Rini Bell Movies
- 2007
Taking charge of Lane's baby shower while Rory (Alexis Bledel) prepares for an important job interview, Lorelei (Lauren Graham) finds herself stuck in the middle of another battle of wills between Lane (Keiko Agena) and her traditionalist mother Mrs. Kim (Emily Kuroda)--yet still finds time to form a strong bond with the expectant mother. Meanwhile, Rory tries to provide emotional support for Logan (Matt Czuchry) during his legal problems, but he seems to prefer commisserating with his male buddies in Las Vegas. And Luke (Scott Patterson) makes a huge purchase as part of his campaign to bond with daughter April (Vanessa Marano). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2007
Rory's graduation party is quite a spectacle, involving virtually everyone in Stars Hollow. During the festivities, Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Christopher (David Sutcliffe) are briefly reunited, and Logan (Matt Czuchry) shows up to propose marriage--and this time he won't leave until he gets an answer. Characteristically, Rory (Alexis Bledel) agonizes over her answer, which when it finally is given proves to be quite a surprise. Meanwhile, a sullen Luke (Scott Patterson) is convinced that Lorelei's drunken declaration of love was merely a case of the liquor doing all the talking. This episode marks the final apparances of series regulars Liz Weil, Matt Czuchry and Danny Strong. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2007
To help Rory (Alexis Bledel) get over her nervousness concerning her graduation, Lorelai takes her daughter out on a shopping and dining binge. Luke (Scott Patterson) joins the ladies along the way, and they all end up at a karoake bar, where Rory manages to get Lorelai drunk. What follows is a boozy but sincere rendition of a Dolly Parton song in which Lorelai reveals the depth of her feelings for Luke. Meanwhile, Zach (Todd Lowe) is offered a job opportunity that may separate him from his family for several months; and Logan (Matt Czuchry demands an answer from Rory. This episode marks the last appearance of Vanessa Marano as April Nardini. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2007
In the series finale of Gilmore Girls, Rory (Alexis Bledel) has shed herself of Logan and is planning a summer post-graduation trip with Lorelai (Lauren Graham). Those plans are abruptly shelved when Rory is offered a dream job as a political reporter--an event prologued by a surprise meeting with her idol, CNN correspondent Christian Amanpour. Faced with the inevitability of life without her daughter, Lorelai tries to keep busy so she won't break down. Elsewhere, the likelihood of a heavy rain finds Luke (Scott Patterson) making extra-special preparations for Rory's outdoor graduation party--and in the process, Lorelei at long last comes to her senses regarding her relationship with Luke. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2006
Season Seven of Gilmore Girls begins the proverbial "morning after", as an embarrassed Lorelei (Lauren Graham) scurries home following her one-night stand with ex-lover Christopher (David Sutcliffe, billed throughout the season as a "guest star" rather than a regular). This, however, does not mean that Lorelei is going to patch things up with her erstwhile fiance Luke (Scott Patterson): he has postponed their wedding once too often to suit her, and his impulsive offer to elope falls upon deaf ears. Meanwhile, Rory (Alexis Bledel) seriously considers joining Logan (Matt Czuchry) in London, where he has been "exiled" (with a fat weekly paycheck!) by his powerful publisher father Mitchell. And in the latest in a long line of screw-ups, Kirk (Sean Gunn) and Taylor (Michael Taylor) crash their car into Luke's diner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A south-of-the-border jaunt turns into a Mexican fiasco when a group of California twenty-somethings arrive in Baja for their annual New Year's Eve surfing trip, and become pawns in an explosive showdown between the local mayor and the corrupt police force. Brandt (Tom Carver) is a failed entrepreneur who's just lost his girlfriend, his business, and his mojo. But Brandt's best friend TK (Kenny Morrison) has the perfect cure -- a New Year's Eve surf trip to Baja, Mexico with his girlfriend Mackenzie (Kansas Carradine) and their best bud, Unis (Rini Bell), who's waging a valiant battle against cancer. Unfortunately, Brandt expected to stay in a luxury resort, and when he emerges from his drunken stupor to realize that the gang is instead staying at a primitive campsite on a rural Mexican beach inhabited by a hungry donkey, he prepares to hightail it back home. But Kenny changes Brandt's mind by convincing him to give the "real" Mexico a shot. Now, inspired by Unis' bravery and realizing he has little to return home to, Brandt finally starts to loosen up. Later, when the gang's bus breaks down and they get caught up in a violent battle between the mayor and the corrupt local police, they gain a newfound appreciation for their flawed lives and attempt to outrun the bullets and make it back to their home country. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rini Bell, Kansas Carradine, (more)
