Julie Kavner Movies

A workaholic architect, frustrated in his job but determined to make a better life for his family, is bestowed with a powerful universal remote that allows him more control over his life than he ever knew possible in director Frank Coraci's high-concept fantasy comedy. On the surface, Michael Newman (Adam Sandler) seems to have it all, yet with all the demands forced upon him by his ungrateful boss (David Hasselhoff), Michael finds that setting aside time to spend with his loving wife, Donna (Kate Beckinsale), and two picture-perfect children, Ben (Joseph Castanon) and Samantha (Tatum McCann), has grown increasingly difficult. When a frustrating bout with the television remote leads the overworked husband and father to a nearby Bed, Bath & Beyond in search of a universal remote with the power to control all of his electronic devices, a curious peek into the back room leads Michael into the company of eccentric employee and talented inventor Morty (Christopher Walken). It seems that Morty has created a device that will not only allow Michael complete control over his television and stereo, but his entire life as well. As Michael discovers that the remarkable device has the power to muffle the barks of the family dog, zoom himself past an irritating quarrel with his wife, and even allow him to travel back and forth through time to different points in his life, the rush of being able to skip straight to the good parts in life soon leaves him feeling as if he's missing out on the total experience. Only when Michael begins to realize that the he has lost control of his life and the remote is now programming him does he finally learn that life is as much about the moments he'd rather forget as it is the moments he will always remember. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Ernest Borgnine stars as an underdog farmer who stands up to a land developer in the stirring drama Barn Red. He is joined by a Native American former employee named Lydia (Kimberly Norris Guerrero), and the two take on the town to keep the land untouched. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

Judy Berlin allows the audience to take a glimpse of a day at once strange and ordinary with the residents of Babylon, Long Island. Judy (Edie Falco) is an aspiring actress who is quitting her job as a "pilgrim" in a local historical museum's display to take her chances in Los Angeles. Her mother is a gifted but bitter schoolteacher (Barbara Barrie) who has long loved principal Arthur Gold (Bob Dishy) from afar. However, Arthur has a wife, Alice (Madeline Kahn), who's more than a bit eccentric and has driven him to distraction. Arthur and Alice have a son, David (Aaron Harnick), who like Judy has showbiz aspirations (he wants to be a filmmaker), though unlike Judy he has no idea of what to do about it; when Judy and David meet, could romance be lurking around the corner? First-time director Eric Mendelsohn has equipped this offbeat comic drama an outstanding cast, which also includes Julie Kavner, Anne Meara, and Novella Nelson. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Betty Thomas directed this adaptation of the classic children's stories by Hugh Lofting (1886-1947), updating the original concepts into the present day. When noted surgeon Dr. John Dolittle (Eddie Murphy) swerves his car to avoid hitting a dog, he hits his head on the windshield, triggering his long-dormant gift for holding conversations with animals. Friends, associates and his wife Lisa (Kristen Wilson), all express concern, but Dr. Dolittle is happy as he takes on new animal clients. Soon Dolittle's clinic becomes a haven for talking rats, birds, and other assorted members of the animal kingdom, and Dolittle's new four-legged and furry friends, in turn, teach him a few things about being human. The effects seamlessly combine Jim Henson Creature Shop animatronics, computer graphics, and real animals, but some viewers might yearn for a return of the Great Pink Sea Snail and Lofting's other imaginative creatures. The 1967 20th Century Fox musical Dr. Dolittle starred Rex Harrison in a strange storyline that began with Dolittle escaping from a lunatic asylum and leaving the Victorian village Puddleby-by-the-Marsh, England, to search the South Seas for the Great Pink Sea Snail. Along the way, he gathered diverse Dolittle denizens and animal anomalies, including the Giant Moon Moth and the famed, two-headed Pushmi-Pullyu. The earlier film spawned the Oscar-winning popular song success, "Talk To The Animals," along with numerous now-forgotten toys, books, and collectibles. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

It's April 15, and all over Springfield people are rushing to finish filing their taxes before the midnight deadline -- all except for Homer Simpson (voice of Dan Castellaneta), who reassures his wife Marge (voice of Julie Kavner) "I paid my taxes over a year ago!" When Marge convinces Homer that the Internal Revenue Service expects him to pay taxes every year, Homer files a return in a blind rush, and to no one's surprise he's called in for an audit. With a possible tax fraud conviction hanging over his head, Homer agrees to turn informant to the FBI on tax cheats, and ends up turning one of his co-workers over to the authorities. Convinced Homer is ready for something bigger, the FBI assigns him to take part in a sting operation to recover a one-of-a-kind trillion dollar bill, which they believe was stolen by craven energy magnate C. Montgomery Burns (voice of Harry Shearer) during an ill-fated goodwill mission to Europe in 1945. Homer discovers Burns does indeed have the valuable banknote, but Burns persuades Homer to help him flee the country with the cash, and with uber-friendly Ned Flanders (also voiced by Harry Shearer) in tow, Burns and Company seek exile in Cuba. "The Trouble With Trillions" aired for the first time ten days before tax day on April 5, 1998. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Lisa Simpson (voice of Yeardley Smith) learns that ground will soon be broken for a new shopping mall in Sabretooth Meadows, a part of Springfield where rare fossils have been uncovered in the past. Eager to see if more can be discovered, Lisa asks the developers permission for Springfield Elementary's students to organize a dig on the grounds before construction starts. They agree, and to the surprise of all, a strange skeleton is uncovered -- one with the body of a human, but with what appears to be wings growing from its back. While many townspeople are convinced the remains of an angel has been found -- including Homer (voice of Dan Castellaneta), who steals the remain and puts them on display in his garage -- Lisa is convinced there's a scientific explanation for the strange find, and asks Stephen Jay Gould to look into the matter. However, the next day the skeleton disappears and is discovered at the top of a hill, emblazoned with the legend "The End Is Near." As Springfield's residents ponder the meaning of this ominous statement, the matter divides the Simpson household, with Lisa standing on the side of science and reason while her mother Marge (voice of Julie Kavner) expresses her belief in the spiritual world. "Lisa The Skeptic" first aired on November 23, 1997. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Tracey Takes On...Movies, Vanity, Fame is a 78-minute collection of skits from the HBO comedy series Tracey Takes On, starring Tracey Ullman as several high-maintenance Hollywood characters. Rayleen Gibson is the Australian stunt woman to the stars, Janie Pillsworth is the glossy magazine editor, and Sydney Kross is the stressed-out entertainment lawyer. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

