Biff Yeager Movies
Fresh from her first community service stint, Rory (Alexis Bledel) is "hired" by her grandmother Emily (Kelly Bishop) to work for the local DAR chapter. Logan (Matt Czuchry) returns from Europe, prompting Rory to reconsider her vow to drop out of Yale. Lane (Keiko Agena) likewise comes back to town, hot off her band's successful tour. Luke (Scott Patterson) is driven to near insanity while Lorelai's house is renovated. And Sookie (Melissa McCarthy) frets over the fact that Luke and Lorelai (Lauren Graham) have not yet set a wedding date (she wants to cater the occasion, of course). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
To briefly forget their troubles, Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory (Alexis Bledel) make an excursion to the mall. But trouble continues dogging their heels, as the two Gilmores are swept into a profligate shopping spree conducted by Lorelai's mom Emily (Kelly Bishop). In other developments, Rory learns the hard way about the friction between Dean (Jared Padalecki) and his new wife Lindsay (Arielle Kebbel); Lane (Keiko Agena) and her band move into a single apartment; and Luke (Scott Patterson) puts aside his strained relationship with Lorelai to help finance the Dragonfly's restoration. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Richard (Edward Herrmann) wants to reconcile with Floyd Stiles (Lawrence Pressman), father of his business partner Jason (Christopher Eigeman), but this proves difficult for two reasons: Richard now knows of the relationship between Jason and Lorelai (Lauren Graham), and Floyd intends to sue both Richard and his own son for stealing his clients. Meanwhile, Rory (Alexis Bledel) blows her top when she learns that Dean (Jared Padalecki) has no intention of continuing his education. And Dean's wife Lindsay (Arielle Kebbel) finally figures out that her husband's heart still belongs to Rory. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Newly divorced, Luke (Scott Patterson) realizes with startling suddenness that there is only one woman in the world for him (guess who?) Elsewhere, Rory (Alexis Bledel) worries that she might be the cause of the disintegrating marriage of Dean and Lindsay. Luke's daffy sister Liz (Kathleen Wilhoite) and her oafish beau T.J. (Michael DeLuise) decide to tie the knot in Stars Hollow. And when Professor Fleming (Michael York) is rushed to the E.R. with chest pains, Paris (Liza Weil) begins to question the wisdom of continuing her romance with him -- not so much because of the difference in ages, but because she appears to be the latest in a long line of casual campus affairs for the good professor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The fourth season of Gilmore Girls concludes just as Lorelei (Lauren Graham) and Sookie (Melissa McCarthy) prepare for the grand opening of the Dragonfly Inn. In the midst of the festivities, Jason (Christopher Eigeman) suddenly shows up, hoping to win back Lorelei's affections -- but will Luke (Scott Patterson) speak up and declare himself? Elsewhere, a planned reconciliation between Lorelei's parents Richard (Edward Herrmann) and Emily (Kelly Bishop) fails miserably; Kirk (Sean Gunn) goes berserk over the prospect of consummating his relationship with Lulu (Rini Bell); and while trying to persuade Dean (Jared Padalecki) to give his marriage to Lindsay a second chance, Rory (Alexis Bledel) suddenly gets wise to the fact that she still wants Dean for herself -- more than ever! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Lorelai (Lauren Graham) is so preoccupied with getting the Dragonfly up and running, and Rory (Alexis Bledel) is so busy trying to catch up with her college class work, that the two Gilmores keep missing each other on the phone. Nor is this the only problem facing the main characters in this episode: for example, Lorelai's dad Richard (Edward Herrmann) is shocked when his mother Trix (Marion Ross) suddenly treats him as disdainfully as she does his wife, Emily (Kelly Bishop). And having been kicked out of her own house, Lane (Keiko Agena) is making a total nuisance of herself on the Yale campus. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Strapped for cash, Lorelai (Lauren Graham) reluctantly accepts a job from her mother Emily (Kelly Bishop), agreeing to cater the launch party for dad Richard's new business venture. Unfortunately, Emily proves to be as impossible an employer as she is a parent -- and to top it off, the party is scuttled by Richard's new partner Jason (Christopher Eigeman), in favor of a wild Atlantic City bash. Elsewhere, Kirk (Sean Gunn) stages a "test-run" for his date with Lulu (Rini Bell), his brother's former girlfriend; and Rory (Alexis Bledel) is having difficulty keeping up with her studies, thanks to her irksome roommates. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