- 2006
Somewhat unexpectedly, the whole Gilmore family shows up on the Yale campus during Parents' Weekend. Also in tow is Christopher (David Sutcliffe), still trying to re-ingratiate himself with Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory (Alexis Bledel). Alas, Christopher's efforts to be a "regular guy" with Rory's fellow staffers at the Yale Daily News ends up a horrible, drunken fiasco. And back in Stars Hollow, Luke (Scott Patterson) seems to be making a concerted effort to get over Lorelai by dating his daughter April's gorgeous swimming coach (Rona Benson). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2006
When the bachelor and bachelorette parties for Zach (Todd Lowe) and Lane (Keiko Agena) respectively fall through, the couple is forced to improvise. Informed by Lane's tradition-bound mother that she will have to have an escort at the wedding, and with Luke out of town, Lorelai (Lauren Graham) attends the ceremony with Christopher (David Sutcliffe). The religious beliefs of the couple's parents require that two entirely different wedding services be held, making Lorelai all the more depressed -- here are Zach and Lane getting married twice in the same day, and she hasn't been to the altar even once -- not even with the father of her child! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A young man gets a crash course in the madness of war in this fact-based drama from director Sam Mendes. Anthony "Swoff" Swofford (Jake Gyllenhaal) decides to join the Marines, just like his father and his father before him, and signs on just in time to be sent to Iraq to fight in the Gulf War in 1991. After experiencing the rigors of boot camp, Swofford and his pal Troy (Peter Sarsgaard) are trained to be snipers, and under the leadership of Sgt. Sykes (Jamie Foxx) and Lt. Col. Kazinski (Chris Cooper), the two land in the middle of a desert where they're up against an enemy they can't always see under a blazing sun with hours of boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror. Swofford, Troy, and their fellow soldiers rely on the wits, their sense of humor, and their friendship of their brothers in arms to deal with a situation that doesn't much resemble what they saw on television at home. Jarhead was based on the memoirs of the real-life Anthony Swofford, who did serve as a sniper in the 1991 Gulf War; the title comes from military slang for a Marine enlistee. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, (more)
- 2005
Angry at her dad Christopher (David Sutcliffe) for his supposed interference in the Lorelei-Luke romance, Rory (Alexis Bledel) cuts him dead when he shows up at Yale. On a happier note, Rory's grandparents Richard (Edward Herrmann) and Emily (Kelly Bishop) forget their mutual animosity long enough to care for a stray dog. And as Stars Hollow is blanketed by the year's first snowfall, competition heats up for the pivotal role of the "Woman of Questionable Morals" in the town's annual Revolutionary War Reenactment. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2005
Although Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Luke (Scott Patterson) have split up, the two quarrelling sweethearts are forced into close proximity by a high-school production of Fiddler on the Roof, for which Luke is building sets and Lorelai is sewing costumes. Meanwhile at Yale, Logan (Matt Czuchry) invites Rory (Alexis Bledel) to dinner with his friends; will she accept, or will she choose instead to spend her time watching Marx Brothers movies with Marty (Wayne Wilcox)? Oh, and did we mention that the mercurial Kirk (Sean Gunn) has gotten himself "married" to a ten-year-old? (It sounds far worse than it is.) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2005
Reluctantly assisted by Luke (Scott Patterson), Taylor (Michael Winters) sets about to transform Old Man Twickham's house into a museum -- but only for a two-month period. Elsewhere, Miss Patty (Liz Torres) serves up some potent punch, whereupon Rory (Alexis Bledel), Paris (Liza Weil) and Lane (Keiko Agena) boozily discuss their "boy problems." And Lorelai (Lauren Graham) worries that the magazine article about the Dragonfly will include her harsh remarks about her mother. Singer Carole King appears as music-shop owner Sophie Bloom. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2005
After seeing Logan (Matt Czuchry) with another girl, Rory (Alexis Bledel) accepts a party invitation from Robert (Nick Holmes) -- whereupon the old reliable "double standard" shifts into gear. Back in Stars Hollow, Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Luke (Scott Patterson) have reconciled, and Sookie (Melissa McCarthy) is looking forward to being interviewed by a top journalist. Also, Michel (Yanic Truesdale) receives a balky game show prize; and lovelorn Kirk (Sean Gunn) seeks out the Luke's advice in matters of the heart. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2004
The fifth season of Gilmore Girls begins with Lorelai Gilmore (Lauren Graham) still angry over the affair between her daughter Rory (Alexis Bledel) and Rory's married ex-boyfriend Dean (Jared Padalecki). Lorelai has another cross to bear in the form of her parents Richard (Edward Herrmann) and Emily (Kelly Bishop), who have separated and are well on their way to divorce. And if this wasn't enough for Lorelai to worry about, there's the matter of her relationship with her very close friend Luke (Scott Patterson), who has divested himself of his troublesome wife and is hoping to win over Lorelai -- or at least he thinks that is what he wants. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2004
The fourth season of Gilmore Girls concludes just as Lorelei (Lauren Graham) and Sookie (Melissa McCarthy) prepare for the grand opening of the Dragonfly Inn. In the midst of the festivities, Jason (Christopher Eigeman) suddenly shows up, hoping to win back Lorelei's affections -- but will Luke (Scott Patterson) speak up and declare himself? Elsewhere, a planned reconciliation between Lorelei's parents Richard (Edward Herrmann) and Emily (Kelly Bishop) fails miserably; Kirk (Sean Gunn) goes berserk over the prospect of consummating his relationship with Lulu (Rini Bell); and while trying to persuade Dean (Jared Padalecki) to give his marriage to Lindsay a second chance, Rory (Alexis Bledel) suddenly gets wise to the fact that she still wants Dean for herself -- more than ever! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A college student and aspiring radio personality finds his obsession with Woody Allen's Annie Hall may be hindering his love life in director Van Flesher's heartfelt tribute to the master of the neurotic comedy drama. Max is a college student whose love of Annie Hall is beginning to border on unhealthy. Though his friends are quick to point out the main hurdle preventing Max from connecting with the opposite sex, the obsessive cinephile himself is in a constant state of denial. When Julie, the one and only fan of Max's late-night radio show, begins to take a romantic interest in Max, it finally dawns on the lovelorn broadcaster just how wild he has allowed his rampant film fanaticism to run. Now, in order to find true love, the man who loved Annie Hall will be forced to kiss his fictional sweetheart goodbye and take a chance on real life. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gary Lundy, Sara Downing, (more)
- 2004
Romantic intrigues this week include Lorelai's (Lauren Graham) efforts to repair the marriage of her parents Richard (Edward Herrmann) and Emily (Kelly Bishop) and her about-face support for the relationship between Rory (Alexis Bledel) and Dean (Jared Padalecki). Also, the volatile Kirk (Sean Gunn) grows closer to his brother's ex-girlfriend Lulu (Rini Bel); Jackson (Jackson Douglas) finds that his civic responsibilities are interfering with his marriage to Sookie (Melissa McCarthy); and Lane (Keiko Agena) changes her mind about erstwhile beau Zach (Todd Lowe). And in a sidebar moment, Lorelai introduces Luke to the joys of Pippi Longstocking. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Shot almost entirely on a two-and-a-half-story recreation of a full-size operating airport terminal, this romantic comedy from director Steven Spielberg revolves around an Eastern European man by the name of Viktor Navorski (Tom Hanks), whose plans of immigrating to New York were hastened by a violent coup in his home country. Unfortunately, Viktor finds himself on the wrong end of a nasty technicality while en route to America: His passport was issued from a country, which, during its upheaval, ceased to exist in an official capacity. Unauthorized to leave Kennedy Airport upon his arrival and unable to return home, Viktor finds himself exiled inside the terminal's international transit lounge. Though airport official Frank Dixon (Stanley Tucci) views Viktor as an annoying bureaucratic glitch, other airport employees -- including a beautiful flight attendant by the name of Amelia (Catherine Zeta-Jones) -- come to see him as a welcome, if unofficial, addition to their numbers. As the days stretch on into months, the terminal transforms from an intimidating atmosphere of forced assimilation into a country within itself, complete with culture, ambition, status, complex diversity, and the need for love. The supporting cast includes Diego Luna, Chi McBride, Kumar Pallana, Zoe Saldana, Eddie Jones, and Jude Ciccolella. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Hanks, Catherine Zeta-Jones, (more)
- 2003
Stars Hollow is chosen as the site for the annual Festival of Living Pictures. Cast as Jesus in a staging of "The Last Supper," Kirk (Sean Gunn) goes way too far "losing" himself in his role, while Lorelai (Lauren Graham) struggles with writing a bad review for another presentation. Meanwhile, Lane (Keiko Agena) replaces band guitarist Dave with Gil (Sebastian Bach), who though undeniably talented is much, much older than the other band members; Sookie (Melissa McCarthy), determined to have her baby at home, hires a midwife who turns out to be more of a mid-husband (Rusty Schwimmer); and Luke's soon-to-be-ex Nicole (Tricia O'Kelley) makes a surprise proposition. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
