Jean Smart Movies
Don't let actress Jean Smart's filmography fool you, because though she seems to have a penchant for appearing in fairly light-hearted fare of the family-oriented variety, she possesses all the skill of the most talented dramatic stage and screen actresses around. Unafraid to take the sort of risks necessary to keep her career and her personal life in fair balance, fans balked when Smart left television's hugely popular Designing Women while the series was in its prime, though her subsequent performances have found her sound judgment well justified. A Seattle native who received her B.A. from the University of Washington, it wasn't long before Smart was taking the stage at the 1975 Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Relocating to New York City, Smart's performance in the off-Broadway play Last Summer at Bluefish Cove earned the emerging actress a Drama Desk nomination. Her performance in the Broadway production of Piaf found Smart heading to Hollywood to tape the play for PBS, and it wasn't long before she began appearing in such films as Protocol (1984) and Project X (1987). A pivotal moment came when Smart was cast in the television series Designing Women; following the show's premier in 1986 she would remain a member of the cast until the 1991 season. It was while on that series that friend and fellow castmate Delta Burke set Smart up on a date with actor Richard Gilliland, whom Smart would later wed. The birth of their son Conner prompted Smart to reassess her career; though she would soon depart from Designing Women, she would continue to act in such efforts as the television feature Locked Up: A Mother's Rage (1991) and Overkill: The Aileen Wuornos Story (1992), in which she essayed the role of America's most notorious female serial killer. As the 1990s progressed Smart became something of a television fixture, and performances in The Yearling (1994) and A Change of Heart (1998) found her career continuing to flourish. Roles in such features as Disney's The Kid and Snow Day (2000) found Smart ever more associated with family-friendly fare, an association which she would continue to embrace with a role in the 2002 Disney Channel animated series Kim Possible. Other series in which Smart appeared included Hercules, Frasier, and The Oblongs; and in 2003 Smart teamed with her husband for the Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation of Audrey's Rain.In 2004, Smart joined the cast of the bittersweet romantic comedy Garden State, and made a brief appearance in I Heart Huckabees during the same year. In 2006, Smart was earned nominations for two Emmy awards (Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series and Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series) for her turn as the mentally fragile First Lady of the United States, whom she portrayed in the fifth season of 24. The actress wouldn't win an Emmy, however, until 2008, when she took home the coveted award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role on the sitcom Samantha, Who?. Smart played another mother in the film adaptation of C.D. Payne's novel Youth in Revolt in 2009, and took on the role of Hawaii Governor Pat Jameson for Hawaii Five-0, the CBS remake of the popular 1970s police procedural of the same name. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Superbad's Michael Cera discovers a vacation romance in Youth in Revolt, a teen comedy from Charlie Bartlett's screenwriter, Gustin Nash, and director Miguel Arteta (Chuck & Buck). The film is an adaptation of C.D. Payne's first book in a series of best-selling satirical novels starring Nick Twisp, a sexually charged 14-year-old whose intelligence and hormones get him into all sorts of adventures. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Cera, Portia Doubleday, (more)
Patrick Wilson, Chloë Sevigny, Judy Greer, and Cybill Shepherd headline first-time writer/director Chris D'Arienzo's dark comedy concerning a die-hard womanizer who finds himself named as the defendant in a paternity suit after losing his testicles in a violent street attack. Adapted from author Frank Turner Hollan's novel of the same name, Barry Munday stars Wilson as the titular character -- a man known for having a special way with the ladies. One day, after waking up in a hospital room to discover that the family jewels have suddenly gone missing, Munday is shocked to find himself slapped with a paternity suit by a woman (Greer) he can't even remember sleeping with. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Patrick Wilson, Judy Greer, (more)
Ray Liotta and Cuba Gooding, Jr. star in this tense crime thriller concerning a small town trash collector whose dangerous plan to impress a pretty girl goes tragically awry. Liam Case (Gooding, Jr.) is a garbage man whose life hasn't quite turned out the way he expected it would. In order to impress the girl of his dreams, Liam plans an elaborate heist that will culminate with him jumping in to save the day at the last minute. When the day of the heist arrives, however, the plan takes an unexpected turn and Liam winds up in the hospital. Upon learning that a mysterious killer has slain the criminal that left both himself and the bank teller for dead during the chaos of the robbery, Liam realizes that the associates of the murdered thief won't stop until they have avenged the death of their fallen partner in crime. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Cuba Gooding, Jr., Ray Liotta, (more)
- 2007
CTU's Mike Doyle (Ricky Schroder) is tasked with saving Jack from the Russians. Meanwhile, Logan seeks the help of his ex-wife Martha. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi
A professional poker player whose astounding luck at the table fails to translate into his lonesome love life attempts to win the World Series of Poker while simultaneously earning the affections of a beautiful Las Vegas singer in a high-stakes emotional drama from L.A. Confidential director Curtis Hanson and Munich screenwriter Eric Roth. When his personal problems threaten to distract him from what could be his biggest win ever, seasoned poker pro Huck Cheever (Eric Bana) finds comfort in the company of singer Billie Offer (Drew Barrymore). Upon preparing for the biggest card game in the country, however, Huck soon realizes that his problems have only just begun when he finds that his opponent at the table will be none other than his estranged father, L.C. (Robert Duvall), a poker legend whose mythical reputation makes him a more than worthy opponent for his troubled son. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Eric Bana, Drew Barrymore, (more)
The threat to the United States in Season 5's white-knuckle day is Russian separatists armed with weaponized nerve gas and led by Vladimir Bierko (Julian Sands). Inciting their ire is an arms and mutual defense treaty that Russian president Yuri Suvarov (Nick Jameson) plans on signing with the U.S. and duplicitous president Charles Logan (Gregory Itzin). As Day 5 begins, Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland), who faked his own demise at the close of last season, is working at an oil refinery in California under the name Frank Flynn. He returns from his self-imposed exile to fight the good fight after an assassination rocks the nation and he finds himself framed for it and several other crimes. Jack is also reunited with former love interest Audrey Raines (Kim Raver), but tumult continues to follow them. Meanwhile at CTU, there's a new man brought in to oversee operations, Lynn McGill (Sean Astin), and once again, there's a mole in the ranks. A significant subplot centers on Christopher Henderson (Peter Weller), Jack's mentor-turned-nemesis who has information that can help Jack thwart the Russians. Another thread follows First Lady Martha Logan (Jean Smart), who grows increasingly disdainful of her husband's actions in office. ~ Fred Mitchell, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kiefer Sutherland
Noble dog Balto returns in this direct-to-video sequel to the popular animated adventure that bears his name. Balto (voice of Maurice LaMarche) has retired from his chores as a sled dog, and his son Kodi (voice of Sean Astin) has taken his place. But Kodi's livelihood may be in danger when mail airplanes come to the frozen North, which threaten to make the post office's dog teams obsolete. In order to determine who can deliver the mail faster, the pilot of the carrier plane challenges the leaders of the dog teams to a race; however, when the mail plane is involved in a serious accident, Balto and Kodi must put aside the rivalry to help save injured pilot Duke (voice of Keith Carradine). Balto III: Winds of Change also features the voice talents of Jean Smart, David Paymer and Kathy Najimy. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
In the wake of his success on the hit NBC sitcom Scrubs, actor Zach Braff made his debut behind the camera writing, directing, and starring in this bittersweet romantic comedy. Braff plays Andrew Largeman, a young man who has just received word of his mother's passing. With this news, Andrew returns to the town in which he grew up, where he is greeted by his father, Gideon (Ian Holm), a psychiatrist. In addition to mourning the loss of his mother, Andrew is also attempting to adjust to life without the emotionally numbing antidepressants that he has recently opted to discontinue using. Gradually, with the absence of the pills, his reconnection with his past, and the introduction of Sam (Natalie Portman), a woman who would seem to have little in common with him, into his life, Andrew is able to see the potential for some positive changes. Also starring Jean Smart and Peter Sarsgaard, Garden State was once titled Large's Ark and premiered at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi
- Starring:
- Zach Braff, Natalie Portman, (more)
- 2004
Having lived a respectable and rather dull existence for most of his time on earth, database designer Frank Griffin (Joe Mantegna) is rudely awakened from his ennui when his wife Ellen (Jean Smart) announces that she is having an affair and wants a divorce. Although the couple agrees to stay together for the present out of respect for their daughter Zoe (Jordy Benattar), it is clearly going to be an unhappy Christmas for Frank. In his efforts to get his mind off his problems, Frank signs up to be a volunteer Santa Claus, subjecting himself to a curious training regimen conducted by a relentlessly optimistic fellow named Ozzy (Charles Durning). Although his first Santa experiences are grueling, Frank finds a kindred spirit in photographer Donna (Kari Matchett), who has similarly split from her husband and is raising her son Gabe (Andrew Chalmers) by herself. In his efforts to help Donna and to patch up his own domestic troubles, Frank begins to wonder if he should consider a future not with Ellen but with Donna. . .and that's only the beginning of the story. A few mildly risqué scenes notwithstanding, A Very Married Christmas proved to be suitable family fare when it was first broadcast by CBS on December 5, 2004. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Five years after achieving commercial and critical success with his film Three Kings, director and screenwriter David O. Russell returns to the more idiosyncratic territory of his earlier work with this intelligent and offbeat comedy. Bernard and Vivian Jaffe (Dustin Hoffman and Lily Tomlin) are a married couple who run an existential detective agency where they sift through the lives of their clients in order to discover the source of their angst. The Jaffes' latest client is Albert Markovski (Jason Schwartzman), an environmental activist who has a very large rock and a great deal on his mind; their study of Albert's problems lead Bernard and Vivian to Brad Stand (Jude Law), a public relations executive with a chain of successful variety stores, Huckabees. While publicly allying himself with Albert's environmental initiatives, behind the scenes Brad is running roughshod over responsible land management with little care for the consequences. When Brad learns he's being watched by the Jaffes, he hopes to co-opt them by hiring them himself; however, the plan has unexpected consequences when their questioning leads Brad's girlfriend, well-scrubbed model Dawn (Naomi Watts), into reassessing her life and relationships. Meanwhile, Albert finds himself joining forces with Tommy (Mark Wahlberg), a firefighter and fellow environmentalist who has been having second thoughts about Bernard and Vivian's ideas and methods after a long-term investigation and has since fallen under the spell of nihilist poet and philosopher Caterine Vauban (Isabelle Huppert). ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jason Schwartzman, Isabelle Huppert, (more)
A man looking for a woman just like himself ends up with someone quite different in this farcical comedy. Peter Sanderson (Steve Martin) is a lawyer who is having trouble getting his life back on track after his wife, Kate (Jean Smart), divorces him; he's also adjusting to his new status as a single father. Looking for companionship, Peter tries an internet dating site and virtually meets "lawyer-girl," an attractive and single fellow attorney. Peter makes a date with her, but the woman who arrives at his door turns out to be Charlene Morton (Queen Latifah), who not only isn't a lawyer, she turns out to be an escaped convict. Charlene is also a brash and brassy African-American, while Peter is perhaps the most tightly wound white guy in L.A. Charlene explains to Peter that she's strung him along because she's innocent of the crime for which she was convicted, and she needs a top-notch attorney to help prove her case. Peter isn't the least bit interested at first, but Charlene isn't the sort of woman to take "no" for an answer, and in time she wears him down and agrees to help. As Charlene moves into Peter's home, she helps him to loosen up and unleash his inner groove, which quite surprises Kate, and her down-to-earth advice comes in handy for Peter's son and daughter. But Charlene may end up going too far when Peter is asked to entertain Mrs. Arness (Joan Plowright), a wealthy woman looking for a new law firm. Bringing Down the House also features Eugene Levy as Howie, one of Peter's friends who takes a keen interest in Charlene, and Betty White as one of Peter's neighbors. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Steve Martin, Queen Latifah, (more)
- 2003
The cast and creators of the popular sitcom Designing Women are reassembled in this hour-long special originally telecast on the Lifetime cable channel. Yielding 164 episodes from 1986 to 1993, Designing Women centered around the Atlanta design firm headquartered in the home of loquacious feminist Julia Sugarbaker (Dixie Carter). During the series' first few seasons, the firm's personnel included Julia's vapid, much-married sister, ex-beauty queen Suzanne (Delta Burke); divorced mother Mary Jo Jackson (Annie Potts); wide-eyed country girl Charlene (Jean Smart); and the ladies' chief delivery person and severest critic, former convict Anthony Bouvier (Meshach Taylor, who also hosts the reunion special). Created by Linda Bloodworth and Harry Thomason, the series gained a measure of fame (and not a little notoriety) for its pronounced liberal political content, not to mention its ceaseless stumping on behalf of the Bill Clinton presidential campaign of 1992. The Designing Women Reunion features interviews of the stars and clips from the series. When first telecast, it was followed by a broadcast of the series' original pilot episode. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Meshach Taylor, Delta Burke, (more)
- 2003
Based on a true story, this made-for-cable crime drama stars Jean Smart as veteran FBI agent and divorced mother Candace Long. Burned out by years of tracking down this most vicious criminals in America, Long is about to take a well-deserved retirement and devote her energies to her family and her current lover (A. Martinez), a married man. But she changes her mind and goes back to work with a vengeance when a serial rapist-killer preys upon one of her best friends. First telecast on the Lifetime network, Killer Instinct: From the Files of Agent Candace Long debuted October 6, 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jean Smart, A. Martinez, (more)
Having promised her dying mother that she would always look after her two young siblings (one of whom is mentally challenged), Audrey Walker (Jean Smart) has deliberately closed herself off from romantic relationships -- and indeed, from most of the other pleasures in life. Now in middle age, Audrey has devolved into a bitter, sharp-tongued spinster, resenting the manner in which her family has robbed her of a life of her own. Thus, Audrey is none too thrilled when, after her married sister commits suicide, she is saddled with raising the dead sibling's two children. Be assured, however, that our heroine's misery will be alleviated when her former boyfriend, Terry Lloyd (Richard Gilliland), comes back into her life to help her with her new responsibilities. Strategically scheduled to air on Mother's Day (or to be precise, on May 11, 2003), the made-for-cable Audrey's Rain was a presentation of the Hallmark Channel. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jean Smart, Richard Gilliland, (more)
After establishing herself as a bankable star with the fish out of water comedy Legally Blonde, Reese Witherspoon returns in what could be described as a "fish back in water" comedy. Melanie Carmichael (Witherspoon) is a successful New York fashion designer who is dating Andrew Hennings (Patrick Dempsey), a wealthy socialite whose mother, Katherine Hennings (Candice Bergen), is the Big Apple's mayor. One day, Andrew pops the big question and asks Melanie to marry him; Melanie is overjoyed, but unknown to Andrew, Melanie has some unfinished business to take care of first. Despite her polished uptown image, Melanie grew up poor in the deep South, and as a teenager she married her high school sweetheart Jake Perry (Josh Lucas). Things went sour and Melanie moved East, reinventing herself along the way, but Jake never bothered to legally end their marriage. Now Melanie has to return to her hometown of Pigeon Creek, AL, to tell her parents (Fred Ward and Mary Kay Place) the news and convince Jake to grant her a divorce; however, the more time she spends with her old flame, the more she feels sparks flying between them again, while she also learns her Eastern affectations don't fly with everyone back home. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Reese Witherspoon, Josh Lucas, (more)
- 2002
- Add Baby Time: Baby Talk - The Video Guide for New Parents to Queue Add Baby Time: Baby Talk - The Video Guide for New Parents to top of Queue
First-time parents often have a zillion questions and are embarrassed to ask some of them for fear of seeming unprepared for the task. Hosted by Designing Women star Jean Smart and her husband, Richard Gilliland, Baby Talk: The Video Guide for New Parents details how to care for a newborn and provides answers to a number of the questions that nearly every parent wants to ask. The American Academy of Pediatrics has endorsed this program. ~ Steve Blackburn, Rovi
- 2002
