Andy Umberger
Adrenaline loving director Tony Scott teams with iconic action producer Jerry Bruckheimer for this high flung sci-fi action thriller concerning a New Orleans based maverick ATF agent named Doug Carlin (Denzel Washington) who is brought in on a top secret government program to catch the terrorist (Jim Caviezel) responsible for a ferry bombing that kills hundreds. Able to do what most law enforcement officers only dream of, Carlin is now able to look back in time at the perpetrator's movements, and at the life of the innocent woman whose death would set the events into motion. Carlin's instincts tell him that something is amiss, however, and while the government agent who tapped him for the job (Val Kilmer) and the team of ultra-cool scientists who run the project (Adam Goldberg, Erika Alexander) tell him one story about the quantum physics behind this marvel of technology, the hotshot agent suspects that there is a greater power at their fingertips--one that might not just solve the crime at hand, but prevent it. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Denzel Washington, Paula Patton, (more)
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, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Katie Holmes, Marc Blucas, (more)
- 2003
A tormented Kovac (Goran Visnjic) precipitates a barroom brawl and later lobbies unsuccessfully to operate on an ailing Croatian child. Demoted from surgery, Romano (Paul McCrane) becomes more irksome than ever before when he is placed in charge of the ER. A mother-to-be must choose between giving birth to her child or undergoing life-saving chemotherapy. Chen's (Ming-Na) birthday is spoiled by Pratt's (Mekhi Phifer) ill-advised gift. And the staffers get their first look at Lewis' (Sherry Stringfield) brand-new husband. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
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, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Downey, Jr., Robin Wright Penn, (more)
- 2003
Having learned that they are unable to conceive a child, Monica (Courteney Cox) and Chandler (Matthew Perry) seek out the services of a sperm bank. This is dispiriting enough, but the situation becomes downright disgusting for Chandler when he meets potential donor Zack (played by guest star John Stamos). Meanwhile, Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) prepares to go out with her ex-boyfriend Mike, when who should show up but another of her ex-boyfriends, the geeky-but-lovable scientist David (Hank Azaria). And elsewhere, an upcoming speech at a paleontology convention serves as the catalyst for a confrontation between Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) and Charlie (Aisha Tyler). ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hank Azaria, John Stamos, (more)
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, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Farrell, (more)
- 2003
As Jack (Kiefer Sutherland) and Ramon (Joaquim de Almeida) escape in the helicopter, Ryan Chappelle (Paul Schulze) returns to CTU, and contemplates shooting them down. He has to make a decision before the helicopter flies over a populated section of Los Angeles, and Chase (James Badge Dale) reminds him that he'd better clear it with Palmer (Dennis Haysbert) before killing the man who saved the president's life. Wayne (D.B. Woodside) gets word to Palmer during the debate, which Palmer decides to interrupt in order to deal with the crisis. He gives the order to shoot down the chopper, but it's too late. Once on the ground, Jack is able to contact Ramon's personal pilot, and make plans to get out of the country. Since Jack's work appears to be done, Ramon decides to kill him. Back at CTU, Kim (Elisha Cuthbert) realizes that Gael (Jesse Borrego) has been thwarting the team's efforts to contact Jack. Meanwhile, Kyle (Riley Smith) is brought in and examined by CTU's medical team, which makes a surprising discovery. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2003
Michelle (Reiko Aylesworth) and Adam (Zachary Quinto) find Kim (Elisha Cuthbert) bound and gagged, and Gael (Jesse Borrego) is quickly captured. Michelle convinces Ryan (Paul Schulze) to let her go to the hospital to see Tony (Carlos Bernard), while he handles the interrogation. Anne (Wendy Crewson) gets a call from her ex, Ted (Conor O'Farrell), who tells her that if she comes to meet him at his hotel, he'll turn over documents proving her innocence. While Ramon (Joaquim de Almeida) parties on the plane, he contemplates killing Jack (Kiefer Sutherland), who is tied up in the cargo hold. Jack manages to get loose, though. He gets a gun, and holds Ramon at gunpoint until the plane lands in Mexico, where Hector (Vincent Laresca) waits with a small army. Chase (James Badge Dale) disobeys orders again. He finds out where Ramon is headed, and flies there himself, telling Kim that he'll have to "go dark" to complete his mission. When Tony wakes up and finds out about Gael, he checks himself out of the hospital and races back to CTU, where he fills in the rest of the team on Jack's secret plan. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2003
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, All Movie Guide
- 2002
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, All Movie Guide
- 2002
The big day has finally arrived: Xander (Nicholas Brendon) and Anya (Emma Caulfield) are getting married. The obstacles on their path to wedded bliss include atrocious bridesmaid's dresses, a stubborn cumberbund, and bitter sniping from the alcoholic Harris clan about the "circus freaks" (aka demons) who make up Anya's half of the wedding party. During the preparations, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) has a wistful encounter with Spike (James Marsters), whose cheap floozie of a wedding date causes pangs of jealousy even as the Slayer resolves to keep their relationship in the past tense. As for Anya, her dreams of wedded bliss soon also recede into memory when Xander disappears from the chapel. It seems the prospective groom has received a visit from his time-traveling, elderly self, who shows Xander a vision of the future in which his marriage ends in bitterness and murder. Later, when old-man Xander turns out to be a disguised enemy of Anya seeking revenge against the former vengeance demon, Xander still can't overcome his conviction that he isn't ready to get married. The guests riot, the absentee groom checks into a hotel, and the jilted bride turns to D'Hoffryn (Andy Umberger), her former demon master, for comfort. Originally broadcast March 5, 2002, on UPN, "Hell's Bells" marked episode 116 of the cult-favorite series. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2000
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, All Movie Guide
- 1999
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, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Glenn Quinn
- 1999
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. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1999
Angry over being human and still only in the 12th grade, Anya (Emma Caulfield) enlists Willow (Alyson Hannigan) to help her get her amulet back. Their spell goes wrong, and, instead of the amulet, brings vampire Willow back (see "The Wish"). Soon, vamp Willow recruits some vampire henchmen, takes over the Bronze and generally sullies the real Willow's nice-girl reputation. Real Willow confronts vamp Willow in the library -- are they attracted to each other? -- and manages to lock her in the book cage. She trades outfits with her vampire self and goes to the Bronze to kick some pasty vampire butt. Later in the library, Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter), mistaking vamp Willow for the nice one, lets her out of the book cage, all the while preaching to vamp Willow about stealing boyfriends. Meanwhile, Anya recognizes the real Willow at the Bronze blowing her vampire cover and causing one heck of a barroom brawl. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1998
Drew (Drew Carey) plans to make his proposal to Nicki official when he meets her parents (Barry Corbin, Anne Francis); unfortunately, Nicki is unable to show up. A bad situation proceeds to get worse when the parents blame Drew for Nicki's enormous weight gain--then begin sniping at each other for the failures in their own marriage! Meanwhile, a neurotic Lewis (Ryan Stiles) creates a roadblock in the romance between Kate (Christa Miller) and Oswald (Diedrich Bader). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
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, All Movie Guide
