Morgan Rusler Movies
Goofy-looking Morgan Rusler exhibits a kind of PG-rated wackiness in his brand of comedy, although he also accepts supporting roles in feature films. His acting career began with an extensive background in theater productions at the Pasadena Playhouse and other venues around Hollywood. After receiving his M.F.A. from Cal Arts, he made several television guest-star appearances, most notably in Touched By an Angel. His first few films were mostly B-movie thrillers made in collaboration with director Douglas Campbell, including Out of the Darkness, The Perfect Tenant, and The Tomorrow Man. It wasn't until the one-joke independent comedy Shafted that he got his first starring role. He played a white guy named Steve who thought he was a '70s blaxploitation superhero. After a bit part as a sci-fi fan in Galaxy Quest, Rusler has since gained small roles in big movies like Steven Soderberg's Solaris and Steven Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
This short film depicts a period in the life of director Tom Putnam, who, after having suffered a concussion, spent nearly a week too terrified to leave his house. A rapid succession of psychological issues arose, including acute panic attacks, sudden fits of dizziness, and hallucinations. For a brief period of time, Putnam believed himself to be the Antichrist. Despite the serious topic matter, the film itself is taken on from a humorous perspective, and focuses less on the insanity itself than it does the director's efforts to diagnose and treat what is wrong with him. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
A gifted forger and confidence man attempts to stay one step ahead of the lawman determined to bring him to justice in this comedy-drama from Steven Spielberg, based on a true story. Frank W. Abagnale Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a 16-year-old high school student who finds himself emotionally cut adrift when his mother, Paula (Nathalie Baye), leaves his father, Frank Abagnale Sr. (Christopher Walken), after Frank Sr. falls into arrears with the Internal Revenue Service. One day at school, Frank Jr. attempts to pass himself off as a substitute teacher, and easily makes the subterfuge work. His small-scale success gives Frank some ideas, and he soon discovers bigger and more profitable ways of hoaxing others, passing himself off as an airline pilot, a doctor, and an attorney. Along the way, Frank learns how to become a master forger, and uses his talent and charm to pass over 2.5 million dollars in phony checks. Frank's increasingly audacious work soon attracts the attention of Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks), an FBI agent who is determined to put Frank behind bars. Frank seems to enjoy being pursued by Carl, and even goes so far as to call Carl on the phone to chat every once in a while. While posing as a doctor, Frank falls in love with Brenda Strong (Amy Adams), a sweet girl working as a candy striper. When Frank asks Brenda to marry him, he decides to assume a new identity to impress her father, Roger (Martin Sheen) -- who happens to be the District Attorney of New Orleans, LA. Catch Me If You Can was based on the autobiography of the real Frank W. Abagnale Jr., who has a cameo in the film and today works on the side of the law as a top consultant on preventing forgery and designing secure checking systems. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, (more)
- 2002
Simon (Sean Maher) puts his foot in his mouth again, inadvertently insulting Kaylee (Jewel Staite). While visiting a sort of futuristic carnival freak show, the crew is unable to fence the Lasseter (the priceless weapon they stole in the previous episode, Trash), but they do have occasion to pick up their mail. Jayne (Adam Baldwin) gets a funny hat from his mother, while Mal (Nathan Fillion) and Zoe (Gina Torres) receive a large box, which contains a coffin, which contains a body. The body belongs to Tracey (Joss Whedon regular Jonathan M. Woodward), who fought alongside Mal and Zoe back in the day, when he was a raw recruit, and they kept him alive through the battle of Du-Khang. Back on the ship, they find that Tracey has recorded a message for them, asking them to bring his body to his family on St. Alban's. Soon, an Alliance ship tracks down Serenity. The feds demand that Mal turn over his illegal cargo. But it's not the Lasseter they want, it's Tracey's body. Simon starts to perform an autopsy to find out what the Feds are after. Much to everyone's surprise, Tracey is still alive, and the precious cargo he's carrying is a complete set of genetically engineered super-organs. As it turns out, Tracey agreed to smuggle the organs, but double-crossed his buyer when he got a better offer, then had to fake his own death in an effort to escape. While Tracey woos Kaylee, Mal tries vainly to outrun the feds, but despite Wash's flying skills, the feds have them outgunned and outmaneuvered. Book (Ron Glass) suggests a plan, which Tracey overhears and misconstrues. Believing that his old mates are turning him in, he takes a hostage. This episode, included in the DVD set, was never aired by Fox. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Burgi, Al Pugliese, (more)
A band of outlaws from present day Los Angeles, lead by the notorious killer Mac (Morgan Rusler), who faces the death penalty in nine states, travels 30 years into the past by means of a hand-held time machine stolen from a secret government agency. Once the gang of villains lands in Richard Nixon's America, Mac kidnaps young Bryon Mackey (Adam Sutton), and transports him to present day L.A. Larry Mackey (Corbin Bernsen), the boy's distraught father, hitches a ride 30 years into the future with time cop Vick (Beth Kennedy), who has been chasing the criminals. Larry hopes to rescue his son, but what he learns will change his life forever: The bloodthirsty Mac is sweet little Bryon as a grown man. Larry must deal with the painful knowledge that he raised a maniac -- and now he must defeat him in order to save his young son. ~ Buzz McClain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Morgan Rusler
The safety of the world hangs in the balance, and it's up to one slightly insane individual to save the day in this offbeat independent comedy. Steven Byzinsky (Morgan Rusler) is an ordinary white guy from California who has a bit of a problem -- he's convinced that he's blaxploitation film icon John Shat. Steven's firmly held delusion has landed him in a mental institution, but when a supervillain hatches a scheme to take over the world, Shat takes over Steve's personality, and he escapes with his psychiatrist, Dr. Foxy Brown (Angelle Brooks), as well as fellow patient Marlene Fujiyama (Hayley Man), a former police officer who imagines herself to be her late brother who was assassinated by the Yakuza. Shafted also features a cameo appearance from one-time child star Gary Coleman as himself. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Morgan Rusler, Angelle Brooks, (more)
- 1998
Small-towners Ada (Barbara Mandrell), Pearhead (Morgan Rusler), Sis (Tina Lifford) and Vinegar (K. Todd Freeman) become convinced that God is communicating with them via mysterious calls from the pay phone in the town's café. This phenomenon is accepted as a miracle by everyone except local minister Erskine (Chris Mulkey), who has lost his faith in the wake of his wife's death. Inasmuch as Heavenly caseworker Monica (Roma Downey) has been assigned to redeem Erskine, it is necessary to demonstrate God's presence in a more palpaple fashion than as a celestial phone service. The metaphoric title of this episode refers to the favorite pastime of Erskine's daughter Bits (Renee Olstead). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
