Tom McCleister Movies
Barry Levinson directed this comedy in which success has a rather surprising effect on two old buddies. Nick Vanderpark (Jack Black) and Tim Dingman (Ben Stiller) are best friends and next-door neighbors who work together at a sandpaper factory. Nick and Tim often find themselves wishing for something more from life, and Nick has a habit of dreaming up harebrained get-rich-quick schemes that usually end in disaster. Tim is particularly appalled by Nick's latest idea, "Vapoorizer," a cleaning product which will make pet feces magically disappear, but to their shock, it turns out to be an incredible success, and before long Nick is wealthy beyond his wildest dreams. Tim, however, is still the same guy getting by in suburbia he's always been, and soon Tim finds himself bitterly resentful of his old friend. As Nick gets richer, Tim gets angrier, and he develops a drinking problem. One night, in a bar, Tim meets an eccentric drifter (Christopher Walken) who offers him some not-so-friendly advice on getting even with his old friend. Envy also stars Rachel Weisz and Amy Poehler as Tim and Nick's much-put-upon spouses. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ben Stiller, Jack Black, (more)
Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood) is a veteran boxing trainer who has devoted his life to the ring and has precious little to show for it; his daughter never answers his letters, and a fighter he's groomed into contender status has paid him back by signing with another manager, leaving Frankie high and dry. His best friend and faithful employee Eddie Dupris is a former fighter who Frankie trained. In his last fight, Eddie suffered a severe injury, a fact that brings Frankie great guilt. One day, Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) enters Frankie's life, as well as his gym, and announces she needs a trainer. Frankie regards her as a dubious prospect, and isn't afraid to tell her why: he doesn't think much of women boxing, she's too old at 31, she lacks experience, and has no technique. However, Maggie sees boxing as the one part of her life that gives her meaning and won't give up easily. Finally won over by her determination, Frankie takes on Maggie, and as she slowly grows into a viable fighter, an emotional bond develops between them. When a tragedy befalls one of the three characters, each comes to a decision that shows how the relationships in the film have changed them. Adapted from a short story by F.X. Toole, a former corner man with years of experience in the fight game, Million Dollar Baby also stars Morgan Freeman, Anthony Mackie, and Mike Colter. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, (more)
A thief and a lawman join forces to hunt down a common enemy in this action thriller. Tony Fait (DMX) is a master thief who, along with his crew (Gabrielle Union, Anthony Anderson, and Drag-On), pulls off a major score when they steal a cache of highly valuable black diamonds. However, the hard-as-nails Tony has a soft spot for his young daughter Vanessa (Paige Hurd), and Ling (Mark Dacascos), a former detective turned ruthless criminal, kidnaps Vanessa, demanding a ransom from Tony for her return -- the stash of black diamonds. The jewels have already been stolen, however, from Tony's fence Archie (Tom Arnold), and are now in the hands of a powerful underworld boss (Chi McBride). Determined to get back his daughter whatever the cost, Tony and his gang set out to find both Ling and the diamonds, but he soon gets some invaluable help from an unlikely corner -- Su (Jet Li), a government agent from Taiwan who was once Ling's partner, and has an old score to settle with him. Cradle 2 the Grave also features Kelly Hu and Roxana Brusso. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Immediately after the events of "Through the Looking Glass," princess Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) learns that although the head and body of the Host (Andy Hallett) have been separated, he won't actually die until his body is desecrated. With help from Loren's quite animated noggin and the Groosalugg (Mark Lutz), she manages to rescue the rest of the Host's body from the defilement chamber and have it smuggled -- unharmed -- back to the Deathwok Clan. Meanwhile, Wesley (Alexis Denisof) and Gunn (J. August Richards) get involved in the battle between the warriors of the repressive Covenant of Trombli and some human rebels. Elsewhere, Fred (Amy Acker) and Angel (David Boreanaz) survive an attack from the Covenant's warriors and reconnect with Wes, Gunn, and the rebels. Wes now firmly in charge, he plans a stealth attack on the Covenant despite his certainty that some of his men will die -- and the knowledge that Angel will have to revert to his uncontrollable demon form to battle the Groosalugg (Mark Lutz). Back at the castle, a smitten Cordy