Tony Shalhoub Movies
A uniquely gifted and versatile actor possessing the distinct ability to immerse himself in a role so convincingly that he becomes almost unrecognizable -- from a quality obsessed restaurateur (Big Night, 1996) to a master criminal bent on world domination (Spy Kids, 2001) -- one can always count on Tony Shalhoub to deliver a memorable performance no matter how small his role may be.Well-known to television audiences for his extended stint as a self-deprecating cabbie on the long-running series Wings, Shalhoub made the often-painful transition from television to film with a grace seldom seen. Born on October 9th, 1953 in Green Bay, WI, Shalhoub developed his passion for theater at the youthful age of six when he volunteered via his sister to play an extra in a high-school production of The King and I. Shalhoub was hooked. After earning his master's degree from the Yale Drama School and spending four seasons at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, MA, Shalhoub packed his bags for New York where he began a luminous career on Broadway. Broadway brought Shalhoub success not only in his career, but in his personal life as well: he was nominated for a Tony for his role in Conversations With My Father and he met his future wife, actress Brooke Adams, while acting in The Heidi Chronicles. It was not long after his Broadway success that Shalhoub made his feature debut, as a doctor in the 1990 AIDS drama Longtime Companion.
Shalhoub's film career has been a testament to his range and a compliment to his abilities. Though prone to comedy, his dramatic roles have gained him just as much, if not more, recognition than his comedic roles. Winning the Best Supporting Actor award from the National Society of Film Critics for his well-researched role in Big Night (1996), Shalhoub expanded his dramatic film repertoire with roles in A Civil Action and The Siege (both 1998), while always maintaining his knack for humor (1997's Men in Black). Shalhoub's role as the ultra-mellow "anti-Scottie" in the Star Trek send-up Galaxy Quest (1999) proved that his comic persona was indeed still as sharp as ever. Sticking in the sci-fi/fantasy mold for his roles in Imposter and Spy Kids (both 2001), Shalhoub once again proved that he could do 180-degree character turnarounds with ease.
Though Shalhoub would stay in sci-fi mode for his role in Men in Black 2, he would return to solid ground with his role as an obsessive-compulsive detective in the well-received television pilot Monk (2002). Directed by Galaxy Quest helmer Dean Parisot, the pilot for Monk successfully paved the way for the curiously innovative USA series to follow and found the actor warmly re-embracing the medium that had propelled him to stardom. As Monk's popularity continued to grow, Shaloub found success on the big screen in the role of a gifted psychologist for The Great New Wonderful (2005), and voiced the lovable Luigi in Cars (2006) and Cars 2 (2011). In 2007, he worked alongside John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson for the supernatural horror film 1408.
~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Oscar-winning director Curtis Hanson (8 Mile, L.A. Confidential) adapts author Andrew Ross Sorkin's penetrating expose of the 2008 Wall Street financial crisis in this made-for-HBO docudrama featuring an all-star cast. As the U.S. economy hits the skids, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson (William Hurt) finds himself caught up in a critical battle of wills between the key players on Wall Street, and the powers that be in Washington, D.C. With just weeks to go before the country plunges into the most devastating financial crash since the Great Depression, the powerbrokers on both sides scramble to pull the failing economy back from the brink of disaster. Ed Asner, Billy Crudup, Paul Giamatti, Cynthia Nixon, James Woods, Tony Shalhoub, and Topher Grace co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- William Hurt, Ed Asner, (more)
This sequel to the 2006 hit follows racing legend Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) and his trusty sidekick, Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) as they secure their passports and take part in the biggest race on the planet. As the first-ever World Grand Prix approaches, cars from every continent prepare for the ultimate competition. But who will have what it takes to become the fastest car on the planet? Just as Lightning McQueen edges up to the starting line, however, his old pal Mater gets sidetracked on a top-secret spy mission that takes him from Japan to Europe as the entire world watches. Thankfully Mater's friends are always willing to lend a helping wheel, and as the race gets under way, everyone shifts into high gear to help out an old friend. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, (more)
Director James L. Brooks returns to the helm for this ensemble comedy starring Reese Witherspoon, Jack Nicholson, Paul Rudd, and Owen Wilson, which centers on the story of a passionate athlete who finds herself romantically torn between a narcissistic baseball star and a straight-laced businessman. As far back as Lisa (Witherspoon) can remember, her life has been defined by sports. Then, in the blink of an eye, she's cut from the team. With her identity in crisis as she attempts to regain her footing in life, Lisa begins dating Matty (Wilson), a Major League Baseball pitcher and notorious womanizer. Meanwhile, terminally honest businessman George (Rudd) finds himself on the road to financial ruin or worse after being wrongly implicated in a financial crime. As George struggles to clear his name and reconcile his turbulent relationship with his father, Charles (Nicholson), a chance meeting with Lisa at the lowest point in both of their lives leaves him optimistic that things may work out after all. Meanwhile, Lisa and George both realize that the only thing that's certain about the future is that we never know what fate has in store for us. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, (more)
Successful children's book author Joe Peterson (Ross Partridge) attempts to beat a bad case of writer's block by spending Christmas in Wisconsin, and discovers that a little winter chill might be just the ticket to recapturing his creativity. Most Christmases, you might find Joe soaking up the sun on Venice Beach. But this year, the best-selling scribe just isn't feeling like himself. When Joe confesses to his best pal JP (Michael Chernus) that his imagination has simply stalled out, JP suggests that a few weeks in the Midwest may be just the thing to reawaken his muse. Upon arriving in the wintery Wisconsin town, Joe finds the cheerfulness of the quirky locals slightly grating. Later, when Joe strikes up a friendship with amiable Axel Anderson (Barry Corbin), things quickly start to look up. And though Axel's granddaughter Sif (Katie Aselton) quickly takes a shine to Joe as well, her father (Tony Shalhoub), the local sheriff, makes it crystal clear that he doesn't very much care for the newcomer. In an effort to recharge his creative batteries and ingratiate himself to the standoffish sheriff, Joe begins taking part in such small town traditions as singing with the church choir and taking a chilly Christmas Day dip in Lake Michigan. Inspired by his invigorating new adventures, the author quickly learns that the best way to beat the blues and live life to the fullest is to simply get out of his comfort zone and embrace the thrill of new experiences. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ross Partridge, Barry Corbin, (more)
Primetime Emmy Award and Golden Globe winner Tony Shalhoub is back for one last obsessively compulsive good time in the final season of the hit detective series Monk. From the very first moment detective Adrian Monk (Shalhoub) appeared on the scene, audiences have been hooked on this intelligent and irreverent sleuth who uses his quirky phobias and neuroses to solve crimes in a way other detectives just can't. Join him now as he reunites with former colleagues and friends from seasons past - as well as guest stars Elizabeth Perkins (Weeds), Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Lost), Daniel Stern (The Wonder Years) and many more - for some of the most riveting cases yet, including the one that has haunted him for the past eight seasons. Critics and fans agree that "...there is something undeniably stirring about watching Tony Shalhoub's Mr. Monk take his victory lap" (Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times).
