Andy Umberger Movies

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas star Johnny Depp returns to the wild world of Hunter S. Thompson in writer/director Bruce Robinson's adaptation of the Gonzo journalist's "lost" autobiographical novel of the same name. Dejected over life in New York City and at bitter odds with the Eisenhower-era conventions of the 1950s, nomadic journalist Paul Kemp (Depp) flees to Puerto Rico, where he quickly lands a job as a reporter for a San Juan newspaper. Drawing inspiration from author Ernest Hemingway's popular theory about "The Lost Generation," the newly liberated journalist develops a taste for rum as he becomes slowly entangled in the lives of American beauty Chenault (Amber Heard) and her shady husband, Sanderson (Aaron Eckhart), a wealthy real-estate developer. Later, as Sanderson's underhanded business dealings begin to emerge, Kemp's principles come into focus, and his writing style begins to mature in ways he never dreamed possible. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

A boys' night out for Roger and Don ends badly as Roger's erratic behavior damages their relationship; Pete encounters problems on the home front as he and his bride continue to adjust to being married. ~ Ray Stackhouse, Rovi

Betty sees a specialist about her ongoing physical problems; a managing partner leans on Don to get involved in the Richard Nixon presidential campaign; Peggy gets some unwanted attention from a copy writer. ~ Ray Stackhouse, Rovi

A very special student deals with exams, first love, and national security issues in this teen-oriented romantic comedy-drama. Samantha MacKenzie (Katie Holmes) is a seemingly ordinary college freshman with one important exception -- her father happens to be the President of the United States (Michael Keaton). Samantha, however, would prefer to be as inconspicuous as possible as she begins her studies at Redmond University, so she asks a favor of her father -- remove the two Secret Service agents who follow her everywhere, and allow her to fend for herself at school. The president agrees, but out of concern for her safety, he sends in a young undercover agent, James (Marc Blucas), who will pose as the Resident Advisor at her dorm to keep an eye on her. Samantha and James strike up a fast friendship that grows into a romance, but when Samantha discovers the truth about James, she wonders if his love for her is real or just part of his cover. First Daughter was directed by actor-turned-director Forest Whitaker. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Clark Johnson's big-screen adaptation of the 1970s television series S.W.A.T. stars Colin Farrell as Jim Street, a young special weapons and tactics team member who, in the film's opening sequence, is demoted after his hothead partner Jeremy Renner shoots a hostage while trying to kill her captor. In need of good press, the higher-ups call in SWAT expert Hondo Harrelson (Samuel L. Jackson) to put together an elite team that can bring some luster back to the badge. He chooses Street, veteran T.J. (Josh Charles), and tough single mother Chris Sanchez (Michelle Rodriguez). The new team survives a series of tests before hitting the streets. Their first big assignment involves transporting an international criminal (Olivier Martinez) to federal authorities. The criminal had offered a hundred million dollars to anyone who can bust him out. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

From director Keith Gordon (Mother Night, A Midnight Clear) comes this American feature adaptation of the 1986 BBC miniseries, The Singing Detective. Robert Downey Jr. returns to the big-screen for the first time since 2000's Wonder Boys as Dan Dark, a novelist who is hospitalized with a severe case of psoriasis. As he lays in bed, Dark hallucinates that he is actually a World War II-era private dick embroiled in an oddball web of mystery, intrigue, and musical numbers. Written by the late Dennis Potter (Pennies From Heaven, Gorky Park) and co-starring Mel Gibson, Robin Wright Penn, Katie Holmes, and Adrien Brody, The Singing Detective premiered at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

Michelle (Reiko Aylesworth) gets word that Tony (Carlos Bernard) has been shot and critically wounded while trying to apprehend Kyle (Riley Smith). As Tony goes into surgery, she reluctantly decides to stay at CTU and run the critical anti-terrorism operation. Realizing he's being pursued, Kyle gets in touch with his girlfriend, Linda (Agnes Bruckner), and convinces her to come and pick him up at the mall. Then he tells her that he could maybe be infected with some kind of deadly virus. Terrified, she tells him to take her car and go, but before she can get away, a group of men grab the young couple and take them to an airtight chamber, where they'll presumably be kept until the virus is contagious. David (Dennis Haysbert) is ready to pay off Anne's (Wendy Crewson) ex, but Anne appeals to his conscience, and convinces him to call it off, much to Wayne's (D.B. Woodside) chagrin. Jack (Kiefer Sutherland) can't convince David to release Ramon (Joaquim de Almeida), so he proposes another plan: he'll go "rogue," break Ramon out of prison, and deliver him to Hector (Vincent Laresca). This way, the biological terrorism threat will be thwarted, without the president appearing to have given in to the Salazars' demands. Jack proceeds to the prison, but is furious when Kim (Elisha Cuthbert) tells him that Chase (James Badge Dale) has disobeyed his orders and gone to the prison himself to interrogate Ramon. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi

Nathan's (Don Cheadle) bedside manner -- or lack of same -- alienates him from his fellow doctors. Kovac's (Goran Visnjic) personal problems again spill over into his work. Abby (Maura Tierney) finds out that her missing brother, Eric, is in big trouble with the Air Force. And Weaver (Laura Innes) is on cloud nine after receiving some good news -- which she dares not reveal to anyone. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Investigating a multiple murder in which all the victims were naked men, Andy (Dennis Franz) and Danny (Rick Schroder) are given a bum steer by a misguided police profiler (Kirk Baltz). On a more personal note, Danny is fascinated by a female paramedic at the murder scene, even though he is currently dating fellow cop Mary Franco (Sheeri Rappaport). And upon finding out that her ex-husband, Don (Erich Anderson), has been arrested Jill (Andrea Thompson) tries to help him, whereupon Don "uses" her -- and nearly costs Jill her job. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) and Doyle (Glenn Quinn) try to convince Angel (David Boreanaz) to charge clients for his services, but he demurs. Doyle promptly suffers one of his visions and sends Angel to contact Melissa Burns (Tushka Bergen), a young woman whom he believes will need Angel's supernatural services. Although Angel's abrupt appearance unnerves her, Melissa soon contacts him to accept his help. It turns out she's being stalked by Dr. Ronald Meltzer (Andy Umberger), a neurosurgeon with the uncanny ability to separate pieces of his body and use them remotely -- a floating eyeball, a crawling hand, etc. With the help of Detective Kate Lockley (Elisabeth Rohm), Angel eventually triumphs over the supernaturally dextrous surgeon, earning thanks and remuneration from Melissa. Originally broadcast October 26, 1999, on the WB network, "I Fall to Pieces" marked season one, episode four of the supernatural comedy drama. Guest star Andy Umberger also has a recurring role on Buffy the Vampire Slayer as D'Hoffryn, the former demon master of ex-vengeance demon Anya. Although an undercurrent of flirtation colors Lockley's second appearance in the series, her character will soon turn on Angel (see "Somnambulist"). ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi

In an attempt to find out more about The Initiative, Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) decide to perform a truth spell on Spike (James Marstens). Then, Willow (Alyson Hannigan) falls into a deep funk when she discovers that Oz (Seth Green) has left Sunnydale -- indefinitely -- without saying goodbye. She goes to Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) for sympathy, but the slayer is too busy having a romantic picnic with her new admirer, Riley (Marc Blucas). After a night of getting drunk, Willow attempts a spell and becomes even more depressed when it apparently does not work -- that is, until Giles (Anthony Head) comes to her complaining that she never met with him to cast the truth spell. Angry that he seems insensitive to her recent loss, she admonishes him for not seeing anything -- he immediately loses his sight. Unaware that she's cast a wish spell, Willow keeps causing her slightest wishes to come true -- making everyone else miserable. ~ Matt Collar, Rovi

Detectives Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) and Logan (Chris Noth) dedicate themselves to identifying a young woman who was apparently killed while making a snuff film. They are both shocked and relieved to discover that the so-called victim, teenager Corey Russell (Monica Keena), is still very much alive. But things take another grim turn when it is revealed that Corey is somehow involved in a high school "sex-for-points" club. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi