Paul W. Shapiro Movies

A remarkably self-deprecating entry in the USA network's off-and-on Ann Rule Presents series of fact-based films, The Stranger Beside Me details how Ann Rule (Barbara Hershey), a smart and savvy veteran crime reporter, allowed herself to be bamboozled by baby-faced serial killer Ted Bundy (Billy Campbell). Working side by side with Bundy as a volunteer at a Seattle rape crisis center in 1971, Rule had no clue that the personable and charming young man was responsible for one the most terrifying sex-murder sprees of the 20th century. Even after suspicion fell upon Bundy, Rule was initially willing to give him the benefit of the doubt -- as, alas, were so many law enforcement officials of the era. But once the truth was known, Rule embarked upon her own mea culpa campaign by going after Bundy with every resource at her disposal. Based on Rule's 1983 bestseller of the same name, The Stranger Beside Me originally aired March 21, 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Kent family brings a teenager whom Martha (Annette O'Toole) accidentally struck with her car into their home. The teen turns out to be lad named Ryan James (Ryan Kelley), who has the power to read minds -- and who was fleeing from his homicidal stepfather at the time of the accident. Ryan's plight is peripherally linked with the efforts made by fertilizer mogul Lionel Luthor (John Glover) to persuade his own son, Lex (Michael Rosenbaum), to accept a new job in Metropolis. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Kim (Elisha Cuthbert) is abducted on the way to CTU. Palmer (Dennis Haysbert) makes a victorious speech after the primary results come in. Jack (Kiefer Sutherland) calls Nina (Sarah Clarke) and lets her know he's being held hostage. Victor (Dennis Hopper) demands to be patched through to Alexis (Misha Collins) to prove that he's still alive, and that CTU has him. Victor tells Mason (Xander Berkeley) that he'll trade Jack for Alexis, but Mason tells him he doesn't have the authority to make the deal. Sherry (Penny Johnson Jerald) tells Patty (Tanya Wright) that she won't be going to Dallas with Palmer, and that they can use some time apart. Mason gets the word from Chappelle (Paul Schulze). The whole Drazen business is an embarrassment to CTU, and they don't want to risk drawing more attention to it. Jack's on his own. Nina tells Teri (Leslie Hope) the bad news, and she goes straight to Mason, who tells her there's nothing he can do. Nina calls Palmer, and tells him about the whole situation. As CTU gets word about Kim's abduction, Palmer calls Mason, and promises to reward him for making the deal for Jack, after he's president. Victor kills a couple of friends to keep Jack under control. Mason lets Victor know the deal is on, and goes to get Alexis. Patty continues to flirt with Palmer, and it turns out that Sherry is encouraging her. Kim is brought to the Drazens, and a distraught Jack begs them to let her go. Andre (Zeljko Ivanek) brings Jack to a remote field, and leaves him there. Mason gives Alexis over to the Drazens. Jack is freed, but because the Drazens have Kim, he's still under their control. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide

Original Cindy's (Valarie Rae Miller) former lover Diamond (Tangelia Rouse) is fresh out of jail, insisting that her criminal past is behind her. Maybe so, but Diamond's past will soon jump up and bite her in the form of the Nomads, a group of bounty hunters from Tacomah. All this is somehow tied in with the efforts of Logan (Michael Weatherly) and Max (Jessica Alba) to catch up with Pierpont Lemkin (Thomas B. Deschutter), a key player in a sinister program using prison convicts as biotech guinea pigs. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Lydecker (John Savage) offers a 50,000-dollar reward for the murderer of Dan Vogelsang -- and the face on all the wanted posters is that of Max (Jessica Alba). At the urging of her friends, Max flees the city, vowing never to return. But she changes her mind upon realizing that Logan (Michael Weatherly), at present undergoing delicate surgery to remove a bullet in his spine, needs her help -- desperately. The climax involves an "above and beyond" act of sacrifice on the part of one of Max's fellow Manticore refugees. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Rick Schroder stars as the villain in the made-for-TV thriller Murder at Devil's Glen, also known as What We Did That Night. Along the same lines as I Know What You Did Last Summer, the story involves a group of fraternity brothers who play practical jokes, until one of their pranks leads to the death of a classmate. Years later, one of the fraternity brothers gets released from prison and tries to get his revenge on the others involved in the crime. Also starring Jack Noseworthy, Michael Easton, and Tara Reid. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide

Based on the "Oprah Book Club" selection by Anna Quindlen, Black and Blue stars Mary Stuart Masterson as New York City housewife Fran Benedetto. Outwardly living an ideal existence, Fran harbors a painful secret: She is regularly abused, both verbally and physically, by her husband Bobby (Anthony LaPaglia). But why does not Fran go to the police? The answer is tragically simple: Bobby is a cop himself. Ultimately, Fran goes into hiding in Florida -- whereupon Bobby grimly applies the skills gleaned from years of detective work to track his hapless spouse down. Benefiting from believable characterizations and logical plot twists, the made-for-TV Black and Blue originally aired November 14, 1999 on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Dana Delany stars in this made-for-TV movie as Margaret Sanger, a nurse who, in 1914, became a pioneering crusader for women's reproductive rights after she published a booklet on birth control techniques that flew in the face of a law established by Anthony Comstock (Rod Steiger) forbidding the dissemination of information on contraception. Sanger later helped to establish America's first birth control clinic in 1916, and in 1925 was one of the founders of Planned Parenthood. Choices of the Heart: The Margaret Sanger Story also stars Henry Czerny and Julie Khaner.
~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

This black comedy stars Jon Cryer as a young reporter following the case of a serial killer who decapitates his victims. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide

Lots of guys used to dream about having a date with Marilyn Monroe, but three friends who are about to graduate from high school to go their separate ways try to make that fantasy a reality in this comedy, set in 1962. Roy (Jason Priestley), Ned (Gabriel Olds), and Scott (Jerry O'Connell) have been buddies since the age of six, when they were entered together in a Howdy Doody look-alike contest. With only a few weeks to go before they graduate from high school, Roy has impulsively joined the Army to get away from his abusive father, while Ned has discovered he's going to be a father, and Scott is still plagued by his pesky virginity. Wanting to enjoy their last few weeks of freedom, Roy "borrows" a wad of cash and a blue Galaxie 500 convertible from his former employers, repo men Arturo and Antonio Gallo (Kurt Fuller and Stephen Tobolowsky), and persuades his friends to join him as he heads to Hollywood. Roy wants to meet the woman of his dreams, Marilyn Monroe, whom he's learned is working on a new picture, Something's Got to Give. With the help of Roy's Uncle Harry (Joe Pantoliano), they locate Monroe's home and camp out at her gate, hoping to get a glimpse of the glamourous goddess. However, Roy breaks out a reefer to smoke while they attempt to stay up all night (tactical error number one: marijuana does not make you more alert!), and when she slips out without their noticing, the three end up on a mad chase to find Marilyn before she gets away. Meanwhile, the Gallo Brothers have noticed their car is gone, and they are determined to get it back, without much concern for the health or safety of the thief. Calendar Girl was Jason Priestley's first vehicle following his success on the television series Beverly Hills 90210. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

This made-for-cable-TV anthology is comprised of four provocative tales from one of America's most famous idealistic cynics, Kurt Vonnegut. The stories are "All The King's Horses," "Next Door," "The Euphio Question," and "Fortitude." ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

A plucky seventeen-year old hockey player proves that he is good enough to play on the Canadian national team in this drama. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide