The Films I've Seen In 2017 From Best To Worst
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- DirectorAnthony AsquithLeslie HowardStarsLeslie HowardWendy HillerWilfrid LawsonA phonetics and diction expert makes a bet that he can teach a cockney flower girl to speak proper English and pass as a lady in high society.It's been about 20 years since I saw "Pygmalion" and after seeing and being disappointed by "My Fair Lady" wondered if this film was as great as I remember it being and it's exactly as I remember it and still one of my all time favorites...the reason this film works for me so well is the actors play off each other better,it's more amusing and it has a warmth to it that's lacking in the musical...Wendy Hiller has given some exceptional performances in her career and she shines as Eliza Doolittle and makes Audrey Hepburn who I usually love look like an amateur and even though I liked Rex Harrison as Professor Higgins I still prefer Leslie Howard.
10 - DirectorJohn FordStarsHenry FondaAlice BradyMarjorie WeaverA fictionalized account of the early life of the American president as a young lawyer facing his greatest court case.1939 has always been considered the greatest year in movies and it was also John Ford's best year..."Drums Along the Mohawk" is a great adventure film,"Stagecoach" is deservedly considered not only one of the best westerns made but one of the greatest films of all time and than there's this somewhat forgotten masterpiece which I think is right up there.
It's pure Americana at it's best that deals with the mythology of Lincoln in a way that feels right and has a poetry and lyricism to it that shows Ford at his best and than there's Henry Fonda who's portrayal of Lincoln is my personnel favorite and ranks right up there with his best work.This is the Ford film that seems to get better every time I see it and it's one of my all time favorites.
10 - DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsAnthony PerkinsJanet LeighVera MilesA Phoenix secretary embezzles $40,000 from her employer's client, goes on the run and checks into a remote motel run by a young man under the domination of his mother.The most influential of all Hitchcock films that seems to get better every time I see it...Martin Balsam going up the stairs,Vera Miles meeting mother and the shower scene which is not only the most memorable scene from any Hitchcock film but one of the most memorable scenes in all of cinema are just a few reasons why this film is such a classic and of course Anthony Perkins whose place in movie history is sealed with his unforgettable portrayal of Norman Bates.
It's a meticulously crafted masterpiece and probably the greatest horror film ever made and one of my all time favorites.
10 - DirectorIngmar BergmanStarsVictor SjöströmBibi AnderssonIngrid ThulinAfter living a life marked by coldness, an aging professor is forced to confront the emptiness of his existence.I reflect on my life now at 52 and am pretty sure as I get closer to the end will do so even more and this wonderful simple yet beautifully told tale might be one of the best ever put on celluloid on this subject...this timeless story is one of Bergman's great films and might be his most accessible,it also has Victor Sjostrom who's performance like this film will stand the test of time.
10 - DirectorHenry HathawayStarsGary CooperFranchot ToneRichard CromwellThree British soldiers on the Northwest Frontier of India struggle against the enemy - and themselves.Rousing adventure film and one of the best of it's type with terrific performances especially from Cooper and Tone...High Noon is Cooper's best film but this is his most entertaining and deservedly propelled him to stardom...I've seen this film 3 times now and it's still as good as I remembered.
10 - DirectorOliver StoneStarsEric BogosianEllen GreeneLeslie HopeA rude, contemptuous talk show host becomes overwhelmed by the hatred that surrounds his program just before it goes national.30 years later and this film is as relevant and powerful now as than and it all hinges on Bogosian who's performance is riveting and should of at least garnered him an Oscar nomination...some of the pontificating and talks with his callers is both observant and chilling...In the mid to late 80's Oliver Stone was one of the best directors around and this just might be his best film.
10 - DirectorJohn FordStarsHenry FondaJane DarwellJohn CarradineAn Oklahoma family, driven off their farm by the poverty and hopelessness of the Dust Bowl, joins the westward migration to California, suffering the misfortunes of the homeless in the Great Depression.Very few Hollywood films have a feel of authenticity to it like " The Grapes of Wrath"...it's brilliantly directed and exceptionally acted especially by Fonda,Darwell and Carradine and even if the ending is softened from the book due to the times it has many powerful and unforgettable scenes and it's certainly one of Ford's best films.
10 - DirectorHoward HawksStarsJohn BarrymoreCarole LombardWalter ConnollyA flamboyant Broadway impresario who has fallen on hard times tries to get his former lover, now a Hollywood diva, to return and resurrect his failing career.It came out the same year as "It Happened One Night" and while that film is hailed as one of the greatest film comedies of all time, this one is somewhat forgotten and shouldn't be...it's a fast paced brilliantly scripted farce that ranks not only as one of Howard Hawks best films but one of the best screwball comedies ever. Carole Lombard is wonderful but this film belongs to John Barrymore who gives not only his best performance but one of the great performances in comedy,maybe because his character Oscar Jaffe was tailor made for him.
10 - DirectorJacques TourneurStarsRobert MitchumJane GreerKirk DouglasA private eye escapes his past to run a gas station in a small town, but his past catches up with him. Now he must return to the big city world of danger, corruption, double crosses, and duplicitous dames.This is probably my second favorite Robert Mitchum film and performance next to "The Night of the Hunter" and among the best noirs made...Kirk Douglas and Jane Greer are perfectly cast as well and Jacques Tourneur's direction is perfection-I've seen this film a few times and can't find fault with it and yet I'm never willing to give it a 10 and don't really know why but I think it's coming.
9 - DirectorCarol ReedStarsRalph RichardsonMichèle MorganSonia DresdelA butler working in a foreign embassy in London falls under suspicion when his wife accidentally falls to her death, the only witness being an impressionable young boy.Very few films seen through the eyes of a child has ever been better than this near masterpiece...superbly directed and acted with one of the great child performances ever and filled with memorable scenes that Hitchcock would be proud of...I think it's even better than when I first saw it over 30 years ago.
