Movie Reviews

Based on the Bible

Where the Big Screen meets the Good Book

Catholic visionary Maria Valtorta quoted Jesus as saying, "I am wherever there is life or a manifestation of life. Wherever a wise man meditates, a sculptor sculpts, a poet writes, ... I am there together with Him from Whom I come. ... I am there with the Most High Creator" (333).

John W. Whitehead, on "GOD AND FILM" writes, "In this chaotic age, people are increasingly seeking something outside themselves to give order and meaning to their lives. While painting once tackled these questions, modern film now addresses this search, which inevitably includes the subject of God. Of all the artistic forms throughout the ages, film may be the most suitable forum for the discussion of religion and God" (267).

If Jesus is in all works of art, and especially in film, then movies should yield that influence through comparison with the Bible. Such I have tried to do in these my reviews, updated weekly, by including an Ideology section in each of them. I don't have a particular point to make other than finding a biblical comparison most apropos to the material.

I follow standard content ratings for a Christian in line with (I Cor. 10:27-28) "If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; what­soever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof." The visual feast is a movie and the invite is per age group and/or caution. If you're disposed to see it and are old enough or receiving guidance, be my guest and just ignore the objectionable parts. Don't get all worked up over what's best ignored.

Movie genres

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Descriptions are color coded according to film rating.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• • 3:10 to Yuma (2007) ☆☆☆☆☆
    An adult western focusing on the plight of a poor, honest rancher who in desperation bites off more than he can chew escorting a winsome bad guy to justice. Explores group loyalties.
  • American Sniper (2015) ☆☆☆☆★
    A good military venture film portraying a good warrior in a good light. Other issues, while acknowledged are ignored. Good action sequences.
  • American Ultra (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    Jason Bourne meets the Pineapple Express. A weird matchup that surprisingly succeeds. Heavy on violence, light on sex, delivers a good plot. Top acting throughout.
  • Bullitt (1968) ☆☆☆☆☆
    An intense detective movie with an exciting car chase in it and a hero detective who doesn't mind bending the rules. This is a winner.
  • Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    Nicely fills a niche in the Planet of the Apes series. Good plot, great effects.
  • Divergent (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    A Young Adult movie with material capable of stimulating an older thinker. Well acted and it delivers action.
  • The Edge of Tomorrow (2014) ☆☆☆☆☆
    An action sci-fi in the best tradition, featuring good actors in roles to bring out their best.
  • The Empire Strikes Back (1980) ☆☆☆☆
    A necessary fixture in the franchise. Culturally relevant. Action packed. A little dated by now, but still watchable.
  • The Equalizer (2014) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A well crafted action flick with a knight in shining armor up against some mean villains. Doesn't balk at showing blood.
  • Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014) ☆☆
    An ancient Exodus story firmly planted in the 20th century civil rights movement. Great adventure, touching romance, but does little to convey faith.
  • The French Connection (1971) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A low budget police procedural thriller that majors in realism. Has a nitty gritty feel and contains one memorable car chase. Kind of masculine in its sorry perspective although technically there's some Christmas material, as well.
  • Fury (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    An apprentice gunner joins a seasoned motley tank crew in the waning days of World War II to become an unlikely hero in action he'd rather forget. It is what it is.
  • Godzilla (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    A good monster movie that puts man in his place in a scary world. A well-trodden path, this one.
  • Goosebumps (2015) ☆☆☆★
    Standard Halloween fare with enough originality to make it worth seeing. Don't expect great performances or nightmarish monsters, but there's enough to keep one entertained.
  • The Gunman (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    A tense action film that doesn't let up, with a character sympathetic despite his rough past. Proceeds in a straight line to its gory end.
  • Heist (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    A straightforward heist by a modern day Robin Hood whose Merry Men aren't under his control and neither are the cops by their chief. Children in jeopardy. The wheels of the bus go round and round.
  • Hot Pursuit (2015) ☆☆☆☆★
    A mismatched (female) pair on the lam with a deadline to meet. Some quirky romance. Lots of angles to the comedy. The women leads looked good.
  • The Interview (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    A seasoned comedy pair tackles with gusto a manipulative dictator to improve their ratings and enlighten the free world. The CIA has its own plans.
  • The Italian Job (1969) ☆☆☆☆
    A caper film pitting the British against the Italians with fun but predictable results. Speaks to modern times as well.
  • Jurassic World (2015) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Science gone mad in a world already halfway there. Claws and paws and beaks and freaks, but the gore is kept down for the younger crowd. Rivals the original "Jurassic Park."
  • Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    A comic book based spy spoof with a lesson in manners. Good fun fast action with cutting edge technology. Just spare us any sequels.
  • Lucy (2014) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A mind-bending sci-fi action movie that takes the scientific bull by the horns and winds the plot tight as a bad drug trip.
  • The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (2015) ☆☆☆☆★
    A spy movie that delivers the goods as long as you don't take it seriously for realism. Harks back to an earlier series well imitated. Good for action buffs.
  • The Maze Runner (2014) ☆☆☆
    An action sci-fi adventure that easily holds oee's interest, is not predictable, and sets us up for sequel(s).
  • Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015) ☆☆☆☆★
    The franchise does it again with all the action, intrigue, and nail-biting death-defying stunts one could ask for in a 2¼ hour movie. Sets itself up for a sequel. Don't get left behind.
  • Mortdecai (2015) ☆☆☆★
    Johnny Depp in a new role with a comedic style of laughable affectations. A bit of romance throughout. Good for a change of pace.
  • Noah (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    Noah is tasked with building an ark to save human- and animalkind from a worldwide flood, but he has neglected onb itty bitty detail. He needs a woman's touch.
  • No Escape (2015) ☆☆☆☆☆
    An action thriller that doesn't let up. Well played by good actors in a well written story set in an exotic location. Feels like the shadow of our uncertain times. Delivers!
  • Non-Stop (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    A misunderstood hero action flick using standard formulas and an exotic (airplane) setting. It's on a British flight, so they all speak English, and there's a lot of texting. A top of the line whodunit.
  • Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (2015) ☆☆☆☆☆
    He's back. He's sure of himself. He frets about his daughter. He's lovable in a goofy kind of way. Some hearty laughs in this one.
  • The Purge: Anarchy (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    A nail biter of dark days in the USA.
  • Ride Along (2014) ☆☆☆
    An odd couple cop buddy movie featuring blacks in the leads. Stand-up comedy on steroids. Sexual innuendo throughout.
  • Road House (1989) ☆☆☆
    Campy B grade action flick featuring a svelte bouncer who's a glutton for punishment. Will make actual bar life look tame by comparison. Pretty women abound.
  • Run All Night (2015) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Here's one to hold your attention with in-fighting among criminals, families in the cross fire, and police bringing up the rear.
  • San Andreas (2015) ☆☆☆☆★
    An action disaster movie that remains in balance with drama, romance, and human interest. The science is marginal but I won't fault it. Doesn't make me feel like moving to California.
  • Sicario (2015) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Bottom line: A sleek combination of police action and human drama. Ambiguous about CIA methodology. Makes one feel happy about living safe at home--unless your home is too close to the border.
  • Snowpiercer (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    A near future bleak scene where there's an action quest but the goals are illusory.
  • Something Wicked (2014) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A film taat thwarts expectations bystretching itself out to Hitchcockian proportions. Just when you think it's safe, more evil occurs. Non-stop frights.
  • Spectre (2015) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Lives up to James Bond action expectations. Ties up some loose ends. Gives some surprises, too. Not to be missed by Bond fans. Enjoyable.
  • Spy (2015) ☆☆☆☆★
    A spy spoof that maintains a modicum of integrity. Uses stars in better roles than they've been in. Can almost stand alone as a spy adventure w/o the comedy, but it gets pretty funny at times. A good movie-going experience.
  • Taken 3 (2015) ☆☆☆★
    A formulaic action piece with enough twists and subplot to keep it interesting. Lots of gunfire and car chases.
  • Tomorrowland (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    It moves right along and jumps around a bit, but the story for being futuristic is not hard to follow. A good movie for the whole family.
• • 3:10 to Yuma (2007) ☆☆☆☆☆
    An adult western focusing on the plight of a poor, honest rancher who in desperation bites off more than he can chew escorting a winsome bad guy to justice. Explores group loyalties.
  • Deliverance (1972) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Four friends confront the force of nature, the dearth of civilization, and their own inner struggles on a three day canoe trip in Georgia. There's something in it to frighten everybody.
  • The Empire Strikes Back (1980) ☆☆☆☆
    A necessary fixture in the franchise. Culturally relevant. Action packed. A little dated by now, but still watchable.
  • Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014) ☆☆
    An ancient Exodus story firmly planted in the 20th century civil rights movement. Great adventure, touching romance, but does little to convey faith.
  • Godzilla (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    A good monster movi that puts man in his place in a scary world. A well-trodden path, this one.
  • Goosebumps (2015) ☆☆☆★
    Standard Halloween fare with enough originality to make it worth seeing. Don't expect great performances or nightmarish monsters, but there's enough to keep one entertained.
  • The Green Inferno (2013) ☆☆☆☆
    A horror movie that's worth its salt. Includes a slow buildup to a tense situation that only gets worse. Look for a sequel sometime.
  • Jurassic World (2015) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Science gone mad in a world already halfway there. Claws and paws and beaks and freaks, but the gore is kept down for the younger crowd. Rivals the original "Jurassic Park."
  • Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    A comic book based spy spoof with a lesson in manners. Good fun fast action with cutting edge technology. Just spare us any sequels.
  • The Lost Patrol (1934) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A well enough disciplined British army company of a dozen men stuck at an unknown desert oasis surrounded by a handful of Arabs has Boris Karloff to preach at them, unseen riflemen to shoot at them, and each other's nerves to get on. A steady intensity.
  • The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (2015) ☆☆☆☆★
    A spy movie that delivers the goods as long as you don't take it seriously for realism. Harks back to an earlier series well imitated. Good for action buffs.
  • The Martian (2015) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A believable human drama cum space adventure. No cheap tricks and it moves right along. Read the book if you want more feeling of isolation. Show it to your kids if you want them to become astronauts.
  • Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015) ☆☆☆☆★
    The franchise does it again with all the action, intrigue, and nail-biting death-defying stunts one could ask for in a 2¼ hour movie. Sets itself up for a sequel. Don't get left behind.
  • Noah (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    Noah is tasked with building an ark to save human- and animalkind from a worldwide flood, but he has neglected one itty bitty detail. He needs a woman's touch.
  • Something Wicked (2014) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A film that thwarts expectations bystretching itself out to Hitchcockian proportions. Just when you think it's safe, more evil occurs. Non-stop frights.
  • Sorcerer (1977) ☆☆☆☆
    An adventure that doesn't look like it will end well. Although we're not heavily invested in the characters, we'd still like a world that's a friendlier place than it is for them. Realism aplenty.
  • Spectre (2015) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Lives up to James Bond action expectations. Ties up some loose ends. Gives some surprises, too. Not to be missed by Bond fans. Enjoyable.
  • Tomorrowland (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    It moves right along and jumps around a bit, but the story for being futuristic is not hard to follow. A good movie for the whole family.
  • Vacation (2015) ☆☆☆
    If you've seen one Vacation movie, you've seen them all, but it still was funny in a crude kind of way. Not a first pick but good as a substitute.
• • American Sniper (2015) ☆☆☆☆★
    A good military venture film portraying a good warrior in a good light. Other issues, while acknowledged are ignored. Good action sequences.
  • Bonnie and Clyde (1967) ☆☆☆☆
    Legendary bank robbers go on a crime spree with a predictable ending, but they had fun while it lasted.
  • Funny Girl (1968) ☆☆☆☆
    Barbara Streisand gives a strong performance with lots of show tunes in a somewhat predictable plot. New York accents abound.
  • The Imitation Game (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    Some nerdy mathematicians break an unbreakable Nazi code while interjecting contemporary politically correct ideas into a world gone mad. Requires scrutiny.
  • The Monuments Men (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    Part fancy, part history, the story of a special unit in World War II tasked with the recovery and return of the Nazis' stolen art. Some action but mostly dialogue, some of it funny.
  • Raging Bull (1980) ☆☆☆☆
    More than a sports flick. Biography of an intense character. Not a whole lot of dimensions to it, but holds an audience. Kinda sad, really. Well thought of by a lot of people.
  • Shadowlands (1993) ☆☆☆
    A slow buildup of a romance that hits a scholar late in life. Touches his neglected emotions and evokes audience sympathy. A peek at a well-known author.
• • Aloha (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    A pleasant islands picture with some romance snatched from a failing career. Space friendly. Native Hawaii sympathetic. Interesting repartee throughout.
  • American Ultra (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    Jason Bourne meets the Pineapple Express. A weird matchup that surprisingly succeeds. Heavy on violence, light on sex, delivers a good plot. Top acting throughout.
  • Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A Will Ferrell comedy: crude humor but with a sense of civic and family values. Lots of laughs.
  • Annie Hall (1977) ☆☆★
    Stand-up comic material adapted to the screen. Autobiographical of a New York Jew with unresolved mental issues. Don't see it if you're already mentally on the edge.
  • The Band's Visit (2007) ☆☆☆☆
    A fairy tale concerning a wrong turn that eventually gets back on track, with a lot of reflection in the interim and some cross-cultural interaction. The opposite of fast and furious: gaff and curious.
  • Birdman (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    A cold dose of theater trying to discover the meaning of love as a has-been attempts a comeback. For the artsy crowd.
  • Bad Words (2013) ☆☆☆☆
    An offbeat comedy with sorry characters and a mystery ending. Adult humor only despite it revolving around a children's contest.
  • Blended (2014) ☆☆☆
    Good family fun entertainment with passable acting and a credible plot involving patching up a bad blind date experience while on a mini-safari with kids in tow.
  • The Bounder (1982-83) ☆☆★
    British humor about an upbeat loser in seven episodes from a TV series that went on for twice that long. Family type entertainment.
  • Burnt (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    Cooking on the big screen never looked better ... or hardly ever. The plot line of a cook's comeback despite obstacles carries through to the end. Human interest galore.
  • Charade (1963) ☆☆☆☆☆
    If you like Hitchcock, you'll like Charade. Well crafted.
  • Chicago (2002) ☆☆☆☆☆
    1920s jazz girls sing and dance their way out of a tight fix.
  • Dumb and Dumber To (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    Two comedians do their classic best at dumb humor that turns out funny as can be and helps us laugh at ourselves as well. Mature content in juvenile humor.
  • Flypaper (2011) ☆☆☆
    A convoluted story of two bank heists mixed with comedyand drama. Not hard to follow despite the mystery detail. Doesn't reach the heights.
  • Focus (2015) ☆☆☆★
    The small con gets played for volume and puppy love to refute parental authority. Wasted potential in a high-rolling society. At least the music was entertaining.
  • Funny Girl (1968) ☆☆☆☆
    Barbara Streisand gives a strong performance with lots of show tunes in a somewhat predictable plot. New York accents abound.
  • The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Not a swashbuckling adventure or a passionate romance, but plenty of character and style. Driven by an excellent musical score. A little off the beaten track. Enjoyable.
  • Goosebumps (2015) ☆☆☆★
    Standard Halloween fare with enough originality to make it worth seeing. Don't expect great performances or nightmarish monsters, but there's enough to keep one entertained.
  • The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    An adult comedy that's easy on the eyes. Challenges one's knowledge of history. Very dry humor.
  • The Grass Is Greener (1960) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Classic formulaic married romance enduring life's tests. Lots of funny material. Familiar actors. A winner.
  • Heaven Can Wait (1978) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A comedy that is not overwhelmed by its sports milieu. A romance that barely gets going. A ho-hum vision of the afterlife. A straightforward plot that still keeps us guessing until the end. Pure enjoyment. A delight.
  • Horrible Bosses 2 (2014) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A zany follow up to the first Horrible Bosses, where the disgruntled employees try their hand at being their own boss. They are so far over their heads!
  • Hot Pursuit (2015) ☆☆☆☆★
    A mismatched (female) pair on the lam with a deadline to meet. Some quirky romance. Lots of angles to the comedy. The women leads looked good.
  • Hot Tub Time Machine 2 (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    People sure don't have good taste in the 2025 future our heroes visit, but did they ever? A good time travel movie in which some messed up idiots mess up our time line while they are messing around with their fates. Say no to drugs.
  • The Intern (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    A gender bender, age inverted comedy to take the edge off political correctness with good natured characters. Lots of seniors attended this one. They clapped at the end.
  • The Interview (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    A seasoned comedy pair tackles with gusto a manipulative dictator to improve their ratings and enlighten the free world. The CIA has its own plans.
  • The Italian Job (1969) ☆☆☆☆
    A caper film pitting the British against the Italians with fun but predictable results. Speaks to modern times as well.
  • The King of Comedy (1982) ☆☆☆☆
    Black comedy that pokes fun at show business in general and comedy guest shows in particular. Probably strikes too close to home for someone looking for light entertainment. More of a feel-hollow movie than a feel-good one.
  • Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    A comic book based spy spoof with a lesson in manners. Good fun fast action with cutting edge technology. Just spare us any sequels.
  • The Landlord (1970) ☆☆☆☆
    In 1970 a white live-at-home adult expands his horizons by buying a ghetto property and ends up learning how the other half lives. Reminiscent of those earlier times.
  • The Last Detail (1973) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A military flick filled with drama and some humor as two unwilling volunteers escort a hapless recruit to a prison assignment he hardly deserves. They have a good time with a cloud hanging over them.
  • Le Plaisir (1954) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Three French short stories set in 19th c. France highlight human foibles. Should appeal to all mature ages. Good stories carried faithfully to film.
  • Little Big Man (1970) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Dustin Hoffman at his best in a satire that cuts our present as well as our past. A thinking man's western.
  • Little Murders (1971) ☆☆☆☆
    A multi-layered satire in a movie that used to be a play and still does target a sophisticated audience. Kind of changes horses in midstream but it won't throw you as long as you're flexible.
  • The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (2015) ☆☆☆☆★
    A spy movie that delivers the goods as long as you don't take it seriously for realism. Harks back to an earlier series well imitated. Good for action buffs.
  • MASH (1970) ☆☆☆☆
    A black comedy that reflects the Vietnam War era although it's set during the Korean War. It's lots of laughs if you can get into it.
  • Melvin and Howard (1980) ☆☆☆★
    A bit of entertainment, a bit of action, a bit of mystery, and it's not short on drama, either. An antihero one can commiserate with more than root for. Kind of timeless and dated at the same time.
  • A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    A mature western reflecting on modern values as well as those of the west. Some good action. Some good surprises. Some psychedelic drug scenes.
  • Mortdecai (2015) ☆☆☆★
    Johnny Depp in a new role with a comedic style of laughable affectations. A bit of romance throughout. Good for a change of pace.
  • Neighbors (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    A comedy of errors concerning a young couple raising a new baby while tempted to keep one foot in their party past at the new fraternity house next door.
  • The Night Before (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    Fun Christmas adult fare to kick off the season with but too loud for the actual night before Christmas. Enough funny material in it for two movies. Intense.
  • Obvious Child (2014) ☆☆☆
    A romantic comedy that walks a fine line through a mine field. Defuses the volatile topic of abortion. Has a happier ending than one might think possible.
  • Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (2015) ☆☆☆☆☆
    He's back. He's sure of himself. He frets about his daughter. He's lovable in a goofy kind of way. Some hearty laughs in this one.
  • Rhinoceros (1974) ☆☆☆☆
    A theater of the absurd set before a camera reflecting modern absurdities gone unnoticed. Not so much a feel-good movie as a head-for-the-hills incentive.
  • Ride Along (2014) ☆☆☆
    An odd couple cop buddy movie featuring blacks in the leads. Stand-up comedy on steroids. Sexual innuendo throughout.
  • St. Vincent (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    A young boy sees saintliness in his neighbor where others see a mean old man. Touching.
  • The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2015) ☆☆☆★
    Good material mixed in with some humdrum. Retirement adventure at its sanguine best. Will the aged cast live long enough for another sequel?
  • Slaughterhouse-Five (1972) ☆☆☆☆
    An artsy film with an unlinear poly-genre plot. Its feel-good ending is ambiguous. Deep.
  • Smiles of a Summer Night (1955) ☆☆☆☆
    A Shakespearean style drama that occurs at a gathering one summer night. Surprises are in store when romances take the interchange. A harmless sporting tale.
  • Son of Paleface (1952) ☆☆☆☆☆
    The best of the western genre combined with comedic star talent and a beautiful lady villain who needs only a break to go straight. Roy's singing is icing on the cake.
  • Spy (2015) ☆☆☆☆★
    A spy spoof that maintains a modicum of integrity. Uses stars in better roles than they've been in. Can almost stand alone as a spy adventure w/o the comedy, but it gets pretty funny at times. A good movie-going experience.
  • Tammy (2014) ☆☆☆
    A potty-mouth tour de force not for the squeamish but it has a redeeming value of looking at America through a different lens. Less repulsive than I thought it would be.
  • Ted 2 (2015) ☆☆☆☆★
    Lowbrow humor that appeals to adults on multiple levels. Excellent special effect of an adorable albeit crass Teddy bear. Sequel excels the original.
  • Terms of Endearment (2015) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Brief snippets of the lives of mother and daughter fleshed out with people in their orbit. Evokes strong emotions. Period oldies music background. Good looking scenery and sets.
  • Trading Places (1983) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Tickles the funny bone. Misses any reward for political correctness while being too funny to offend anyone. Character driven. Delivers on laughs.
  • Trainwreck (2015) ☆☆☆★
    Lowbrow humor that is more funny than offensive. Sarcasm abounds. Funny business is nonstop. Better than a lot of other attempts but not the kind of movie to make the top lists. That's okay if you just want a lot of laughs.
  • The Trouble with Harry (1955) ☆☆☆
    An uncharacteristic piece of humor from the master of suspense taking on a soft mystery. British humor is understated.
  • Vacation (2015) ☆☆☆
    If you've seen one Vacation movie, you've seen them all, but it still was funny in a crude kind of way. Not a first pick but good as a substitute.
  • The Visit (2015) ☆☆☆☆★
    A good one by a hit-and-miss director. The trailer doesn't give it away, you have to see it. Would be perfect were it not for the found footage milieu that has its limitations. Creepily funny.
  • Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? (2013) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Both a settled marriage and a sister-in-law's happy engagement encounter unexpected bumps in the road to fulfillment. Takes a while to work itself out.
• • 3:10 to Yuma (2007) ☆☆☆☆☆
    An adult western focusing on the plight of a poor, honest rancher who in desperation bites off more than he can chew escorting a winsome bad guy to justice. Explores group loyalties.
  • Blood Simple (1984) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Breaks the mold on thrillers. The audience is in the know while the characters only partially so stumble about according to their own lights. A good break from standard crime fare.
  • Bonnie and Clyde (1967) ☆☆☆☆
    Legendary bank robbers go on a crime spree with a predictable ending, but they had fun while it lasted.
  • Bullitt (1968) ☆☆☆☆☆
    An intense detective movie with an exciting car chase in it and a hero detective who doesn't mind bending the rules. This is a winner.
  • Chicago (2002) ☆☆☆☆☆
    1920s jazz girls sing and dance their way out of a tight fix.
  • A Clockwork Orange (1971) ☆☆☆☆
    A Kubrick masterpiece of crime and punishment, which is hard to stomach for its crude violent content. Art gets to be that way sometimes.
  • Confidence (2003) ☆☆☆
    A caper film with undeveloped subplots and a few interesting characters. Challenges one to follow its intricacies. Glorifies the con man. Stays on safe ground. Reliable.
  • Deliver Us From Evil (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    Lurking menacing evil can only be vanquished by a priest teamed up with a policeman who has rediscovered his religious roots.
  • Dog Day Afternoon (1975) ☆☆☆☆
    Bank robbers who on a scale of one to ten for professionalism would hardly make a one bumble their way into a media circus on a hot summer afternoon of a slow news day.
  • The Equalizer (2014) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A well crafted action flick with a knight in shining armor up against some mean villains. Doesn't balk at showing blood.
  • Flypaper (2011) ☆☆☆
    A convoluted story of two bank heists mixed with comedyand drama. Not hard to follow despite the mystery detail. Doesn't reach the heights.
  • Focus (2015) ☆☆☆★
    The small con gets played for volume and puppy love to refute parental authority. Wasted potential in a high-rolling society. At least the music was entertaining.
  • The French Connection (1971) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A low budget police procedural thriller that majors in realism. Has a nitty gritty feel and contains one memorable car chase. Kind of masculine in its sorry perspective although technically there's some Christmas material, as well.
  • Frenzy (1972) ☆☆☆☆
    One of Hitchcock's better latter films, loaded with suspense and twists and turns. The deck seems stacked against a wrongly accused man and everything he does seems only to make it worse.
  • The Friends of Eddie Coyle (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    Light on action. Plays out like an object lesson: Don't join gangs. Authentic cold Chicago backdrop & accents. Consummate acting in the lead.
  • The Gambler (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    A jaded professor from a rich family broods and gambles after being disinherited. Good food for thought about opportunities seized and squandered. A dark mood.
  • The Godfather (1972) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A classic of Americana focused on the family trials of the Corleones and their godfather.
  • The Gunman (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    A tense action film that doesn't let up, with a character sympathetic despite his rough past. Proceeds in a straight line to its gory end.
  • In Cold Blood (1967) ☆☆☆
    A dramatization of a true crime sans embellishment. Tells the awful story with more reality than is Hollywood's wont.
  • In the Heat of the Night (1967) ☆☆☆☆
    A Negro passing through a small southern town in the 1960s gets picked up on suspicion of murder but it turns out he's a homicide detective from the big city. He'd be a big help to their inexperienced force if only he weren't black, but the murdered man's widow wants results regardless.
  • The Italian Job (1969) ☆☆☆☆
    A caper film pitting the British against the Italians with fun but predictable results. Speaks to modern times as well.
  • Layer Cake (2004) ☆☆☆☆
    Crime does not pay, or rather it does, but one might not be around long enough to enjoy it, and it might not be such easy money after all. Intense drama does not let up. Main character is star material.
  • Mr. Holmes (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    More of a what-did-I-do than a whodunit as famous detective Mr. Holmes tries to come to grips with the case he retired on. Good period piece.
  • Nightcrawler (2014) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A look at the dark side of nighttime news and the lengths an ambitious young man will go to to shoot the footage to lead the pack.
  • Point Blank (1967) ☆☆☆☆
    A couple criminals have a row and one of them comes after the other, and the organization. It's a relentless pursuit.
  • Purple Noon (1960) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A crime does not pay (or does it?) and true love conquers all (or does it?) French movie of the highest quality.
  • Run All Night (2015) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Here's one to hold your attention with in-fighting among criminals, families in the cross fire, and police bringing up the rear.
  • Sicario (2015) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Bottom line: A sleek combination of police action and human drama. Ambiguous about CIA methodology. Makes one feel happy about living safe at home--unless your home is too close to the border.
  • Spy (2015) ☆☆☆☆★
    A spy spoof that maintains a modicum of integrity. Uses stars in better roles than they've been in. Can almost stand alone as a spy adventure w/o the comedy, but it gets pretty funny at times. A good movie-going experience.
  • Taxi Driver (1976) ☆☆☆☆
    A brooding character study made to order for depressed people. Some local NY color. A glimpse of a skin flick within it. Don't see it if you're especially picky.
  • Under Capricorn (1949) ☆☆☆
    Hitchcock lite in a costume drama. A touch of the master but not full strength. Long takes like 'Rope' but this one gets tied in knots. Good suspense but not the same old same old.
  • Under Suspicion (2000) ☆☆☆☆
    An intense psychological drama mostly taking place in a police station one evening. A wealthy tax lawyer tries to allay the suspicions of his police chief friend out to solve a double homicide.
  • A Walk Among the Tombstones (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    A worthy Liam Neeson film featuring a troubled ex-cop turned (unlicensed) detective. Lots of blood and gore.
  • White Heat (1949) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A brutal gangster film that moves right along. Full of deceit and betrayal with a competent police force on their trail. Iconic footage at the end.
  • Z     (1969) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Political intrigue involving police violence, a coverup, and an effort at justice for the opposition party. Based on true events.
• • Big Eyes (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    An historically inaccurate docudrama that does okay as a fictional story. Interesting character study. The art looked like kitsch.
  • Jesus Camp (2006) ☆☆☆☆
    A documentary on evangelicals hoping to transform society at large through the influence of their children being trained at Jesus Camp. Pentecostal worship is not dull.
• • The Age of Adaline (2015) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A chick flick with a strong female character and an old physicist/astronomer who discovers more than he expected. Everything in this one is done in moderation.
  • All that Jazz (1979) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A great musical with some mature thematic material concerning a popular director's demise. Perhaps one of the last great Hollywood musicals. Not so much a tearjerker as a celebration.
  • All the President's Men (1976) ☆☆☆☆
    A journalistic adventure of a historically recent period of American history. If the conclusion is foregone, the pacing is brutal to get us there. Excellently well done.
  • Aloha (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    A pleasant islands picture with some romance snatched from a failing career. Space friendly. Native Hawaii sympathetic. Interesting repartee throughout.
  • American Sniper (2015) ☆☆☆☆★
    A good military venture film portraying a good warrior in a good light. Other issues, while acknowledged are ignored. Good action sequences.
  • Annie Hall (1977) ☆☆★
    Stand-up comic material adapted to the screen. Autobiographical of a New York Jew with unresolved mental issues. Don't see it if you're already mentally on the edge.
  • The Band's Visit (2007) ☆☆☆☆
    A fairy tale concerning a wrong turn that eventually gets back on track, with a lot of reflection in the interim and some cross-cultural interaction. The opposite of fast and furious: gaff and curious.
  • Belle de Jour (1967) ☆☆☆☆
    A surreal glimpse of a troubled woman in a less than ideal marriage trying to cope with her troubling past that affects her imaginations and ultimately her daytime reality. Her husband doesn't know what's going on until ... .
  • Big Eyes (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    An historically inaccurate docudrama that does okay as a fictional story. Interesting character study. The art looked like kitsch.
  • Birdman (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    A cold dose of theater trying to discover the meaning of love as a has-been attempts a comeback. Fortthe artsy crowd.
  • Bonnie and Clyde (1967) ☆☆☆☆
    Legendary bank robbers go on a crime spree with a predictable ending, but they had fun while it lasted.
  • Brief Encounter (1945) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A masterful drama cum romance that seems all too likely to happen to an unwary middle- or high-class married person. Told from a woman's perspective. Real acting in it. Succeeds without cheap thrills.
  • Burnt (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    Cooking on the big screen never looked better ... or hardly ever. The plot line of a cook's comeback despite obstacles carries through to the end. Human interest galore.
  • Carnal Knowledge (1971) ☆☆☆☆
    Lots of dark satire along with an intimate look at people floundering on the sexual landscape. Even the music borders on blues.
  • Chariots of Fire (1981) ☆☆
    A piece of fluff with some good running sequences as well as some catchy tunes. Popular in its day for some reason. Its history is a reach.
  • A Clockwork Orange (1971) ☆☆☆☆
    A Kubrick masterpiece of crime and punishment, which is hard to stomach for its crude violent content. Art gets to be that way sometimes.
  • Coming Home (1978) ☆☆☆☆
    A war movie that's mostly drama, with the aftereffects of war. A romance movie that highlights forbidden love. A Greek cleansing of an ending.
  • The Conformist (1970) ☆☆☆☆☆
    An intense inner struggle leads a man to overcome a less than ideal childhood and some tumultuous times, but he has to burn some bridges behind him and reacquaint himself with his Catholic background. Set in 1930s Rome & Paris.
  • Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    Nicely fills a niche in the Planet of the Apes series. Good plot, great effects.
  • The Day of the Locust (1975) ☆☆☆☆
    A scathing satire on Hollywood, set in the 1930s. The kind of movie to disturb one's sleep. Mature fare.
  • Death in Venice (1971) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A mellow movie dealing with an artist of a composer and how he grapples with meaning in his work and life. Great photography and sound.
  • Deliverance (1972) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Four friends confront the force of nature, the dearth of civilization, and their own inner struggles on a three day canoe trip in Georgia. There's something in it to frighten everybody.
  • Dog Day Afternoon (1975) ☆☆☆☆
    Bank robbers who on a scale of one to ten for professionalism would hardly make a one bumble their way into a media circus on a hot summer afternoon of a slow news day.
  • Endless Love (2014) ☆☆☆
    To a puppy puppy love is real.
  • Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Solid romance in a masterpiece of Sci-Fi suspense. Good Valentine's Day fare. Great acting in a sympathetic couple opposed by circumstance and technology.
  • Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014) ☆☆
    An ancient Exodus story firmly planted in the 20th century civil rights movement. Great adventure, touching romance, but does little to convey faith.
  • Far From the Madding Crowd (2015) ☆☆☆☆☆
    In Victorian times an orphan girl of marriageable age is beset by three determined suitors and an unseen hand of fate that makes this a suspense as much as a romance. Farm life credibly portrayed. It forms a neat package. See it.
  • The Fault in Our Stars (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    Some twists and some champs to root for in this romance cum drama. A little long but it holds one's interest. Great Dutch scenes.
  • Focus (2015) ☆☆☆★
    The small con gets played for volume and puppy love to refute parental authority. Wasted potential in a high-rolling society. At least the music was entertaining.
  • The Friends of Eddie Coyle (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    Light on action. Plays out like an object lesson: Don't join gangs. Authentic cold Chicago backdrop & accents. Consummate acting in the lead.
  • Funny Girl (1968) ☆☆☆☆
    Barbara Streisand gives a strong performance with lots of show tunes in a somewhat predictable plot. New York accents abound.
  • Fury (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    An apprentice gunner joins a seasoned motley tank crew in the waning days of World War II to become an unlikely hero in action he'd rather forget. It is what it is.
  • The Gambler (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    A jaded professor from a rich family broods and gambles after being disinherited. Good food for thought about opportunities seized and squandered. A dark mood.
  • The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Not a swashbuckling adventure or a passionate romance, but plenty of character and style. Driven by an excellent musical score. A little off the beaten track. Enjoyable.
  • The Giver (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    A 97 minute drama / sci-fi movie about a well-rounded individual who receives a position of responsibility in a utopian society only to find himself at odds with them.
  • The Godfather (1972) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A classic of Americana focused on the family trials of the Corleones and their godfather.
  • Gone Girl (2014) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A thriller that keeps you glued for its mystery and human interest, to say nothing of its fine craftedness. Highly recommended.
  • The Grass Is Greener (1960) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Classic formulaic married romance enduring life's tests. Lots of funny material. Familiar actors. A winner.
  • The Gunman (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    A tense action film that doesn't let up, with a character sympathetic despite his rough past. Proceeds in a straight line to its gory end.
  • Heaven Is for Real (2014) ☆☆☆
    A good family picture that can challenge your thinking but doesn't force a particular worldview.
  • Her (2013) ☆☆☆☆
    A twisty little number that will keep you on your toes following what's really (if I can use that word) going on.
  • If.... (1968) ☆☆☆
    Tensions rise at a British public school until something's gotta give.
  • The Imitation Game (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    Some nerdy mathematicians break an unbreakable Nazi code while interjecting contemporary politically correct ideas into a world gone mad. Requires scrutiny.
  • In Cold Blood (1967) ☆☆☆
    A dramatization of a true crime sans embellishment. Tells the awful story with more reality than is Hollywood's wont.
  • In the Heat of the Night (1967) ☆☆☆☆
    A Negro passing through a small southern town in the 1960s gets picked up on suspicion of murder but it turns out he's a homicide detective from the big city. He'd be a big help to their inexperienced force if only he weren't black, but the murdered man's widow wants results regardless.
  • Jesus Camp (2006) ☆☆☆☆
    A documentary on evangelicals hoping to transform society at large through the influence of their children being trained at Jesus Camp. Pentecostal worship is not dull.
  • The Judge (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    A long drama short on Hollywood happy endings or closure of any kind, but it leaves one with a nostalgic longing for small town life. Good acting throughout.
  • The King of Comedy (1982) ☆☆☆☆
    Black comedy that pokes fun at show business in general and comedy guest shows in particular. Probably strikes too close to home for someone looking for light entertainment. More of a feel-hollow movie than a feel-good one.
  • Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter (2014) ☆☆☆☆☆
    An odyssey into riches or madness or a vacation from hell. If you want to know how to acquire a lot of money, this one makes winning the lottery look like a sure thing.
  • The Landlord (1970) ☆☆☆☆
    In 1970 a white live-at-home adult expands his horizons by buying a ghetto property and ends up learning how the other half lives. Reminiscent of those earlier times.
  • The Last Detail (1973) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A military flick filled with drama and some humor as two unwilling volunteers escort a hapless recruit to a prison assignment he hardly deserves. They have a good time with a cloud hanging over them.
  • Layer Cake (2004) ☆☆☆☆
    Crime does not pay, or rather it does, but one might not be around long enough to enjoy it, and it might not be such easy money after all. Intense drama does not let up. Main character is star material.
  • Le Plaisir (1954) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Three French short stories set in 19th c. France highlight human foibles. Should appeal to all mature ages. Good stories carried faithfully to film.
  • The Longest Ride (2015) ☆☆☆★
    A star-crossed love affair between a rodeo cowboy and an art protégée needs a mature guide to bring it success. Neat scenery.
  • Love Is Strange (2014) ☆☆☆
    A non-judgmental artsy film that helps the modern audience navigate the new mores of same-sex marriage. Not gross, but skip the previews of coming attractions if you'd be offended.
  • Marnie (1964) ☆☆☆☆
    Straddles the categories of mystery, romance, thriller and drama but ends well if you don't take its psychiatry too seriously.
  • The Martian (2015) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A believable human drama cum space adventure. No cheap tricks and it moves right along. Read the book if you want more feeling of isolation. Show it to your kids if you want them to become astronauts.
  • MASH (1970) ☆☆☆☆
    A black comedy that reflects the Vietnam War era although it's set during the Korean War. It's lots of laughs if you can get into it.
  • Medium Cool (1970) ☆☆☆☆☆
    In 1968 America was changing on many levels and we were all affected. Dramatization with documentary footage.
  • Melvin and Howard (1980) ☆☆☆★
    A bit of entertainment, a bit of action, a bit of mystery, and it's not short on drama, either. An antihero one can commiserate with more than root for. Kind of timeless and dated at the same time.
  • The Monuments Men (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    Part fancy, part history, the story of a special unit in World War II tasked with the recovery and return of the Nazis' stolen art. Some action but mostly dialogue, some of it funny.
  • Mr. Holmes (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    More of a what-did-I-do than a whodunit as famous detective Mr. Holmes tries to come to grips with the case he retired on. Good period piece.
  • Nightcrawler (2014) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A look at the dark side of nighttime news and the lengths an ambitious young man will go to to shoot the footage to lead the pack.
  • Noah (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    Noah is tasked with building an ark to save human- and animalkind from a worldwide flood, but he has neglected one itty bitty detail. He needs a woman's touch.
  • Once (2006) ☆☆☆
    A music lover's musical with a melancholy plot. One can't exactly hum along with the tunes or get excited with wild passion, but it will do to pass the time ... especially if you like guitar music.
  • Point Blank (1967) ☆☆☆☆
    A couple criminals have a row and one of them comes after the other, and the organization. It's a relentless pursuit.
  • Raging Bull (1980) ☆☆☆☆
    More than a sports flick. Biography of an intense character. Not a whole lot of dimensions to it, but holds an audience. Kinda sad, really. Well thought of by a lot of people.
  • The Red Shoes (1948) ☆☆☆☆☆
    An operatic masterpiece geared to a general audience. A timeless message about keeping a perspective on life and love. Predictable in a fairy tale kind of way, but it won't disappoint. For the old and young alike.
  • Rhinoceros (1974) ☆☆☆☆
    A theater of the absurd set before a camera reflecting modern absurdities gone unnoticed. Not so much a feel-good movie as a head-for-the-hills incentive.
  • Rosemary's Baby (1968) ☆☆☆☆☆
    An unsettling movie about the dark side. Not the happiest of endings.
  • Run All Night (2015) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Here's one to hold your attention with in-fighting among criminals, families in the cross fire, and police bringing up the rear.
  • San Andreas (2015) ☆☆☆☆★
    An action disaster movie that remains in balance with drama, romance, and human interest. The science is marginal but I won't fault it. Doesn't make me feel like moving to California.
  • St. Vincent (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    A young boy sees saintliness in his neighbor where others see a mean old man. Touching.
  • The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2015) ☆☆☆★
    Good material mixed in with some humdrum. Retirement adventure at its sanguine best. Will the aged cast live long enough for another sequel?
  • Seconds (1966) ☆☆☆☆
    A dangerous scientific experiment gone awry on a victim who is not entirely innocent.
  • Shadowlands (1993) ☆☆☆
    A slow buildup of a romance that hits a scholar late in life. Touches his neglected emotions and evokes audience sympathy. A peek at a well-known author.
  • Shampoo (1975) ☆☆☆☆
    A sexual farce with a lot of mature humor without showing much skin. A nostalgic peek into a bygone era. Period (1968) music.
  • Shane (1953) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A mysterious stranger rides into camp, seems to settle in, but his eventually needed pistol work guarantees he'll be moving on. Classic western. As good as they come.
  • Sicario (2015) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Bottom line: A sleek combination of police action and human drama. Ambiguous about CIA methodology. Makes one feel happy about living safe at home--unless your home is too close to the border.
  • Slaughterhouse-Five (1972) ☆☆☆☆
    An artsy film with an unlinear poly-genre plot. Its feel-good ending is ambiguous. Deep.
  • Son of God (2014) ☆☆☆
    A ragtag coterie of 1st century Jews in Palestine runs afoul of the religious leaders and Roman authorities who crucify their leader, but you can't keep a good man down.
  • Sorcerer (1977) ☆☆☆☆
    An adventure that doesn't look like it will end well. Although we're not heavily invested in the characters, we'd still like a world that's a friendlier place than it is for them. Realism aplenty.
  • Taxi Driver (1976) ☆☆☆☆
    A brooding character study made to order for depressed people. Some local NY color. A glimpse of a skin flick within it. Don't see it if you're especially picky.
  • Tender Mercies (1983) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A slow moving drama set in Texas, of a once famous singer rediscovering himself in a quiet domestic setting. Good music, acting, and scenery. Paced too slow for some.
  • Terms of Endearment (2015) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Brief snippets of the lives of mother and daughter fleshed out with people in their orbit. Evokes strong emotions. Period oldies music background. Good looking scenery and sets.
  • Under Capricorn (1949) ☆☆☆
    Hitchcock lite in a costume drama. A touch of the master but not full strength. Long takes like 'Rope' but this one gets tied in knots. Good suspense but not the same old same old.
  • Under Suspicion (2000) ☆☆☆☆
    An intense psychological drama mostly taking place in a police station one evening. A wealthy tax lawyer tries to allay the suspicions of his police chief friend out to solve a double homicide.
  • Undertow (2004) ☆☆☆☆
    Southern crackers sort out intergenerational problems while chasing through the countryside. Slow moving with occasional bursts of action. A bit bloody. Somewhat philosophical. Quaint scenery.
  • Victor Frankenstein (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    Frankenstein for the little guy who can hope to follow a monstrous success story. The classic survives in yet another form. Good visuals, music, acting. Short on monster footage.
  • A Walk Among the Tombstones (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    A worthy Liam Neeson film featuring a troubled ex-cop turned (unlicensed) detective. Lots of blood and gore.
  • White Heat (1949) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A brutal gangster film that moves right along. Full of deceit and betrayal with a competent police force on their trail. Iconic footage at the end.
  • Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? (2013) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Both a settled marriage and a sister-in-law's happy engagement encounter unexpected bumps in the road to fulfillment. Takes a while to work itself out.
  • Z     (1969) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Political intrigue involving police violence, a coverup, and an effort at justice for the opposition party. Based on true events.
• • The Empire Strikes Back (1980) ☆☆☆☆
    A necessary fixture in the franchise. Culturally relevant. Action packed. A little dated by now, but still watchable.
  • The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Not a swashbuckling adventure or a passionate romance, but plenty of character and style. Driven by an excellent musical score. A little off the beaten track. Enjoyable.
  • Goosebumps (2015) ☆☆☆★
    Standard Halloween fare with enough originality to make it worth seeing. Don't expect great performances or nightmarish monsters, but there's enough to keep one entertained.
  • Rhinoceros (1974) ☆☆☆☆
    A theater of the absurd set before a camera reflecting modern absurdities gone unnoticed. Not so much a feel-good movie as a head-for-the-hills incentive.
  • Slaughterhouse-Five (1972) ☆☆☆☆
    An artsy film with an unlinear poly-genre plot. Its feel-good ending is ambiguous. Deep.
• • The Third Man (1949) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A film noire action mystery involving a clueless American who gets in over his head, accompanied by some lively zither music.
  • White Heat (1949) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A brutal gangster film that moves right along. Full of deceit and betrayal with a competent police force on their trail. Iconic footage at the end.
• • All the President's Men (1976) ☆☆☆☆
    A journalistic adventure of a historically recent period of American history. If the conclusion is foregone, the pacing is brutal to get us there. Excellently well done.
  • Chariots of Fire (1981) ☆☆
    A piece of fluff with some good running sequences as well as some catchy tunes. Popular in its day for some reason. Its history is a reach.
  • In Cold Blood (1967) ☆☆☆
    A dramatization of a true crime sans embellishment. Tells the awful story with more reality than is Hollywood's wont.
  • Little Big Man (1970) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Dustin Hoffman at his best in a satire that cuts our present as well as our past. A thinking man's western.
  • Z     (1969) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Political intrigue involving police violence, a coverup, and an effort at justice for the opposition party. Based on true events.
• • Deliver Us From Evil (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    Lurking menacing evil can only be vanquished by a priest teamed up with a policeman who has rediscovered his religious roots.
  • Diabolique (1955) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A nail-biter mystery thriller that ends in a twist. Masterful.
  • The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Not a swashbuckling adventure or a passionate romance, but plenty of character and style. Driven by an excellent musical score. A little off the beaten track. Enjoyable.
  • Goosebumps (2015) ☆☆☆★
    Standard Halloween fare with enough originality to make it worth seeing. Don't expect great performances or nightmarish monsters, but there's enough to keep one entertained.
  • The Green Inferno (2013) ☆☆☆☆
    A horror movie that's worth its salt. Includes a slow buildup to a tense situation that only gets worse. Look for a sequel sometime.
  • The Purge: Anarchy (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    A nail biter of dark days in the USA.
  • Rosemary's Baby (1968) ☆☆☆☆☆
    An unsettling movie about the dark side. Not the happiest of endings.
  • Seconds (1966) ☆☆☆☆
    A dangerous scientific experiment gone awry on a victim who is not entirely innocent.
  • Silent House (2011) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A multi-level movie about a young woman being frightened into maturity. Lots of scary noises and glimpses.
  • Victor Frankenstein (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    Frankenstein for the little guy who can hope to follow a monstrous success story. The classic survives in yet another form. Good visuals, music, acting. Short on monster footage.
  • The Visit (2015) ☆☆☆☆★
    A good one by a hit-and-miss director. The trailer doesn't give it away, you have to see it. Would be perfect were it not for the found footage milieu that has its limitations. Creepily funny.
• Music /
  • All that Jazz (1979) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A great musical with some mature thematic material concerning a popular director's demise. Perhaps one of the last great Hollywood musicals. Not so much a tearjerker as a celebration.
  • The Band's Visit (2007) ☆☆☆☆
    A fairy tale concerning a wrong turn that eventually gets back on track, with a lot of reflection in the interim and some cross-cultural interaction. The opposite of fast and furious: gaff and curious.
  • Funny Girl (1968) ☆☆☆☆
    Barbara Streisand gives a strong performance with lots of show tunes in a somewhat predictable plot. New York accents abound.
  • Once (2006) ☆☆☆
    A music lover's musical with a melancholy plot. One can't exactly hum along with the tunes or get excited with wild passion, but it will do to pass the time ... especially if you like guitar music.
  • The Red Shoes (1948) ☆☆☆☆☆
    An operatic masterpiece geared to a general audience. A timeless message about keeping a perspective on life and love. Predictable in a fairy tale kind of way, but it won't disappoint. For the old and young alike.
  • Son of Paleface (1952) ☆☆☆☆☆
    The best of the western genre combined with comedic star talent and a beautiful lady villain who needs only a break to go straight. Roy's singing is icing on the cake.
  • Tender Mercies (1983) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A slow moving drama set in Texas, of a once famous singer rediscovering himself in a quiet domestic setting. Good music, acting, and scenery. Paced too slow for some.
• • Bullitt (1968) ☆☆☆☆☆
    An intense detective movie with an exciting car chase in it and a hero detective who doesn't mind bending the rules. This is a winner.
  • Charade (1963) ☆☆☆☆☆
    If you like Hitchcock, you'll like Charade. Well crafted.
  • Diabolique (1955) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A nail-biter mystery thriller that ends in a twist. Masterful.
  • Flypaper (2011) ☆☆☆
    A convoluted story of two bank heists mixed with comedyand drama. Not hard to follow despite the mystery detail. Doesn't reach the heights.
  • The Gift (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    A thriller that's heavy on drama. A mystery that's likely to resolve itself as the protagonist lives in a glass house--metaphorical and literal. Don't expect much of a happy ending. Well crafted.
  • Gone Girl (2014) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A thriller that keeps you glued for its mystery and human interest, to say nothing of its fine craftedness. Highly recommended.
  • The Gunman (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    A tense action film that doesn't let up, with a character sympathetic despite his rough past. Proceeds in a straight line to its gory end.
  • In the Heat of the Night (1967) ☆☆☆☆
    A Negro passing through a small southern town in the 1960s gets picked up on suspicion of murder but it turns out he's a homicide detective from the big city. He'd be a big help to their inexperienced force if only he weren't black, but the murdered man's widow wants results regardless.
  • Klute (1971) ☆☆☆☆
    A mystery of human nature as much as a search for a missing family man. Strong performance by Jane Fonda. The culprit is given away early on.
  • Marnie (1964) ☆☆☆☆
    Straddles the categories of mystery, romance, thriller and drama but ends well if you don't take its psychiatry too seriously.
  • The Maze Runner (2014) ☆☆☆
    An action sci-fi adventure that easily holds one's interest, is not predictable, and sets us up for sequel(s).
  • Mr. Holmes (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    More of a what-did-I-do than a whodunit as famous detective Mr. Holmes tries to come to grips with the case he retired on. Good period piece.
  • Non-Stop (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    A misunderstood hero action flick using standard formulas and an exotic (airplane) setting. It's on a British flight, so they all speak English, and there's a lot of texting. A top of the line whodunit.
  • Rosemary's Baby (1968) ☆☆☆☆☆
    An unsettling movie about the dark side. Not the happiest of endings.
  • Run All Night (2015) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Here's one to hold your attention with in-fighting among criminals, families in the cross fire, and police bringing up the rear.
  • Seconds (1966) ☆☆☆☆
    A dangerous scientific experiment gone awry on a victim who is not entirely innocent.
  • Secret in Their Eyes (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    A drama pitting instinct against reason from several directions. Bound to be received according to one's preformed opinions. A good experience but will shake you up.
  • Sicario (2015) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Bottom line: A sleek combination of police action and human drama. Ambiguous about CIA methodology. Makes one feel happy about living safe at home--unless your home is too close to the border.
  • Silent House (2011) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A multi-level movie about a young woman being frightened into maturity. Lots of scary noises and glimpses.
  • Tall in the Saddle (1944) ☆☆☆★
    A 'B' western starring John Wayne in good form, and Gabby Hayes in character. Various women to move the plot along. Some real mystery to keep us guessing. Authentic 'Hollywood' west.
  • The Third Man (1949) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A film noire action mystery involving a clueless American who gets in over his head, accompanied by some lively zither music.
  • Three Days of the Condor (1975) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A gentle spy suddenly finds a need for forgotten field craft when his compatriots are slaughtered for no apparent reason. Lots of people have secrets. How does one know whom to trust?
  • Tomorrowland (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    It moves right along and jumps around a bit, but the story for being futuristic is not hard to follow. A good movie for the whole family.
  • The Trouble with Harry (1955) ☆☆☆
    An uncharacteristic piece of humor from the master of suspense taking on a soft mystery. British humor is understated.
  • A Walk Among the Tombstones (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    A worthy Liam Neeson film featuring a troubled ex-cop turned (unlicensed) detective. Lots of blood and gore.
  • Z     (1969) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Political intrigue involving police violence, a coverup, and an effort at justice for the opposition party. Based on true events.
• • The Age of Adaline (2015) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A chick flick with a strong female character and an old physicist/astronomer who discovers more than he expected. Everything in this one is done in moderation.
  • Aloha (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    A pleasant islands picture with some romance snatched from a failing career. Space friendly. Native Hawaii sympathetic. Interesting repartee throughout.
  • Annie Hall (1977) ☆☆★
    Stand-up comic material adapted to the screen. Autobiographical of a New York Jew with unresolved mental issues. Don't see it if you're already mentally on the edge.
  • Bonnie and Clyde (1967) ☆☆☆☆
    Legendary bank robbers go on a crime spree with a predictable ending, but they had fun while it lasted.
  • Brief Encounter (1945) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A masterful drama cum romance that seems all too likely to happen to an unwary middle- or high-class married person. Told from a woman's perspective. Real acting in it. Succeeds without cheap thrills.
  • Charade (1963) ☆☆☆☆☆
    If you like Hitchcock, you'll like Charade. Well crafted.
  • Chicago (2002) ☆☆☆☆☆
    1920s jazz girls sing and dance their way out of a tight fix.
  • Coming Home (1978) ☆☆☆☆
    A war movie that's mostly drama, with the aftereffects of war. A romance movie that highlights forbidden love. A Greek cleansing of an ending.
  • Divergent (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    A Young Adult movie with material capable of stimulating an older thinker. Well acted and it delivers action.
  • Endless Love (2014) ☆☆☆
    To a puppy puppy love is real.
  • Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Solid romance in a masterpiece of Sci-Fi suspense. Good Valentine's Day fare. Great acting in a sympathetic couple opposed by circumstance and technology.
  • The Fault in Our Stars (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    Some twists and some champs to root for in this romance cum drama. A little long but it holds one's interest. Great Dutch scenes.
  • Focus (2015) ☆☆☆★
    The small con gets played for volume and puppy love to refute parental authority. Wasted potential in a high-rolling society. At least the music was entertaining.
  • Funny Girl (1968) ☆☆☆☆
    Barbara Streisand gives a strong performance with lots of show tunes in a somewhat predictable plot. New York accents abound.
  • Get Hard (2015) ☆☆☆★
    A softy stockbroker goes from negrophobe to negrophile after enlisting the aid of his black car washer to groom him for prison life. With cards like he's been dealt, he better have an ace in the hole.
  • The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Not a swashbuckling adventure or a passionate romance, but plenty of character and style. Driven by an excellent musical score. A little off the beaten track. Enjoyable.
  • The Grass Is Greener (1960) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Classic formulaic married romance enduring life's tests. Lots of funny material. Familiar actors. A winner.
  • Heaven Can Wait (1978) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A comedy that is not overwhelmed by its sports milieu. A romance that barely gets going. A ho-hum vision of the afterlife. A straightforward plot that still keeps us guessing until the end. Pure enjoyment. A delight.
  • Her (2013) ☆☆☆☆
    A twisty little number that will keep you on your toes following what's really (if I can use that word) going on.
  • The Longest Ride (2015) ☆☆☆★
    A star-crossed love affair between a rodeo cowboy and an art protégée needs a mature guide to bring it success. Neat scenery.
  • Marnie (1964) ☆☆☆☆
    Straddles the categories of mystery, romance, thriller and drama but ends well if you don't take its psychiatry too seriously.
  • Obvious Child (2014) ☆☆☆
    A romantic comedy that walks a fine line through a mine field. Defuses the volatile topic of abortion. Has a happier ending than one might think possible.
  • Once (2006) ☆☆☆
    A music lover's musical with a melancholy plot. One can't exactly hum along with the tunes or get excited with wild passion, but it will do to pass the time ... especially if you like guitar music.
  • The Red Shoes (1948) ☆☆☆☆☆
    An operatic masterpiece geared to a general audience. A timeless message about keeping a perspective on life and love. Predictable in a fairy tale kind of way, but it won't disappoint. For the old and young alike.
  • Rhinoceros (1974) ☆☆☆☆
    A theater of the absurd set before a camera reflecting modern absurdities gone unnoticed. Not so much a feel-good movie as a head-for-the-hills incentive.
  • Shadowlands (1993) ☆☆☆
    A slow buildup of a romance that hits a scholar late in life. Touches his neglected emotions and evokes audience sympathy. A peek at a well-known author.
  • Shampoo (1975) ☆☆☆☆
    A sexual farce with a lot of mature humor without showing much skin. A nostalgic peek into a bygone era. Period (1968) music.
  • Shane (1953) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A mysterious stranger rides into camp, seems to settle in, but his eventually needed pistol work guarantees he'll be moving on. Classic western. As good as they come.
  • Smiles of a Summer Night (1955) ☆☆☆☆
    A Shakespearean style drama that occurs at a gathering one summer night. Surprises are in store when romances take the interchange. A harmless sporting tale.
  • Son of Paleface (1952) ☆☆☆☆☆
    The best of the western genre combined with comedic star talent and a beautiful lady villain who needs only a break to go straight. Roy's singing is icing on the cake.
  • Tall in the Saddle (1944) ☆☆☆★
    A 'B' western starring John Wayne in good form, and Gabby Hayes in character. Various women to move the plot along. Some real mystery to keep us guessing. Authentic 'Hollywood' west.
  • Under Capricorn (1949) ☆☆☆
    Hitchcock lite in a costume drama. A touch of the master but not full strength. Long takes like 'Rope' but this one gets tied in knots. Good suspense but not the same old same old.
• • The Age of Adaline (2015) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A chick flick with a strong female character and an old physicist/astronomer who discovers more than he expected. Everything in this one is done in moderation.
  • Blade Runner (1982) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A visionary futuristic flick that in some respects echoes the distant past. Easy to follow. Dark. For reflexion on the human condition.
  • A Clockwork Orange (1971) ☆☆☆☆
    A Kubrick masterpiece of crime and punishment, which is hard to stomach for its crude violent content. Art gets to be that way sometimes.
  • Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    Nicely fills a niche in the Planet of the Apes series. Good plot, great effects.
  • Divergent (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    A Young Adult movie with material capable of stimulating an older thinker. Well acted and it delivers action.
  • The Edge of Tomorrow (2014) ☆☆☆☆☆
    An action sci-fi in the best tradition, featuring good actors in roles to bring out their best.
  • The Empire Strikes Back (1980) ☆☆☆☆
    A necessary fixture in the franchise. Culturally relevant. Action packed. A little dated by now, but still watchable.
  • Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Solid romance in a masterpiece of Sci-Fi suspense. Good Valentine's Day fare. Great acting in a sympathetic couple opposed by circumstance and technology.
  • Ex Machina (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    A cautionary tale of A.I. gone awry. Shows what may happen when man treads onto the realm of gods. Designer girlfriends are more wetware than wet dreams.
  • The Giver (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    A 97 minute drama / sci-fi movie about a well-rounded individual who receives a position of responsibility in a utopian society only to find himself at odds with them.
  • Godzilla (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    A good monster movie that puts man in his place in a scary world. A well-trodden path, this one.
  • Her (2013) ☆☆☆☆
    A twisty little number that will keep you on your toes following what's really (if I can use that word) going on.
  • Hot Tub Time Machine 2 (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    People sure don't have good taste in the 2025 future our heroes visit, but did they ever? A good time travel movie in which some messed up idiots mess up our time line while they are messing around with their fates. Say no to drugs.
  • Jurassic World (2015) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Science gone mad in a world already halfway there. Claws and paws and beaks and freaks, but the gore is kept down for the younger crowd. Rivals the original "Jurassic Park."
  • Lucy (2014) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A mind-bending sci-fi action movie that takes the scientific bull by the horns and winds the plot tight as a bad drug trip.
  • The Manhattan Project (1986) ☆☆☆
    A sci-fi brainy movie with social questions presented. On the fun side for a thriller. Some laughs.
  • The Martian (2015) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A believable human drama cum space adventure. No cheap tricks and it moves right along. Read the book if you want more feeling of isolation. Show it to your kids if you want them to become astronauts.
  • The Maze Runner (2014) ☆☆☆
    An action sci-fi adventure that easily holds one's interest, is not predictable, and sets us up for sequel(s).
  • Project Almanac (2015) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Having a good time in do-it-yourself time travel, a handful of teens eventually bite off more than they can chew, but re-does are easy. Puppy love abounds. Adults are on the periphery.
  • Seconds (1966) ☆☆☆☆
    A dangerous scientific experiment gone awry on a victim who is not entirely innocent.
  • Self/Less (2015) ☆☆☆☆★
    A Sci-Fi film that morphs into an action adventure, with family drama and a modicum of mystery. A twisting plot that's nevertheless easy to follow. Succeeds as a movie without swelling the ranks of Sci-Fi masterpieces.
  • Slaughterhouse-Five (1972) ☆☆☆☆
    An artsy film with an unlinear poly-genre plot. Its feel-good ending is ambiguous. Deep.
  • Snowpiercer (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    A near future bleak scene where there's an action quest but the goals are illusory.
  • Tomorrowland (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    It moves right along and jumps around a bit, but the story for being futuristic is not hard to follow. A good movie for the whole family.
  • Victor Frankenstein (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    Frankenstein for the little guy who can hope to follow a monstrous success story. The classic survives in yet another form. Good visuals, music, acting. Short on monster footage.
• • Chariots of Fire (1981) ☆☆
    A piece of fluff with some good running sequences as well as some catchy tunes. Popular in its day for some reason. Its history is a reach.
  • Heaven Can Wait (1978) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A comedy that is not overwhelmed by its sports milieu. A romance that barely gets going. A ho-hum vision of the afterlife. A straightforward plot that still keeps us guessing until the end. Pure enjoyment. A delight.
  • Raging Bull (1980) ☆☆☆☆
    More than a sports flick. Biography of an intense character. Not a whole lot of dimensions to it, but holds an audience. Kinda sad, really. Well thought of by a lot of people.
• • All the President's Men (1976) ☆☆☆☆
    A journalistic adventure of a historically recent period of American history. If the conclusion is foregone, the pacing is brutal to get us there. Excellently well done.
  • Blade Runner (1982) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A visionary futuristic flick that in some respects echoes the distant past. Easy to follow. Dark. For reflexion on the human condition.
  • Blood Simple (1984) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Breaks the mold on thrillers. The audience is in the know while the characters only partially so stumble about according to their own lights. A good break from standard crime fare.
  • Le Boucher (1970) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A psychological mystery thriller, the mystery being what's the point of it, rather than who done it. The symbols convey the logic.
  • The Boy Next Door (2015) ☆☆☆☆★
    A thriller featuring Jennifer Lopez in all her glory, standard thriller fare, and some legal meat in the shadows. Goes by fairly quickly. No disappointments.
  • Bullitt (1968) ☆☆☆☆☆
    An intense detective movie with an exciting car chase in it and a hero detective who doesn't mind bending the rules. This is a winner.
  • Charade (1963) ☆☆☆☆☆
    If you like Hitchcock, you'll like Charade. Well crafted.
  • Confidence (2003) ☆☆☆
    A caper film with undeveloped subplots and a few interesting characters. Challenges one to follow its intricacies. Glorifies the con man. Stays on safe ground. Reliable.
  • Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    Nicely fills a niche in the Planet of the Apes series. Good plot, great effects.
  • The Day of the Locust (1975) ☆☆☆☆
    A scathing satire on Hollywood, set in the 1930s. The kind of movie to disturb one's sleep. Mature fare.
  • Deliver Us From Evil (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    Lurking menacing evil can only be vanquished by a priest teamed up with a policeman who has rediscovered his religious roots.
  • Deliverance (1972) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Four friends confront the force of nature, the dearth of civilization, and their own inner struggles on a three day canoe trip in Georgia. There's something in it to frighten everybody.
  • Diabolique (1955) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A nail-biter mystery thriller that ends in a twist. Masterful.
  • Diva (1981) ☆☆☆☆
    Experimental film. A well crafted thriller. Deals with the philosophy of intellectual property from the perspective of the artist, the diva. Breaks the mold.
  • The Equalizer (2014) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A well crafted action flick with a knight in shining armor up against some mean villains. Doesn't balk at showing blood.
  • Ex Machina (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    A cautionary tale of A.I. gone awry. Shows what may happen when man treads onto the realm of gods. Designer girlfriends are more wetware than wet dreams.
  • The French Connection (1971) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A low budget police procedural thriller that majors in realism. Has a nitty gritty feel and contains one memorable car chase. Kind of masculine in its sorry perspective although technically there's some Christmas material, as well.
  • Frenzy (1972) ☆☆☆☆
    One of Hitchcock's better latter films, loaded with suspense and twists and turns. The deck seems stacked against a wrongly accused man and everything he does seems only to make it worse.
  • The Friends of Eddie Coyle (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    Light on action. Plays out like an object lesson: Don't join gangs. Authentic cold Chicago backdrop & accents. Consummate acting in the lead.
  • The Gambler (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    A jaded professor from a rich family broods and gambles after being disinherited. Good food for thought about opportunities seized and squandered. A dark mood.
  • The Gift (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    A thriller that's heavy on drama. A mystery that's likely to resolve itself as the protagonist lives in a glass house--metaphorical and literal. Don't expect much of a happy ending. Well crafted.
  • Gone Girl (2014) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A thriller that keeps you glued for its mystery and human interest, to say nothing of its fine craftedness. Highly recommended.
  • The Gunman (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    A tense action film that doesn't let up, with a character sympathetic despite his rough past. Proceeds in a straight line to its gory end.
  • Heist (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    A straightforward heist by a modern day Robin Hood whose Merry Men aren't under his control and neither are the cops by their chief. Children in jeopardy. The wheels of the bus go round and round.
  • The Imitation Game (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    Some nerdy mathematicians break an unbreakable Nazi code while interjecting contemporary politically correct ideas into a world gone mad. Requires scrutiny.
  • In the Heat of the Night (1967) ☆☆☆☆
    A Negro passing through a small southern town in the 1960s gets picked up on suspicion of murder but it turns out he's a homicide detective from the big city. He'd be a big help to their inexperienced force if only he weren't black, but the murdered man's widow wants results regardless.
  • The Italian Job (1969) ☆☆☆☆
    A caper film pitting the British against the Italians with fun but predictable results. Speaks to modern times as well.
  • Jurassic World (2015) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Science gone mad in a world already halfway there. Claws and paws and beaks and freaks, but the gore is kept down for the younger crowd. Rivals the original "Jurassic Park."
  • Klute (1971) ☆☆☆☆
    A mystery of human nature as much as a search for a missing family man. Strong performance by Jane Fonda. The culprit is given away early on.
  • Layer Cake (2004) ☆☆☆☆
    Crime does not pay, or rather it does, but one might not be around long enough to enjoy it, and it might not be such easy money after all. Intense drama does not let up. Main character is star material.
  • Marnie (1964) ☆☆☆☆
    Straddles the categories of mystery, romance, thriller and drama but ends well if you don't take its psychiatry too seriously.
  • The Manhattan Project (1986) ☆☆☆
    A sci-fi brainy movie with social questions presented. On the fun side for a thriller. Some laughs.
  • The Maze Runner (2014) ☆☆☆
    An action sci-fi adventure that easily holds one's interest, is not predictable, and sets us up for sequel(s).
  • Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015) ☆☆☆☆★
    The franchise does it again with all the action, intrigue, and nail-biting death-defying stunts one could ask for in a 2¼ hour movie. Sets itself up for a sequel. Don't get left behind.
  • A Most Wanted Man (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    Intellectual gamesmanship in classic John le Carre style. A spy thriller without so much action.
  • Nightcrawler (2014) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A look at the dark side of nighttime news and the lengths an ambitious young man will go to to shoot the footage to lead the pack.
  • No Escape (2015) ☆☆☆☆☆
    An action thriller that doesn't let up. Well played by good actors in a well written story set in an exotic location. Feels like the shadow of our uncertain times. Delivers!
  • Non-Stop (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    A misunderstood hero action flick using standard formulas and an exotic (airplane) setting. It's on a British flight, so they all speak English, and there's a lot of texting. A top of the line whodunit.
  • Point Blank (1967) ☆☆☆☆
    A couple criminals have a row and one of them comes after the other, and the organization. It's a relentless pursuit.
  • Project Almanac (2015) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Having a good time in do-it-yourself time travel, a handful of teens eventually bite off more than they can chew, but re-does are easy. Puppy love abounds. Adults are on the periphery.
  • The Purge: Anarchy (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    A nail biter of dark days in the USA.
  • Purple Noon (1960) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A crime does not pay (or does it?) and true love conquers all (or does it?) French movie of the highest quality.
  • Road House (1989) ☆☆☆
    Campy B grade action flick featuring a svelte bouncer who's a glutton for punishment. Will make actual bar life look tame by comparison. Pretty women abound.
  • Run All Night (2015) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Here's one to hold your attention with in-fighting among criminals, families in the cross fire, and police bringing up the rear.
  • San Andreas (2015) ☆☆☆☆★
    An action disaster movie that remains in balance with drama, romance, and human interest. The science is marginal but I won't fault it. Doesn't make me feel like moving to California.
  • Seconds (1966) ☆☆☆☆
    A dangerous scientific experiment gone awry on a victim who is not entirely innocent.
  • Secret in Their Eyes (2015) ☆☆☆☆
    A drama pitting instinct against reason from several directions. Bound to be received according to one's preformed opinions. A good experience but will shake you up.
  • Self/Less (2015) ☆☆☆☆★
    A Sci-Fi film that morphs into an action adventure, with family drama and a modicum of mystery. A twisting plot that's nevertheless easy to follow. Succeeds as a movie without swelling the ranks of Sci-Fi masterpieces.
  • Sicario (2015) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Bottom line: A sleek combination of police action and human drama. Ambiguous about CIA methodology. Makes one feel happy about living safe at home--unless your home is too close to the border.
  • Silent House (2011) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A multi-level movie about a young woman being frightened into maturity. Lots of scary noises and glimpses.
  • Snowpiercer (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    A near future bleak scene where there's an action quest but the goals are illusory.
  • Something Wicked (2014) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A film that thwarts expectations bystretching itself out to Hitchcockian proportions. Just when you think it's safe, more evil occurs. Non-stop frights.
  • Sorcerer (1977) ☆☆☆☆
    An adventure that doesn't look like it will end well. Although we're not heavily invested in the characters, we'd still like a world that's a friendlier place than it is for them. Realism aplenty.
  • Spectre (2015) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Lives up to James Bond action expectations. Ties up some loose ends. Gives some surprises, too. Not to be missed by Bond fans. Enjoyable.
  • Taken 3 (2015) ☆☆☆★
    A formulaic action piece with enough twists and subplot to keep it interesting. Lots of gunfire and car chases.
  • The Third Man (1049) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A film noire action mystery involving a clueless American who gets in over his head, accompanied by some lively zither music.
  • This Man Must Die (1969) ☆☆☆☆
    An intense psychological offering in the New Wave camp about a man seeking vengeance against an unknown mark.
  • Three Days of the Condor (1975) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A gentle spy suddenly finds a need for forgotten field craft when his compatriots are slaughtered for no apparent reason. Lots of people have secrets. How does one know whom to trust?
  • Under Suspicion (2000) ☆☆☆☆
    An intense psychological drama mostly taking place in a police station one evening. A wealthy tax lawyer tries to allay the suspicions of his police chief friend out to solve a double homicide.
  • Undertow (2004) ☆☆☆☆
    Southern crackers sort out intergenerational problems while chasing through the countryside. Slow moving with occasional bursts of action. A bit bloody. Somewhat philosophical. Quaint scenery.
  • A Walk Among the Tombstones (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    A worthy Liam Neeson film featuring a troubled ex-cop turned (unlicensed) detective. Lots of blood and gore.
  • Z     (1969) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Political intrigue involving police violence, a coverup, and an effort at justice for the opposition party. Based on true events.
• • American Sniper (2015) ☆☆☆☆★
    A good military venture film portraying a good warrior in a good light. Other issues, while acknowledged are ignored. Good action sequences.
  • Coming Home (1978) ☆☆☆☆
    A war movie that's mostly drama, with the aftereffects of war. A romance movie that highlights forbidden love. A Greek cleansing of an ending.
  • Fury (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    An apprentice gunner joins a seasoned motley tank crew in the waning days of World War II to become an unlikely hero in action he'd rather forget. It is what it is.
  • The Imitation Game (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    Some nerdy mathematicians break an unbreakable Nazi code while interjecting contemporary politically correct ideas into a world gone mad. Requires scrutiny.
  • The Lost Patrol (1934) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A well enough disciplined British army company of a dozen men stuck at an unknown desert oasis surrounded by a handful of Arabs has Boris Karloff to preach at them, unseen riflemen to shoot at them, and each other's nerves to get on. A steady intensity.
  • MASH (1970) ☆☆☆☆
    A black comedy that reflects the Vietnam War era although it's set during the Korean War. It's lots of laughs if you can get into it.
  • The Monuments Men (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    Part fancy, part history, the story of a special unit in World War II tasked with the recovery and return of the Nazis' stolen art. Some action but mostly dialogue, some of it funny.
  • No Escape (2015) ☆☆☆☆☆
    An action thriller that doesn't let up. Well played by good actors in a well written story set in an exotic location. Feels like the shadow of our uncertain times. Delivers!
  • Slaughterhouse-Five (1972) ☆☆☆☆
    An artsy film with an unlinear poly-genre plot. Its feel-good ending is ambiguous. Deep.
• • 3:10 to Yuma (2007) ☆☆☆☆☆
    An adult western focusing on the plight of a poor, honest rancher who in desperation bites off more than he can chew escorting a winsome bad guy to justice. Explores group loyalties.
  • For a Few Dollars More (1965) ☆☆☆☆
    A good western that transcends predictability.
  • How the West Was Won (1962) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A tour de force on taming the west, set to rousing music, acted with aplomb, and best seen on a wide screen. A good way to spend an afternoon.
  • Little Big Man (1970) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Dustin Hoffman at his best in a satire that cuts our present as well as our past. A thinking man's western.
  • A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014) ☆☆☆☆
    A mature western reflecting on modern values as well as those of the west. Some good action. Some good surprises. Some psychedelic drug scenes.
  • The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A Clint Eastwood western about a troubled outlaw who's seen a bit much of butchery for a farmer, now turned avenger. But things have a way of working out. Enjoyable.
  • Shane (1953) ☆☆☆☆☆
    A mysterious stranger rides into camp, seems to settle in, but his eventually needed pistol work guarantees he'll be moving on. Classic western. As good as they come.
  • Son of Paleface (1952) ☆☆☆☆☆
    The best of the western genre combined with comedic star talent and a beautiful lady villain who needs only a break to go straight. Roy's singing is icing on the cake.
  • Tall in the Saddle (1944) ☆☆☆★
    A 'B' western starring John Wayne in good form, and Gabby Hayes in character. Various women to move the plot along. Some real mystery to keep us guessing. Authentic 'Hollywood' west.
  • The Wild Bunch (1969) ☆☆☆☆☆
    Some aging outlaws need a final stake before they hang up their hats, but times are changing, and they may get left behind. One last fling fits the bill.

Works Cited

Valtorta, Maria. The Gospel as Revealed to Me. Vol. 2. Translated from Italian by Nicandro Picozzi, M.A., D.D.  Revised by Patrick McLaughlin, M.A. This 2nd English Edition has now replaced the First English Edition, The Poem of the Man-God. WEB.

Whitehead, John W. Grasping for the Wind: the search for meaning in the 20th century. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 2001. Print.

My earlier reviews are posted on epinions.com under username: topreviewerman

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