Christopher Neiman Movies

Gideon (Gildart Jackson) has reached the point in his sinister scheme against baby Wyatt that he doesn't want the Charmed Ones to expose his evil intentions. Thus, he conspires with various Darklighters to embroil the girls in the demonic TV reality show "Witch Wars," where the contestants hunt down and vanquish good witches. Meanwhile, Whitelighter Chris (Drew Fuller) is in possession of disturbing news regarding his impending mortal birth. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Spider Demon (Jodi Lyn O'Keefe), who appears once every century to feed upon the most magicially powerful being on earth, kidnaps and cocoons our gal Piper (Holly Marie Combs). In his efforts to protect his future mother, Whitelighter Chris (Drew Fuller) is himself infected by the Spider Demon's venom. As Paige (Rose McGowan), Phoebe (Alyssa Milano), and Leo (Brian Krause) prepare to go to the rescue, Leo makes a disturbing discovery about Chris. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Hiding out from the others upstairs in the hotel, evil Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) continues to manipulate Connor (Vincent Kartheiser) into protecting her and their unborn child. When her little plaything isn't around, the duplicitous mom-to-be also plays cat and mouse with Angelus (David Boreanaz). As the vampire hangs out in a demon bar gloating about his victory over The Beast, she speaks directly into his mind in a booming demon voice so he won't realize that The Beast's master is actually none other than the beloved sidekick of his heroic alter ego. Thus disguised, Cordy threatens to re-ensoul Angelus if he doesn't do her bidding. Soon, he's attacking the hotel on command and making off with all of the information his former friends have gathered about The Beast and its master. Meanwhile, hoping to avoid a repeat of the slayer's recent abject defeat at Angelus' hands, Wesley (Alexis Denisof) struggles to reacquaint Faith (Eliza Dushku) with her dark side by revealing some of his own recently unearthed nasty streak. In a loathsome den where jaded humans get their kicks by allowing vampires to feed on their drug-spiked blood, Wes tortures one of humanity's dregs to elicit information about a recent encounter with Angelus. Faith blanches at such repulsive methods, then bristles when Wes reminds her that she once did far worse to him (see "Five by Five"). Eventually, the former Watcher's message sinks in and Faith attacks Angelus with everything she's got. Just when victory seems imminent, though, Angelus taunts her that she'll never really be able to achieve redemption. Falling for her foe's mind games, the slayer gives him an in and Angelus bites into her neck, promising to make Faith just like him. Originally broadcast March 12, 2003, on the WB network, "Release" marked season four, episode 14 of the supernatural soap opera. As of this episode, Andy Hallett finally joins the regular cast after guest-starring 44 times over the previous 57 episodes. This episode's depiction of a drugged-out den of symbiotic humans and vampires echoes that of Buffy the Vampire Slayer's "Into the Woods." ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

The life and sordid, untimely death of Hogan's Heroes star Bob Crane are explored by director Paul Schrader in this biopic, which marks one of the few times the filmmaker has not scripted his own film. Auto Focus chronologically traces the meteoric rise of Crane's show business career, beginning with his early success as a jokey deejay on Los Angeles morning radio in the early '60s. A devout family man, Crane lives in Southern Californian comfort with his wife Anne (Rita Wilson) and their young children, relishing the modicum of celebrity his job provides him. His life begins to change, however, when his agent Lenny (Ron Leibman) proposes that he take a breakthrough role on the CBS POW-camp sitcom Hogan's Heroes. Initially reluctant to take the job, Crane signs on with the production and, to his and everyone else's surprise, the show becomes a smash hit. With celebrity comes a new set of friends, and Crane falls in with audio-visual guru John Carpenter (Willem Dafoe), a Sony sales rep who spends his days setting up home entertainment systems for the Hollywood elite, and his nights cruising strip clubs for anonymous sexual encounters. Already a pornography buff, Crane starts using his fame to secure him and Carpenter an endless parade of affairs, which they videotape and then obsessively review. It isn't long before Anne demands a divorce, and Crane marries his Hogan's co-star Patti Olsen (aka Sigrid Valdis, here played by Maria Bello), who's more accepting of his escapades. When the sitcom is canceled, however, Crane has trouble securing acting jobs, and recedes further and further into his life of amateur porn with Carpenter. Auto Focus premiered at the Telluride and Toronto Film Festivals before its art-house run in the fall of 2002. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide

Renewed hope for a quick return to Earth arrives at the Voyager in the form of a "special delivery" from the Alpha Quadrant. A hologram of liaison officer Reginald Barclay (Dwight Schultz) is brought on board for the avowed purpose of leading the crew back home through a geodesic fold. Meanwhile, the real Barclay finds out that his hologram has been sabotaged and the Voyager is headed for disaster! "Inside Man" was originally telecast on November 8, 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide