Manic (2001)

Sep 16, 2007 by Mr. Nau Don Cheadle stars as a counselor at a mental hospital, focusing on a small core of teenagers. The focus of this picture is on a young scrapper named Lyle. This well-acted character drama is full of real passionate moments, but also full of terribly amateurish handheld video camera footage. […]

Northfork (2003)

Sep 10, 2007 by Mr. Nau The Polish brothers write and produce their third picture — the story of a town in Montana in the future reservoir of a new dam. The acting is great, the cinematography is stunning and gorgeous, but the story seems to lack focus and meander aimlessly in this extremely unique, […]

The Queen (2006)

Sep 02, 2007 by Mr. Nau Helen Mirren is picture perfect as Queen Elizabeth II dealing with the aftermath of the untimely death of the incredibly popular Princess Diana and the staid traditions of her position. Mirren’s Oscar-winning performance is unforgettable as are the strong performances of her supporting cast and Peter Morgan’s wonderful screenplay. […]

Au Revoir, Les Enfants (1987)

Sep 02, 2007 by Mr. Nau Louis Malle directs this magnificent story about the friendship of two boys in a Catholic school in occupied France. The acting is completely believable, the cinematography is stunning, and the story imaginative, thought-provoking, and completely engrossing. The performances of the two acting leads make this picture shine even brighter. […]

Maxed Out (2006)

Sep 01, 2007 by Mr. Nau This well-crafted documentary offers a scathing indictment of the American credit industry, displaying in surprising detail the extent to which consumers have to deal with predatory practices by financial institutions—especially those unable to afford to resist them or ignorant of any alternative to their ruthless and continuous exploitation. Grade: […]

The United States of Leland (2003)

Aug 31, 2007 by Mr. Nau Leland is a troubled young man who kills a retarded kid in his neighborhood and is sent to juvenile hall. Don Cheadle stars as Pearl, a teacher, who tries to elicit a reason from Leland. Solid acting performances and a well-written script make this obscure crime drama worth renting. […]

A Lesson Before Dying (1999)

Aug 30, 2007 by Mr. Nau Don Cheadle stars as a school teacher who is sent to convince a former student wrongly sentenced to death to die with dignity in 1940s Louisiana. The acting is great for a television movie and the script is wonderfully imaginative. Full of real emotion, this is a very rewarding […]

The Rat Pack (1998)

Aug 28, 2007 by Mr. Nau Ray Liotta is terribly miscast as Frank Sinatra in this made-for-television musical drama about the Rat Pack in the 60s. Don Cheadle turns in a brilliant performance as Sammy Davis, Jr., which garners him a Golden Globe, but every other major actor seems completely wrong for their parts. Grade: […]

Maverick (1994)

Aug 26, 2007 by Mr. Nau Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster love and hate in this hilarious western based on a TV series from the late 50s. With multiple servings of hilarity and great supporting work by James Garner, Graham Greene, Alfred Molina, and James Coburn, this picture has it all — action, romance, comedy, […]

Pump Up the Volume (1990)

Aug 25, 2007 by Mr. Nau Christian Slater stars as a pirate radio DJ in this essential cult classic teen angst movie. Slater nails his role as a smack-talking bored depressed youngster and leads a marvellous cast in a film with believable characters, a great soundtrack, lots of laughs, and plenty of gritty real moments. […]

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