Ken LaZebnik Movies

Acclaimed filmmaker Robert Altman (Short Cuts, Nashville) brings National Public Radio stalwart Garrison Keillor's long-running radio program to vivid life on the big screen in a intricately woven backstage fable centering on the final performance of a fictionalized version of his variety show. As if the result of some strange mass-media fluke, the popular radio program A Prairie Home Companion somehow managed to survive the television age to entertain its audience every Saturday night from the stage of the historic Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, MN. Week after week, hangdog host Garrison Keillor serves as unflappable emcee to an amiable hodgepodge of radio-friendly acts that include the likes of popular country duo Yolanda and Rhonda Johnson (Meryl Streep and Lily Tomlin) and singing cowboys the Old Trailhands (Woody Harrelson and John C. Reilly). This is one show where the under-the-line antics are nearly as entertaining as the program itself, though, and in between the efforts of down-on-his-luck private dick and backstage doorkeeper Guy Noir (Kevin Kline) to discover the true identity of a mysterious blonde (Virginia Madsen) and aspiring teen singer Lola (Lindsay Lohan) to find her true voice before a live audience, there's still plenty of fun and mystery to be had at the old Fitzgerald before the final curtain falls on A Prairie Home Companion. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

World-weary private eye Maury Hoover (Stacy Keach) is briefly shaken out of his lethargy when a shapely femme fatale--who looks a lot like Monica (Roma Downey)--slinks into his office, asking him to find someone named Jim Grant. Somehow or other, this assignment is linked to a runaway girl who calls herself Delphina (Amanda MacDonald), for whom Maury has developed a paternal affection. The outcome of the story is determined by Delphina's willingness (or lack of same) to change her standard story about "escaping" from an abusive household--and by Maury's success (or lack of same) in liberating the girl from her vicious pimp Scott Anderson). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the series' 200th episode, the employees of Piltdown and Sons, a small Manhattan watchmakers shop, are informed on Christmas Eve that the shop is closing and they will all be out of work. Their last assignment is to repair a pocket watch found in the rubble of the Twin Towers after 9/11, and return the timepiece to the owners' widow before Christmas. Appearing on the scene as the shop's financial adviser, Gloria (Valerie Bertinelli) is quick to see that the story's ending will be an unhappy one unless the disgruntled employees can set aside their own anger and bitterness in order to bring a small ray of hope to someone even worse off than themselves. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Monica (Roma Downey), Tess (Della Reese) and Andrew (John Dye) are dispatched to separate assignments at a New York City art museum. The main plotline involves a dispirited artist named Antonio (Giancarlo Esposito), who must learn to truly appreciate his own work before he gets the chance to deliberately destroy it. The painting that Antonio is most anxious to slash to bits also happens to be the favorite of fiercely protective museum guard Bud (Ed Asner)--and it isn't long before the spiritual link between Antonio and Bud manifests itself. And what's the deal with that elderly "mystery woman" who figures so prominently in the episode's closing scenes? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Although she has turned her back on the poor, violence-ridden East Saint Louis ghetto of her birth, Brianna (Suzanne Douglas) is reluctantly drawn back to the old neighborhood for her annual Yuletide visit with LaBelle (Ruby Dee), the mother of her husband Robert (Cleavant Derricks). Brianna is clearly unhappy about visiting LaBelle, and even more so when the old woman generously opens her doors to an seedy derelict named Gabe (Ossie Davis). The situation takes a tragic turn when Robert is killed in a carjacking, whereupon LaBelle offers to help Brianna out until she can get back on her financial feet. But Brianna is too proud, and too stubborn, to accept such an offer, and it takes Monica (Roma Downey) to lead Brianna down the path to salvation--with a little help from Gabe, who blows a mean trumpet (yes, he's THAT "Gabe"!) ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Small-towners Ada (Barbara Mandrell), Pearhead (Morgan Rusler), Sis (Tina Lifford) and Vinegar (K. Todd Freeman) become convinced that God is communicating with them via mysterious calls from the pay phone in the town's café. This phenomenon is accepted as a miracle by everyone except local minister Erskine (Chris Mulkey), who has lost his faith in the wake of his wife's death. Inasmuch as Heavenly caseworker Monica (Roma Downey) has been assigned to redeem Erskine, it is necessary to demonstrate God's presence in a more palpaple fashion than as a celestial phone service. The metaphoric title of this episode refers to the favorite pastime of Erskine's daughter Bits (Renee Olstead). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Little League player Cameron Mancuso (Brendon Ryan Barrett) is saddled with an overbearing, "win at all cost" father named Donnie (Joe Regalbuto)--who, worse luck, is also the coach of Cameron's team. It is the task of Monica (Roma Downey) and her fellow angles to teach the widowed Donnie to be a better dad. This proves difficult when Donnie joins a chorus of nay-sayers who react in horror as Cameron befriends the team's autistic equipment manager Ferdie (Tait Smith). Thus, Monica's assignment is expanded to include the townsfolk, who must learn to accept Freddie on his own terms. And if you're wondering about the episode's title, the climactic "connection" occurs in an abandoned train car. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Tess (Della Reese) serves as counsel for the defense when farmer Justinian Jones (John DeLancie) brings about a class-action lawsuit--against God. Speaking on behalf of his neighbors in a dying, drought-stricken South Dakota community, Jones holds the Almighty totally responsible for their plight, and demands immediate "payment" for their undue suffering. Perhaps inevitably, Monica (Roma Downey) is called in as an expert witness, but even this does not resolve the crisis. In the end, it looks as if God Himself will have to take a hand in matters...but will He? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Having shown up at the wrong house for her latest assignment, Monica (Roma Downey) innocently finds herself under arrest for drug possession--and when she insists that she is an angel, she ends up in a mental hospital. Monica's court-appointed lawyer Jake Stone (Joe Morton) is a cynical, athestic Vietnam veteran, whose lack of faith colors his attitude toward his client. Likewise having served a tour of duty in 'Nam is Monica's fellow inmate Claire (Cindy Williams)--who also claims to be an angel in disguise! This inspiring episode is a classic example of "what comes around, goes around"...but we don't know that until the very last scene. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Still bitter over the fact that his Jewish grandfather Sam (Harold Gould) had opposed his marriage to a Catholic girl named Roseanne (Holly Fulger), archaeologist Henry Moskowitz (Corey Parker) stubbornly resists Sam's attempts at reconciliation. At the same time, Henry is at odds with a group of Navajo Indian elders, who charge him with desecrating sacred ground during his latest archeological dig. As Henry's new research assistant Monica (Roma Downey) and his Native American intern Dillon (Adam Beach) lead a boycott against him, tragedy strikes--and only then does Henry awaken to the true meaning loyalty and tradition. Real-life Native American activist Russell Means plays a key role in this episode. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this sequel to the first-season episode "Fear Not", Randy Travis and Paul Wittenburg) return respectively in the roles of taciturn small-towner Wayne and his mentally challenged brother Joey. Having previously witness a miracle--to wit, Monica (Roma Downey) revealing herself as an angel--Wayne and Joey are exploited by a phony preacher named Charles (William R. Moses), who is using a feather from Monica's Heavenly dove as an icon to collect donations. It so happens that Charles is Wayne and Joey's brother, and that Wayne had himself once been Charles' con-artist partner. Though Wayne is determined to put an end to Charles' life of crime, it is Joey who ultimately resolves the problem (though Monica is once again obliged to put in a last-act appearance!) ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Singer Randy Travis guest stars as Wayne, the older brother of mentally challenged teenager Joey (Paul Wittenburg). Bitterly resentful over having to be Joey's primary caregiver, Wayne is an ideal candidate for conversion, courtesy of Heavenly caseworker Monica (Roma Downey). But before this can come to pass, Joey must overcome his mortal fear of the dark in order to make sure that a young girl named Serena (Rae'Ven Kelly), who is suffering from a terminal heart condition, will have the best Christmas of her short life. Randy Travis and Paul Wittenburg would repeat their "Fear Not" roles in several subsequent episodes, including the series finale. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi