Paul Miller Movies
- 2008
- Add The Best of Comedy Central Presents II to QueueAdd The Best of Comedy Central Presents II to top of Queue
When it comes to laughs Comedy Central is the channel to turn to, and in this collection of clips from Comedy Central Presents, some of the world's top comedians take the stage to do what they do best - keep viewers in stitches. Featured comedians include Dave Attell, Zach Galifianakis, Patton Oswalt, Daniel Tosh, Frank Caliendo, and Stephen Lynch. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Director/screenwriter David Gordon Green adapts Stewart O'Nan's popular novel to the screen in this feature, which tells the parallel tales of a teenager named Arthur (Michael Angarano) and his onetime babysitter Annie (Kate Beckinsale) -- whose turbulent relationship with her estranged husband, Glenn (Sam Rockwell), leads the small-town waitress down a troubled path. Arthur is a high-school student from a dysfunctional family, and does everything in his power to avoid hanging around the house while mom and dad quarrel. When he's not practicing his trombone and performing with the high-school marching band, Arthur can usually be found bussing tables at the local Chinese restaurant and flirting with older waitress Annie. Annie used to be Arthur's babysitter, and is currently struggling to separate from her former high-school sweetheart, Glenn. But being a single mother isn't easy, especially since the troubled Glenn wants nothing more than to clean up his act and reunite his family.
Back at school, Arthur and pretty classmate Lila (Olivia Thirlby) have been bonding over their mutual love for all things geeky. Though the casual friendship shows promise of evolving into something more when Lila expresses her true feelings for Arthur, he can't help but becoming distracted by his chaotic family life: his father is moving out of the family home, and his mother is doing everything in her power to maintain some semblance of normalcy. Realizing that happiness is fleeting as his family becomes shattered and Annie experiences a series of distressing encounters with Glenn, Arthur gradually begins to fall for Lisa despite his growing cynicism concerning long-term relationships. Later, on a cold winter morning, Glenn and Annie's past catches up with them in a blinding flash, and the lives of everyone they know are suddenly and irrevocably changed. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Back at school, Arthur and pretty classmate Lila (Olivia Thirlby) have been bonding over their mutual love for all things geeky. Though the casual friendship shows promise of evolving into something more when Lila expresses her true feelings for Arthur, he can't help but becoming distracted by his chaotic family life: his father is moving out of the family home, and his mother is doing everything in her power to maintain some semblance of normalcy. Realizing that happiness is fleeting as his family becomes shattered and Annie experiences a series of distressing encounters with Glenn, Arthur gradually begins to fall for Lisa despite his growing cynicism concerning long-term relationships. Later, on a cold winter morning, Glenn and Annie's past catches up with them in a blinding flash, and the lives of everyone they know are suddenly and irrevocably changed. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kate Beckinsale, Sam Rockwell, (more)
Set during the Spanish Day of the Dead celebrations, this south of the border shocker draws on the terrifying legend of La Llorona to tell the tale of a ghost whose otherworldly weeping is always followed by violent death. Years ago, a Mexican peasant woman drowned her children in the river for the love of a wicked man. Now, in the darkest recesses of the damned landscape where this horrible transgression took place, the grieving mother wanders at night grieving the loss of her children. Those unfortunate enough to hear her piercing wail are doomed to possession, and once that sound is heard there is no escape. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
George Lopez: Why You Crying? captures a live performance by the stand-up veteran and sitcom star. Much of the material focuses on his family and the foibles of Hispanic culture. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
Lewis Black, a graduate from the Yale school of drama, found success when he established an apoplectic standup persona and began talking about politics and society. Lewis Black: Black on Broadway documents his performance at the Brooks Atkinson Theater during a tour he titled "Rules of Enragement." His style will be familiar to anyone who has seen Black during his "Back in Black" segments on The Daily Show. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lewis Black
- 2004
