Claire Rankin Movies
When a mishap at a remote medical research laboratory unleashes a mass of genetically enhanced vipers on a nearby seaside community, the only hope for survival is to make it to the shore before the snakes and hope for the best. It was supposed to be a secure facility, but when thieves broke in to the classified medical research laboratory they unwittingly unleashed hell on the unsuspecting locals. Now, as the ravenous vipers begin to reproduce at an alarming rate, they quickly begin to outnumber the residents of a remote island, who barricade themselves in a hotel in a desperate bid for survival. No one seems to know whether help will arrive in time or not, and as the lobby floor becomes a sea of hungry snakes, the only hope for escape is to run for shore and never look back. Tara Reid stars. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tara Reid, Jonathan Scarfe, (more)
In Season 4 (2007-8), Stargate: SG-1 star Amanda Tapping crosses over as the new leader, joining the Atlantis cast as television's favorite astrophysicist, Commander Samantha Carter. Also returning is Jewel Staite, reprising her role of Dr. Keller, a physician who joins the Atlantis expedition. The fourth season also continues to chronicle the voyage of the Atlantis team: Lt. Col. John Sheppard (Joe Flanigan), Teyla Emmagan (Rachel Luttrell), Dr. Rodney McKay (David Hewlett), Ronon Dex (Jason Momoa), and Col. Steven Caldwell (Mitch Pileggi). The Season 4 set of this hit SciFi Channel series includes 20 episodes on five discs, and features cast and crew commentaries, deleted scenes, photo galleries, the first Atlantis blooper reel, and more.
- Starring:
- Joe Flanigan, David Hewlett, (more)
- 2007
A young couple desperate to conceive enters into a slow-burn battle of wills with the surrogate mother who agreed to help them, and the man who has subsequently fallen in love with her, in director Abe Levy's intimate family drama. When a childless thirtysomething couple discovers that they are unable to birth a child, they enlist the aid of a willing young woman in bringing their baby to term. Trouble soon arises, however, when the man's boss unexpectedly falls for the surrogate and decides that he's fairly keen on fatherhood as well. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Josh Randall, Claire Rankin, (more)
The thrilling Stargate: SG-1 spin-off, Stargate: Atlantis, is set in the lost city of Atlantis in the Pegasus Galaxy, built millions of years ago by the most advanced race in the Stargate Universe. Season 3's (2006-7) 20 episodes brim with adventure, throwing wild new challenges weekly at the ensemble cast: Joe Flanigan (Lt. Col John Sheppard); David Hewlett (Dr. Rodney McKay); Torri Higginson (Dr. Elizabeth Weir); Rachel Luttrell (Teyla Emmagan); Jason Momoa (Ronon Dex); Paul McGillion (Dr. Carson Beckett); and Mitch Pileggi (Col. Steven Caldwell). Executive-produced by Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper, the five-disc DVD set is flooded with bonus features including audio commentaries for 19 episodes, many behind-the-scenes featurettes, and photo and production design galleries.