9 - DirectorHoward HawksStarsKatharine HepburnCary GrantCharles RugglesWhile trying to secure a $1 million donation for his museum, a befuddled paleontologist is pursued by a flighty and often irritating heiress and her pet leopard, Baby.I think this is one of the best screwball comedies ever made...it's a brilliantly directed,hilarious fast paced romp with 2 of the best performances in the genre,especially Hepburn who I've always felt was better at comedy than drama but like "Out of the Past" this is another film I'm just not quite willing to give a 10 to.
9 - DirectorRobert WiseStarsMichael RenniePatricia NealHugh MarloweAn alien lands in Washington, D.C. and tells the people of Earth that they must live peacefully or be destroyed as a danger to other planets.I've seen this classic a few times and it never fails to satisfy,it's a simple,intelligent,well directed and acted sci-fi film that just might be my favorite from the 50's..."Klaatu Barada Nikto" for me was the most memorable line in science fiction cinema until "May The Force Be With You".
9 - DirectorW.S. Van DykeStarsWilliam PowellMyrna LoyMaureen O'SullivanFormer detective Nick Charles and his wealthy wife Nora investigate a murder case, mostly for the fun of it.The undeniable chemistry and witty repartee between Powell and Loy is the reason this movie is such a joy to watch and as many times as I've seen this film it never gets old...unless your a movie lover these are 2 names that are forgotten today but they really were 2 of the giants of 30's cinema and as far as I'm concerned 2 of the best not just of their era but of all time.
9 - DirectorRobert ZemeckisStarsMichael J. FoxChristopher LloydLea ThompsonMarty McFly, a 17-year-old high school student, is accidentally sent 30 years into the past in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his close friend, the maverick scientist Doc Brown.This film is a delight and it always puts a smile on my face because everything seems to fit together in a plausible and very entertaining way...I think it's Zemeckis' best film and Fox and Lloyd created 2 of the more memorable characters of the last 30 years...Thompson and Glover also deserve credit for their supporting work.
9 - DirectorFritz LangStarsPeter LorreEllen WidmannInge LandgutWhen the police in a German city are unable to catch a child-murderer, other criminals join in the manhunt.I've seen this classic 3 or 4 times now and I swear the ending is different in each version I've seen and maybe that's why it never comes to a satisfying resolution,that being said there is so much to admire here from the story that deals with issues of justice and mental illness that are as relevant now as than,Lang's direction to cinematography and Peter Lorre's absolutely believable and chilling performance that a part of me feels like I'm nitpicking.
9 - DirectorLotte ReinigerCarl KochA handsome prince rides a flying horse to faraway lands and embarks on magical adventures, which include befriending a witch, meeting Aladdin, battling demons and falling in love with a princess.Might be the oldest full length animated film known but it's also one of the most imaginative films I've ever seen,it casts a spell on you and your drawn into this enchanting world from the Arabian Nights that manages to engage you in ways you didn't think was possible...an astonishing achievement that should be seen and appreciated.
9 - DirectorAlexander MackendrickStarsBurt LancasterTony CurtisSusan HarrisonPowerful but unethical Broadway columnist J.J. Hunsecker coerces unscrupulous press agent Sidney Falco into breaking up his sister's romance with a jazz musician.Location,dialogue, beautifully filmed in black and white and 2 exceptional performances from Curtis(maybe his best)and Lancaster make this sleazy drama sizzle and such a joy to watch,only the ending doesn't satisfy as much as I'd hoped.
It's been about 25 years since I first saw it and it's still as good as I remember.
9 - DirectorJosef von SternbergStarsMarlene DietrichJohn LodgeSam JaffeA German noblewoman enters into a loveless marriage with the dim-witted, unstable heir to the Russian throne, then plots to oust him from power.Definitely more style than substance but when the director's Josef von Sternberg that style goes a long way...garish,grotesque sets,brilliant use of lighting and the incomparable Dietrich make this a near cinematic masterpiece even if it's dramatically uneven...it's been 33 years since I last saw it and it's as good as I remember.
9 - DirectorMelvin FrankNorman PanamaStarsDanny KayeGlynis JohnsBasil RathboneA hapless carnival performer masquerades as the court jester as part of a plot against an evil ruler who has overthrown the rightful King.The films remembered for the classic "the pellet with the poison" scene which is unquestionably one of the great scenes in comedy but the whole film is a joy to watch...Danny Kaye is at his best and the rest of the cast fills their roles perfectly ...I haven't seen this film in ages and it was always one of my favorites as a kid but it still holds up and I'm almost tempted to watch it again because I think I'm underrating it.
9 - DirectorFritz LangStarsGlenn FordGloria GrahameJocelyn BrandoTough cop Dave Bannion takes on a politically powerful crime syndicate.One of the edgier and darker film noirs ever made with terrific performances from Glenn Ford and Gloria Grahame.
9 - DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsFarley GrangerRobert WalkerRuth RomanA psychopathic man tries to forcibly persuade a tennis star to agree to his theory that two strangers can get away with murder by submitting to his plan to kill the other's most-hated person.I'm always a little disappointed by this Hitchcock film not because it's not great it certainly is but for me at least it had the potential to be one of his masterpieces but it just doesn't sustain it's greatness all the way to the end...the performances are terrific especially by Robert Walker who died far to young and Hitch is in top form at least for 2 thirds of the film but I always felt a little let down by the ending...still it's certainly among his 10 best and may even be better than the last time I saw it.
9 - DirectorHenri-Georges ClouzotStarsPierre FresnayGinette LeclercMicheline FranceyA French village doctor becomes the target of poison-pen letters sent to village leaders, accusing him of affairs and practicing abortion.Another one of these films I haven't seen in about 30 years and it's even better than I remember...this sordid French psychological crime film by the great Clouzot is the kind of film that could never have been made in Hollywood at that time...Pierre Fresnay is forgotten today but he really was one of the best actors in his day,to be honest there's a few standout performances and a great story and terrific direction make this a winner.
9 - DirectorVictor FlemingGeorge CukorSam WoodStarsClark GableVivien LeighThomas MitchellA sheltered and manipulative Southern belle and a roguish profiteer face off in a turbulent romance as the society around them crumbles with the end of slavery and is rebuilt during the Civil War and Reconstruction periods.My 3rd time watching this epic and as with each viewing I struggle with the things I don't like about it...most of the performances are forgettable other than the 2 leads,there are lulls along the way and it's depiction of slavery is offensive vs the things I like...brilliant cinematography,terrific set pieces,wonderful musical score, many memorable scenes,Clark Gable who gives the performance of his life and than there's Vivien Leigh whose Scarlett O'Hara is one of the most infuriating,complex and fascinating characters ever put on screen...she's a character far ahead of her time and love her or hate her I doubt you'll forget her and it's for that reason I find this film so captivating but I will admit it's gone done a notch.
9
- DirectorDavid LeitchStarsCharlize TheronJames McAvoyJohn GoodmanAn undercover MI6 agent is sent to Berlin during the Cold War to investigate the murder of a fellow agent and recover a missing list of double agents.Slick,stylish cold war spy thriller mixed with terrific Jason Bourne action sequences and a sly sense of humor that's far better than I expected mainly because of great direction,a good supporting cast and one exceptional performance by Charlize Theron who makes the difference from this being a good film to a great film...I had a blast with this.
9 - DirectorArthur PennStarsGene HackmanJennifer WarrenEdward BinnsLos Angeles private investigator Harry Moseby is hired by a client to find her runaway teenage daughter. Moseby tracks the daughter down, only to stumble upon something much more intriguing and sinister.The story may be a little convoluted but I think this is one of the most under rated films of the 70's...beautifully directed by Penn with terrific performances from Jennifer Warren and a very young Melanie Griffith but it's Hackman who shines in what may very well be his best performance...I love the feel of this gritty film noir and it just seems to get better every time I see it.
9 - DirectorH. Bruce HumberstoneStarsDanny KayeVirginia MayoVera-EllenAfter being murdered by gangsters, an exuberant nightclub entertainer returns as a ghost to persuade his meek twin brother to help bring his killers to justice.When I think of the great stars of the past Danny Kaye is a name that never comes to mind and I don't know why because he made some highly entertaining films in the 40's and 50's and this is one of his best...an absolute joy.
9 - DirectorClint EastwoodStarsClint EastwoodBee VangChristopher CarleyAfter a Hmong teenager tries to steal his prized 1972 Gran Torino, a disgruntled, prejudiced Korean War veteran seeks to redeem both the boy and himself.Clint Eastwood gives one of his best performances as Walt Kowalski and created one of the most memorable characters in recent memory and I can't think of anyone else who could make this film work as well as it does without it seeming over the top and silly...some of the other performances aren't very good although they didn't bother me as much this time around as when I first saw it and even though I wasn't the biggest fan of the ending it still managed to work...second viewing as good as when I first saw it if not a little better but I think if your not an Eastwood fan you'll find the whole thing far fetched and hard to take seriously.
9 - DirectorGötz SpielmannStarsJohannes KrischIrina PotapenkoAndreas LustEx-con Alex plans to flee to the South with his girl after a robbery. But something terrible happens and revenge seems inevitable.Well acted subtle drama that works as a 4 piece character study, as a revenge thriller of sorts and is one of those films that surprisingly stays with you when it's over.
9 - DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsAndrew GarfieldAdam DriverLiam NeesonIn the 17th century, two Portuguese Jesuit priests travel to Japan in an attempt to locate their mentor, who is rumored to have committed apostasy, and to propagate Catholicism.Scorsese near his best in this absorbing and thought provoking drama that deals with religion and the internal struggle's in keeping ones faith in an adult way rarely seen in films and I think he succeeds more in this film than in his intriguing but dull and boring "The Last Temptation of Christ"...Garfield and Neeson get high marks as well for their performances.
9 - DirectorDelbert MannStarsErnest BorgnineBetsy BlairEsther MinciottiA middle-aged butcher and a school teacher who have given up on the idea of love meet at a dance and fall for each other.Some of the dialogue between the mother and aunt feel a little contrived but for the most part this a simple and beautifully told drama that has a feel of realism to it that's as fresh now as than.
Another film that I hadn't seen in 30 years and even though it's gone down a notch since I first saw it's still a great film...Ernest Borgnine is exceptional and the relationship between Stallone and Shire in Rocky has always reminded me of this film except that it pales in comparison.
9 - DirectorLaura PoitrasStarsEdward SnowdenGlenn GreenwaldWilliam BinneyA documentarian and a reporter travel to Hong Kong for the first of many meetings with Edward Snowden.Undeniably fascinating and compelling documentary but I have to admit I came away feeling rather ambivalent towards Snowden...patriot or traitor I'm not sure and maybe that's the problem because to be honest I think he's both if that's possible.
9 - DirectorJames PonsoldtStarsMiles TellerShailene WoodleyKyle ChandlerA hard-partying high school senior's philosophy on life changes when he meets the not-so-typical "nice girl."Coming of age films are a dime a dozen and most have no basis in reality but this beautifully told and acted film has an honesty to it that I related to...Kudos especially to Teller and Woodley who's warm and believable performances make this film as great as it is.
9 - DirectorKenneth LonerganStarsCasey AffleckMichelle WilliamsKyle ChandlerA depressed uncle is asked to take care of his teenage nephew after the boy's father dies.Casey Affleck's performance alone makes this emotionally charged drama well worth watching and will probably and deservedly garner him the Oscar and even though the rest of the cast is good it's Affleck who holds it altogether.
9 - DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsRay MillandGrace KellyRobert CummingsA former tennis star arranges the murder of his adulterous wife.It may not rank up there with Hitch's true classics but it's still great entertainment...a simple premise that far exceeds it's limited trappings due to the masters expert direction and wonderful performances from all involved.
9 - DirectorDamien ChazelleStarsRyan GoslingEmma StoneRosemarie DeWittWhile navigating their careers in Los Angeles, a pianist and an actress fall in love while attempting to reconcile their aspirations for the future.Engaging beautifully directed and acted musical that was an absolute delight and brings a genre of film that one thought was dead(except in animated form) brilliantly back to life.
9 - DirectorGuy HamiltonStarsSean ConneryJill St. JohnCharles GrayA diamond smuggling investigation leads James Bond to Las Vegas where he uncovers an evil plot involving a rich business tycoon.Might be the most over the top of the Connery Bond film's which is why many think it was suited more for Roger Moore than Connery but I think it works extremely well and I rank this among his best and one of the best in the whole series...yes it's uneven and the humor doesn't always work but I remember more scenes from this Bond film than any other.
9 - DirectorEdmund GouldingStarsGreta GarboJohn BarrymoreJoan CrawfordA group of very different individuals staying at a luxurious hotel in Berlin deal with each of their respective dramas.If you love old Hollywood like I do there's lots to admire here especially in the casting-The Barrymore brothers,Garbo and Crawford are the reason to watch this dated melodramatic but highly entertaining film and the opening sequence is brilliantly done but it seems to go down a notch every time I see it.
9 - DirectorOrson WellesStarsCharlton HestonOrson WellesJanet LeighA stark, perverse story of murder, kidnapping and police corruption in a Mexican border town.30 years ago when I first saw this film I thought it was a well made somewhat sleazy film noir with good performances from Heston and Leigh and some of the others but I had a problem with Orson Welles who I thought overplayed his character almost at the point of hamming it up and I never found him as riveting as some do and that's exactly how I felt this time around but cinematically there's lots to admire.
9 - DirectorMichael Dudok de WitStarsEmmanuel GarijoTom HudsonBaptiste GoyA man is shipwrecked on a deserted island and encounters a big red turtle, which changes his life.Simple,poignant and beautifully made animated film that ranks among the best from Studio Ghibli.
9 - DirectorWilliam A. WellmanStarsJames CagneyJean HarlowEdward WoodsAn Irish-American street punk tries to make it big in the world of organized crime.The film that shot Cagney to stardom and helped start the gangster craze in movies and it still holds up extremely well as one of the best in the genre...the grapefruit scene and the final scene have always stood out for me as well as Cagney himself.
9 - DirectorRichard TuggleClint EastwoodStarsClint EastwoodGeneviève BujoldDan HedayaNew Orleans single dad and cop Wes Block goes after a serial rapist-killer, but when he gets too close the hunter suddenly becomes the hunted.This is a well made and effective psychological thriller that is one of Clint's darker and more intriguing films that's also one of his best...Clint also gives one of his best performances but I'm not sure his most iconic character Dirty Harry would approve.
9 - DirectorJohn FordStarsVictor McLaglenBoris KarloffWallace FordA dozen British soldiers, lost in a Mesopotamian desert during World War I, are menaced by unseen Arab enemies.John Ford's rousing adventure film still holds up extremely well and is one of his better films pre "Stagecoach"...there were many great adventure films similar to this one that came out in the 30's like "Lives of a Bengal Lancer", "Beau Geste", "The Four Feathers" and "Gunga Din" but this film does strive if not always successfully to deal with the psychological effects their situation has on them which makes it a little different from the others,especially in Boris Karloff's character but I have to admit even though some think Karloff's performance is the best thing about the film I found it difficult to take and that's exactly how I felt when I first saw this film 25 years ago.
9 - DirectorKent JonesStarsWes AndersonPeter BogdanovichDavid FincherFilmmakers discuss how Francois Truffaut's 1966 book "Cinema According to Hitchcock" influenced their work.For Hitchcock lovers and connoisseurs of cinema this is a wonderful documentary on the famous interview Truffaut did with Hitchcock back in the 60's...I'm a sucker for films like this.
9 - DirectorIrving ReisStarsEdward G. RobinsonBurt LancasterMady ChristiansDuring WW2, industrialist Joe Keller commits a crime and frames his business partner Herbert Deever but years later his sin comes back to haunt him when Joe's son plans to marry Deever's daughter.The ending is somewhat predictable but this powerful drama still manages to end with a bang not a whimper due to superb performances from Robinson and Lancaster.
9 - DirectorByron HaskinStarsGene BarryAnn RobinsonLes TremayneA small town in California is attacked by Martians, beginning a worldwide invasion.I've seen "War of the Worlds" many times and even though I liked it I never thought it was the classic that many consider it to be and thought that Spielberg's version was superior in every way even with a disappointing third act but not anymore...maybe I was in the right frame of mind but I was thoroughly engaged in it this time and felt the story,performances and even the special effects gelled wonderfully and helped make this one of the best sci-fi films of all time.
9 - DirectorDavid CronenbergStarsJeff GoldblumGeena DavisJohn GetzA brilliant but eccentric scientist begins to transform into a giant man/fly hybrid after one of his experiments goes horribly wrong.I can't deny that this is an effective horror film that is far superior to the original in every way with a brilliant performance from Goldblum that incorporates the usual Cronenberg themes better than any of his other films and for that reason I give it the rating I do but there is a part of me that thinks the gruesomeness and gore towards the end goes a little to far and that's exactly how I felt about it when I first saw it 30 years ago.
9 - DirectorF.W. MurnauStarsCharles FarrellMary DuncanDavid TorrenceA Chicago waitress falls in love with a Minnesota farmer, and decides to face a life in the country.It may not rank with the best from Murnau but it's still a beautifully filmed and acted silent drama filled with wonderful vignettes that stay with you...the only thing that stops it from being among his best is the ending which didn't satisfy the way I would of hoped.
8 - DirectorSpike LeeStarsDanny AielloOssie DavisRuby DeeOn the hottest day of the year on a street in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, everyone's hate and bigotry smolders and builds until it explodes into violence.I've always felt that this was a fairly well balanced film on race even if most of the characters bordered on the stereotypical and how the film builds to the inevitable violence is brilliantly conceived,my only problem is I just never found the film to be as gripping or powerful as it should of been...I admire the film and it's filled with terrific performances and dialogue and in a time when there weren't many black directors making serious films Spike Lee became a force to be reckoned with.
2nd viewing pretty much the same as my first.
8 - DirectorJordan Vogt-RobertsStarsTom HiddlestonSamuel L. JacksonBrie LarsonAfter the Vietnam war, a team of scientists explores an uncharted island in the Pacific, venturing into the domain of the mighty Kong and must fight to escape a primal Eden.My affection for the original King Kong is without bounds,I hold the 1976 version in absolute contempt while Peter Jackson's somewhat bloated but loving tribute to the original I hold in high regard as I do this new version...I have always felt that they should just make a version that stays on Skull Island since that was the most exciting part of all versions and someone apparently felt the same way I do and it doesn't disappoint...it's fun,exciting and even with stereotypical characters their performed by A-list talent that fit their roles perfectly-yes Samuel L. Jackson has played this type of character before but not as well as he has in this film-Nick Fury gone mad and he is the perfect foil for Kong and John C. Reilly comes close to stealing the film with his lovable goofball portrayal.This is a popcorn movie and a damn good one that I want to see again.
8 - DirectorJordan PeeleStarsDaniel KaluuyaAllison WilliamsBradley WhitfordA young African-American visits his white girlfriend's parents for the weekend, where his simmering uneasiness about their reception of him eventually reaches a boiling point.One is never sure what's going on in this perceptive fun and original horror/comedy but we know somethings not quite right and it's a hell of a ride...if I have one quibble it's the ending which is what one would expect from more traditional films of this type...the performances by all are wonderful and Jordan Peele is a director to take note of.
8 - DirectorMichael MannStarsTom CruiseJamie FoxxJada Pinkett SmithA cab driver finds himself the hostage of an engaging contract killer as he makes his rounds from hit to hit during one night in Los Angeles.Whatever shortcomings this film has,hokey setup and some scenes that defy logic it somehow manages to overcome with tight direction and good performances from it's leads especially Cruise who playing against type gives one of his best performances and should have gotten Oscar consideration...2nd viewing better than the first.
8 - DirectorRichard LinklaterStarsBlake JennerTyler HoechlinRyan GuzmanIn 1980, a group of college baseball players navigate their way through the freedoms and responsibilities of unsupervised adulthood.Another winner from Linklater, this follow-up of sorts to "Dazed and Confused"is just as fun and entertaining with terrific ensemble work from a cast of relatively unknown actors.
8 - DirectorSamuel ArmstrongNorman FergusonWilfred JacksonStarsSterling HollowayEdward BrophyHerman BingRidiculed because of his enormous ears, a young circus elephant is assisted by a mouse to achieve his full potential.Of the original Disney classics this is the one that's never quite resonated with me the way the others have...the pink elephant scene is terrific and there are good songs but I never found Dumbo to be as endearing as Pinocchio or Bambi,that being said it's still quite good but it has gone down a notch from when I saw it 30 years ago.
8 - DirectorLuc BessonStarsDane DeHaanCara DelevingneClive OwenA dark force threatens Alpha, a vast metropolis and home to species from a thousand planets. Special operatives Valerian and Laureline must race to identify the marauding menace and safeguard not just Alpha, but the future of the universe.It's a little heavy handed at the end with all it's moralizing but overall I really enjoyed this engaging and visually stunning sci-fi adventure film with 2 likable stars in the lead.
8 - DirectorRobert BressonStarsFrançois LeterrierCharles Le ClaincheMaurice BeerblockA captured French Resistance fighter during World War II engineers a daunting escape from a German prison in France.I'm not sure I'll ever be a big fan of Bresson but this simple yet very effective prison film worked for me and just might be my favorite film of his so far but I still wish his characters showed some emotion...Bresson seems to feel that emotion gets in the way of what he's trying to show and becomes a distraction but the lack of emotion in his films is obvious and does exactly that and I for one think a film like " Mouchette" would of benefited greatly if I had an emotional connection to the character which would of gotten me more involved in her story and would of given this story an emotional punch that it lacks.
8 - DirectorDoug LimanStarsTom CruiseDomhnall GleesonSarah WrightThe story of Barry Seal, an American pilot who became a drug-runner for the CIA in the 1980s in a clandestine operation that would be exposed as the Iran-Contra Affair.After watching the film I checked to see how truthful this story was and there's no denying it plays loosely with the facts as are known but I thought this was a well made and very entertaining film with one of Cruise's better performances...it's the kind of film you expect from Scorsese.
8 - DirectorRon ClementsJohn MuskerDon HallStarsAuli'i CravalhoDwayne JohnsonRachel HouseIn ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurred by the demigod Maui reaches Moana's island, she answers the Ocean's call to seek out Maui to set things right.The story, themes and characters are what you expect from a Disney film but I did think it was done in a refreshing way and this turned out be far better than I expected.
8 - DirectorRichard DonnerStarsChristopher ReeveMargot KidderGene HackmanAn alien orphan is sent from his dying planet to Earth, where he grows up to become his adoptive home's first and greatest superhero.The action scenes are not the best moments in this film,it's the smaller scenes especially at the beginning that work beautifully and there is an innocence and charm to this film that I appreciated...yes it's dated in many ways but I didn't mind because Christopher Reeve ,Margot Kidder and Glenn Ford made this movie work for me.
8 - DirectorFrank PerrySydney PollackStarsBurt LancasterJanet LandgardJanice RuleA man spends a summer day swimming as many pools as he can all over a quiet suburban town.Enigmatic,pretentious yet fascinating drama beautifully filmed with one of Burt Lancaster's best performances but definitely a film that won't appeal to mainstream audiences.
8 - DirectorBarry JenkinsStarsMahershala AliNaomie HarrisTrevante RhodesA young African-American man grapples with his identity and sexuality while experiencing the everyday struggles of childhood, adolescence, and burgeoning adulthood.Well made and acted coming of age slice of life drama told in 3 acts and the first 2 acts are terrific but the third act didn't really work for me...on it's own terms it's well done but for me at least didn't fit with the first 2 acts.
8 - DirectorWalter LangStarsYul BrynnerDeborah KerrRita MorenoA widow accepts a job as a live-in governess to the King of Siam's children.Deborah Kerr and especially Yul Brynner shine in this entertaining musical even if many of the musical numbers aren't very memorable.
8 - DirectorSidney LumetStarsJames MasonMaximilian SchellSimone SignoretA British agent sets out to uncover the hidden facts behind a British government employee's suicide.Great spy thriller with standout performances from the cast,especially Mason,Schell and Signoret and solid direction by Lumet... another film I've never heard of that turned out to be a nice surprise.
8 - DirectorJohn CarneyStarsFerdia Walsh-PeeloAidan GillenMaria Doyle KennedyA young lad notices a beautiful girl who begins to occupy his thoughts. While struggling with poverty, personal relationships and life's woes, he starts a band, hoping to catch her attention.Great performances,surprisingly good music and an engaging story that will make you feel good in the end,it's a film that only the most cynical will find fault with and it would make a perfect double bill with the equally enjoyable "The Commitments".
8 - DirectorSydney PollackStarsRobert RedfordWill GeerDelle BoltonA mountain man who wishes to live the life of a hermit becomes the unwilling object of a long vendetta by the Crow tribe and proves to be a match for their warriors in single combat on the early frontier.Redford at first doesn't seem to have the rugged exterior to play the title character and he's probably a little to good looking for the part but he managed to win me over with one of his best performances in this beautifully filmed and engaging adventure film...I did find the musical interludes along the way kind of annoying.
8 - DirectorElliott NugentStarsBob HopePaulette GoddardJohn BealWhen an eccentric family meets in their uncle's remote, decaying mansion on the tenth anniversary of his death for the reading of his will, murder and madness follow.The films Bob Hope made with Paulette Goddard are among his best and this thoroughly enjoyable remake of the classic silent ranks right up there...it's fun,thrilling and atmospheric and I think just as good as the original.
8 - DirectorTaylor SheridanStarsElizabeth OlsenJeremy RennerGraham GreeneA wildlife officer, who is haunted by a tragedy that happened because of him, teams up with an FBI agent in solving a murder of a young woman on a Wyoming Native American reservation and hopes to get redemption from his past regrets.Intelligent and well made crime film with Jeremy Renner proving how good an actor he is if given the right material and I did appreciate the more realistic approach to the story.
8 - DirectorH.C. PotterStarsOle OlsenChic JohnsonMartha RayeOlsen and Johnson, a pair of stage comedians, try to turn their play into a movie and bring together a young couple in love, while breaking the fourth wall every step of the way.This is one of those films that has always stuck with me even though it's been about 25 years since I last saw it...It's just a zany,crazy fun musical comedy that throws everything at you and even if it doesn't always work it doesn't matter because your having a good time...the swing number is astonishing and seems so ahead of it's time and for me was the highlight of this enjoyable film.
8 - DirectorRoberto RosselliniStarsIngrid BergmanGeorge SandersMaria MaubanAn unhappily married couple attempts to find direction and insight while vacationing in Naples....or a journey into a marriage that's dissolving before our eyes and it's surprisingly engaging despite it pretentiousness because of 2 very good performances from the stars.
8 - DirectorBarry W. BlausteinStarsTerry FunkMick FoleyJake RobertsA heartfelt documentary focusing on the day-to-day lives of professional wrestlers, some on the rise, some on the wane, and others fighting for their lives.This documentary focuses mainly on 3 wrestlers and it's a surprisingly insightful look on the joys,pain and suffering one gets from the wrestling profession,it may be more entertainment than sport but the physical demands are very real and the punishment their willing to do to their bodies boggles the mind but it's the emotional toll it can have on themselves and their family where this film really works...seeing Nick Foley's kids crying as they watch their dad get beat up and bloody is difficult but it's Jake the Snake's tragic story that got to me the most,there doesn't seem to be a happy ending in sight for his life which makes his story the most heartfelt.
8 - DirectorChad StahelskiStarsKeanu ReevesRiccardo ScamarcioIan McShaneAfter returning to the criminal underworld to repay a debt, John Wick discovers that a large bounty has been put on his life.The coolness factor of the original remains intact in this sequel which is just as good if not better than the first and Keanu Reeves may have the best role of his career( yes better than Neo)...I'm actually looking forward to the next chapter in this entertaining series.
8 - DirectorPeter BergStarsMark WahlbergKurt RussellDouglas M. GriffinA dramatization of the disaster in April 2010, when the offshore drilling rig called the Deepwater Horizon exploded, resulting in the worst oil spill in American history.Mark Wahlberg acquits himself well in this well made and effective drama based on a true story.
8 - DirectorJacques TourneurStarsFrances DeeTom ConwayJames EllisonA nurse is hired to care for the wife of a sugar plantation owner, who has been acting strangely, on a Caribbean island.This wonderfully atmospheric and eerie horror film seems ahead of it's time in the way it deals with voodoo and zombies that has some memorable scenes and ranks as one of the best in the Val Lewton produced horror films, it's also one of director Jacques Touneur best.
8 - DirectorTakeshi KitanoStarsTakeshi KitanoTadanobu AsanoYui NatsukawaThe blind masseur/swordsman comes to a town in control of warring gangs, and while bunking with a farming family, he meets two women with their own agenda.Offbeat but entertaining samurai film reminiscent at times of Kurosawa's Yojimbo...the dance number at the end seems so out of place from the rest of the movie but it sure was enjoyable.
8 - DirectorMichael CurtizStarsJohn GarfieldPatricia NealPhyllis ThaxterAn otherwise moral captain of a charter boat becomes financially strapped and is drawn into illegal activities in order to keep up payments on his boat.A remake of "To Have and Have Not" and supposedly truer to the material than that film...it's just as good if not better with 2 standout performances from Garfield and Neal.
8 - DirectorGeorge CukorStarsMarie DresslerJohn BarrymoreWallace BeeryAffluent Millicent and Oliver Jordan throw a dinner for a handful of wealthy and/or well-born acquaintances, each of whom has much to reveal.Dressler, Harlow and Burke come of best in this entertaining dramedy reminiscent of Grand Hotel although like that film it's starting to show it's age and has gone down a notch from when I first saw it 30 years ago but I do think the final scene between Dressler and Harlow is a classic and stands the test of time.
8 - DirectorArchie MayoMichael CurtizStarsHumphrey BogartAnn SheridanDick ForanA hard-working machinist loses a promotion to a Polish-born worker, he's seduced into joining the secretive Black Legion, which intimidates foreigners through violence.Powerful film that's as relevant now as 80 years ago with a solid Bogie performance that's marred only by the inevitable sermonizing at the end...another film I knew nothing about that turned out to be a nice surprise.
8 - DirectorGareth EdwardsStarsFelicity JonesDiego LunaAlan TudykIn a time of conflict, a group of unlikely heroes band together on a mission to steal the plans to the Death Star, the Empire's ultimate weapon of destruction.The darker story line and fresh faces made this prequel highly entertaining and for me the best in the Star Wars universe since Empire and I for one think stand alone films in the universe that aren't part of some series may be the way to go...2nd viewing same as first but there's no denying that these new films as entertaining as they are can't recapture the magic of the originals and have very little in them that's memorable.
8 - DirectorOlivier AssayasStarsKristen StewartLars EidingerSigrid BouazizA personal shopper in Paris refuses to leave the city until she makes contact with her twin brother who previously died there. Her life becomes more complicated when a mysterious person contacts her via text message.This ghost story of sorts tries to be more than what it seems and you may end up with more questions than answers when it's over but as pretentious as the film is I was fascinated and found it quite stimulating and for doubters of Kristen Stewart like me all I can say is I was impressed.
8 - DirectorIvan SenStarsAaron PedersenHugo WeavingRyan KwantenAn indigenous detective returns to the Outback to investigate the murder of a young girl.This Aussie mystery/crime film doesn't really offer anything new other than it's setting but it works quite well with good performances from the leads.
8 - DirectorFrank CapraStarsClark GableClaudette ColbertWalter ConnollyA rogue reporter trailing a runaway heiress for a big story joins her on a bus heading from Florida to New York and they end up stuck with each other when the bus leaves them behind at one of the stops along the way.Considered by many the greatest romantic comedy of all time and I for one just don't see it...I've always enjoyed this film more because of the appeal of it's stars although I don't think either are at their best...I've just never found this film to be as much fun and pales in comparison to other romantic screwball comedies like "Bringing up Baby,The Awful Truth,Twentieth Century or The Lady Eve" which I think are among the best in the genre.
I've seen this film 4 or 5 times now and it seems to go down a notch every time I've seen it,that's not to say it's not a good film it is but it's not the classic many consider it to be.
8 - DirectorCharles BurnettStarsHenry G. SandersKaycee MooreCharles BracySet in the Watts area of Los Angeles, a slaughterhouse worker must suspend his emotions to continue working at a job he finds repugnant, and then he finds he has little sensitivity for the family he works so hard to support.It may not have the polish of later films such as "Do the Right Thing" or Boys in the Hood" but it does have a feel of authenticity to it that even those urban slice of life films can't match maybe because it's filmed with non-actors and I loved the music.
8 - DirectorMartin McDonaghStarsFrances McDormandWoody HarrelsonSam RockwellA mother personally challenges the local authorities to solve her daughter's murder when they fail to catch the culprit.Even though the transition from heavier moments to lighter don't always work and there are some plot developments that seem to come out of nowhere which didn't gel with me I still found myself enjoying this film mainly for it's originality and for 3 Oscar worthy performances,especially McDormand and Rockwell(who is always underappreciated).
8 - DirectorDenis VilleneuveStarsAmy AdamsJeremy RennerForest WhitakerA linguist works with the military to communicate with alien lifeforms after twelve mysterious spacecraft appear around the world.This well made Sci-Fi film has a lot in common with Close Encounters but it's more somber and has higher aims and I certainly enjoyed it but when it was over it didn't satisfy me the way I hoped it would...Amy Adams gives a wonderfully nuanced performance.
8 - DirectorStanley KramerStarsSpencer TracyMilton BerleEthel MermanA group of motorists witnesses a car crash in the California desert, and after the driver's dying words indicate the location of a hidden stash of loot, they turn against each in a race across the state to get to it.This all-star slapstick farce has to be one of the longest film comedies ever made if not the longest and say what you want about it, it's not boring,to be honest it's pretty entertaining...I've seen this film a few times and liked it better when I was a kid since most of the humor is rather juvenile but there are inspired moments and most of the stars have a moment or two where they shine especially Winters who I think comes of best.
8 - DirectorCharles ChaplinStarsCharles ChaplinPaulette GoddardHenry BergmanThe Tramp struggles to live in modern industrial society with the help of a young homeless woman.Maybe Chaplin's most appreciated film but not mine...I don't think it's as clever,enjoyable and maybe more importantly lacks the warmth of his best films...I liked this film better when I first saw it 25 years ago but I felt a little distant from it this time,there are things to admire about the film but it just never won me over.
8 - DirectorHerbert BrenonStarsBetty BronsonErnest TorrenceGeorge AliPeter Pan enters the nursery of the Darling children and, with the help of fairy dust, leads them off to Never Never Land, where they meet the nefarious Captain Hook.Delightful and engaging silent version of the story with a wonderful performance from Betty Bronson as Pan and George Ali as Nana the Dog.
8 - DirectorGuillermo del ToroStarsMira SorvinoJeremy NorthamAlexander GoodwinThree years ago, entomologist Dr. Susan Tyler genetically created an insect to kill cockroaches carrying a virulent disease. Now, the insects are out to destroy their only predator, mankind.Apparently Del Toro wasn't happy with the final product due to interference from the studio but as flawed as this film is I still think it's one of his best films...it has a European feel to it for most of the film which I loved and than it does switch gears in the last 30 minutes or so and feels more Hollywood and isn't quite as effective and you'll certainly be reminded of films like "Aliens" and "Them" but the performances are solid,the creatures were well done and there were enough moments of suspense to make this well worthwhile.
8 - DirectorSteven OkazakiStarsWataru AkashiKyôko KagawaTakeshi KatôA feature-length documentary about the life and films of legendary actor Toshiro Mifune, weaving together film clips, archival stills, and interviews with such luminaries as Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese. Narrated by Keanu Reeves.It may not be as insightful as one would hope but it's still an engaging documentary on one of the giants of cinema that tends to focus mostly on his film career with another giant of cinema Akira Kurosawa and manages to bring up a question that no one seems to really know the answer to...why they stopped making movies together and considering they continued making movies for almost 30 years after their last collaboration is one to ponder.
8 - DirectorDaniel EspinosaStarsJake GyllenhaalRebecca FergusonRyan ReynoldsA team of scientists aboard the International Space Station discover a rapidly evolving life form that caused extinction on Mars and now threatens all life on Earth.The creature may not be as menacing as the one in "Alien" but this was a fairly effective "Alien" clone that starts slowly but gets better as it goes along,even the predicable twist ending worked better than I thought.
8 - DirectorMathieu KassovitzStarsJean RenoVincent CasselNadia FarèsA murder detective must follow the footsteps of a brutal killer within the secrets of a classist college.Effective dark brooding atmospheric thriller that works extremely well with 2 terrific performances from it's stars but it does lose it's way towards the end...almost as good as when I first saw it 17 years ago.
8 - DirectorPaul Thomas AndersonStarsMark WahlbergJulianne MooreBurt ReynoldsBack when sex was safe, pleasure was a business and business was booming, an idealistic porn producer aspires to elevate his craft to an art when he discovers a hot young talent.If you didn't know any better you'd think this was a Robert Altman film because it has a lot in common with" Nashville" and like that film it starts with a lot of energy, has terrific performances from most of the cast with Reynolds in particular standing out but just like "Nashville" it peeters out towards the end and the characters just aren't as interesting and because of that it just doesn't flow as well in the 2nd half as it did in the first.
8 - DirectorAdam LeonStarsCallum TurnerGrace Van PattenMichal VondelA young man and woman find love in an unlikely place while carrying out a shady deal.A small film that's far more engaging than you'd think due to 2 likable performances from the leads.
8 - DirectorJeremy CoonTim SkousenStarsChris StrompolosEric ZalaJayson LambA documentary of the story behind Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation (1989).I really want to see their shot for shot remake of Raiders after watching this enjoyable and entertaining documentary.
8 - DirectorLawrence KasdanStarsWilliam HurtKathleen TurnerRichard CrennaDuring an extreme heatwave, a beautiful Florida woman and a seedy lawyer engage in an affair while plotting the murder of her rich husband.Well made if a little uneven film noir that deservedly made Kathleen Turner a star, who proved to be one of the great femme fatales...second viewing almost as good as when I first saw it 30 years ago.
8 - DirectorIrvin WillatStarsHobart BosworthJane NovakJames GordonA German-American naval officer takes revenge against the German submarine commander who brutalized his wife.A film way ahead of it's time in the use of brutality whether shown or implied which has given the film the notoriety it deserves...I never heard about this film until recently and it lives up to it's reputation as long as you view it not by today's standards but the standards of the times...Hobart Bosworth was a big name in his day and he's quite good in the lead but this film isn't remembered for performances,directing or story,it's the violent aspects of the film that make it stand out.
8 - DirectorJames MangoldStarsHugh JackmanPatrick StewartDafne KeenIn a future where mutants are nearly extinct, an elderly and weary Logan leads a quiet life. But when Laura, a mutant child pursued by scientists, comes to him for help, he must get her to safety.It's a darker more violent Wolverine film and it deserves points for trying something different from most of the comic book movies out there but even though it's the best of his solo films I found it to be a bit of a mixed bag...another film I saw when it first came out and felt deserved a 2nd viewing at end of year and this time around I found it to be a far more satisfying film and was quite impressed with Jackman's performance and is the best of the superhero films that came out this year...went from a 6 to a
8 - DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsDaniel Day-LewisSally FieldDavid StrathairnAs the Civil War rages on, U.S President Abraham Lincoln struggles with continuing carnage on the battlefield as he fights with many inside his own cabinet on his decision to emancipate the slaves.It's earnest and respectable and has one masterful performance by the great Daniel Day Lewis and it's worth watching for those reasons but it is a slow haul that will make it a difficult watch for some and I for one wouldn't put this among Spielberg's best.
8 - DirectorChris PeckoverStarsOlivia DeJongeLevi MillerEd OxenbouldOn a quiet suburban street, a babysitter must defend a twelve-year-old boy from intruders, only to discover it's far from a normal home invasion.May not be for everybody but I got a kick out of this comedy/horror film mainly because it goes farther than you would expect it to go but I'm sure some people will be appalled by it.
8 - DirectorF.W. MurnauStarsArnold KorffLulu Kyser-KorffLothar MehnertIn the castle Vogeloed, a few aristocrats are awaiting baroness Safferstätt. But first count Oetsch invites himself.. Everyone thinks he murdered his brother, baroness Safferstat's first husband, three years ago. So he is rather undesirable. But Oetsch stays; arguing he is not the murderer and will find the real one...It's a slow burn but if you keep with it this Murnau film about guilt and redemption comes to a surprisingly satisfying conclusion that makes it well worth watching.
8 - DirectorNacho VigalondoStarsAnne HathawayJason SudeikisAustin StowellGloria is an out-of-work party girl forced to leave her life in New York City and move back home. When reports surface that a giant creature is destroying Seoul, she gradually comes to the realization that she is somehow connected to this phenomenon.This refreshingly unique film is probably an acquired taste but I found it quite enjoyable and it worked for me because as ludicrous as the premise is I went along for the ride due to believable performances from the leads.
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