This weekly animated series revolved around a feisty high school girl named Kim Possible. The daughter of research scientists, Kim did her best to lead a normal teenaged life, going to class, attending proms, and the like. Unfortunately, the world was full pesky master criminals and megalomaniacal supervillains, compelling the high-flying, martial arts savvy Kim to kick butt on occasion in the interests of humanity and the American Way. Acting as Kim's erstwhile sidekick was her nerdish school chum, Ron Stoppable, while teen stud-muffin Josh Manley provided the romantic interest (at least, that's what Kim hoped). Kim Possible debuted June 7, 2002, on the Disney Channel, posting the highest opening-night ratings in that cable channel's history. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Christy Romano
- 2002
This NBC sitcom was rather blatantly inspired by the movie comedy hit Meet the Parents. According to network publicity, however, In-Laws was primarily based on the standup routines of comedian Elon Gold, who starred in the series as newlywed Max Landis. Quitting his job to enroll in culinary school, Max and his new bride Alice (Bonnie Somerville) reluctantly moved in with Alice's parents to save money. While Alice's mom Marlene (Jean Smart) pursued a real estate career and Alice herself worked two shifts, poor Max was left home alone with his supremely judgmental father-in-law Victor (Dennis Farina). Perhaps it goes without saying that the humor arose from the prickly relationship between the wisecracking Max and the growling, grumbling Victor. Co-produced by Frasier star Kelsey Grammer, In-Laws debuted September 24, 2002 and was cancelled in January 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jean Smart, Dennis Farina, (more)
- 2001
Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) is eagerly anticipating his vacation in Belize with his new lady love Claire (Patricia Clarkson). But his eagerness quickly dissipates when Martin (John Mahoney), Niles (David Hyde Pierce), and Daphne (Jane Leeves) decide to go along for the ride. The story climaxes with a "blast from the past" that was supposed to have been a surprise but was well publicized at the time this Emmy-winning episode originally aired. "Cranes Go Caribbean" and the previous episode "A Day in May" were originally telecast in tandem as Frasier's eighth-season finale. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2001
In the first half of Frasier's ninth-season opener, Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) finds himself on familiar territory as he is torn between two loves: Claire (Patricia Clarkson), with whom he'd vacationed in Belize in the series' season-eight finale, and Lana (Jean Smart), a troublesome but undeniably fascinating lady from his past. As he mulls over the dilemma, Frasier reflects upon all the loves of his life -- including (in dream sequences), his ex-wife Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth) and his Cheers inamorata Diane Chambers (Shelley Long). Originally telecast as a one hour-special (and moved from September 18, 2001, to September 25 due to network coverage of the 9/11 tragedy), this episode has since been reedited as two half-hours for syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2001
In this follow-up to the previous episode "Semi-Decent Proposal", Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) has fallen for Claire (Patricia Clarkson), the attractive friend of cynical divorcée Lana Gardner (Jean Smart). Hoping to take advantage of the situation, Lana offers to fix Frasier up with Claire--but only if he will agree to tutor Lana's son Kirby (Brian Klugman). Alas, Kirby refuses to hunker down to his studies unless Frasier arranges at date between him and Roz (Peri Gilpin). This episode and "A Passing Fancy" were originally telecast in tandem as a single, one-hour "special." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2001
Yes, it's a day in May, and a very busy one for the Frasier gang. First off, Daphne (Jane Leeves) befriends a dog lover named Jim (Tom Verica), which makes Niles (David Hyde Pierce) jealous. Second, the caustic Lana (Jean Smart) suddenly warms up to Frasier (David Hyde Pierce). And finally, Martin (John Mahoney) is unexpectedly reunited with the person who brought about the injury that caused him to retire from the Force. This episode originally aired back-to-back with "Cranes Go Caribbean" as Frasier's eighth-season finale. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2001
Jean Smart reprises her Emmy-winning role as Frasier's former high- school crush Lana Gardner (who was given a different character name in her first appearance -- a name that had to be altered for legal reasons). Now a successful and overbearingly cynical real-estate agent, Lana still believes that Frasier worships at her feet and to that end maneuvers him into escorting her to her own "surprise" party. Upon arrival, however, Frasier only has eyes for Lana's friend, Claire (Patricia Clarkson). This episode was originally shown back-to-back with the thematically similar episode "A Passing Fancy." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
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