- Starring:
- Joe Flanigan, Torri Higginson, (more)
- 2004
As the result of a misbegotten spell cast at her high-school reunion, the "present" Phoebe (Alyssa Milano) disappears, replaced by her former teenage-delinquent self. Making matters worse, this younger, wilder Phoebe intends to use her magic skills for all the wrong reasons. This turn of events is particularly painful for Paige (Rose McGowan), who now wishes she'd never asked what Phoebe was like back in school. Meanwhile, Piper (Holly Marie Combs) consults her dad, Victor (James Read), to find out why Chris (Drew Fuller) is avoiding her. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brian Krause, Drew Fuller, (more)
- 2000
Drew (Drew Carey) has lunch with former college sweetheart and recent divorcee Wendy Matson (Claire Rankin), who claims to be on the run from her obsessive boyfriend Walter (Tim Wrightman). When Wendy begs Drew for a job, he hires her as his new assistant, then desperate tries to hide the fact from his former assistant Kate (Christa Miller). Mimi (Kathy Kinney) thinks that Wendy's yarn about the nasty boyfriend is just a ploy to lure Drew into the bedroom--and as the episode progresses, it looks like Mimi's instincts have hit the bullseye. Meanwhile, Lewis (Ryan Stiles) and Oswald (Diedrich Bader) use their essential "forgetability" to their advantage. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Though not the first TV dramatization of the lives and careers of the popular 1960s singing group the Beach Boys, this two-part miniseries was the first that did not concentrate exclusively on Brian Wilson, arguably the most brilliant and troubled member of the quintet. Instead, the production details the triumph and heartbreaks of all five Beach Boys: Brian (here played by Frederick Weller), his brothers Carl and Dennis Wilson, and non-related members Mike Love and Al Jardine. Played by Kevin Dunn, the Wilson brothers' father Murray Wilson is cast as a complete monster, shown to be both verbally and physically abusive to his grown sons, as well as a money-grubbing dictator while managing The Beach Boys during their most prolific period. The miniseries also delves into the darker side of the singers themselves, especially when Dennis Wilson (played by Nick Stabile) begins carousing with a would-be tunesmith named Charles Manson (Erik Passoja). Producer John Stamos had originally wanted to appear in the production as Dennis (who died in a surfing mishap in 1983), but the ABC network decided that Stamos was too old for the part. Many (including, reportedly, Brian Wilson himself) complained loudly about the gross liberties taken with actual events in this picture. The Beach Boys: An American Family was originally telecast on February 27 and 28, 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frederick Weller, Nick Stabile, (more)
- 1999
The life of female district attorney Joey Amos (Claire Rankin) is irreversibly altered after she prosecutes the wealthy and influential Dr. Leonard Wolcott (Tom Irwin) for molesting his daughter Dinah (Alexandra Kyle). When Wolcott is acquitted, Joey takes matters in her own hands, escaping with little Dinah and escaping to a woodland retreat. Even here, however, Joey and Dinah are not safe: If the marauding wildlife doesn't kill them, they will surely meet their doom at the hands of the vengeful Dr. Wolcott and his thuggish henchman. Fortunately, the area is under the jurisdiction of a kindly sheriff named Hayes (Julian McMahon), who makes it his personal mission to rescue the fugitives--if only he can overcome his own personal demons. Filmed under the title In Quiet Night, this nailbiter made its American debut over the Lifetime cable network, rechristened You Belong to Me Forever. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Just in case the title didn't spill the beans, this made-for-TV nail-biter was based on a novel by Steve Martini. In the midst of a bitter child-custody battle with her former husband, Jack (Richard Masur), Laurel Vega (Patricia Richardson) is accused of murdering Jack's new, pregnant wife, Melanie (Allison Mackie). Although he knows Laurel is innocent, Jack lies to the police, using his clout as a senator to rid himself of Laurel once and for all. She, in turn, could clear herself in a minute by revealing the name of the real murderer -- but she can't without ruining the life of her 16-year-old son, Danny (Eric Michael Cole). Caught in the middle of this intrigue is Paul Madriani (Brian Dennehy), Laurel's defense attorney -- and, incidentally, her brother-in-law. With more twists and turns than a mountain trail, the two-part, four-hour Steve Martini's Undue Influence pleased the crowd when it first aired over CBS on September 15, and 17, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brian Dennehy, Patricia Richardson, (more)
This made-for-TV cop drama was the second in a series of films inspired by the best-selling "87th Precinct" novels, written by Ed McBain under the nom de plume of Evan Hunter. The major American metropolis of Isola (it's actually Toronto, as indicated by several familiar landmarks) is in the grip of its coldest and iciest winter in recent memory -- and the men of the 87th precinct are themselves gripped by the determination to solve a baffling murder. The victim was a popular dancer, found dead on a snowy street near the theater where she worked. The subsequent investigation unearths an elaborate showbiz-themed scam, a cache of stolen diamonds found on another corpse, and a drug pusher who is killed by having ice injected in his veins. Unfortunately, the killer (or killers) manages to elude the cops at every turn -- and it's getting colder, snowier, and icier outside with every passing day. Ed McBain's 87th Precinct: Ice originally aired over NBC on February 18, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dale Midkiff, Joe Pantoliano, (more)