Just as Homer Simpson (voice of Dan Castellaneta) has convinced himself he's the most popular guy in the neighborhood when he mans the microphone and moves much merchandise at a neighborhood garage sale, he discovers he has new competition as top dog in Springfield when former president George Bush (voice of Harry Shearer) moves in across the street. Homer and George don't quite hit it off, though Marge (voice of Julie Kavner) gets along just fine with one-time First Lady Barbara (voice of Maggie Roswell); the real trouble, though, comes when Bart (voice of Nancy Cartwright) starts showing up at the Bush household uninvited, usually causing trouble. One day, Bart accidentally destroys the manuscript to George's just-completed memoirs with an outboard motor, and George angrily gives the boy a spanking. Homer is outraged that Bush has taken away his "right to raise a disobedient, smart-aleky son," and soon it's all-out war between Homer and the former president. Meanwhile, Springfield Elementary School institutes a policy forcing the students to wear uniforms, and soon the kids are so mired in conformity that they begin blinking in unison. "Two Bad Neighbors" first aired on January 14, 1996; it also marked one of the very few times that a celebrity who was a significant character on the show did not provide his or her own voice (though given the numerous jokes at George Bush's expense, it's no great surprise he didn't participate in this episode). ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Assembled by the same team responsible for "The Hallmark Hall of Fame", this TV adaptation of Neil Simon's hit play Jake's Woman stars Alan Alda, recreating his Broadway role as Simon-esque writer Jake. Mired in an unhappy marriage with current spouse Maggie (Anne Archer), Jake tries to cope with his wife's insistence on a trial separation by conjuring up images of the other women in his life: his late wife Julie (Mira Sorvino), his confused daughter Molly (Kimberly Williams), his neurotic sister Karen (Julie Kavner) and his analyst Edith (Joyce Van Patten). Putting his literary skills to good use, Jake carries on imaginary conversations with these ladies, hoping that they will help him sort out his problems. The trouble begins when the spectres of Jake's Women begin showing up without his bidding, insisting upon debating and arguing with the poor fellow even as he tries to pursue a new romance with his current flame Sheila (Lolita Davidovich). Neil Simon's Jake's Women (the official title) first aired March 3, 1996 on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Waylon Smithers (voice of Harry Shearer) awakes with a brutal hangover, convinced that in a drunken haze he attempted to kill C. Montgomery Burns (also voiced by Shearer), his employer, mentor, and secret love. However, after being taken in by the police, it's discovered that Smithers actually shot elderly eccentric Jasper (also voiced by Shearer) in his wooden leg. So who did attempt to take Mr. Burns' life? Jazz great Tito Puente (who provides his own voice) is let off the hook after he reveals his own revenge against Burns in the form of a "slanderous mambo," and all eyes turn to the Simpson family when a test of the bullet reveals evidence of the family's DNA. The likely suspects appear to be Homer (voice of Dan Castellaneta), enraged that Burns could not remember his name; Lisa (voice of Yeardley Smith), angry that Puente lost his teaching position after Burns stole oil reserves from the local elementary school; and Bart (voice of Nancy Cartwright), who pledged to get revenge after Burns' oil put his dog in the animal hospital. Burns finally comes to his senses and reveals that a member of the Simpson family did indeed shoot him -- but not the one anyone expected. Answering the questions raised by the cliffhanging Who Shot Mr. Burns (Part One), which closed out the sixth season of The Simpsons, "Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part Two)" kicked off season seven when it first aired on September 17, 1995. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

After Bart (voice of Nancy Cartwright) is kept after Sunday school as punishment for tricking the congregation into singing "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida," and Milhouse (voice of Pamela Hayden) is also kept behind for squealing on his friend, the boys have a debate about the nature of the soul. Ever the skeptic, Bart offers to sell his soul to Milhouse for five bucks, and Milhouse takes him up on the offer. Before long, however, Bart gets the sinking feeling that he has made a big mistake, and he asks Milhouse for his soul back, only to discover that Milhouse has shrewdly raised the price to $50. Elsewhere, local barkeep Moe (voice of Hank Azaria) decides that running a "dank pit" isn't bringing in the business it once did, and decides to turn his tavern into a family style restaurant, Uncle Moe's Family Feedbag, which may not be a good business decision for a cranky guy with a short temper who loathes the sound of children's laughter. "Bart Sells His Soul" first aired on October 8, 1995. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Semi-corrupt public official Mayor Joe Quimby (voice of Dan Castellaneta) is up for re-election, and radio talk-show host and Republican activist Birch Barlow (voice of Harry Shearer) is determined to put a more conservative candidate in office. Looking for the right man to run against Quimby, Barlow and his right-wing brain trust think they may have found their man in Sideshow Bob (voice of Kelsey Grammer), convicted felon, former children's entertainer, and nemesis of Bart Simpson (voice of Nancy Cartwright). After Barlow's radio campaign results in Sideshow Bob's early release, Bart and Lisa (voice of Yeardley Smith) help Mayor Quimby in his campaign against the charismatically evil Bob, but Quimby spoils his own campaign and Bob wins with a projected 100 percent of the vote. However, an anonymous tipster tells Bart and Lisa that something was not cricket with the election, and the kids make a shocking discovery as they examine Springfield's polling records. Sideshow Bob Roberts also features a guest voice-appearance by noted disc jockey and music archivist Dr. Demento as himself; the episode first aired on October 9, 1994. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi