the helpless FBI agent as well -- and what about Scully? Written by Vince Gilligan, "Drive" was originally telecast November 15, 1998. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
Someone -- or something -- is targeting telemarketers for extinction. While some might regard this as a reason for jubilation, Mulder dedicates himself to solving the (apparent) killings. In the course of the investigation, Mulder is kidnapped by a delusional vinyl-siding telemarketer named Gary Lambert (Brian Markinson), who insists that his boss is a monster -- literally. It is up to Scully, who is ostensibly not involved in the case, to come to the rescue. Originally broadcast May 10, 1998, "Folie a Deux" was written by Vince Gilligan. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
A string of deaths has occurred in rural Texas, with the victims drained of all their blood. Investigating this killing spree, Mulder and Scully come up with two different, contradictory versions of the events surrounding the murders. Both versions reach the same grisly conclusion: Mulder is responsible for the death of local teenager Ronnie Strickland (Patrick Renna) -- a death that may have been entirely unnecessary. First broadcast February 22, 1998, "Bad Blood" was written by Vince Gilligan, and features Luke Wilson in a supporting role as the town's sheriff. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
In a rare seasonal X-Files episode, Scully and her mother pay a pre-Yuletide visit to the home of Scully's brother, Bill Jr. (Pat Skipper). Upon arrival, Scully answers the phone and hears a plea for help -- from a woman who sounds eerily like her dead sister, Melissa (Melinda McGraw). The mystery deepens with the arrival of a detective (John Pyper-Ferguson) investigating an apparent suicide, the "victim's" young daughter (who looks just like a young Scully), and a brace of sinister Men in Black. Part one of a two-part story, "Christmas Carol" was written by Vince Gilligan, John Shiban, and Frank Spotnitz; the episode first aired December 7, 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
