John Rubinstein Movies

A politically savvy 15-year-old learns the true nature of politics after accepting the position of youth campaign spokesman for a determined congressman in the feature directorial debut of 20-year-old actor-turned-director Luke Eberl. When Congressman Lawrence Connor (Steven Weber) speaks before an assembly of high-school students during his run for the Senate, the enthusiastic and well-informed response that he gets from 15-year-old student Owen (Alex D. Linz) results in an invitation to join the campaign as Connor's youth spokesman. Subsequently exploited in a tireless campaign that includes television commercials, posters, radio advertisements, and speaking engagements, Owen is prompted by his growing distaste for the cut-throat world of politics to reconsider his career or risk losing his innocence. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

This hastily assembled rehash of the infamous Laci Peterson murder case is based on Amber Frey's book Witness: For the Proseuction of Scott Peterson, which may explain why she comes off as the most sympathetic person in the film. Basically, the script adheres to the facts: The mistress of Scott Peterson (Nathan Anderson), Amber Frey (Janel Moloney) begins to suspect that something is amiss with her sweetheart when, during what is supposed to his trip to Europe, he is suddenly popping up on every TV station and cable service in the country, swearing up and down that he had nothing to do with the disappearance of his wife Laci and their unborn son Connor. Eventually, Amber decides to cooperate with the Modesto Police Department in their efforts to pin a murder rap on Scott, agreeing to wear a wire while conversing with Scott over his domestic travails. In his frenzied efforts to counteract previous lies by cooking up new ones, Peterson effectively puts the noose around his own neck--and Amber rightfully emerges as the heroine of the piece (though not, it is hinted, without putting her own life in jeopardy in process). Somehow, the film manages to work in several plugs for the self-help book "du jour", The Purpose-Driven Life. Produced for CBS, the made-for-TV Amber Frey: Witness for the Prosecution premiered May 25, 2005. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Originally running 65 minutes (and later re-edited as two separate programs for syndication), the final episode of Friends finds Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) on the verge of leaving New York for her new job in Paris. Just before the big departure, stalwart "coffee guy" Gunther (James Michael Tyler) lets slip to Rachel that Ross (David Schwimmer) is still madly in love with her. Meanwhile, Mike (Paul Rudd) informs his new bride, Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) -- already the mother of triplets -- that he'd like to start a family. And as Monica (Courteney Cox) and Chandler (Matthew Perry) prepare to move into their new Westchester home, adoptive birth mother Erica (Anna Faris) gives birth to twins. ~ Rovi

As Angel (David Boreanaz) reels from the abduction of his son (see "Sleep Tight"), Wesley (Alexis Denisof) lies bleeding to death in the park where Justine (Laurel Holloman) left him. Gunn (J. August Richards) and Fred (Amy Acker) try desperately to find Wes before the vengeful Angel does. They also confront Justine, who refuses to provide their missing comrade's whereabouts. Meanwhile, Angel kidnaps Wolfram & Hart mastermind Linwood (John Rubinstein) and tortures him into revealing a spell that will render the immaterial Sahjhan (Jack Conley) solid so that Angel can force the demon to re-open the portal through which Holtz and Connor disappeared. The now-corporeal demon goes on a rampage and nearly bests Angel in battle. He reveals that the prophesies about Angel killing Connor were his own fabrication; he travelled through time and rewrote the scrolls to prevent the original prophesy -- that Connor would kill Sahjhan himself -- from taking place. He also reveals that re-opening the portal is impossible. Just as Sahjhan is about to stake Angel, Justine arrives and traps the demon in an urn and reveals Wesley's location. Gunn and Fred rescue him from imminent death. The next night, Angel visits Wes in the hospital and makes sure Wes knows that he has not reverted to the evil Angelus. Then he calmly, though unsuccessfully, tries to strangle the traitor. Originally broadcast April 15, 2002, on the WB network, "Forgiving" marked season three, episode 17 of the supernatural comedy drama. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi

Holtz (Keith Szarabajka) imprisons Angel (David Boreanaz) in the hotel while the gang try to protect Darla (Julie Benz) in the alley out back as she suffers agonizing labor pains. Flashbacks reveal that not only did Darla and Angel kill Holtz's family, they also turned his young daughter into a vampire, whom he was then forced to kill. Back in the present, Lilah Morgan (Stephanie Romanov) arrives at the hotel and informs Holtz that Angel now has a soul, but he remains determined to punish his foe. Angel manages to escape the vampire-hunter's trap and track down Darla, who has fled Holtz's demon minions in Angel's car. Darla reveals that she feels love for her child -- the first love she has felt in her entire life. At Caritas, The Host (Andy Hallett), Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter), Gunn (J. August Richards), and Fred (Amy Acker) fine-tune the club's anti-violence spell. Angel and Darla soon arrive, but Darla's contractions have stopped. Holtz circumvents the enchantment by throwing a bomb into the club from the outside. The gang escapes to an alley, where Darla sacrifices her own life so that her baby can live; she stakes herself, and the unharmed child appears when her ashes disperse. Holtz aims a crossbow squarely at Angel's progeny, but allows it to live. He promises the demon Sahjhan (Jack Conley) that although he has spared the child, he will show no mercy on Angel. Originally broadcast November 19, 2001, on the WB network, "Lullaby" marked season three, episode nine of the supernatural comedy drama. The third installment in a four-part sequence, the story line concludes in "Dad." ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi

This program takes an in-depth look at the legendary venue known as the Hollywood Bowl, home to countless famous performances by celebrated artists. In addition to info on the history of the structure, the program features numerous performances by people like Itzhak Perlman, Debbie Reynolds, Bernadette Peters, John Williams, with detailed looks back stage to see how the shows came together. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi

Unable to deny his drinking problem any longer, Bailey (Scott Wolf) agrees to sign up with Alcoholics Anonymous. But his first AA meeting may be his last when Bailey comes face to face with Walter Alcott (John Rubenstein), the man who killed his parents in a drunk-driving accident. Meanwhile, Julia's ex-flame Griffin (Jeremy London) suspects that his father's efforts to mend their relationship are motivated purely by selfishness. And Grace (Tamara Taylor) decides to run for the San Francisco City Council--simultaneously running the Salinger family, especially Charlie (Matthew Fox), ragged in the process. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A rich but bigoted man is forced to confront his ugliest prejudices face to face in this thriller. Frank Kramer (John Rubinstein) is a successful but narrow-minded attorney who comes home one day to discover that his daughter Nicole (Rhea Silver-Smith) is missing. Kramer shortly receives a telephone call from someone who claims to be holding his daughter hostage and gives him instructions to visit a pay phone in one of the most crime-ridden ghettos in New York City. Furious, but too worried not to follow orders, Kramer does as he's told and takes a call at the public phone -- only to be told to go to another phone booth in another, equally dangerous part of town. As Kramer dashes from telephone to telephone while being confronted by muggers, drug dealers, prostitutes, and angry people who simply don't want him in their neighborhood, it becomes evident that the kidnappers aren't just interested in money -- they have a personal grudge against Kramer, and they want their revenge to be psychological as much as financial. In time, Kramer discovers that he does indeed know one of the kidnappers -- Ruby (Amber Kain), the daughter of Kramer's maid, who has pulled the job with the help of her boyfriend -- and he discovers that his ex-wife is no more sympathetic to him than Ruby and her partner. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

It's an evening of togetherness as Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) and Sylvia Costas (Sharon Lawrence) move in together, and Donna Abandando's sister Dana (future Will & Grace star Debra Messing) moves in with Donna (Gail O'Grady) and Greg Medavoy (Gordon Clapp) -- whereupon Dana starts putting her on moves on Greg. In other developments, Simone (Jimmy Smits) has trouble believing the confession of his friend's son (Adam Hann-Byrd) regarding a school shooting. And while Martinez (Nicholas Turturro) and Lesniak (Justine Miceli) prepare to file charges against a man who knowingly transmitted HIV to his girlfriends, one of the man's victims grimly prepares her own brand of justice. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Ever yearning to expand his cultural vistas, Frasier purchases a beautiful -- and very expensive -- painting from famed Seattle artist Martha Paxton (Rachel Rosenthal). To celebrate his acquisition he throws a lavish dinner party at his apartment and invites the artist to show up as the guest of honor. Alas, Martha Paxton is harboring a terrible secret concerning her "masterpiece" -- so secret that she has manages to suppress it in her own subconscious until the worst possible moment. This episode first aired on October 21, 1993, as a last-minute replacement for the originally scheduled Frasier installment, "Call Me Irresponsible." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Following an temporary insanity acquittal of her daughter's rapist and murderer, a mother goes after the criminal. ~ Rovi

China Beach was the second and more successful of two Vietnam-era TV dramas of 1987-88 (the other was Tour of Duty). Set at a Da Nang r-and-r center in 1967, China Beach recounts the era as seen through eyes of several women who served. The distaff stars are Dana Delany (the nurse), Nacy Giles (the AFRS disc jockey), Concetta Tomei (the special services officer) and Marg Helgenberger (the civilian volunteer worker). The anecdotal two-hour pilot film for the series was first telecast April 26, 1988. Chloe Webb, who appeared in the pilot and the first few episodes, portrays a buoyant USO entertainer. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

On this occasion, both Harry (Harry Anderson) and Dan (John Larroquette) are caught with their pants down. Dan's case should surprise no one who is aware of his smarmy reputation with the ladies, but Harry is de-pantsed as the result of a slight misunderstanding predicated by a lack of information. It seems that he has enjoyed a passionate rendezvous with his former college girlfriend (Catherine Carlen)--who neglected to inform him that she's now a married woman. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi