Five legendary criminals are placed together in a police lineup in this extraordinary caper picture. This arranged “chance meeting” sets into motion a series of events that keep the story’s suspense level high. Kevin Spacey leads a talented cast and, in an Oscar-winning performance, is spectacular as Verbal Kint.

Grade: A+.

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Federico Fellini directed this cacophonous and gawdy stream-of-consciousness piece about the Eternal City. This film almost serves as an anti-tourist commercial, warning any potential traveler away from Rome if its residents are anything like the grotesque, obnoxious shouters depicted here. Horrible acting, inept camera work, dark absurdity.

Grade: D.

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Tom Hanks stars in this drama about an executive who survives a plane crash in the South Pacific and is stranded for four years alone on a desert island. We follow the protagonist as he deals with improvising the tools he’ll need to survive and the solitude of his surroundings.

Grade: A.

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With a miniscule budget and less-than-amazing direction, this buddy picture centers around a group of boisterous young Italian-American men in Providence, Rhode Island, some of whom are wrapped up in dealings with the mob. The acting performances are quite unconvincing and the story is disjointed and loud.

Grade: C-.

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In this low-budget Argentine caper picture, an epileptic taxidermist escapes into the woods and stumbles onto a gang of thieves. He masterminds an armored truck heist. The imagination of the protagonist is entertaining as he spins an intricate web of lies. Solid acting performances make this a worthwhile rental.

Grade: B.

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Russell Crowe and Christian Bale lead an amazing cast in this astonishingly entertaining Western adventure, a remake of a classic 1957 Western. The story is riveting and the suspense palpable. With a well-written story line, this is an action-packed film that will satisfy any fan of this genre.

Grade: A.

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Cate Blanchett reprises her role as Queen Elizabeth I in this sequel to the 1998 original. In this historical drama, Elizabeth faces the Spanish Armada, meets Sir Walter Raleigh, and deals with palace intrigue. The acting performances are wonderful and the cinematography spectacular, making this nearly equal to its predecessor.

Grade: A-.

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Matt Damon leads a talented all-star cast in this extraordinary spy picture about the early days of the CIA and the cloak-and-dagger chess game of counter-intelligence. Full of intrigue and sprawled across several continents, the story is wonderfully suspenseful and the acting performances are first rate.

Grade: A.

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Fairuza Balk, Ione Skye, and Brooke Adams star in this dingy independent film about a mother and her two daughters, trying to make a better life in a trailer park in New Mexico. The camera shows the stark beauty of the desert and the story is endearing, despite trudging somewhat.

Grade: B-.

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This inexplicable ISA-nominated picture attempts to tell the story of serial killer, Jeffrey Dahmer. The leading man, Jeremy Renner, is completely devoid of charm or charisma in this role. The entire production comes off as a creepy voyeuristic recounting of a sadistic criminal, complete with disjointed and amateurish editing.

Grade: D-.

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