As Lorelai (Lauren Graham) repairs the fire damage at the Inn, daughter Rory (Alexis Bledel) begins planning her mom's 35th birthday party by commissioning the world's largest pizza (well, almost the largest, anyway). Meanwhile, Luke (Scott Patterson) agrees to meet the family of current amour Nicole (Tricia O'Kelley) -- a major blunder, as it turns out; the web of lies spun by Jess finally catches up with him; and Paris (Liza Weil) returns to school with a mysterious bandage on her nose. Also, Richard (Edward Herrmann) continues trying to get back in daughter Lorelai's good graces -- but buying her affections has never worked in the past, and probably won't work now. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This remarkable episode drifts back in forth in time as Lorelai (Lauren Graham) awaits the birth of Sherry's baby while recalling her own pregnancy with Rory (Alexis Bledel) -- and the events leading up to her initial break with Rory's dad (and Sherry's ex) Christopher (David Sutcliffe). Meanwhile, Luke (Scott Patterson) goes on his first date with sexy lawyer Nicole (Tricia O'Kelley), and Jess (Milo Ventimiglia) and Dean (Jared Padalecki) have another verbal set-to; and Paris (Liza Weil) makes an editorial decision at the "Chilton Franklin" which is guaranteed to infuriate Rory. Chelsea Brummet and Philip Van Dyke are seen as the younger Lorelai and Christopher. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Lorelai (Lauren Graham) panics when Alex (Billy Burke) invites her on a fishing trip, compelling Rory (Alexis Bledel) to check out several books on fishing from the library -- and leading to a most unusual dry run for the occasion in the front yard. Meanwhile, Luke (Scott Patterson) and Taylor's (Michael Winters) quarrel over the construction of the soda shop necessitates a visit from Taylor's lawyer Nicole Leahy (Tricia O'Kelley), whose charms are certainly not lost on the normally tactiturn Luke. And in order to attend the prom with Dave (Adam Brody), Lane (Keiko Agena) must adhere to the highly restrictive stipulations (including no dancing!) set down by her ultraconservative mother, Mrs. Kim (Emily Kuroda). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The Oprah Book Club best-seller by Janet Fitch makes it to the big screen in this adaptation from British director Peter Kosminsky. White Oleander recounts the traumatic adolescence of Astrid Magnusson (Alison Lohman), who finds herself an orphan after her short-fused, enigmatic artist mother Ingrid (Michelle Pfeiffer) is carted off to prison on murder charges. Astrid first finds herself in the care of Starr (Robin Wright Penn), a garish, born-again mother of two with a gruff but sensitive boyfriend (Cole Hauser). From there, she's shunted back to a state-run facility, where she tangles with other troubled teens and finds temporary solace in the arms of Paul (Patrick Fugit), a dough-faced comic book artist with dreams of moving to New York City. Astrid then lucks into a living arrangement with a successful but insecure actress (Renee Zellweger) who offers her unconditional love. But Ingrid's stifling influence continues to haunt her daughter, whether through the occasional prison visit or via manipulative letters to Astrid's caretakers. White Oleander received a Gala North American premiere at the 2002 Toronto Film Festival before reaching multiplexes later that fall. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alison Lohman, Michelle Pfeiffer, (more)
Her nervousness heightened by the well-meaning counsel of friends and family, Rory (Alexis Bledel) anxiously awaits the arrival of her application forms from Harvard. Before filling out the forms, Rory seeks out the advice of two alumni, who simply tell her to "be original." Meanwhile, Taylor (Michael Winters) pressures Luke (Scott Patterson) to add an "old-fashioned" soda fountain to his establishment; though she's still trying to keep her musical aspirations a secret from her conservative mother, Lane (Keiko Agena) joins the rock band led by Dave Rygalsky (Adam Brody, in his series debut); and we meet a few stray members of the celebrated Springsteen family. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Former music-video director Tamra Davis (Guncrazy) created strong characters in this bank-robbery tale, a crime/comedy/drama somewhat reminiscent of the anti-establishment attitudes seen in early '70s films. After three years in a California prison, Jesse (Luke Wilson) is ready to marry his girlfriend Hope (Drew Barrymore) in the town of Independence (the original working title of this film). Joining Jesse is a odd assortment -- the buzzcut ex-Green-Beret Buzz (Dean Cain); ex-lawyer Sol (Mitchell Whitfield); geeky Teddy (Andy Dick); and Shakespeare-quoting Billy (Sean Patrick Flanery), aka Hamlet on the FBI's most-wanted list. Then they're off to the wedding. Billy, however, asks to be dropped off at a nearby bank, and after it's evident that Billy is pulling off another Hamlet heist, the others join him inside. Billy's father, Sheriff Phillips (Fred Ward), up for re-election, begins hostage negotiations, but the media arrives, along with psycho FBI agent Hoover (Raymond J. Barry) and his partner Carter (Art Edler Brown). Wearing her wedding dress, Hope goes inside the bank. Soon various friends and locals gather outside to offer support as the hostages take the side of their captors. In addition to portraying agent Carter, Art Edler Brown is the film's co-producer and co-scripter. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
The lurid title of this black comedy comes from a New York Post headline for the story on which this film is based. It begins in a seedy bar late at night where a small crowd of customers disinterestedly eye the listless gyrations of Candy, a topless dancer. Among the customers are a corporate lawyer, two obnoxious young men, and a wheelchair-bound man. Suddenly a gunman, an ex-con, enters to rob the joint. The bartender resists and is immediately shot in the head. The gunman, alternately charming and totally insane, holds the rest hostage making them do his bidding as he tries to decide whether or not to kill them. The story is shot in real-time, and the minutes tick agonizingly by. At one point he makes them all dance, and at another forces them to play "Truth or Dare" in which they must reveal their dirtiest little secrets. The situation really intensifies when fellow dancer and lover of Candy, Letitia, comes in, and the gunman decides he must extract the damning bullet from the bartender's head. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
A tranquil Arizona community is being terrorized by a series of robberies staged by an elusive truck-stop bandit. In addition, a number of disreputable-looking strangers have descended upon the community in search of buried treasure. Fortuously visiting a friend who lives near the town in question, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) ends up helping the new, inexperienced sheriff handle the onslaught of trouble--which of course is capped by a murder. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Like the old B movies it emulates, this mystery focuses on crooks, murder, and revenge. Sam is accidentally present during a robbery and somehow ends up in a scuffle that ends in the death of one of the three robbers. The other two track him down and slay his wife. He goes on the run as the crooks chase him form L.A. to San Diego, and finally, to a circus in Mexico where Sam makes his final stand. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frederick Deane, Timothy Patrick Cavanaugh, (more)
In this crime drama, an honest lawman has to decide where his loyalties lie in a corrupt system. All his life, J.J. (Michael Boatman) has dreamed of being a cop, and after graduating from the Police Academy, he gets his wish, becoming the first African-American policeman based out of Los Angeles' Edgemar station. However, J.J. discovers that his race makes him an outsider among his fellow officers. His presence is not welcomed by his superior, Massey (Richard Anderson), and the only colleague who is truly hospitable to him is Deborah (Lori Petty), the only female cop at Edgemar and the target of as much abuse as J.J. Hoping to somehow fit in, J.J. digs into his work and tries to be "just one of the guys," ignoring the racism and corruption around him. However, one night J.J.'s fellow officer Bono (Don Harvey) pulls over Teddy Woods (Ice Cube), an arrogant and uncommunicative young black man, and in the midst of an illegal search of his car, he finds a gun; even though he knows that Bono acted improperly, J.J. put his loyalty behind the force and lies to support Bono's story. The gun's serial number matches that of a weapon used to murder the wife of Mr. Greenspan (Elliott Gould), a prominent Jewish businessman, and Woods is charged with the killing. However, J.J. discovers that the number of the gun had been altered, and he has to decide what to do when he realizes that Teddy could be sentenced to death without having committed a serious crime. The Glass Shield also features Bernie Casey, Sy Richardson, and M. Emmet Walsh. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Boatman, Lori Petty, (more)
Hollywood visionary Tim Burton pays homage to another Hollywood visionary, albeit a less successful one, in this unusual fictionalized biography. The film follows Wood (Johnny Depp) in his quest for film greatness as he writes and directs turkey after turkey, cross-dresses, and surrounds himself with a motley crew of Hollywood misfits, outcasts, has-beens, and never-weres. The real story, however, is his friendship with aging, morphine-addicted Bela Lugosi (Martin Landau), whom he tries to help stage a comeback. Landau's unforgettable Oscar-winning performance must be seen to be believed, as must Rick Baker's Oscar-winning makeup. While it would have been easy to make a film simply ridiculing the bumbling director, Burton instead focuses on his driving passion for filmmaking and his unwavering persistence in the face of ridicule and failure. Possibly the most surprising aspect of the film is the genuine sentiment with which Burton treats the relationship between Wood and Lugosi; his devotion to Lugosi is touching, as is Lugosi's final soliloquy -- an inane bit of dialogue from the hilariously bad Bride of the Monster that grows into a poignant metaphor for the actor's life and ultimate triumph of his spirit. Even the look of the film is right; it manages to preserve the air of one of Wood's own films while retaining a sense of artistry in much of the composition on screen (note the scene at the drug rehab where Lugosi endures a horrifying night of detox). In all, Ed Wood is a unique film -- at times side-splittingly funny; at others, tragic or even frightening -- and a heartfelt tribute to the love of movies, good and bad alike. ~ Jeremy Beday, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Johnny Depp, Martin Landau, (more)
Noted independent film producer Peter McCarthy made his writing and directing debut (Angie Brown served as co-director) with this surreal comedy. John Boyz (James LeGros) is an aimless sad sack who is wandering Los Angeles in the wake of the 1992 riots. John is in an unclear state of mind; he can't find a job (and doesn't really want one), the IRS has confiscated his money, his girlfriend Jessica (Lisa Zane) is sleeping around, he can't figure out what the beautiful but mysterious Elle (Marzita Rivera) wants from him, his drug-addicted brother Jimmy (Ethan Hawke) needs 3,000 dollars for a detox program, and police chief Merryl Fence (Nelson Lyon) is encouraging the citizens of L.A. to kill themselves. A stellar roster of actors and musicians appear in cameo roles, including John Cusack, Steve Buscemi, Billy Bob Thornton, Viggo Mortensen, Jeremy Piven, Dave Navarro, Dave Alvin, and Exene Cervenka. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James LeGros, John Cusack, (more)
Heading to the mall to exchange some batteries, Al (Ed O'Neill) is trapped in an appliance store thanks to a computer failure. If he doesn't get out soon, he'll miss the VERY SPECIAL birthday party planned for the Bundy's dog Buck by Kelly (Christina Applegate) and Bud (David Faustino). Jean Speegle Howard, the mother of filmmaker Ron Howard), appears briefly in this episode, filmed in 3-D as part of a one-hour "Fox-o-Rama" special which also included a stereoscopic installment of The George Carlin Show. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Though it's been a year since her death, Ed (Steve Buscemi) is still pining over his deceased mother (Miriam Margolyes). Enter a firm called Happy People Ltd, which for a hefty fee will bring Ed's mom back to life. He ponies up the money, and miracle of miracles, mother returns. At first all is bliss. But eventually dead old mom begins acting very strangely. Her habit of eating bugs is only the tip of a bizarre iceberg. Can things get any weirder? They do, when Ed's "pal" Rob (John Gries), whom mother had sent to jail during her first life, comes calling. The supporting cast includes the likes of Ned Beatty, John Glover, and Rance Howard (Ron's dad). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steve Buscemi, Ned Beatty, (more)
In this first sequel to 1989's Batman, the Caped Crusader (Michael Keaton) is up against the Penguin (Danny DeVito), the hideously deformed scion of a wealthy Gotham City family. The Penguin plots with evil businessman Max Schreck (Christopher Walken) to become mayor and then turn Gotham into a cathedral of crime. Upon overhearing these plans, Schreck's mousy secretary Selena Kyle (Michelle Pfeiffer) is tossed from a high-rise window by her boss. Rescued by a covey of kittens, Selena transforms into the leather-clad Catwoman. In this guise, she teams with the Penguin and Schreck to divvy up their ill-gotten gains and help discredit Batman-but she also has her own scores to settle. Paul "Pee-Wee Herman" Reubens, Vincent Schiavelli and Jan Hooks play significant bits, while Pat Hingle and Michael Gough make returns as, respectively, Commissioner Gordon and Alfred the Butler. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, (more)
The normally caustic Roz (Marsha Warfield) is beginning to show signs of fear and foreboding. The reason? Roz's male pen pal Alex is planning to pay a visit to the courtroom. Thing of it is, the man has formulated an image of Roz that is totally at odds with the facts--thanks to a few "tall tales" submitted by Roz herself. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
That madcap gang from the popular TV teen show, Saved by the Bell, head for Hawaii to save the tiny resort of Kelly's grandfather from an avaricious developer. Mayhem, and romance ensue. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, (more)
Screenwriter/electrician Abbe Wool makes her directorial debut with the offbeat road movie Roadside Prophets. Brooding factory worker Joe (X front man John Doe) takes a road trip in order to scatter the ashes of his co-worker Dave Coleman (David Anthony Marshall). Riding his vintage Harley Davidson, Joe leaves Los Angeles and heads for a small Nevada town called El Dorado to fulfill Dave's final wish. His journey is complicated by a small fry named Sam (the Beastie Boys' Adam Horovitz), a wannabe biker who continually lights off fireworks and nurtures an odd obsession with Motel 9. Joe also has to cope with making daily phone calls to Angie (voice of Sonna Chavez), his co-worker back in L.A. who is giving him sick days in exchange for the promise of a hot date. While traveling through the desert, Joe and Sam meet various eccentric characters played by the likes of David Carradine, John Cusack, Timothy Leary, and Arlo Guthrie. They eventually end up at their destination, which turns out to be a washed-up gambling town called Jackpot. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Doe, Adam Horowitz, (more)























