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Michael Monks Movies

2006  
R  
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An unstable Gulf War veteran with a savior complex receives a shocking wake-up call upon returning stateside and accepting a position with the Department of Homeland Security in the directorial debut of Training Day screenwriter David Ayer. Jim (Christian Bale) is a Gulf War veteran who believes his sworn duty to protect his fellow Americans extends to the streets of Los Angeles, and he longs to fulfill his destiny by joining the LAPD. Rejected by the force and left to ponder his future with his impoverished Mexican paramour -- whom he had intended on bringing to the city after joining the police -- the dejected and unemployed veteran is offered a second shot at helping his country when he is subsequently approached by the Department of Homeland Security. As Jim and his unemployed best friend, Mike (Freddy Rodriguez), carve a swath of chaos through the streets of Los Angeles, the weight of their American dream soon comes crashing down in a devastating blow that threatens to dash their high hopes for a bright future. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Starring:
Christian BaleFreddy Rodriguez, (more)
 
1999  
 
Offered a lead role in "Shutter Speed," a movie filming in Las Vegas, Joey (Matt LeBlanc) heads west with Chandler (Matthew Perry) -- all the while figuring out ways not to jinx himself this time. By the time the journey is over, Joey is alone and working as a gladiator at Caesar's Palace. Back in New York, Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) nervously goes to the eye doctor to deal with an infection, only to ignore the doctor's advice. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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1999  
 
Amidst his investigation of a murder involving a apartment-building gigolo (Raul Gomez), Danny Sorenson (Rick Schroder) takes time off to help his old army buddy Joey Dwyer (D.B. Sweeney). When Joey's ramblings turn suicidal, Sorenson seeks out assistance from Sipowicz (Dennis Franz). Unfortunately, Joey has already decided to "leave town" -- and thus precipitates a hostage crisis that may result in several more deaths than his own. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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1995  
 
Rule-bound Dr. Kayson (Sam Anderson) again incurs the wrath of Lewis (Sherry Stringfield) when he orders the early release of a heart patient named Vennerback (Michael Monks). But when Vennerback is brought back to the ER in critical condition, it is Lewis who is held responsible for the tragedy that follows. Elsewhere, Benton (Eriq La Salle) adopts a somewhat nasty method to stem the constant complaints of his student, Carter (Noah Wyle); and Lewis' pregnant sister, Chloe (Kathleen Wilhoite), announces her intention to move to Texas. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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1994  
PG  
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A successful retired jock and his geeky younger brother play out their sibling rivalry by coaching rival little league football teams in this family comedy. Ed O'Neill plays the older brother, Kevin O'Shea, a former Heisman Trophy winner whose gridiron exploits have made him a local hero in his small Illinois hometown. Kevin is the almost unanimous choice to head up the town's Pop Warner football team, and he happily builds an imposing team from the best local players. One of the few objectors is Kevin's young brother Danny (Rick Moranis), an awkward, bespectacled gas station owner who empathizes with the kids rejected from the team, including his own athletic daughter Becky (Shawna Waldron). As revenge, Danny starts his own competing team of misfits, taking on the coaching duties himself. Naturally, despite the total ineptitude of Danny and his players, they eventually find themselves major underdogs in a climactic battle against Kevin's well-trained juggernaut. Director Duwayne Dunham and a team of four screenwriters hit all the expected sports film conventions, throwing in a few innocent romantic subplots and cameos by real football players for good measure. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

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Starring:
Rick MoranisEd O'Neill, (more)
 
1994  
PG13  
Director Jerry P. Jacobs made his feature debut with this martial arts action film starring Ted Jan Roberts as Ethan, a teen karate expert looking to uncover the truth surrounding the recent death of his older brother. Suspecting the involvement of a shady band of fellow martial artists, Ethan penetrates the group's inner circle in search of answers. Before all is said and done, Ethan will meet the leader of the team in a rousing one-on-one fight. A Dangerous Place also stars Corey Feldman and Dick Van Patten. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

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1994  
PG13  
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Dana Carvey plays a private detective who forgets everything when he goes to sleep at night, waking up each morning with a "clean slate," in this hit-and-miss comedy that plays like a companion piece to the much funnier Groundhog Day. Pogue (Carvey) is afflicted with his unique form of amnesia after getting injured in a car explosion. With the aid of a mysterious woman (Valeria Golino) who allegedly died in the bombing, he must find a priceless coin and evade the murderous clutches of the mobster (Michael Gambon) who executed the explosion and who wants to silence Pogue before he can testify against him. Carvey fares reasonably well in his role, but the best moments are provided by Pogue's dog, a one-eyed Jack Russell named Barkley who makes a habit out of running into things headfirst. ~ Don Kaye, Rovi

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Starring:
Dana CarveyValeria Golino, (more)
 
1993  
R  
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What's Love Got to Do With It? is the filmed biography of R&B/pop singer Tina Turner (Angela Bassett), documenting her efforts to break away from her abusive husband Ike (Laurence Fishburne). After a few scenes detailing Tina's life as a young singer in Nutbush, TN, she's discovered by Ike Turner, an already established songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. Ike takes Tina under his wing and makes her a star, but her fame makes him jealous and abusive, and she has to struggle to break free of his domination. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

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Starring:
Angela BassettLaurence Fishburne, (more)
 
1993  
R  
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This erotic psychological thriller marks the feature film debut of popular actress Pamela Anderson in a leading role. After two johns were murdered while having sex with a prostitute, Sergeant Peg Peckham (Chelsea Field) is transferred from the vice squad to homicide and assigned to investigate. Peg's determined to catch the killer, who could be a female serial killer, and asks her police psychologist boyfriend David Stratton (Steven Bauer) for a profile. In the meantime, David has become attracted to a new patient, Felicity (Anderson), an amnesia sufferer who is having violent recurring dreams in which she murders her lovers. Although the connection to Peg's case seems obvious, Felicity doesn't fit the psychological profile, and her bombshell beauty is having an intoxicating effect on David. Snapdragon (1993) was co-written by actress Terri Treas of the Alien Nation TV series and telefilms. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

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1992  
R  
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This riveting, fact-based made-for-cable drama follows the fight of Air Force widow Janet Harduvel to clear the name of her late husband, a pilot who died when his F-16 crashed. The official cause of the mishap was listed as "pilot error," but Harduvel refuses to believe this and so launches her own investigation. She soon discovers that the problem was with the plane itself and that the Air Force is trying very hard to conceal crucial facts. Despite the bureaucracy and obstacles, the determined widow continues fighting until she finds herself facing down a major military contractor, General Dynamics, in court. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

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Starring:
Laura DernRobert Loggia, (more)
 
1992  
PG13  
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The made-for-cable satirical comedy Running Mates is about a bachelor U.S. Senator named Hugh (Ed Harris), who falls in love with Aggie (Diane Keaton), a widowed children's author, while he is running for president. Though she hates politics, she finds something charming in the slick Hugh and agrees to marry him. Unfortunately, the press finds something suspicious within Aggie's past, and it could sink his campaign. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

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1992  
 
A man trying to help out his sister finds himself chin-deep in hot water in this screwball comedy. Yuppie businessman Bill Campbell (Matthew Broderick) is close to sealing a $140 million business deal when he gets a phone call from his little sister Marci (Courtney Peldon), who is convinced that her new stepfather, Peter Van Der Haven (Jeffrey Jones), the mayor of the city of Buzzsaw, California, is up to no good. Though understandably wary, Bill heads to Buzzsaw, where he promptly loses his paperwork on the deal in progress and is confronted by the city's remarkable collection of eccentrics, including the crazed fugitive Sally (Heidi Kling), the subnormal Jim Jr. and Jim Sr. (John C. Reilly and Michael Monks), and Ann (Marian Mercer), the mayor's loopy wife. It turns out that Marci wasn't entirely wrong; year's ago, Peter's diabolical twin brother Matt (also played by Jones) was sent to jail in his brother's place on criminal charges, and now Matt has violent revenge on his mind. Out on a Limb features an original score by noted composer and arranger Van Dyke Parks. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Starring:
Matthew BroderickJeffrey Jones, (more)
 
1991  
 
In this drama a Florida newspaper owner's daughter gets involved with her daddy's biggest competitor who uses her to help destroy her father's business. Trouble ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

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1991  
 
Jack Scalia stars as a Hollywood policeman whose wife (Joan Severance) will stop at nothing to claim a $2 million inheritance. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi

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1991  
PG13  
A new principal is imported to Rock 'n' Roll High to put the clamps on the rock-inspired rebelliousness that has the local school board quite concerned. The lady principal is a terse-lipped brute who's up against the predictable shenanigans concocted by school rebels. Will it be rock and roll forever, or will the Muses be forever squelched? ~ Rovi

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Starring:
Corey FeldmanMary Woronov, (more)