Stu "Large" Riley Movies
- 2004
Paris Hilton guest stars in this episode, in which Grady Bridges (Colin Hanks), handsome leading man of the popular TV soap opera "The Valley," invites his gushing fans Marissa (Mischa Barton) and Summer (Rachel Bilson) to a party in L.A. Coming along for the ride are Ryan (Ben McKenzie), who hopes to shield Marissa from learning about the affair between her ex-boyfriend Luke (Chris Carmack) and her mother, Julie (Melinda Clarke); and Seth (Adam Brody), who is just worried about losing Summer to the glamour and glitter of la-la land. This episode also includes a surprise confrontation with Kirsten's (Kelly Rowan) prodigal sister, Hailey (Amanda Righetti). ~ All Movie Guide
- 2004
Season Three of Monk begins as a clue to the identity of his wife's murderer brings obsessive-compulsive detective Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub) to New York City, along with his nurse-assistant Sharona (Bitty Schram) and his former SFPD colleagues Capt. Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine) and Lt. Disher (Jason Gray-Stanford). Almost immediately upon arrival, Monk witnesses the killing of the Latvian Ambassador. NYPD Captain Cage (Mykelti Williamson) thinks that the motive was political, but Monk suspects otherwise. Even so, Monk wants no part of the investigation--until Cage tells him that unless he helps find the murderer, he will not be allowed access to Warrick Tennyson (Frank Collison), the man who may or may not be able to solve the killing of Monk's beloved wife Trudy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Mad Matthewz makes his feature debut as a writer/director with Men Without Jobs. Ish (Ishmael Butler, formerly of the jazz-influenced rap group Digable Planets) and Oz (Bonz Malone of Slam) are roommates scrounging by in Brooklyn, barely scraping the rent together each month, and ignoring their bills. They spend their days hanging out, smoking, drinking, and playing video games. Ish wants to make it in the music biz, while Oz watches daytime cooking shows and puts his culinary skills to work impressing the grandmother of his young daughter, in hopes that his little girl will eventually come to live with him. Occasionally they visit their favorite record store, where Ish plans to buy rare R&B records when he gets some money, and peppers the proprietor with potential band names. Their pal Junie (Andre Royo of HBO's The Wire) frequently pops by, begging to be in their as yet unformed band, bragging about his beats, and lying about meetings with famous producers. Ish makes regular visits to his parents' house, but only when they aren't home. He raids the fridge and borrows his dad's (Reg E. Cathey) old records. One day, Ish meets Veronica (Anita Kopacz), a pretty young woman who shares his interest in graffiti and music. Veronica encourages Ish's creative ambitions, but his reluctance to take the next step -- to actually follow through on his dreams -- threatens their relationship. Oz, meanwhile, gambles his way into trouble with some local thugs. When he goes on the run, Ish and Veronica decide to go with him. Men Without Jobs had its world premiere at the 2004 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ishmael Butler, Bonz Malone, (more)
Eddie Murphy gets way, way out in this futuristic sci-fi comedy. In the year 2087, the Earth's natural resources have been largely depleted, and an increasingly large number of people have taken up residence on the moon, where the pioneering attitude of the new residents has created a culture not unlike the old west. Pluto Nash (Eddie Murphy) is one such lunar exile who formerly made his living outside the law, but has since gone straight and now runs the hippest nightclub in the moon colony known as "Little America." Pluto is approached by Mogan (Joe Pantoliano), a gangster who wants to buy the nightclub; Pluto has no interest in selling, but it seems Mogan isn't about to take no for an answer. Pluto also discovers Mogan is in cahoots with Max Crater, a crime boss whose goal is to take over the entire moon. The Adventures Of Pluto Nash also features Randy Quaid as Pluto's robot bodyguard, Rosario Dawson as a naive singer who has just arrived on the moon, Peter Boyle as Rowland the pool hustler, Jay Mohr as old-school lounge singer Tony Francis, Illeana Douglas as a cloning technician, and Pam Grier as Pluto's mother. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eddie Murphy, Randy Quaid, (more)
- 2001
A pregnant loan officer is shot and left for dead in the trunk of a car. Early indications that the woman was the victim of a random carjacking are dismissed when the detectives focus their investigation on the victim's fiancé. As the trail of clues leads to heavily-in-debt basketball star Cris Cody (Kevin Daniels), the woman dies -- while her baby clings desperately to life. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
A bail bondsman is murdered, and the detectives subsequently haul in a likely perpetrator. Then, an offhand comment made by the suspect leads to irrefutable evidence that a disreputable attorney has been fixing cases for a price. Even more disturbing is the possibility that the attorney's accomplice is a "mole" working within the New York City legal system -- and maybe in the offices of the DA himself. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
A cab driver is murdered, putting the detectives on a long and circuitous trail of clues. Along the way, such elements as a loan shark, a missing plumber, and a forged check determine the proceedings. Ultimately, the investigation focuses on the dead man's widow, Denise Johnson (Lisa Gay Hamilton) -- and, of course, Johnson's resourceful attorney, Brian Elliott (Michael Beach). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