learns from Groo that when they consummate their passion, her visions will pass into his half-demon body. Committed to her sacred task, she reluctantly refuses to "cum-shuk," then suffers a vision of Groo battling a monster, unaware that it's actually Angel he'll fight. The rebels attack, Groo and Angel duke it out non-fatally, and Angel gains control of his demon half. In the end, the Covenant is overthrown, democracy is established in Pylea, and Cordy bids her otherworldly lover goodbye. Thanks to the combined intellectual firepower of Wes and Fred, the team (including a fully restored Loren) returns to earth -- where Willow (Alyson Hannigan) informs them of Buffy's death. Originally broadcast May 22, 2001, on the WB network, "There's No Place Like Plrtz Glrb" marked season two, episode 22 of the supernatural comedy drama. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2001
The first episode of the medical examiner/police procedural Crossing Jordan introduced viewers to Jordan Cavanaugh (Jill Hennessy), a forensic pathologist unafraid to engage in ethically questionable tactics in order to solve a case. Guiding her through a case that affects her more deeply than she expects is her no-nonsense boss Garret Macy (Miguel Ferrer). ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- 2001
With Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) apparently in power (see "Over the Rainbow"), Angel (David Boreanaz), the Host (Andy Hallett), and the others are set free. The Deathwok Clan Mother, aka Loren's mom (Tom McCleister), expresses her hatred and shame over her wayward offspring, but cousin Landokmar (Brody Hutzler) bonds with fellow warrior Angel, even asking him to officiate at a feast. The party turns out to be the execution of kidnapped refugee slave Fred (Amy Acker). Angel refuses to participate, and they escape into the wilderness. When marauders attack, Angel transforms into a savage demon and inflicts serious injuries on both the attackers and Gunn (J. August Richards). Wesley (Alexis Denisof) surmises that on Pylea, the human and demon halves of a vampire are out of balance. Nevertheless, with Fred's help, Angel eventually transforms back to normal and retreats with the girl to her cave hideaway. Meanwhile, back at the palace, princess Cordy gets uppity and soon learns that she's merely the tool of the powerful Covenant of Trombli, a band of manipulative demon priests with ties to Wolfram & Hart. She is told she must "cumshuk," or mate, with a fearsome warrior known as the Groosalugg (Mark Lutz), but he turns out to be a handsome, earnest, and human-looking hunk. Despite her relief at Groo's appearance, Cordy gets another nasty shock from the Covenant; they remind her who's in charge by delivering the Host's head to her on a platter. Originally broadcast May 15, 2001, on the WB network, "Through the Looking Glass" marked season two, episode 21 of the supernatural comedy drama. This four-part saga continues in "There's No Place Like Plrtz Glrb." ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Once again, the CSI unit is challenged by a "signature killer" who stages murders to look like suicide, then deliberately leaves behind frustrating fragments of contrary evidence. All the unit knows is that the killer obviously has a working knowledge of forensic procedure. And on another front, a man who survived when his car went over a cliff still hovers between life and death. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Marc Forster directs this chilling psychological drama about a young mother trying to come to terms with the loss of her first born. Angie (Radha Mitchell) and her husband Russ (Justin Louis) live a quiet suburban life. At the film's opening, Angie, along with her best friends Judith (Catherine Lloyd Burns) and Barbie (Megan Mullally), who also happen to be pregnant, gleefully discuss morning sickness and baby showers. After her textbook delivery to a healthy boy, the doctor pulls Russ aside and whispers something in his ear. Angie's worst fears are confirmed when she learns that her child suddenly died, a victim of sudden infant death syndrome. In spite of loving support from her husband and friends, Angie quickly spirals into a deep depression and begins developing morbid obsessions, such as going to morgue to examine her baby, visiting the place where her child's toys are buried, and watching children at play in the park. Shot on digital video, the film features an intense emotionally immediacy. This film was screened at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Radha Mitchell, Megan Mullally, (more)
- 1997
Banished from the Jiggly Room, Al (Ed O'Neill) and his fellow NO MA'AM members establish their own nudie bar in the Bundy garage. Seeking out dancers at the lowest possible cost, the guys announce an "amateur night." The winning constent is a real hot number wearing little more than a veil, whom Al immediately falls for--never dreaming that the "mystery woman" is his own wife Peg (Katey Sagal) in disguise. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Married. . .With Children moved from Sunday to Monday evening for this episode, which though taped as the 11th season opener was not seen until halfway through the year. When Peg (Katey Sagal) develops amnesia, Al (Ed O'Neill) capitalizes on the situation by reprogramming her as the perfect, obedient housewife--much to the chagrin of next-door neighbor Marcy (Amanda Bearse. Ron-Ann Frey guest stars as the professional-wrestling "ring girl" hired by Peg during her alternate existence. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A man discovers the lighter side of being hunted down like an animal in this manic comedy. Pestario "Pest" Vargas (John Leguizamo) is a low-rent con man from Miami's South Beach who has fallen deeply in debt to ill-tempered members of the Scottish mafia (complete with kilts). Desperate to raise $50,000 to stave off having his legs broken (and possibly turned into haggis), Vargas takes an offer for a very high paying one day job from Gustav Shank (Jeffrey Jones), a German businessman visiting Florida. However, it's not until later that Vargas finds out what Shank has in mind. The lunatic white supremacist Shank transports Vargas to his island compound, Little Germany, and announces that he will hunt him as wild game. If Vargas can survive for 24 hours, he gets the cash; otherwise, his head will join the others stuffed and mounted on Shank's wall. Can Vargas' speed, agility, and gift for cheesy impersonations save him now? John Leguizamo co-wrote The Pest's original story, loosely based on the classic adventure tale The Most Dangerous Game. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Leguizamo, Jeffrey Jones, (more)
- 1996
In the conclusion of a two-part story, mobster Vito Capone (Perry Anzilotti) threatens to bump off Bud (David Faustino) unless the exercise video starring Kelly (Christina Applegate) and Raphael (John Carlos Frey) is finished by 5 PM. Unfortunately, Kelly and Raphael aren't speaking to each other--and when they DO speak, they nearly get Married. . .With Children knocked off the network. Meanwhile, Peg and Marcy are can't understand why Al and Jefferson are taking so long installing a satellite dish...little realizing that every husband in the neighborhood is using the Bundy roof as a refuge from their wives!. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
It's Al Bundy (Ed O'Neill) vs, Jefferson D'Arcy (Ted McGinley) in a no-holds-barred practical joke contest. With this in mind, Al thinks that Jefferson is merely pulling his leg when a woman (Deborah Harmon) claiming to be an old friend of his wife Peg (Katey Sagal) suddenly begins "coming on" to him. As it turns out, however, the "friend" is actually an old enemy who intends to get even with Peg by stealing Al--even if she has to marry him! And can it be that Al's coworker Griff (Harold Sylvester) is doomed to roast in the electric chair? This final episode of Married. . .With Children's tenth season was originally shown in tandem with the previous nstallment, "Torch Song Duet". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Bud (David Faustion) will not graduate from Trumaine if he can't pass the finals, but his efforts to study are constantly thwarted by his preoccupation with sex. Even though he has agreed to remain "chaste" for the duration of the exams, Bud is bombarded with carnal messages and temptations of the flesh at every turn. Finally he can stand no more, and "gives in" in a library study room--right in front of a battery of surveillance cameras! Katey Sagal (Peggy) does not appear in this episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Marcy (Amanda Bearse) had hoped that Jefferson (Ted McGinley) would spend an intimate evening with her for their anniversary, but instead he parties on with Al (Ed O'Neill) and the guys at the local nudie bar, "The Jiggly Room." Drunk as a skunk, Jefferson decides to honor his wife by getting an "I LOVE MARCY" tattoo. Unfortunately, the tattoo artist is just as blotto as everyone else at party--and the "love letter" on Jefferson's epidermis winds up reading "I LOVE MARY." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Al (Ed O'Neill) tries to adjust to the fact that the family Dodge has bitten the dust. Leasing a brand new car, Al finds out that he's stuck with. . .well, it's a small yellow fruit with a very sour taste. Meanwhile, Peg (Katey Sagal) digs up the Dodge's corpse in order to sell the engire to a mysterious overseas buyer. This episode marks one of the rare American TV appearances by Fidel Castro (or a reasonable facsimile). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Al (Ed O'Neill) has come up with the perfect Christmas present for his co-worker Griff (Harold Sylvester): twenty free minutes on the phone-sex line 1-900-YUMMY. Before long, Griff is not only "hooked" on the service, but he has fallen in love with the velvet-voiced operator "Butter." Little does Griff realize that the unseen Butter is actually Al's behemoth mother-in-law (Kathleen Freeman)--but Al knows this fact only too well! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
In order to become a member of Al's macho NO MA'AM organization, Bud (David Faustino) must go through an initiation ritual that is seemingly dreamed up on the spot. Bud's challenge is to crash the nationally televised "WrestlePalooza" match and get his picture taken with the legendary King Kong Bundy (no relation, of course). The result: Dressed in an idiotic bumblebee costume, Bud finds himself squaring off against Bundy in a no-holds-barred grappling match! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Al (Ed O'Neill) and his buddies try to weasel out of paying beer tax by organizing "The Church of NO MA'AM." Donning an ostentatious pompadour, "Reverend Al" spreads his gospel as a televangelist on Channel 83, asking for donations from the Faithful. An outraged Marcy (Amanda Bearse) plans to expose Al as a fraud with a series of incriminating photos--a plan which backfires when Al wins public sympathy by pulling a "Jimmy Swaggart". . .tears and all. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Kelly (Christina Applegate) makes cosmetic history when, while researching her acting role as a scientist, she combines blood and spleen--and invents the color Bleen. Subsequently, Al (Ed O'Neill) discovers that Bleen has capacity to grow hair on the baldest of bald men...but not without devastating consequences. Watch for the extended parody of Michael Jackson's "Black or White" video. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Peg (Katey Sagal) and her lady friends decide to find out just what it is that attracts their husbands to "The Jiggly Room", a local nudie bar. Al (Ed O'Neill) is upset by Peg's intrusion upon his macho sanctum sanctorum, but is downright appalled when his wife decides to strut her own stuff on the Jiggly Room stage. Meanwhile, Kelly (Christina Applegate) may have trouble holding on to her latest commercial acting assignment for a weight-loss product. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Peggy (Katey Sagal) wins $10,000 in a bingo tournament on the same night that Al's group NO MA'AM calls an emergency meeting to choose a new official beer. The result: Al (Ed O'Neill) drinks so much that he forgets to pick up Peg, who must spend all her winnings for carfare home (what a tip THAT must have been!). The supporting cast in this episode features the mother and brother of filmmaker Ron Howard. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Camera in hand, aspiring moviemaker Kelly (Christina Applegate) follows her dad Al (Ed O'Neill) around during a typical day at the shoe store. The result is the stirring documentary "SHEOS" (well, heck, no one should expect an "auteur" to know how to spell). The film proves so impressive that the National Endowment of the Arts offers Kelly $10,000 to make a sequel, whereupon Al proposes his own personal epic, replete with bikini girls. This episode was originally shown in tandem with My Favorite Married, a half-hour special in which the cast of Married. . .With Children introduced clips from their favorite episodes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Anticipating a cornucopia of sexy "eye candy", Al (Ed O'Neill) persuades his boss Gary (Janet Carroll) to open up an aerobics studio next door to the shoe store. Unfortunately, the studio's clientele is comprised entirely of women who are "metabolically challenged"--a new P.C. term for "fat as pigs." In hopes of attracting a more curvaceous flock of females, Al prevails upon Kelly (Christina Applegate) to talk her handsome boyfriend Ramon (Marco Sanchez) into getting a job as an aerobics instructor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
For full appreciation of this episode, it should be noted that it was originally telecast during a particularly contentious Major League baseball strike. Yearning for the sound of the crack of a bat and the roar of a crowd, Al's all-male organization NO MA'AM organizes a blue-collar baseball league, underwritten by several of the country's better nudie bars. The resulting team names include the Chicago Cleavage, the Boston Bazooms, and the Buffalo Bodacious Tat-Tas. Without any further elaboration, be it noted that real-life baseball stars Mike Piazza, Bret Saberhagen, Danny Tartabull, Frank Thomas] and Dave Winfield appear as themselves--and also watch for the scene in which the entrepreneurial Al is interviewed by sportscaster Joe Martin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
