Jonathan Kaplan Movies
Parisian-born American film director Jonathan Kaplan may have held degrees from the University of Chicago and New York University, but he gained his hands-on education at the Roger Corman School of Makin' 'Em Cheap. Kaplan apprenticed at Corman's New World Pictures, making his directorial bow with the energetic if parsimonious Student Nurses (1971). After a few more low-budgeters, Kaplan was allowed to spend a little more time and money on White Line Fever (1975), then enjoyed his most lavish budget to date on Mr. Billion (1976), a lighthearted and empty-headed caper film starring Terence Hill, Valerie Perrine and Jackie Gleason. Kaplan made Hollywood's A-list with The Accused (1988), a fact-based account of a rape victim's quest for justice which featured Jodie Foster in her first Academy Award-winning role. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi- 2006
An ex-con trying to put his life back on track turns to his family, but they aren't so sure they want him back in the fold in this independent drama from writer and director Todd S. Yellin. Jake Groden (Scott Cohen) is the black sheep in his family, an alcoholic and habitual felon who has spent 14 years in jail. Jake has always suffered in comparisons with his hardworking twin brother, and when his brother dies unexpectedly not long after Jake is released from jail, he braces himself for an uncomfortable reunion with his family. Jake's father, Leo (Judd Hirsch), makes no secret that he doesn't trust his son, and he recedes into his strong Jewish faith rather than reconnect with his errant son. Jake's sister-in-law, Emily (Susan Floyd), is still coming to terms with the death of her husband and having to raise their son on her own, and she's torn between a resentment of Jake and her attraction to a man who closely resembles the man she still loves. And Adam (Elliot Korte), Emily's son, is curious about the man who vanished from his family a decade and a half before. About the only thing his family will say in Jake's favor is that he's very good with woodworking, and in an effort to mend fences with his father and keep himself on the straight and narrow, Jake focuses his attention to saving the family business, a cabinetry shop that's seen better days. Brother's Shadow received its world premiere at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Scott Cohen, Judd Hirsch, (more)
- 2005
According to the NBC publicity department, the creators of the weekly, hour-long series Inconceivable, Oliver Goldstick and Marco Pennette, had drawn inspiration from their own lives, in which surrogate parents and in vitro fertilization had been utilized to expand their families. The weekly, 60-minute series was set at Family Options Fertility Clinic, headed by Dr. Rachel Lu (Ming-Na). Although she had had her own baby through the in vitro process, she was a "strictly business" type, never allowing her emotions to dictate her work. In sharp contrast, Lu's partner, Dr. Malcolm Bower (Jonathan Cake), was driven by his gut instincts -- not only on the job, but also in his life choices, especially when it came to romantic relationships. Also on hand was rebellious, headstrong fertility doctor Nora Campbell, played by former Law & Order co-star Angie Harmon (an eleventh-hour addition to the series, replacing actress Alfre Woodard, who'd signed as a regular on Desperate Housewives). The other staffers at Family Options included Scott (David Noroña), Patrice (Joelle Carter), Marissa (Mary Catherine Garrison), and Angel (Reynaldo Rosales). The plots dealt not only with the efforts to provide infertile couples with viable conception options, but also with the unintended ramifications of such procedures; in the opening episode, for example, a white couple is outraged when they find out that their baby will be black. In an intriguing example of "life imitates art," Angie Harmon had just given birth before filming started, while her co-star Ming-Na became pregnant not long after production got under way. Inconceivable was first brought into the world on September 23, 2005. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ming-Na Wen, Jonathan Cake, (more)
- 2003
Magoo's, a local hangout frequented by the ER staffers, is the scene of a bloody holdup, in which three people are killed and one seriously injured. As Chen (Ming-Na) pieces together a sketchy description of one of the likely perps, her African-American colleagues Gallant (Sharif Atkins) and Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) are picked up on suspicion and subjected to harsh treatment by a pair of white cops who refuse to check out the doctors' alibis or credentials. The usually mild-mannered Gallant is more angered by this harassment than the cynical Pratt -- but both doctors relish the opportunity to serve up a delicious comeuppance to one of the cops. And elsewhere, Carter (Noah Wyle) really, really wants to pop the question to Abby (Maura Tierney)...but.... ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2003
Abby's (Maura Tierney) bipolar brother, Eric (Tom Everett Scott), raises a ruckus at the funeral of Millicent Carter. To save a dying Croatian boy, Kovac (Goran Visnjic) may destroy his own future -- or completely alter his purpose in life. And both Lewis (Sherry Stringfield) and Romano (Paul McCrane) are faced with two different but equally critical decisions. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2002
An already hectic day at the ER is made even more so when two children are brought in exhibiting symptoms of smallpox. With Weaver (Laura Innes) temporarily unavailable, Carter (Noah Wyle) orders a lockdown at County General to avoid an epidemic -- and avert a nationwide panic. Meanwhile, Lewis (Sherry Stringfield) encounters major problems while trying to get information about a smallpox vaccine from CDC; both Chen (Ming-Na) and Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) appear to have come down with the disease themselves; and a patient riot breaks out, one which may cause the epidemic to spread to the rest of Chicago. This final episode of ER's eighth season ends with a cliffhanger, the ingredients of which include a startling development in the relationship between Carter and Abby (Maura Tierney). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2002
Season nine of ER begins ten minutes after season eight left off, with the County General ER still in lockdown in the face of a possible smallpox epidemic. Though most of the patients and staffers have been evacuated, a handful are quarantined at the ER for two weeks, among them Carter (Noah Wyle), Abby (Maura Tierney), Chen (Ming-Na), and Pratt (Mekhi Phifer), now a full-fledged series regular. In the midst of the chaos and confusion, Carter and Abby have managed to find the opportunity to lock lips, thereby inaugurating a whole new phase in their relationship. Meanwhile, on the roof of the hospital, Romano (Paul McCrane) throws another temper tantrum, with disastrous consequences when, in mid-rant, he backs into the tail rotor of a helicopter. And in faraway London, the newly widowed Elizabeth Corday (Alex Kingston) has joined her father's business -- but may now be too "Americanized" for her family's tastes. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2002
Mekhi Phifer makes his first series appearance as Gregory Pratt, a remarkably self-confident intern who is supervised by Greene (Anthony Edwards) during the latter's last day with the ER. Pratt's zealous eagerness prompts the terminally ill Greene to rethink how he will spend his final days on earth; and later on, he has a poignant reunion with his ex-wife, Jenn (Christine Harnos). Elsewhere, Abby (Maura Tierney) finally feels safe enough to return to her own home. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2002
The nurses' petition against Kovac (Goran Visnjic) leads to heightened tensions and a personnel shortage at the ER. Abby (Maura Tierney) has her doubts when her brother Eric (Tom Everett Scott) claims to be on leave from the Air Force. Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) offers comfort to Chen (Ming-Na), who hasn't quite gotten over being held at gunpoint by a disgruntled patient. And Corday (Alex Kingston) and Nathan (Don Cheadle) argue over a seriously ill patient (Nora Zimmett) who refuses to be resuscitated by "heroic measures." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2002
Produced by the same team responsible for E.R. and The West Wing, The Court starred multi-award winner Sally Field as Kate Nolan, a feisty, independent Ohio governor newly confirmed to the Supreme Court. As a "swing" voter, Kate frequently clashed with her fellow Justices from both sides of the political spectrum, following her own instinctive sense of justice (and Constitutionality) to its logical end on each 60-minute episode. Along the way, Kate's trail was dogged by a muckraking journalist (Craig Bierko) who was determined to dig up dirt on the new judicial appointee. Also in the cast as Kate's berobed colleagues were such powerhouse actors as Pat Hingle, Diahann Carroll, Miguel Sandoval, and Chris Sarandon -- not to mention the "new, young" performers who played the requisite ambitious court assistants. The Court made its ABC network bow on March 26, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2002
A series of holdups in massage parlors culminates in murder, with several precincts working together to crack the case before things get worse. As result, John Clark Jr. (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) is forced to team with his estranged father, John Clark Sr. (Joe Spano), bringing the bad blood between John Sr. and Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) to a boil. In another case, a gang of thieves posing as exterminators prey upon elderly victims. After working hours, Andy tries to resist becoming permanent bodyguard for the eccentric Mrs. Hornby (Elmarie Wendel); Connie McDowell (Charlotte Ross) grows closer to Andy's son, Theo (Austin Majors); Valerie Haywood (Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon) is pregnant, and Baldwin Jones (Henry Simmons) is the father; and more ominously, new squad member Det. Rita Ortiz (Jacqueline Obradors) is harassed by her possessive husband, ADA Don Harrison (Stan Cahill). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Henry Simmons
- 2001
The victims of a rampaging gunman are brought into the ER. It soon develops that the man responsible for the shootings is Derek Fosson (Ted Marcoux), the father of the boy whom Greene (Anthony Edwards) treated for abuse in the previous episode. Fosson is out to kill anyone connected with the foster-care facility where his son is currently residing -- meaning that Greene and his family may be the next targets. Elsewhere, Abby (Maura Tierney) discusses her future with a disapproving Kovac (Goran Visnjic). And Weaver (Laura Innes) confronts Romano (Paul McCrane) over the firing of her former lover Legaspi (Elizabeth Mitchell). This final episode of ER's seventh season ends with a cliffhanger involving a grim life-or-death decision in a hospital elevator. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2001
Lourdes Benedicto makes her first series appearance as new pediatrics intern Rena Trujillo. The episode's pre-eminent crisis occurs at the site of a commuter-train accident, where Carter (Noah Wyle) and Kovac (Goran Visnjic) are forced to extreme measures to save the life of trapped firefighter Larkin (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). The doctors also try to rescue a woman (Stacy Haiduk) who, though impaled by a shard of medal, is more concerned about the health of her son. Likewise at the scene of the accident, Corday (Alex Kingston) begins to go into contractions; and even psychiatrist Legaspi (Elizabeth Mitchell) makes an appearance when the person who caused the crash is located. Finally, an ongoing story arc is wrapped up as the dying Bishop Stewart (John Cromwell) tries to assuage Kovac's (Goran Visnjic) guilt over "deserting" his family during the Balkan wars. Advertised as ER's 150th episode, "The Crossing" is number 151 in the current syndication package. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2001
Two college students who have been brought into the ER test positive for meningitis, whereupon Carter (Noah Wyle) and Lewis (Sherry Stringfield) scramble to prevent an epidemic. Other cases this week include a self-circumcision and a bizarre method of injecting heroin. Elsewhere, Abby (Maura Tierney) briefly bonds with an injured fireman. Elizabeth (Alex Kingston) continues to be investigated by Infection Control, and also argues with Greene's (Anthony Edwards) daughter Rachel (Hallee Hirsh) over the proper care of her own baby daughter, Ella. And Benton (Eriq La Salle) warns Roger (Vondie Curtis-Hall) to stay away from Reese (Matthew Watkins). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2001
Originally scheduled for September 27, 2001, this ER episode was moved back to October 4 due to network coverage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Weaver (Laura Innes) heads to Doc Magoo's on personal business and fails to answer her pager when Chen (Ming-Na) and Malucchi (Erik Palladino) need her. An off-duty Carter (Anthony Edwards) deals with victims of a rock-concert stampede, tries to rectify a fatal error made by Chen and Malucchi in Weaver's absence, and injures his back. Weaver fires Chen for her error. Benton (Eriq La Salle) learns that the mother of his son, Reese (Matthew Watkins), has been killed in an accident. Vondie Curtis-Hall, who guest starred as a transvestite in an earlier ER episode, here replaces Victor Williams in the recurring role of Roger, the man who claims to be the true biological father of Reese. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2001
This episode marks the final regular ER appearances of Eriq La Salle and Michael Michele. After resorting to desperate measures to retain custody of his son, Reese (Matthew Watkins), Peter Benton (La Salle) realizes that he must make a choice between the boy and his overloaded ER schedule. He opts to take a less demanding job at a clinic in the Chicago suburbs, where his current love, Cleo Finch (Michele), is already working. In other developments, a boy accidentally shot by his mom on Christmas Eve is a cause of great concern amongst the ER staffers; Abby (Maura Tierney) sees Nicole (Julie Delpy) where she didn't expect to see her; the relationship between Weaver (Laura Innes) and Lopez (Lisa Vidal) enters a new phase; and Carter (Noah Wyle) receives startling but not unexpected news about his parents. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2001
While wrestling with her feelings regarding Kim Legaspi (Elizabeth Mitchell), Weaver (Laura Innes) delivers her evaluation of Carter (Noah Wyle). Elsewhere, Abby (Maura Tierney) angrily drops her AA sponsorship of Carter; Kynesha (Toy Connor) continues to be a source of trouble for Benton (Eriq La Salle) and Finch (Michael Michele); and an unexpected visit causes Corday (Alex Kingston) to panic. John Cromwell guest stars as an ailing bishop who forces Kovac (Goran Visnjic) to re-examine his own religious convictions. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2000
In the shattering conclusion of a two-part story, Carter (Noah Wyle) finds Lucy (Kellie Martin) lying in a pool of blood, stabbed and near death. No sooner has this sunk in than Carter is himself attacked and stabbed by Lucy's patient, delusional lawyer Paul Sobricki (David Krumholtz). Both victims are rushed to the operating room -- but only one will emerge alive. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2000
With Weaver on suspension, the prickly Romano (Paul McCrane) is in charge of the ER. Carter (Noah Wyle) goes ballistic when he suspects that his patient is faking an injury. Abby (Maura Tierney) treats a woman with five children, who doesn't want the sixth baby on the way. Finch (Michael Michele) and Corday (Alex Kingston) exchange heated words over the treatment of a 16-year-old accident victim (Matt Doherty). And while Greene (Anthony Edwards) struggles to cope with his father's terminal illness, a remembrance of the late Lucy Knight unexpectedly materializes at the ER. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2000
Worn out after his first night shift since returning to the ER, Carter (Noah Wyle) is summoned back to assist in Chen's (Ming-Na) delivery. Meanwhile, the people who want to adopt Chen's baby have reason to suspect that she'll renege on the agreement. Later, Abby (Maura Tierney) and Carter share their experiences with substance abuse after he toys with the notion of using a stimulant to stay awake. And in other developments, Greene (Anthony Edwards) is in New York, hoping to find someone that can treat his brain tumor; Kynesha (Toy Connor) continues hiding out from her would-be assassin with the help of Benton (Eriq La Salle) and Finch (Michael Michele); and Weaver (Laura Innes) is startled by a spontaneous act of affection -- from another woman. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2000
Carter's (Noah Wyle) ongoing personal problems -- including unauthorized injections of pain medication -- culminate in a tense confrontation with the ER staff. Elsewhere, Benton (Eriq La Salle) and Kovac (Goran Visnjic) are helicopter-dropped into a deadly shooting incident at a school, where they are forced into a tough decision as to which shooting victim should be treated first. This final episode of ER's sixth season culminates in a cliffhanger involving a plane flight to Atlanta and two of the aforementioned characters. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2000
Sally Field makes the first of several appearances in the Emmy-winning role of Maggie Wyczenski, the bipolar mother of ER nurse Abby Lockhart (Maura Tierney). Off her medication, a hyper Maggie tries to pay a visit to Abby -- who refuses to see her. Meanwhile, Kovac (Goran Visnjic) looks into a suspected case of child abuse. In a rush to begin her vacation, Elizabeth Corday (Alex Kingston) makes a serious mistake during an operation. And Benton (Eriq La Salle), grieving over his murdered nephew, takes out his rage on Malucci (Erik Palladino) ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1999
Carol (Julianna Margulies) tells Greene (Anthony Edwards) that she is pregnant, and offers some encouraging words to schizophrenic new mother Coco (Sheila Kelley). Jeanie (Gloria Reuben) finds her faith renewed as she cares for Rev. Matthew Lynn (Roscoe Lee Browne). Lucy (Kellie Martin) discovers that her young patient has been overmedicated. Carter (Noah Wyle) mentors a teenager named Antoine Bell (Corey Parker Robinson). And Romano (Paul McCrane) forces Benton (Eriq La Salle) into a crucial decision. There are a few light-hearted moments in this episode -- before everything is literally plunged into darkness. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1999
Teri Garr guest stars as patient Celinda Randlett, who claims to possess the incredible power of seeing "inside" people. In other developments, everyone in the ER finds out that Carol (Julianna Margulies) is pregnant with twins; Weaver (Laura Innes) brings in an abandoned child; Benton (Eriq La Salle) gets more bad news; a teenager (Corey Parker Robinson) whom Carter (Noah Wyle) previously mentored returns as a patient; and Lucy (Kellie Martin) is becoming more and more dependent upon Ritalin. Two romances -- one new, one renewed -- cap this episode, the last of ER's fifth season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1999
Two new doctors join the Emergency staff at Chicago's County General Hospital as ER begins its sixth season: Pediatric resident Cleo Finch (Michael Michele) and Croatian émigré Luka Kovac (Goran Visnjic). Getting things off to a lively start, a truck crash through a coffee shop window results in a larger than usual volume of ER patients. Elsewhere, rumors fly that the prickly Dr. Romano (Paul McCrane) will replace the retiring Dr. Anspaugh as chief of staff -- a contingency that Greene (Anthony Edwards) tries to prevent, only to be ruthlessly undercut by the ambitious Weaver (Laura Innes). John Carter (Noah Wyle) treats his former sister-in-law Elaine (Rebecca De Mornay) after she has a minor accident, thereby triggering a whole new romantic chapter in Carter's life. And Jeanie (Gloria Reuben) receives a marriage proposal. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1999
In a departure from the usual ER format, a financially strapped Benton (Eriq La Salle) accepts a temporary assignment at a small clinic in Minnesota -- but a last-minute scheduling change finds him showing up at an even smaller hospital in rural Mississippi. Almost immediately clashing with the no-nonsense nurse in charge, Benton goes on to confront a myriad of challenges, most of them related to racism, ignorance, and lack of facilities. When all is said and done, Benton's big-city methods come in handy so far as saving lives is concerned -- but he is obliged to adopt a more benign bedside manner in order to get through to his new patients. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Rating Systems
Blockbuster
BLOCKBUSTER name, design and related marks are trademarks of Blockbuster L.L.C.
2013 Blockbuster L.L.C. All rights reserved.
Portions of Content Provided by Rovi Corporation. 2013 Rovi Corporation.