- Starring:
- Tony Shalhoub, Traylor Howard, (more)
Filmmaker Peter Miller explores the crimes, trial, and execution of notorious 20th-century anarchists Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti in a documentary that highlights just how this landmark case came to symbolize the injustice and intolerance experienced by immigrants longing to pursue their dreams in the land of the free. It was 1920 when Italian immigrant anarchists Sacco and Vanzetti were accused of murder in Massachusetts. Seven years later, when the jurors delivered their final verdict in a notoriously prejudiced trial, both men were condemned to death despite massive protests both in the U.S. and abroad. Eight decades later, as America continues to wrestle with issues of civil rights, immigrant liberties, and dissent, the case of Sacco and Vanzetti continues to resonate. In addition to balancing the personal and political aspects of the case as well as looking into the legal climate of the era, Miller's film brings the prison writings of Sacco and Vanzetti to life as never before as Tony Shalhoub and John Turturro read the deeply personal letters written by the pair during their ordeal. Additional music, artwork, poetry, and film clips inspired by the case propel the narrative by highlighting just what a lasting impression the Sacco and Vanzetti case has had on American culture. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- 2007
- PG13
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A writer renowned for debunking infamous paranormal events is confronted by a force that he cannot explain upon checking into room 1408 of the notoriously haunted Dolphin Hotel. Mike Enslin (John Cusack) is an author who specializes in horror, but who only believes in what he can see with his eyes and touch with his hands. Having constructed an entire career on his ability to dispel superstitious "haunted house" rumors, Mike is convinced that the afterlife is a manmade construct designed to offer false comfort to the weak minded. Mike's latest project is a book entitled "Ten Nights in Haunted Hotel Rooms," and it seems that in room 1408 of the Dolphin Hotel, this skeptical scribe may finally find proof of the supernatural. Implored by the hotel manager (Samuel L. Jackson) not to enter room 1408, Mike defiantly procures the key and prepares to dispel yet another spectral sham. Now, as is the case with many of life's most profound epiphanies, the writer who thought he knew it all is caught entirely off guard at the precise moment he least expected it. Subsequently faced with undeniable proof of an afterlife, Mike may have a best-seller on his hands if he can simply survive until sunrise. Mary McCormack and Jasmine Jessica Anthony co-star in director Mikael Håfström's (Derailed) adaptation of an original short story by horror icon Stephen King. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson, (more)
A gruesome discovery sends an inquisitive bookstore clerk on a wild trip through the bizarre underbelly of Los Angeles in this quirky comedy mystery starring Colin Hanks and Tony Shalhoub. Wiley Roth (Hanks) is a sucker for a good whodunit, so when he discovers a severed finger on his kitchen floor, his detective instincts seem to naturally kick in. Perhaps with the aid of his eccentric father (Shalhoub) and his resourceful best friend (Fran Kranz) this amateur sleuth can track down the owner of this disconnected digit. Somewhere in the process of chasing leads, contending with incompetent cops, consulting with shady taxidermists, and dealing with his mysterious neighbors, Wiley discovers that the finger might just belong to the nine-fingered girl of his dreams (Rachel Blanchard). ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tony Shalhoub, Colin Hanks, (more)
The heightened racial tensions of post-9/11 America are at the center of this 2007 drama, the feature debut from director Hesham Issawi. Co-writer Sayed Badreya stars as Mustafa, an Egyptian-born entrepreneur facing the daily challenges of an Arab Muslim living in Los Angeles and hoping to open a restaurant with his Jewish best friend, played by Tony Shalhoub. As Mustafa is met with friction for this unlikely plan, several other stories of adversity in the Arab-American community unfold around him. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi
- Starring:
- Sayed Badreya, Tony Shalhoub, (more)
TV's favorite obsessive-compulsive, phobia-ridden detective is back for another 16 hour-long episode in the fifth season of Monk. The opener finds former San Francisco homicide detective Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub) bedevilled by an egotistical movie star (Stanley Tucci) who is slated to portray Monk in an upcoming movie. But this irritation is a mere pinprick compared to what is in store for our hero in subsequent episodes. For example, in the episode "Mr. Monk Can't See a Thing", the detective faces the possibility of permanent blindess after an "accidental" firehouse explosion. In "Mr. Monk's Class Reunion", Monk must again confront bitter memories of his wife's murder, all the while endeavoring to save a former classmate from a similar demise (by