Robin Bartlett Movies

An artist who compromises his work for money finds his heart and soul are also being toyed with by his new patrons in this drama. Robert (Peter Sarsgaard) is a playwright who has recently lost his longtime lover and business partner, Malcolm (Bill Camp), to AIDS-related illnesses. Robert has written a screenplay about their relationship, called "The Dying Gaul," and is interested in selling the project to powerful producer Jeffrey (Campbell Scott). However, while Jeffrey likes the script, he tells Robert that he's not about to spend money on a film about a gay couple -- though he'll give him one million dollars for the screenplay under the condition he turns the character of "Maurice" into a woman so the film will be easier to sell. While Robert is secretly appalled by the idea, he's also deep in debt and wants the film to be made, so he agrees to make the changes. Robert is soon invited into the inner circle of Jeffrey and his wife, Elaine (Patricia Clarkson), herself a talented screenwriter until their marriage put an end to her career. Jeffrey finds himself fascinated by Robert, and soon begins seducing him both physically and intellectually, while Elaine is also deeply attracted to him. As Robert and Elaine become close friends, she also begins pursuing him in on-line chat rooms, playing on his emotional weaknesses as she fashions a story of her own. The Dying Gaul was the first directorial credit for playwright and screenwriter Craig Lucas. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

In this penultimate Mad About You misadventure, Debbie Buchman (Robin Bartlett) embarks upon a genealogical journey along the Buchman and Stemple family trees. It turns out that the roots are somewhat intertwined: According to Debbie's conclusions, Paul (Paul Reiser) and his wife, Jamie (Helen Hunt), are actually cousins. Where do we go from here? Tune in next week. ~ All Movie Guide

This final episode of Mad About You is set approximately 22 years in the future. Mabel Buchman (Janeane Garafolo), grown-up daughter of Paul and Jamie Buchman (Paul Reiser, Helen Hunt), follows in her dad's footsteps by producing a documentary film about her family. Several former series regulars and guest stars make cameo appearances as Mabel tries to trace the progress of her parents' marriage after a startling discovery made by Paul's sister Debbie (Robin Bartlett). Series star Helen Hunt directed this one-hour closer, which since its original network telecast has been divided into two half-hour episodes for syndication. ~ All Movie Guide

An angel must decide if love is more important than eternal peace in this Americanized adaptation of Wim Wenders' modern classic Wings of Desire. Seth (Nicholas Cage) is an angel who hovers over the city of Los Angeles, listening to people's thoughts, observing their lives, and guiding them to the next world when they die. While Seth and his fellow angels try to offer comfort to people as they can, they are discouraged from direct contact with humans and are usually invisible to them. While at a hospital, Seth sees Maggie (Meg Ryan), a dedicated heart surgeon who attempts to save the life of a patient Seth was to call upon. Maggie is distraught after the patient passes, and her agony touches something inside the reserved Seth; he finds himself falling in love with her, and he decides to make himself visible so he can communicate with her. As Maggie gets to know the strange visitor in black who has suddenly appeared in her life, she finds herself torn between her new feelings for Seth and her attachment to her fiancé Jordan (Colm Feore), a fellow doctor. Seth, on the other hand, has a serious choice to make -- between immortality and giving it up in order to know both the pleasures and pains of being a human being. City of Angels also stars Dennis Franz as Messinger, a patient at the hospital who has some important advice for Seth. The film's soundtrack featured two Top Ten hits, "Iris" by the Goo Goo Dolls and "Uninvited" by Alanis Morissette. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Ellen DeGeneres guest stars as Nancy Bloom, a former caterer whom Paul (Paul Reiser) had indirectly fired from the set of his "Making of Titanic" documentary. Through a twist of fate, Nancy is now the Buchmans' nanny -- but is she responsible for the brief "misplacement" of baby Mabel? Titanic director James Cameron makes a cameo appearance in this, the final episode of Mad About You's sixth season. ~ All Movie Guide

Everybody wants new mother Jamie (Helen Hunt) to go back to work -- except Jamie. Despite her worries over leaving baby Mabel in the care of others, Jamie agrees to accept a job with political consultants James Carville and Mary Matalin (playing themselves). Elsewhere, Paul (Paul Reiser) goes on the defensive against the newspaper writer who turned out an error-ridden article on the movie "Buchman." Fred Willard makes his first appearance as Jamie's immediate superior, Henry Vincent. ~ All Movie Guide

On the off-chance that an unexpected tragedy might leave baby Mabel an orphan, Paul (Paul Reiser) and Jamie (Helen Hunt) decide to take separate planes to Los Angeles. The results are, as usual, hilariously unpredictable. Jamie ends up "mothering" a planeful of grownups (including two old friends), while Paul uses Mabel to foment a "passenger revolt." ~ All Movie Guide

The time has come for baby Mabel to choose between breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. Her choice does not please Paul (Paul Reiser) or Jamie (Helen Hunt), by try to reason with an infant. Meanwhile, Jamie's flamboyant mother, Theresa (Carol Burnett), begins dating a much-younger member of the Lord of the Dance ensemble. ~ All Movie Guide

Paul (Paul Reiser) takes a tumble in the shower, and in that split second his whole life flashes before his eyes. Highlights (or lowlights) include Paul's first kiss, and his mother Sylvia's (Cynthia Harris) outraged reaction; the sage advice of Paul's dad, Burt (Louis Zorich), specifically "you ain't ever going to win"; and the testimony of wife Jamie (Helen Hunt) regarding Paul's ability (or lack of same) to tell a lie. Gordon Hunt, frequent Mad About You director and the father of series star Helen Hunt, has a cameo role. ~ All Movie Guide

Lisa Kudrow and Fred Willard reprise their Mad About You roles as Ursula Buffay and Henry Vincent. Trouble begins smoldering when Joan (Suzie Plakson), the life partner of Paul's sister, Debbie (Robin Bartlett), is asked to pose for a "20 Most Eligible Bachelorettes in New York" magazine article. Paul (Paul Reiser) adds fuel to the flames by encouraging his wife, Jamie (Helen Hunt), to quit her job with James Carville. And Paul's cousin Ira (John Pankow) is steaming because Riff's Restaurant has slighted him. With such an incindiary situation, is it any surprise when a real fire breaks out at Riff's, permitting Ira to play the hero while Paul is stuck in the bathroom? ~ All Movie Guide

Nobody is allowed to leave the premises during the birthday party of Paul Buchman (Paul Reiser). For one thing, Paul's neighbors Maggie and Hal Conway (Judy Geeson, Paxton Whitehead) suspect that one of the guests has absconded with a valuable painting. And besides, who would want to leave during the epic growling match between Marvin the handyman (Jeff Garlin) and Murray the dog? ~ All Movie Guide

Paul Buchman (Paul Reiser) is once again in the doghouse -- this time on two fronts. First off, Paul manages to alienate his father, Burt (Louis Zorich), by agreeing to umpire a senior-citizen baseball game. And secondly, Jamie (Helen Hunt) discovers that she is "the second Mrs. Buchman" -- and that Paul's first missus was an elderly Russian woman. To explain how this all came about (or to reveal the outcome) would spoil the fun. ~ All Movie Guide

Paul and Jamie Buchman (Paul Reiser, Helen Hunt) are anxious to have sex for the first time since baby Mabel's birth. Alas, even with the therapeutic assistance of Joan Golfinos (Suzie Plakson), the magic seems to be elusive. This episode is dedicated to former Mad About You regular George O. Petrie (1912-1997). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide