Harsh Times (2005)

Feb 22, 2009 by Mr. Nau Christian Bale stars as a troubled former Army Ranger in this crime thriller about a guy who can’t avoid getting into all kinds of trouble in South Central Los Angeles. With a decent supporting cast, including Freddy Rodriguez and Eva Longoria, this frequently uncomfortable buddy picture is very well-written. […]

Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song (1971)

Feb 21, 2009 by Mr. Nau Melvin Van Peebles directs and stars in this astonishingly groundbreaking blaxploitation picture, complete with a soundtrack by Earth, Wind, & Fire. Full of action, sex, and attitude, this racial thriller was single-handedly responsible for launching an entire genre of film, empowering African-American filmmakers to make bold, political statements. Grade: […]

On the Outs (2004)

Feb 16, 2009 by Mr. Nau Three women from the Jersey City ghetto struggle with drugs, crime, and poverty in this extraordinarily low budget and stark double Spirit Award nominee. The cast portrays their characters very believably and the grainy cinematography brings a palpable sense of realism and grit to this often depressing biographical drama. […]

The Day After (1983)

Feb 14, 2009 by Mr. Nau This made-for-TV movie from the 80s tells the story of the aftermath of a Soviet nuclear attack on the United States. Starring Jason Robards, Steve Guttenberg, and John Lithgow, this drama shows the destruction in graphic detail. This really reminds us why it terrified us 25 years ago. Grade: […]

Tulia, Texas (2008)

Feb 11, 2009 by Mr. Nau In this documentary, a small town in West Texas seeks to solve their drug crime problems by hiring an undercover police officer to infiltrate the criminal underworld and bring people to justice. Unfortunately, the officer in question framed a significant proportion of the African-American community, who understandably want justice. […]

True Stories (1986)

Feb 08, 2009 by Mr. Nau David Byrne, front man of the Talking Heads, writes, directs, and stars in this whimsical look at a small Texas town celebrating the sesquicentennial of Texan statehood. This very colorful take on rural America tells a very whimsical, but difficult to follow, story—almost certainly only for Byrne’s biggest fans. […]

Earthquake (1974)

Jan 24, 2009 by Mr. Nau Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, Lorne Greene, George Kennedy, and Genevieve Bujold star in this Oscar-winning disaster epic, written by Mario Puzo–featuring an unbelievably violent series of earthquakes that devastate downtown Los Angeles. While sometimes cheesy, this is a fun opportunity to watch a swashbuckler try to save everyone. Grade: […]

Treasure Island (1999)

Jan 22, 2009 by Mr. Nau Sometimes, a very low budget film delivers an unforgettable story and stellar acting by unknowns. Sadly, this one delivers no such thing, instead resorting to a poorly-written story, lots of twisted sex scenes, and the most startlingly bad camera work of the 1990s. Let this one languish in obscurity. […]

The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

Jan 19, 2009 by Mr. Nau Roger Moore is James Bond in this classic spy thriller. Of course, cheesy acting, ridiculously attractive women, and convoluted plot twists–even obviously transparent ones–are de rigueur for this type of picture. A weird villain and his henchman, Jaws, deliver on a fun time, provided disbelief is sufficiently suspended. Grade: […]

Cloverfield (2008)

Jan 18, 2009 by Mr. Nau In this thoroughly entertaining monster movie, produced by J. J. Abrams of Lost fame, a group of friends finds themselves running for their lives from a Godzilla-style monster attacking Manhattan. Brilliantly shot from the viewpoint of one camcorder, the action makes this thrill ride feel like a gritty documentary. […]

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