Young William Miller wants to be a rock journalist, so he accepts an assignment from Rolling Stone to follow an up-and-coming rock band, Stillwater, on a national tour. This coming-of-age story features amazing acting performances, a gorgeous script, and a screenplay that makes this journey unforgettable.

Grade: A.

0.3

Jean-Claude Van Damme stars in this unsurprisingly badly-acted story about a guy who seeks to avenge his brother’s defeat by training in Muay Thai kickboxing. The plot is very unsophisticated, the dialogue amazingly contrived, and the filmmaking laughable, but for fight fans, this is fun butt-kicking time.

Grade: C-.

0.3

Law student Darby Shaw, played by Julia Roberts, deduces a conspiracy in the assassination of a pair of Supreme Court justices and reaches out to a reporter, played by Denzel Washington, for help. This thriller features a great story by John Grisham, wonderful acting, and intricate well-thought-out suspense

Grade: B+.

0.3

Tommy Lee Jones and Cate Blanchett star in this thriller about a man trying to help his estranged daughter recover her daughter from an Apache brujo. Set in rural New Mexico in 1885, the story is tight and focused, with good acting, gritty realism, and a very menacing antagonist.

Grade: B.

0.3

A very young Mel Gibson stars in this post-apocalyptic classic about a group of people surrounded by a roving gang of bandits, mostly clad is leather chaps and other bondage wear. While the acting is what you’d expect from an action movie, this explosive story is fun and memorable.

Grade: B-.

0.3

This beautiful coming-of-age story features some deliciously real, gorgeous, heart-breaking acting performances against the dusty backdrop of a desolate trailer park in the desert. With a dreamy soundtrack, a well-crafted script, and a surprisingly original story, this obscure character-driven drama is well worth checking out.

Grade: B+.

0.3

Gerry Mulligan and Chet Baker anchor a pianoless quartet in this collection of tracks from various recording sessions from the early 50s. With the pair tackling a number of familiar standards and a few original charts, this laid-back straight-ahead West Coast jazz record is an mellow, entertaining listen.

Grade: A-.

0.3

India.Arie delivers an incredible debut with this record, fusing guitar-driven soul with hip-hop, funk, and R&B. The songwriting here is first rate and all of the songs are infectious and unforgettable. Her voice, her lyrics, and the arranging make this a record worthy of many repeated spins.

Grade: A+.

0.3

Antonio Carlos Jobim and Luis Bonfa wrote a sublime soundtrack on this very original retelling of the Greek myth of Orpheus and Euridyce against the lively backdrop of Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro. The acting performances are wonderful and this beautiful picture feels like stepping back fifty years in time.

Grade: A-.

0.3

In this absolutely gorgeous and unforgettably heart-breaking film, a high-powered fashion magazine editor has a stroke, rendering him completely paralyzed, except for the movement of an eyelid. Based on a true story, this masterpiece chronicles his writing, with assistance, a best-selling book about life in his condition.

Grade: A+.

0.3