Amanda Carlin Movies

An attractive, middle-aged woman (Donna Bullock) dies while waiting in line at a self-help seminar, the apparent victim of a massive blood clot from a long-ago nose job. But it's another corpse -- an awesomely large one that falls out of its casket in the middle of the night -- that presents a headache for Federico (Freddy Rodriguez) and his new intern, Arthur (Rainn Wilson). On watch at the funeral home while Nate (Peter Krause) and Lisa (Lili Taylor) go camping with another couple, the hapless undertakers must enlist the help of Claire (Lauren Ambrose) and Russell (Ben Foster) in returning the voluminous body to its oversized coffin. Russell is on hand because, despite her decision not to date him, Claire has somehow ended up taking his virginity instead. This turn of events pleases her until David (Michael C. Hall) insinuates that Russell is gay, after all -- a notion she dismisses out of hand. Ruth (Frances Conroy), too, finds herself falling for a man of indeterminate sexual proclivities: stuffy, virginal Arthur, whose old-fashioned manners and idiosyncrasies charm her despite their large age gap. As for Nate, he's none too charmed by the constraints that new fatherhood imposes on his camping trip with his wife. Unable to get gloriously stoned or go off on walkabout like he did as a bachelor, he instead finds himself clashing with Lisa, who's freaking out about the deficiencies in their love life since she gave birth to Maya. Eventually, she and Nate reconcile with some seriously twisted al fresco sex. But Nate is haunted by a daydream about Brenda (Rachel Griffiths) stalking him. Originally broadcast April 6, 2003, on HBO, "Making Love Work" marked season three, episode six of the made-for-cable drama. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

A retired detective must battle former colleagues and his own failing health in order to bring a murderer to justice in this action drama produced and directed by its star, Clint Eastwood. Terry McCaleb (Eastwood) was one of the best and most thorough detectives at the FBI's Southern California office, until a massive heart attack sidelined him from police work for good. Following a heart transplant which saved his life, McCaleb has resigned himself to living quietly on a houseboat for the rest of his days, observing a strict health regimen prescribed by his cardiologist, Dr. Bonnie Fox (Anjelica Huston). However, McCaleb is persuaded to take on one last case through the insistence of a woman named Graciela Rivers (Wanda De Jesus). Rivers's sister was murdered in cold blood by a mugger, and her heart was used for McCaleb's transplant; now, Rivers wants McCaleb to find her sister's killer. McCaleb agrees to take on the case, but he quickly discovers his weakened physical condition makes the rigors of handling an investigation far harder and more difficult than its ever been before; he also can no longer drive a car, and must persuade his oddball friend from the marina,Buddy Noone (Jeff Daniels), to ferry him around town. Before long, despite these drawbacks, McCaleb discovers evidence which suggests the murderer may be a serial who uses random street robberies as a cover, but he finds that Ronaldo Arrango (Paul Rodriguez) and John Waller (Dylan Walsh), the police detectives assigned to the case, are not especially interested in sharing the glory (or their legwork) with the former FBI point man. Blood Work was adapted from the novel by Michael Connelly; Brian Helgeland wrote the screenplay. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

In a departure from ER's usual format, Greene (Anthony Edwards) heads to San Diego to look after his mother, Ruth (Bonnie Bartlett), whose behavior has become increasingly outlandish after an accident at home. Upon arrival, Greene argues with his taciturn father, David (John Cullum), over proper treatment of Ruth, a confrontation which dredges up unpleasant memories. Making a tense situation even more so is the unexpected appearance of Greene's erstwhile girlfriend Cynthia (Mariska Hargitay). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Part one of this episode introduces the titular Federation rebel group, whose activities would later spill over into Deep Space Nine's sister series Next Generation and Voyager. On this occasion, Sisko learns of the existence of the Maquis and of their scheme to spread terror in the Demilitarized Zone. Sisko must act upon this information before the group is able to spark another war between the Federation and the Cardassians. Scripted by James Crocker from a story by Crocker, Rick Berman, Michael Piller, Jeri Taylor, and Ira Steven Behr, part one of "The Maquis" originally aired April 23, 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

When her precious Porsche is stolen, Murphy (Candice Bergen) joins a neighborhood-watch group. It doesn't take long, however, for Murphy to realize that the other members are less "watchdog" than "vigilante"--and in fact are one step away from a lynch mob. Tom Poston appears in another of his patented mean-old-man characterizations...and will you be surprised by the performance of onetime "June Cleaver" Barbara Billingsley! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

With his trademark emphasis on character development and dialogue, writer/director John Sayles tells the story of May-Alice Culhane (Mary McDonnell), a New York soap opera actress left paralyzed by a car accident. As the film opens, she lies in a hospital bed, confused and scared, watching her own show on TV and shrieking, "That was supposed to be my closeup!" With no other options, she returns to her family's old and empty Southern home, where she drinks hard, offends every caregiver, and wallows in self-pity. Her outlook begins to changes with the arrival of Chantelle (Alfre Woodard), a nurse with her own life problems. The two gradually find a heartfelt connection with one another, and, as a result, their lives subtly change. McDonnell's work in Passion Fish earned her an Oscar nomination as Best Actress. ~ Norm Schrager, All Movie Guide

Summoned to an expensive Upper West Side elementary school, detectives Greevey (George Dzundza) and Logan (Chris Noth) find a young pupil in a semi-comatose state. The investigation leads to prominent therapist Jacob Lowenstein (David Groh), a chronic philanderer, and Lowenstein's wife Carla (Marcia Jean Kurtz), who shows signs of being severely battered. After the death of the Lowensteins' daughter, assistant D.A. Stone (Michael Moriarty) realizes that the only way to find out who was responsible is to turn the defiantly protective Mrs. Lowenstein against her control-freak husband -- or vice versa. Clearly inspired by the infamous "Steinberg Case," this was the Law & Order telecast which prompted the series' producers to include a disclaimer at the beginning of each subsequent "based on fact" episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

After helping to kick-start the independent film movement in America with The Return of the Secaucus Seven, John Sayles wrote, directed, and edited his second feature, about a woman who finds herself staring life over after coming out of the closet as a lesbian. Lianna (Linda Griffiths) is a woman in her early thirties who's married to Dick (Jon DeVries), who teaches film at a college in Boston. Lianna first met Dick when she was a student in his class, and while she's grown more assertive and independent with time, Dick has become bitter and difficult, though he tries to be patient with their two children, Spencer (Jesse Solomon) and Theda (Jessica Wight MacDonald). Lianna, who dropped out of college when she married Dick, has begun taking classes again, and strikes up a close friendship with one of her professors, Ruth (Jane Hallaren); Dick, however, would prefer that she spend her time helping him with research on his upcoming thesis. When Lianna discovers Dick has been having an affair with one of his students, she begins to wonder about her future with him as well as her own feelings, and one evening, after dinner and conversation with Ruth, Lianna discovers her new friend has romantic feelings toward her -- and that she feels the same way toward Ruth. When Lianna confronts Dick with the news of her relationship with Ruth, he's livid and makes her leave the house, forcing her to start a new life for herself as she comes to terms with her own sexuality. Comic actor Chris Elliott makes his screen debut in Lianna in a small role as a lighting technician for a dance troupe. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide