Movies

Recommended Any Time
Title	IMDB Rating	My two cents
Strangers on a Train - 1951	8.4/10	A uniquely devious plot. Imagine a total stranger... well you'll just have to watch it. Robert Walker is remarkable as Bruno.
Silverado - 1985	7.1/10	For a big western fan like me, this is the next best thing to a John Wayne movie. Good characters and ensemble cast. Kevin Kline is a standout.
L.A. Confidential - 1997	8.4/10	Three main characters who don't fit the typical 'protaganist' role get you involved and tell an involved, complex, and thoroughly enjoyable story. Kevin Spacey, , Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce play three Hollywood cops embroiled in a multifaceted plot that threatens them all. Kim Basinger won an Oscar for Supporting Actress.
Rear Window - 1954	8.6/10	One of my personal favorites. This movie demands a dark, quiet night. Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly! are remarkable..
Shadow of a Doubt - 1943	8.3/10	The first time I saw this one I suspected all my uncles and cousins of mysterious deeds for months. Do you really know 'Uncle Charlie'?
Shawshank Redemption, The - 1994	8.3/10	If you think you know Stephen King's style, you are in for a surprise. This is something completely different from the horror author. From a short story, this is a total anomaly. A prison movie that makes you feel hopeful.
Usual Suspects, The - 1985	8.6/10	If you can ignore the language...you will be shaking your head when this one's over. I still think about the surprising script even now. Kevin Spacey will never be the same to you again.
Casablanca - 1942	8.7/10	Nothing else to say but 'Watch it again'.
Young Frankenstein - 1974	8.0/10	Mel Brooks movies require a specific kind of silliness to enjoy. Do something silly and watch this one with someone you can laugh with.
Princess Bride, The - 1987	8.2/10	Forget about work, dinner, and everything adult. You're a kid again. Join the grandfather's story, but listen to the dialog. Many memorable lines.
Dave - 1993	7.3/10	Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver have never been better. The acting is not demanding, and the script is light. But, once again, you will feel good when the credits are rolling.
A River Runs Through It - 1992	7.3/10	Robert Redford has a way of pacing a movie that is what I call 'Anti-Hollywood.' Relax and read this story, and savor every word of a master storyteller. Who else could make fishing interesting? Dissenting opinion: My wife fell asleep. But then she didn't like 'Jeremiah Johnson' either.
Philadelphia Story, The - 1940	8.2/10	Pay close attention to the masterful presentation by the entire cast and crew. Whirlwind comedy using only dialog of all things. Katherine Hepburn, Jimmy Stewart, and Cary Grant. Whew!
Terminator II: Judgment Day - 1991	7.8/10	Total action with an interesting story behind it. Linda Hamilton makes it all believable. James Cameron directs before he became 'King of the World'.
Arthur - 1981	6.3/10	John Guilgud baby-sits a drunken twerp with big laughs and kind hearts.
Man from Snowy River, The - 1982	7.3/10	An unlikely choice for this list, but a definite winner. Watch it on laserdisk or DVD if you can. The sound is outstanding, and the photography is delightful.
A Fish Called Wanda - 1988	7.7/10	Laugh till you drop. The characters are all on the edge, just like the script.
39 Steps, The - 1939	8.1/10	Non-stop classic Hitchcock. This is where the big finish originated.
Field of Dreams - 1989	7.7/10	Sappy over-exaggerated mystique of 'baseball.' I think this every time I watch it. I feel good every time. You will love James Earl Jones.
As Good As It Gets - 1997	8.0/10	Find something else to like each time you watch it. Apparently even the most delusional and compulsive of us has an apprehensively kind side.
Fugitive, The - 1993	7.9/10	The best movie from a TV series ever made. Holds you to the screen and won't let go. Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones (Oscar winner - Supporting Actor) are magnetic.
Phenomenon - 1996	6.7/10	The reason I like this one is because it is about friends and character, done with taste and restraint. A rare thing. A feel good movie even with the ending. Excellent cast with John Travolta, Robert Duvall, Forest Whitaker and Kyra Sedgwick. The soundtrack is one of the best.
Witness for the Prosecution - 1957	8.2/10	Billy Wilder manipulates this Agatha Christie story ruthlessly, but holds you in your seat. Marlene Dietrich is memorable.
Some Like It Hot - 1959	8.3/10	An all time comedy classic. Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon with a little magnetism from the dumb blonde version (wait, what am I saying) of Marylin Monroe. Hilarious!
Natural, The - 1984	7.3/10	Another 'baseball' movie. Or, rather, 'THE' baseball movie. You know what's going to happen. It doesn't matter. Glenn Close is wonderful.
Il Buono, il brutto, il cattivo aka The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - 1966	8.4/10	This is a *Classic* western. Sergio Leone directs with his unique lyrical and sometimes heavy-handed style. The best of the Man with No Name westerns.
Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The (1962)	8.0/10	Ok, I have fallen into a western rut. Last one. An all time favorite because it has both James Stewart and John Wayne. The over the edge acting of Lee Marvin needs to be forgiven somehow. Vera Miles is perfect as the lonely damsel desired by both men.
Braveheart - 1995	8.2/10	Intense, violent, and beautiful to watch. Mel Gibson's passion for the subject shows through.. No-one has made a movie like this since the sixties when David Lean made 'Lawrence of Arabia. I personally like this one better. I know... sacrilege.
Raiders of the Lost Ark - 1981	8.6/10	My favorite action movie. I have worn out two tapes, one Beta and one VHS. If Stephen Spielberg ever gets around to releasing it on DVD, well, I'll be in line. The only thing better would be to release it back to the Big screen.

Beware of these Stinkers
Armageddon - 1998	6.0/10	Where do I start. Directed by Michael Bay as if shot through a keyhole. The acting will probably send you running out of the theater, either crying or laughing hysterically. The incredibly ludicrous premise had me rolling in the isles. If you manage to endure the plot, the MTV style fast cut editing during the action scenes will reinforce your nausea. Don't walk, run away from this one.
Stepmom - 1998	6.7/10	Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon can't even save this movie. Made apparently to get the two together, the script has no idea where it wants to go. It meanders all over the place until it lands on the most likely to eject tears from the most unsuspecting. Wrapup: Overly long, overly dramatic, weak script, thought it would never end.
Speed 2: Cruise Control - 1997	3.3/10	My vote for stinker of the decade. Probably the slowest movie I have ever seen. The insultingly large countdown timer was pure pain. I kept watching it hoping the movie would end. Doubly insulting as the sequel for the heart-pounding original 'Speed'. The snoring in the theater drowned out the pitiful dialog.. Even the crash was boring. I found nothing to like.
English Patient, The - 1996	7.2/10	I wanted to like this movie. I watched intently for the first 20 minutes until I fell asleep. I woke up several times and actually caught some of the interesting plot twists. Many flashbacks, the timeline is very confusing.. In all fairness, the cinematography and performances were very good, but the pace was glacial. I'll try watching it again in my catatonic years. Half stinker.