Each of the 33 episodes in the first season of WB's redneck sketch-comedy series Blue Collar TV center around a basic theme: typical titles include "Family" (the opener), "Naked", "TV", "Bad Jobs", "Marriage", "Vacations", "Sports", "Funerals", "Pets", "Bad Habits", "Dating" and "Testosterone" (which really must have been a mouthful for the barely literate characters played by the series' talented comedy troupe). Three carryovers from the popular "Blue Collar Comedy Tour", Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy and Bill Engvall, appear in every episode, while the fourth "Blue Collar" headliner, Ron White, shows up as a guest star. Likewise guesting are such country-music favorites as Travis Tritt and Leanne Rimes, not to mention a few folks not normally seen in "yahoo country", notably Drew Carey. In addition to such recurring bits as "Redneck Dictionary" and "You May Be a Redneck If. . .", the show serves up such one-shot skits as "400 Pounds of Intervention" and "House of Gravy Restaurant." When all was said and done, Blue Collar TV averaged an audience of 1.3 million viewers throughout its first season, darn good for a WB network show! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Bobby Long (John Travolta) is a washed up former literature professor with a voracious drinking habit. He lives in a rundown house in New Orleans with Lawson Pines (Gabriel Macht of The Recruit), his former star pupil, also an alcoholic. Lawson is allegedly writing a novel about Bobby. Their depressive little corner of the world is disrupted when Lorraine, the beloved eccentric singer who owns their house, dies. Her teenage daughter, Pursy (Scarlett Johansson), who hasn't seen her mother in years, arrives in town too late for the funeral, and crashes at the house. Afraid of being thrown out on the street, Bobby convinces Lawson to tell Pursy that the house has been left to all three of them. Pursy, having little else to do, decides to move in, and starts cleaning up the place, making it her own. Lawson is involved with Georgianna (Deborah Kara Unger), who works at the local bar, but he quickly develops a crush on the comely Pursy. The cantankerous Bobby seems determined to drive the girl away. As Pursy settles into the diverse little community, all of Lorraine's old friends tell her how much she looks like her mother, and she begins to uncover some startling truths about her family history. A Love Song for Bobby Long is based on the novel Off Magazine Street, by Ronald Everett Capps. It was adapted for the screen and directed by Shainee Gabel, who co-directed the documentary Anthem. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Travolta, Scarlett Johansson, (more)
- 2001
- Add The Carol Burnett Show: Show Stoppers to QueueAdd The Carol Burnett Show: Show Stoppers to top of Queue
The Carol Burnett Show was one of the most popular and best loved comedy-variety series to grave American television in the 1970's. In 2001, Carol Burnett and fellow cast members Harvey Korman, Tim Conway, and Vicki Lawrence reunited for this comedy special, in which they take a look back at some of the most memorable moments from the show's run, screen some previously unseen bloopers and outtakes, take questions from the studio audience, and share their memories of being part of television history. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carol Burnett, Vicki Lawrence, (more)
- 1999
In Nick Katsapetses' second feature film, three couples film their lives together as part of a filmmaker's master's thesis project, and as is often the case, the camera does not capture them on a good day. Gray and Daniel (Steven Sorensen and Matthew Rozen) are only a few days away from their commitment ceremony, but their relationship seems ready to crash and burn at any moment, largely thanks to Daniel's constant infidelity. Carrie (Carrie Morgan), on the other hand, no sooner turns on the camera than she's dumped by her girlfriend. Her return to single life and her less than cordial encounters with her ex don't go especially well. There is a third couple, who are happy together -- except no one can stand them. Shot in 16 mm for a mere $10,000, The Joys of Smoking received enthusiastic notice when it was screened at the 1999 San Francisco Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Matthew Rozen, Steven Sorensen, (more)
A man discovers the lighter side of being hunted down like an animal in this manic comedy. Pestario "Pest" Vargas (John Leguizamo) is a low-rent con man from Miami's South Beach who has fallen deeply in debt to ill-tempered members of the Scottish mafia (complete with kilts). Desperate to raise $50,000 to stave off having his legs broken (and possibly turned into haggis), Vargas takes an offer for a very high paying one day job from Gustav Shank (Jeffrey Jones), a German businessman visiting Florida. However, it's not until later that Vargas finds out what Shank has in mind. The lunatic white supremacist Shank transports Vargas to his island compound, Little Germany, and announces that he will hunt him as wild game. If Vargas can survive for 24 hours, he gets the cash; otherwise, his head will join the others stuffed and mounted on Shank's wall. Can Vargas' speed, agility, and gift for cheesy impersonations save him now? John Leguizamo co-wrote The Pest's original story, loosely based on the classic adventure tale The Most Dangerous Game. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Leguizamo, Jeffrey Jones, (more)
Reminiscent of a fine novel in depth and complexity, writer-director John Sayles' acclaimed drama uses the investigation of a 25-year-old murder as the framework for a detailed exploration of life in a Texas border town. The nominal center of the film is Sheriff Sam Deeds (the superb, subtle Chris Cooper), the chief law officer of the town of Frontera. The low-key Sam is also the son of the late Buddy Deeds (played in flashbacks by Matthew McConaughey), who also served as town sheriff and still maintains a legendary status for ousting the vicious, corrupt Charlie Wade (a memorably vicious Kris Kristofferson). The discovery of Wade's decades-old skeleton, however, calls this legend into question, and forces Sam to begin an investigation. During this search for the truth, Sam must come to terms with his own troubled emotions about his father and his still-lingering romantic feelings for Pilar (Elizabeth Peña), a Hispanic woman that Buddy had prevented him from seeing as a young man. Lone Star's scope encompasses not only this story but the whole town, addressing Pilar's difficulties as a schoolteacher, the conflict between incoming immigrants and border patrol officers, and the troubles faced by the African-American commander of the local military base. Sayles expertly moves between past and present, weaving his stories together to illustrate, as in his earlier City of Hope (1991), how the seemingly disparate parts of a community are in fact intimately interconnected. Raising issues of race, politics, and identity, Lone Star nevertheless focuses most of its attention on its complex, believable characters, well-performed by an excellent ensemble cast. One of the most financially successful of Sayles' low-key movies, Lone Star received glowing notices and an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chris Cooper, Elizabeth Peña, (more)
- 1990
Convinced that she has fallen in love with her mime boyfriend Robert (Dean Cameron), Lynn (Andrea Elson) strikes a blow for independence and announces her plans to move in with her sweetheart. The Tanners are aghast at this, but ALF is delighted, and does everything he can to encourage the couple. It isn't that ALF is an incurable romantic: it's simply that he wants to move into Lynn's room! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
ALF and Willie (Max Wright) come into possession of a treasure map, left to Willie by his great-great-grandfather. In a twinkling, the duo has packed their mining equipment and are off to Death Valley. Before long, however, the heat and the desolation begins to wear Willie down--and the effect on ALF brings a whole new meaning to the words "alien environment". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
ALF sneaks into a retirement home on Valentine's Day, in hopes of meeting his favorite old-time movie star Virginia Russell (Frances Bay). As he mingles with the other senior citizens, ALF lifts their spirits and renews their energy--to the point that they're all behaving as if they were young again. Though not an official spoof of the movie Cocoon, this episode comes mighty close! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
While taking an art class, Lynn (Andrea Elson) encourages ALF to try his hand at painting. Dutifully, ALF creates a "still life" using food, then substitutes his masterpiece for Lynn's current class assignment. ALF's "painting" is lauded as a work of genius--and a green-with-envy Lynn wishes that she'd kept her mouth shut! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
ALF lands a job as "alien world" reporter for the sleazy tabloid "National Inquisitor". Angered over the manner in which his stories are re-edited and distorted, ALF demands to meet the editor face to face. This proves to be a major mistake when the editor snaps a picture of ALF, forcing the Tanner family to go into "Mission: Impossible" mode to retrieve the photo. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
ALF begins its fourth and final season with a major addition to the cast--or more precisely, two major additions. Infant twins Charles Nickerson and J.R. Nickerson share the role of baby Eric, newest member of the Tanner family. In his efforts to adjust to this new "life-form", the Tanners' resident space alien ALF begs for the opportunity to serve as babysitter while the family is out. Dutifully, ALF changes diapers and burps the kid--and inevitably, he misplaces little Eric! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Gaining access to Willie's PC, ALF enters the high-pressure world of stock market trading, soon developing an addiction to the daily Dow Jones reports. He does so well on the market that Willie (Max Wright) agrees to invest the family's money in ALF's "hot tips." Before long, however, the Bulls have given way to the Bears--and a red-faced ALF has got a lot of 'splainin' to do. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
ALF catches his first earth cold, and it looks as though he'll never get any better. In their efforts to cure ALF, Willie (Max Wright) and Kate (Anne Scheeden) resort to an ancient Melmaccian remedy, involving a shrub named "Karl" (a cute, if somewhat obscure, inside reference to the "Karl Shub" character played by ALF costar Max Wright on the earlier series Buffalo Bill). This episode was originally filmed for ALF's third season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
Not yet the erstwhile talkshow host and film actor, Dennis Miller was still doing the "Weekend Update" on Saturday Night Live when he made this concert video. Taped before a DC audience which includes several of the pundits and poobahs that Miller has previously skewered on the air, the video proves that most people are willing to laugh at themselves, even those whose political activities aren't terribly funny. Miller has said on several occasions that he wants to invoke anger from his targets, and hates it when one of his victims makes a public statement praising Miller for his technique, so maybe the gales of laughter from the audience were in themselves a means of getting even. NBC news commentator Edwin Newman shows up at the beginning of the film, purportedly to "prep" Miller. Not rated, the 60-minute Live From Washington It's Dennis Miller bars no holds when it comes to profanity. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
This version of the Dickens classic features music and choreographed dance to tell the old, old story. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