Strapped for cash, Lorelai (Lauren Graham) reluctantly accepts a job from her mother Emily (Kelly Bishop), agreeing to cater the launch party for dad Richard's new business venture. Unfortunately, Emily proves to be as impossible an employer as she is a parent -- and to top it off, the party is scuttled by Richard's new partner Jason (Christopher Eigeman), in favor of a wild Atlantic City bash. Elsewhere, Kirk (Sean Gunn) stages a "test-run" for his date with Lulu (Rini Bell), his brother's former girlfriend; and Rory (Alexis Bledel) is having difficulty keeping up with her studies, thanks to her irksome roommates. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Filmmaker Terry Zwigoff, who enjoyed breakthrough success with his 1994 documentary Crumb, shifts gears as he examines the lives of two young women on the verge of leaving their adolescence behind in his first dramatic feature. Enid (Thora Birch) and Rebecca (Scarlett Johansson) are two close friends who've just graduated from high school, and are trying to decide what to do with their lives. Enid is a dark-haired arch cynic who is tired of living at home with her ineffectual dad (Bob Balaban) and his annoyingly perky girlfriend Maxine (Teri Garr), while Rebecca is prettier and a bit cheerier, but no more certain about her future. While the two girls have vague plans of getting an apartment together, they seem content to while away their summer hanging out and indulging in their shared infatuation with Josh (Brad Renfro), a friend from school who works at a convenience store and doesn't seem to be especially attracted to either of them. Enid discovers that in order to get her diploma, she'll have to take an additional class over the summer, where she winds up studying art with Roberta (Illeana Douglas), who is determined to encourage Enid's creative impulses, whether Enid likes it or not. More significantly, Enid meets Seymour (Steve Buscemi), a geeky record collector more than twice her age, and while they would seem to have little in common (and Rebecca thinks he's a creep), Enid discovers a kindred spirit in fellow misfit Seymour, who shares her disgust with the world around them, and a relationship begins to develop between the two. Ghost World is based on the award-winning graphic novel by comic artist Daniel Clowes, who also wrote the film's screenplay. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Thora Birch, Steve Buscemi, (more)
The hard work, dedication, and personal politics behind "rah rah rah!" and "sis boom bah!" go under the microscope in this engaging teen comedy. Torrance Shipman (Kirsten Dunst) discovers that being captain of her San Diego high school's six-time championship-winning cheerleading squad is more complicated than she had imagined. Torrance's parents want her to spend more time on her homework, her boyfriend wants her to spend more time with him, and she learns that the squad's former captain stole some of their best routines from other teams -- and that Isis (Gabrielle Union), captain of a top squad at a crosstown, inner-city high school, plans to fight back this year. To make things worse, when one of the cheerleaders is injured, Torrance is forced to replace her with Missy (Eliza Dushku), a cynical new kid who is involved only because the school doesn't offer gymnastics. In the midst of this chaos, with the national championship around the corner, Torrance couldn't have picked a worse time to fall in love with Cliff (Jesse Bradford), a classmate who cares a lot more about punk rock than school spirit. Dunst trained with a cheerleading squad for her role, though a double performed the more complicated stunts. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kirsten Dunst, Eliza Dushku, (more)
In this raunchy comedy, Josh (Breckin Meyer), a student at a college in Ithaca, NY, videotapes his one-night stand with beautiful sorority girl Beth (Amy Smart). A few days later, Josh discovers that one of his friends accidentally mailed the homemade porn tape to his girlfriend, Tiffany (Rachel Blanchard), who is spending some time with her family in Austin, TX. Josh and his friends Barry (Tom Green), Kyle (D.J. Qualls), E.L. (Seann William Scott), and Rubin (Paulo Costanzo) borrow a car and hit the road in a desperate bid to intercept the tape before Tiffany loads it into her VCR; Beth, however, wants Josh for herself and has her own plans to track down Tiffany. Road Trip is the first fiction feature from director Todd Phillips, noted for such edgy documentaries as Hated: G.G. Allin & the Murder Junkies, Screwed, and Frat House. The cast also includes Fred Ward and Andy Dick. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Breckin Meyer, Seann William Scott, (more)
