Although not technically a movie, Mr. Monk and the Candidate was the 1 hour - 19 minute pilot epidode of USA's Monk series. Given the DVD release of Season 3, the Season 4 premiere this month, and the Monk Marathon on July 4th it only seemed right to me to make Monk's premiere (which can actually be bought standalone on DVD or as part of the Season 1 DVD set) the July Mystery Movie of the Month.

During a mayoral campaign rally in San Francisco, the body guard of candidate Warren St. Claire is killed in an assassination attempt. Adrian Monk, a former police detective and current private investigator, is brought in to assist at the incumbent mayor's urging. At the scene of the crime Monk discovers a vague link between the assassination and a murder case he had already been working on. This leads him to the St. Claire headquarters where Monk questions one of the volunteers about Nicole Vazquez, the victim of Monk's previous case and a former volunteer for the St. Claire campaign. The connection is solidified when the volunteer Monk questions is also murdered.

Tony Shalhoub won 2003 Emmy and Golden Globe awards for his portrayal of Adrian Monk. The show has received two 2005 Emmy Nominations: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (Tony Shalhoub) and Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series (Randy Zisk).

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