The Squid and the Whale (2005)

This Oscar-nominated picture features beautiful performances, both by young actors and established stars, of nuanced and vulnerable characters, with a very independent, low-budget feel. It’s the story of a couple of very intellectual writers in the process of divorce and the effect it has on their two sons. Grade: A-. IMDB: The Squid and the […]

The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005)

Tommy Lee Jones directs and stars in this ISA-nominated story of a man’s impossible journey to fulfill a promise to bury his murdered best friend in Mexico. Barry Pepper stands out with his astonishing performance, Guillermo Arriaga’s script is beautifully written, and the film is a magnificent directorial debut. Grade: A+. IMDB: The Three Burials […]

Lean on Me (1989)

Morgan Freeman stars as Joe Clark, an eccentric disciplinarian brought in to clean up a crime-ridden, drug-infested high school in New Jersey. Exceptional acting performances pervade this gritty drama based on a true story. This inspiring story shows how one determined person can change everything, despite overwhelming odds. Grade: B+. IMDB: Lean on Me.

40 Days and 40 Nights (2002)

A ridiculous barrage of stereotypes, generalizations, cheap “poignancy”, and painfully foolish moments, this romantic comedy centers around one guy’s impossible task to give up sex for Lent. The movie was badly written, fumblingly executed, and piled up with unnecessary special effects. The few chuckles save this sinker from completely drowning. Grade: D. IMDB: 40 Days […]

Memphis Belle (1990)

A dramatization of a mission of the Memphis Belle, this wonderful period picture brings a level of tension, danger, and risk that make it absolutely riveting. It is perfectly cast, wonderfully scripted, and beautifully shot. Great acting makes this epic a realistic depiction of bombing missions in World War II. Grade: A. IMDB: Memphis Belle.

Clerks II (2006)

Brian O’Halloran and Jeff Anderson are once again clerks Dante and Randall, but ten years later. Humor abounds, yet it relies more on gross-out jokes rather than the cleverness of the original. This is a worthy sequel to Kevin Smith’s classic comedy. Fans of the original will appreciate this as well. Grade: B+. IMDB: Clerks […]

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006)

Johnny Depp stars, once again, as Captain Jack Sparrow. Jack owes his soul to Davy Jones and must act fast to remove his debt. Keeping in the tradition of the original, this is a fun, action-packed movie with plenty of humor. All of the major characters reprise their roles. Grade: B. IMDB: Pirates of the […]

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Arnold Schwarzenegger becomes the hero who rescues the future savior of the world in this sequel that improves on the pathetic original by a staggering margin. The special effects in this one were decently realistic, the story was far better written, and the acting was decent, given the subject matter. Grade: B-. IMDB: Terminator 2: […]

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)

A tongue-in-cheek attempt at a mockumentary about a Jacques Cousteau analog, this bungling, incompetent picture was an absolutely grueling endurance test. The directing was ridiculous, the comedy scenes bellyflopped (despite an all-star cast), the script seemed written by high school students, and the premise was completely idiotic. Grade: D. IMDB: The Life Aquatic with Steve […]

The Terminator (1984)

Arnold Schwarzenegger stars in the first of a trilogy of science fiction franchise that helped define filmmaking. The special effects and acting were extremely breakthrough 22 years ago, but are ridiculously hokey and absolutely dated. Of course, as unrealistic as it is, the film is an action flick—nothing more. Grade: D+. IMDB: The Terminator.

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