Brian Jensen Movies
Filmed under the title Breeders, the made-for-cable thriller Brother's Keeper concentrated on, as the print ads so delicately described it, "A serial killer -- a fallen cop." Throughout her life, Lucinda Pond (Jeanne Tripplehorn) has looked after and protected her younger brother Ellis (Corin Nemec), whose aberrant mental state was the result of constant abuse at the hands of his father (Brian Jensen). As an adult, Lucinda worked as a criminal investigator, while Ellis pursued a criminal career. Despite this, Lucinda continued to shelter her brother, carefully covering up for his many crimes. Fired for bungling the investigation of alleged serial killer Victor Orbin, Lucinda opens up a boat and tackle store at a remote lakeside community. Local homicide detective Travis Adler (Leland Orser) invites Lucinda to participate in another murder investigation, this one apparently perpetrated by the same killer who indirectly cost Lucinda her badge. At the same time, Ellis escapes from jail and goes off on a homicidal spree of his own, eliminating those whom he feels did his sister wrong, as well as a few abusive parents along the way. Gradually, Lucinda begins to deduce a connection between Ellis' escape and her current investigation -- but will she continue to protect her kid brother despite his murderous rampage? Brother's Keeper made its USA Network bow on January 29, 2002; it was supposed to have premiered as My Brother's Keeper, but this title was changed at the last minute to avoid confusion with the like-vintage CBS TV-movie My Sister's Keeper. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
Leading the transgen resistance, Max (Jessica Alba) finds an unexpected ally in C.J. (Henri Lubatti), who claims to have broken ranks with White's anti-transgen Familiars. Alas, it turns out that C.J. cannot be trusted -- and is far too close to White (Martin Cummins) for anyone's comfort. It might just be that the key to the many confusing plot points raised in this penultimate Dark Angel episode may rest with the curious runic "tattoos" that have begun appearing all over Max's body. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
It is the final stand between the transgens and their enemies in this special 90-minute episode. The connection between anti-transgen White (Martin Cummins) and the "Sandeman" responsible for the creation of such Manticore mutants as Joshua (Kevin Durand) has finally been revealed. As human vigilantes prepare to besiege the transgen refuge in Terminal City, Max (Jessica Alba), who has rather forcefully enlisted her human friends to her side of the battle, welcomes a mass migration of thousands and thousands of her Manticore "siblings" from all over the country. Will those runic symbols breaking out all over Max's body be explained? Is Logan (Michael Weatherly) at last immune to Max's lab-generated virus? And will White succeed in wiping out all traces of Manticore by killing every transgen on Earth? Unless the grass-roots effort to revive the series succeeds, this remains the last-ever episode of Dark Angel. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
Max (Jessica Alba) is being hunted down by her Manticore-generated clone, a character introduced at the end of Dark Angel's first season. Not surprisingly, this puts an added strain on the already shaky relationship between Max and Logan (Michael Weatherly). Elsewhere, Logan's effort to convince the public that the transgens are not wholly evil results in violence; and the fervently anti-transgen White (Martin Cummins) enters into a dark conspiracy with the "crusading" Senator McKinley (Paul Perri). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Clark Kent (Tom Welling) has begun to be aware of his inherent x-ray vision -- a power that proves to be literally a headache to him. Even worse, Clark is unable to control this power, which comes and goes at the most inopportune moments. But our hero's vision problems turn out to be a blessing when Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum) is accused of a theft committed by a unbalanced, shape-shifting young girl named Tina (Lizzy Caplan). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
On Halloween night, the fugitive Manticore mutants are able to move freely through Seattle without attracting attention; after all, who's to know that their grotesqueries aren't merely masks and costumes? In the course of the evening, Max (Jessica Alba) clashes with a recalcitrant Manticore 'nomlie named Sally (Todd Stashwick), whose head and body are separate but equal nemeses. The climax revolves around the impending assassination of a resistance leader -- not to mention Rafer's (Kris Pope) growing awareness that Max is more than she seems to be. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Returning to Chulak, SG-1's Jaffa team member Teal'c (Christopher Judge) hopes to save his son Rya'c (Neil Denis) from undergoing the ancient Jaffa ritual of having a larval Gou'ald implanted in his belly. Disguised as monks, the other team members endeavor to help Teal'c in the rescue of his son, and along the way Teal'c's mentor Bra'tac (Tony Amendola) also lends a hand. Alas, it turns out that Rya'c will die if he fails to carry the larva--whereupon Teal'c vows to sacrifice himself for his son's sake. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
Despite the objections of her husband, Paul (Paul Reiser), Jamie (Helen Hunt) and her friend Fran (Leila Kenzle) are determined to hook up the Buchmans' bedroom TV with "stolen" cable service. The ladies' combined efforts result in a citywide power blackout of 1965 dimensions. Will Tom Brokaw ever get out of that stalled elevator? "Pandora's Box" was original one of three sitcom episodes telecast on the same Thursday evening over the same network (NBC), all of them built around a special "Blackout Thursday" promotion (the other two series involved in this stunt were Friends and Madman of the People). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
In a VERY SPECIAL Valentine's Day show, Peg (Katey Sagal) achieves fame by publishing a cartoon of Al (Ed O'Neill) in a magazine. At first upset over being identified as "Mr. Empty Pants", Al is soon basking in the popularity commensurate with being an overnight sex symbol--and even agrees to pose in a Tarzan outfit on a bearskin rug. In addition to a cute reference to the "other" Fox network hit The Simpsons, this episode features a solo appearance by Swedish Bikini Team member Avalon Anders. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
