Dave Collard
A poor but ambitious young man strives to make good in one of the most competitive institutions on Earth in this military drama. Jake Huard (James Franco) is a young man from a small Maryland town who grew up in a blue-collar family with few opportunities. Wanting to make something of himself after completing high school, Jake set his sights on attending the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, where he narrowly makes the cut and becomes one of the 1,200 applicants selected for the freshman class. Jake finds that life as a "plebe" is intellectually challenging and physically punishing, and he soon develops a powerful adversary in Midshipman Lt. Cole (Tyrese Gibson), his training commander, who pushes Jake to the limit to see if he has what it takes. Standing on the razor's edge of failing as both a student and a soldier, Jake makes a brave but dangerous gesture toward proving himself by entering the Brigade Championships, a Naval boxing competition where he'll go into the ring against the best fighters in the Navy -- including Lt. Cole. Jake soon has one person on his side when he strikes up a friendship with Ali (Jordana Brewster), a pretty young officer who believes Jake has what it takes to go the distance. Annapolis also stars Donnie Wahlberg, Chi McBride, and Vicellous Shannon; the film was directed by Justin Lin, who debuted with the acclaimed independent feature Better Luck Tomorrow. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Franco, Tyrese Gibson, (more)
Director Carl Franklin and actor Denzel Washington team up again (following 1995's Devil in a Blue Dress) for the crime thriller Out of Time. Washington stars as Matt Lee Whitlock, the well-respected chief of police in a quiet Florida community. While in the process of getting a divorce from fellow detective Alexandra (Eva Mendez), Matt engages in an affair with his high school sweetheart Anne (Sanaa Lathan). Unfortunately, Anne is married to the extremely jealous Chris (Dean Cain), a former pro football player who works as a security guard. After a major murder occurs in the community, Matt finds himself the main suspect. With the help of his medical examiner pal Chae (John Billingsley), Matt must solve the case before he is found guilty himself. Out of Time premiered at the 2003 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Denzel Washington, Eva Mendes, (more)
- 2001
In the cold open, Peter (voice of Seth MacFarlane) visits the Quahog Zoo, and fulfills his lifelong dream of getting into a kangaroo's pouch. Peter is upset about having to visit Lois' (voice of Alex Borstein) parents, because Mr. Pewterschmidt (MacFarlane) doesn't like him. Peter tries to study up on things the old man likes, but he's stymied by his first New Yorker cartoon, and finds it hilarious that "Oui, oui" means "yes" in French. Peter fails to impress Mr. Pewterschmidt to the extent that when Lois asks him to invite Peter to his poker game, he says, "I'd rather be stuck in an elevator with Nathan Lane, Gilbert Gottfried, Carrot Top...uh...Sean Hayes -- you get the idea." Lois manages to persuade him, and Peter unexpectedly hits it off with Bill Gates and Michael Eisner when he discovers Ted Turner's "tell." The evening goes so well that Pewterschmidt tells Peter, "I'm glad you married my daughter." Brian (MacFarlane), meanwhile, is lately having trouble dealing with his animal urges. The situation worsens when the Griffins visit the Pewterschmidt home, and Brian meets Mr. Pewterschmidt's prize greyhound, Seabreeze. At the dog track, Brian's instincts get the better of him and he leaps onto the track to violate Seabreeze mid-race. When Brian subsequently learns that Seabreeze is pregnant, he's determined to "do the right thing," but Pewterschmidt won't hear of it, and throws the Griffins out of his home. Brian eventually sues for custody of the puppies, and at trial, Peter is forced to choose between Brian's friendship and the newfound acceptance of his father-in-law. This episode features the voice of Bob Barker as himself. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Lois (voice of Alex Borstein) learns that her sister Carol (voice of Carol Kane) is having a baby and that her husband has left her. Lois and Peter (voice of Seth MacFarlane) go to visit Carol, asking Quagmire (MacFarlane) to baby-sit. When Carol anxiously tells Peter that she's gone into labor, Peter warns her, "You let the kid start calling the shots now and you're screwed." Peter stops at the drive-thru on the way to the hospital. When Lois reminds him that Carol is having a baby, he adds a Kid's Meal to his order. At the hospital, the doctor injures himself, and Peter is called upon to deliver the baby. The experience leaves Peter yearning to experience fatherhood again, and he and Lois decide to have another child. When Stewie (MacFarlane) learns of their plan, he's horrified. He remembers "what happened to Bobby when they added Cousin Oliver to The Brady Bunch." "As God is my witness," he vows, "from this day forward, Peter and Lois shall not conceive." Stewie sets about thwarting his parents' intimacy by crawling into their bed at night. When he attempts to frame Peter by using Lois' lipstick to stain his shirt collars, he gets distracted by his reflection in the mirror and gets busted. "All this time spent trying to keep people from having sex!" he cries. "Now I know how the Catholic Church feels." Eventually, Stewie shrinks himself and his laser gun-equipped "spaceship" to near-microscopic size, and enters Peter with the intention of making all-out war on his sperm. But he's surprised to find a formidable opponent (voice of Wallace Shawn) in one of Peter's seed. This episode features the voice of frequent contributor Gary Cole as Mike Brady. Cole also played Brady in Brady Bunch feature films. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