the way, this is the episode in which we discover that Monk attended the University of California at Berkeley--and that his college nickame was "Captain Cool") Equally traumatic is the prospect that Monk's longtime psychiatrist Dr. Kroger (Stanley Kamel) will retire in disgrace after one of his former patients is accused of murder in "Mr. Monk Gets a New Shrink". On a lighter note, in "Mr. Monk Makes a Friend" the infamously neurotic detective is inexplicably befriended by a seemingly neurosis-free guy named Hal, played by comedian Andy Richter. And when he goes undercover as the butler to a suspected murderer in "Mr. Monk Is at Your Service", Monk's list of 311 phobias is suddenly increased to 312 when he develops an overwhelming aversion to frogs. Two of the more noteworthy episodes this season are "Mr. Monk, Private Eye" in which Sharon Lawrence is introduced as Linda Fusco, who will become the new love interest for the recently divorced Captain Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine; and the self-explantory Yuletide installment "r. Monk Meets His Dad", with Dan Hedaya in the title role. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tony Shalhoub, Traylor Howard, (more)
A pedal-to-the-metal race car determined to prove his worth on the tracks discovers that life isn't always about crossing the finish line first in Toy Story director John Lasseter's mechanically minded tale of friendship and loyalty. Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) may be just a rookie, but he's convinced that he can realize his dream of zooming by the checkered flag if he can only make it to California in time to compete in the upcoming Piston Cup Championship. When Lightning takes a detour into the slow-moving, Route 66 town of Radiator Springs, however, it begins to appear as if his shot at the big time has effectively stalled out. Of course, Lightning's exciting cross-country trek wasn't all for naught, and after befriending such quirky Radiator Springs residents as Sally the Porsche (voice of Bonnie Hunt), Doc Hudson (voice of Paul Newman), and Mater the Tow Truck (voice of Larry the Cable Guy), the eager young racer learns that sometimes life is more about the voyage than the outcome of the race. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, (more)
Season Four of Monk offers 16 new episodes (and a bonus) delineating the adventures of obsessive-compulsive detective Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub). Functioning as Monk's erstwhile caregiver and assistant this season is Traylor Howard as Valerie Teeger, who had taken over from our hero's previous nurse Sharona Fleming in the middle of Season Three, due to the defection of supporting actress Bitty Schram. In the season opener, Monk meets his match--or so it seems--in the form of know-it-all detective Marty Eels (played by ex-Seinfeld costar Jason Alexander). Next up, John Turturo returns as Monk's agoraphobic brother Ambrose in a Halloween story that also involves the siblings' long-lost father. Then, Natalie takes over for a bedridden Monk to tackle the case of a murdered pizza deliveryman. To solve a subsequent homicide, Monk goes undercover at a business office--and finds he enjoys the work so much he almost loses sight of why he's there. Later on, Monk goes off on an unexpected bender in wine country, sobering up long enough to crack the case of a murder with a "nonexistent" victim. A dash of poignancy is added to the mixture when Monk finds out that his late wife Trudy may still be alive--and that she might have committed murder. And the episode "Mr. Monk and the Big Reward" introduces three brand-new, markedly eccentric detective characters, suggesting that the episode may have been intended as the pilot for a spinoff series. Other cases this season include the attempted murder of Monk's police buddy Lt. Disher (Jason Gray-Stanford) at the wedding of Natalie's brother, and a less-than-sentimental journey to the past when Monk comes to the rescue of his childhood crush. Also: the death of a model whisks Monk off to the world of high-fashion (and bulimia!); an amnesiac Monk is led to believe that he is the husband of a small-town woman named Cora (Roseanne's Laurie Metcalf); Monk's police colleague Captain Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine) can't keep his mind on his work when he suspects that his "hippie" wife Karen (Glenne Headly) is having an affair; Monk sets out to prove an astronaut committed a murder that took place when the suspect was orbiting the earth; and a visit to the dentist's office leaves Monk at the mercy of a robber-murderer who seems to be a big fan of Marathon Man. In the season finale, Monk is summoned to jury duty for a minor robbery trial--and ends up solving yet another murder, not to mention foiling a scheme to spring a big-time criminal. In addition to the above-mentioned episodes, Season Four of Monk yields a special Christmas edition, "Monk and the Secret Santa", wherein murder rears its ugly head at the height of the SFPD's annual Holiday party--with Captain Stottlemeyer as the apparent target! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tony Shalhoub, Traylor Howard, (more)
A collection of everyday New Yorkers struggle to carry on with their increasingly stressful lives a year after the city was forever changed by the 9/11 terrorist attacks in Brooklyn-native Danny Leiner's ensemble-cast slice of life. Dr. Trabulous (Tony Shalhoub) is a gifted psychologist with a special knack for truly understanding his patients. When an ordinary businessman (Jim Gaffigan) who has witnessed a terrible office tragedy seeks to gain the insight of the seasoned professional, Dr. Trabulous helps to release a hidden rage that has slowly been eating away at the man's troubled soul. Meanwhile, in the culinary world, Great New Wonderful pastry shop proprietor Emme Keeler (Maggie Gyllenhaal) is about to discover that unseating the woman known as the Queen of Cake (Edie Falco) doesn't come without some heavy consequences. Elsewhere in the city, troubled couple Allison (Judy Greer) and David Burbage (Tom McCarthy) fight to save their marriage and break through to their curiously overconfident ten-year-old boy. Avi (Naseeruddin Shah) and Satish (Sharat Saxena) are immigrants and best friends who work together as security guards and wander the city making observations about contemporary America until their opposing perspectives are challenged by an unexpected development in their lives that neither saw coming. And despite the comfort she takes in her daily routine, Julie Berman (Olympia Dukakis) discovers that her passion for life has long since died, until a visit with a childhood friend helps her to realize just what she's been missing all these lonely years. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Maggie Gyllenhaal, Olympia Dukakis, (more)
- 2005
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A pair of pint-sized rock stars wrestle with the perils of stardom, icky girls, and too much soda pop in this mockumentary comedy. Nine-year-old Nat Wolff is the singer, guitarist and songwriter for a rock band known as the Silver Bullets, which features his six-year-old brother, Alex Wolff, on the drums. With the help of their equally youthful bandmates Joshua Kaye, Thomas Batuello, and David Levi, Nat and Alex have built the Silver Bullets into one of the most popular groups on Earth, thanks to the business acumen of their manager, Cooper Pillot, and despite the uncalled-for assistance of Nat and Alex's accordion-wielding father (Michael Wolff). But life at the top isn't always easy, and creative differences begin to drive a wedge into the group when Nat insists they record a love ballad dedicated to his nine-year-old girlfriend, Rosalina (Allie Dimeco), while his bandmates would prefer to cut Thomas' "Boys Rule, Girls Drool." As the squabbling continues and Alex becomes addicted to lemon-lime soda, the Silver Bullets break up, but will the pleas of their many fans encourage them to reunite? The Naked Brothers Band was written and directed by Polly Draper, who happens to be Nat and Alex's real-life mom; the Silver Bullets write and perform their own material, and Draper was inspired by her kids' pre-teen musical exploits. Julianne Moore, Uma Thurman, and Cyndi Lauper make cameo appearances as some of the group's better-known fans. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Nat Wolff, Alex Wolff, (more)
Charles S. Dutton's feature-length directorial debut Against the Ropes is based on the real-life story of Jackie Kallen, a Jewish woman from Detroit who became a successful boxing manager. Played by Meg Ryan, Kallen works her way up in the world of boxing by believing in the fighting skills of Luther Shaw (Omar Epps). Director Dutton appears as veteran trainer Felix Reynolds, whom Kallen encourages to come out of retirement. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi
The first episode of Monk's third season resolves the cliffhanger set up at the end of season two, as obsessive-compulsive consulting detective Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub) trepidly follows a trail of clues from San Francisco to New York in hopes of solving the murder of his beloved wife, Trudy. In a later caper, animal-phobic Monk is forced to babysit a chimpanzee who has been accused of shooting his owner to death! Still later, Monk is fired by the police commissioner for making an embarrassing boo-boo, but wins back his job literally by a hair. Also, our hyper-sensitive hero tries to figure out how a man who was murdered in 1995 could turn up "newly" dead during a citywide blackout; he utilizes his photographic memory to the "max" while trying to trip up the homicidal host of a popular TV game; he is forced to go into protective custody, driving the federal agent (Josh Stamberg) assigned to protect him to the brink of insanity; and he proves that professional jealousy was not the motive in the murder of a "model" employee at his local mega-mart. During the first half of the season, Monk is assisted by his faithful nurse, Sharona Fleming, played by Bitty Schram. When the actress left the show over a salary dispute, Monk was given a new assistant in the form of Natalie Teeger (Traylor Howard), a former bartender and the single mother of an 11-year-old daughter. The season finale finds the hapless Monk, who lives in mortal terror of dirty diapers and mother's milk, forming a strong bond with a 22-month-old child who may be able to provide a vital clue in a strange murder and stranger kidnapping. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tony Shalhoub, Bitty Schram, (more)
Directed by Jeff Nathanson, The Last Shot follows what happens when, like so many aspiring entertainers, the FBI gets caught up in the grandeur of showbiz. When Agent Joe Devine (Alec Baldwin) is given a key role in an elaborate scheme to take down the infamous mob boss John Gotti, he gladly accepts the assignment and goes undercover as a Hollywood producer. Before long, he has assembled an unwitting cast, including aspiring director Steven Schatz (Matthew Broderick), who agrees to direct for Devine without realizing the entire production is merely a front for the investigation. As Agent Devine and several of his cohorts from the bureau begin enjoying their lives as self-appointed industry players, however, justice takes a backseat as the would-be law-enforcement operatives put all of the passion into turning what began as a sham movie project into a true Hollywood contender. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi
- Starring:
- Matthew Broderick, Alec Baldwin, (more)
The first American theatrically released 3-D movie from a major studio since 1991's Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare, Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over is the third entry in three years in Robert Rodriguez's family-oriented action-adventure series. Along with the four members of the Cortez family, played by Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, Alexa Vega, and Daryl Sabara, most of the characters from the first two films have returned, including Fegan Floop (Alan Cumming), Romero (Steve Buscemi), Machete (Danny Trejo), Dinky Winks (Bill Paxton), and Donnagon (Mike Judge). This time around, Carmen (Vega) is kidnapped by the evil Toymaker (Sylvester Stallone) and imprisoned inside a virtual-reality game. It's then up to Juni (Sabara) to venture into the game and save his sister from the villain's clutches. The film's three-dimensional segments take place inside the game. Also starring Salma Hayek, Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over is actually the first of two 2003 films directed by Rodriguez that complete a trilogy, the other being Once Upon a Time in Mexico, the third installment in the El Mariachi saga. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi
- Starring:
- Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, (more)
America's favorite super-phobic, obsessive-compulsive detective is back on the job as Monk launches its second season. Still freelancing as a consultant for the SFPD, and ever hoping that he will one day be reinstated on the force as a full detective, the hilariously hypersensitive Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub) gingerly picks through clues and braves such "horrors" as dirty sewer water, large crowds, and darkened rooms, aided and abetted by his nurse, Sharona Fleming (Bitty Schram). This season's case load begins as Monk visits the school where his late wife, Trudy, was once employed, whereupon he probes into the highly suspect "suicide" of an English teacher. Subsequent episodes find Monk nervously traveling to Mexico to determine how a man could possibly drown in mid-air; developing a symbiotic relationship with a baseball player suspected of killing his wife; doing his best to avoid investigating a murder in which a key piece of evidence is a nude picture of Sharona; calling a truce in his ongoing feud with his brother Ambrose (John Turtorro) to deal with a "life or death" situation involving, of all things, a cherry pie; piecing together enough evidence to trap the host of a popular "true crime" TV series who has committed murder over residuals; offering to locate a kidnapped grandmother, whose abductors have demand a ransom consisting of hot turkey dinners; and coming to the rescue of Sharona's actress sister (Amy Sedaris), accused of killing a fellow actor during a performance. New to the series this season is Glenne Headley in the recurring role of Karen Stottlemeyer, wife of Monk's long-suffering boss Captain Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine), who insists upon invading her husband's office to film her air-headed documentaries. The season ends on a cliffhanger, as Monk goes to prison to flush out a nest of neo-Nazis. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tony Shalhoub, Bitty Schram, (more)
Award-winning actor Tony Shalhoub adds the "director" hyphenate to his calling card with this labor of love, starring his wife, Brooke Adams, and written by his sister-in-law, Lynne Adams. Made-Up lightly parodies the reality-TV "makeover" craze as it tells the tale of Elizabeth (Brooke Adams), a middle-aged divorcée who agrees to be made over by her daughter Sara (Eva Amurri), a process which will be documented for eternity by her aspiring-filmmaker sister, Kate (Lynne Adams). A former actress still smarting over her long-since faded stardom, Elizabeth is none too pleased at having her transformation videotaped, but she goes along with it, and soon finds that her "new you" is winning over the affections of a new beau, restaurateur Max (Shalhoub). But self-doubt continues to nag at Elizabeth, to the point where she almost undermines her own chances at romance. Lynne Adams based her screenplay on her own one-woman play; Gary Sinise makes an appearance as Elizabeth's ex-husband. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi
- Starring:
- Brooke Adams, Lynne Adams, (more)
Having been put on administrative leave following his nervous breakdown after the unsolved murder of his wife, Trudy, brilliant homicide detective Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub) returns to work as Monk begins its first season. Unfortunately, during his three years away from the San Francisco Police Department, Monk has morphed into the "obsessive-compulsive" to end all obsessive-compulsives, with a mortal fear of everything from cow's milk to unshined shoes. However, Monk's affliction has sharpened his photographic memory and attention to the most infinitesimal of details, thus his many eccentricities are tolerated by his old friend SFPD captain Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine) and his deputy Lt. Randall Disher (Jason Gray-Stanford). Still, the department balks at fully reinstating Monk until he is "cured" (as if!), so our hyper-phobic hero works in a freelance capacity. Acting as Monk's assistant is his loyal nurse, Sharona Fleming (Bitty Schram). Monk's first case has him diligently determining a link between two apparently unconnected crimes, the murder of a young woman and the attempted assassination of a mayoral candidate. In subsequent episodes, Monk pulls the rug out from under a phony psychic detective; attempts to ascertain if an 800-pound man was capable of committing a murder that would have required a very slim assailant; tries to figure out how a man could be stabbed atop a ferris wheel without any witnesses; looks into the mystery of the "billionaire mugger"; struggles to clear a murder suspect who bears a startling resemblance to his late wife; hunts for clues at "the cleanest crime scene in crime history"; agonizingly endures a cross-country flight to solve a killing and unmask an impostor; and, during a brief rest stop at a mental institution, follows a trail of murder patients to the likely perpetrator -- and this while spending most of his time in a straitjacket! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tony Shalhoub, Bitty Schram, (more)
- 2002
- PG
- Add Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams to Queue Add Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams to top of Queue
The prepubescent, globetrotting, super-spy sibling duo from director Robert Rodriguez's surprise 2001 hit Spy Kids is back to save the world for a second time in this bigger-budget, larger-scale sequel. Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams opens with our heroes Carmen and Juni (Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara), now official OSS agents, in the midst of another crisis situation: They have to reclaim to the powerful Transmooker Device from the clutches of those who might try to use it to permanently disable energy on Earth. Their quest leads them to the tropical lair of Romero (Steve Buscemi), an unhinged scientist who retreated into seclusion after a daring experiment backfired on him -- as well as on a whole breed of mutant creatures. As if finding the Transmooker weren't enough, Carmen and Juni have to contend with another set of mini-spies, Gary and Gerti Giggles (Matt O'Leary and Emily Osment), who are eager to one-up the world's most-respected spy kids. Returning to Spy Kids 2 are parents Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino, as well as the evil-doers of the first film, Alan Cummings and Tony Shalhoub. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi
- Starring:
- Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, (more)
- 2002
The versatile Tony Shalhoub starred in this weekly, hour-long mystery series as Adrian Monk, an unorthodox but undeniably brilliant San Francisco police detective. Quitting the force after the death of his wife, Monk suddenly began developing profound and bizarre obsessive-compulsive tendencies, allowing his many phobias -- including a morbid fear of heights, germs, darkness, crowds, even dairy products -- to compromise his skills as a forensic investigator. Nonetheless, Monk flourished as a private detective with the help of his live-in nurse Sharona Fleming (Bitty Schram) and the grudging assistance of his envious former SFPD superior Captain Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine). A marvelous blend of high humor and deadly seriousness (in the two-hour opener, Monk had to chase a perpetrator into the sewer system, nearly causing him to go into a hissy-fit when his immaculate wardrobe picked up a stain or two), Monk debuted with much fanfare over the USA cable network on July 12, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tony Shalhoub
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