This engaging set of intertwined vignettes revolves around the death of a young woman and tells of her murder from the point of view of five women—the one who finds her, a girl missing a sister, the wife of her murderer, her estranged mother, and the murder victim herself.

Grade: B.

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John McClane (Bruce Willis) is back in this over-the-top thrill ride that treats us to two hours of chases, explosions, and stupefying special effects. The computer parts were silly, despite the presence of the “Mac guy“, but this film never pretends to be anything but an action ride.

Grade: B.

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Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, and Robert Downey, Jr., lead an extraordinary cast in this fantastic crime thriller, based on the actual case files from various law enforcement agencies investigating the infamous Zodiac Killer. This fascinating procedural is always completely riveting. The bulletproof screenwriting and meticulous detail make this mystery unforgettable.

Grade: A.

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This masterful Oscar-winning German film was an unexpectedly brilliant piece of work, full of vivid characters, menacing efficiency, and a full range of emotional experience. A captain in the Stasi puts a famous writer under surveillance and finds himself trying clandestinely to protect the writer from his corrupt superiors.

Grade: A+.

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Ridley Scott directs and Russell Crowe stars in this vast blockbuster epic about a victorious Roman general who is sold into slavery and becomes a gladiator after a new emperor ascends the throne. The action sequences are astonishing, the backdrop of ancient Rome is breathtaking, and the story is unforgettable.

Grade: A+.

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Imagine a mobster movie in which the Tommy guns shoot cream pies instead of bullets, entirely acted by young teenagers. Imagine it as a musical, but where adult singers are dubbed in over children’s voices. This Oscar nominee defies logic, sense, and reason, but introduces Jodie Foster and Scott Baio.

Grade: D.

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This obscure Oscar-nominated documentary tells the story of an inner city organization that introduces high school students in Watts to the arts—literature, music, and drama. This fascinating look shows us the hard lives of some students and the giant impact the group has on its community and members.

Grade: B+.

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Matt Damon delivers a powerful performance as card shark law student in this poker picture. Edward Norton turns in decent supporting work as his slimy sidekick, who gets him in lots of trouble. The script is tight, the amazing supporting cast full of stars, and the characters remarkable three dimensional.

Grade: A-.

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Cillian Murphy turns heads in this strange and occasionally funny drama about a transvestite cabaret singer from Northern Ireland named “Kitten”, trying to find his mother in England in the 60s and 70s. Solid supporting work is turned in by the likes of Liam Neeson, Brendan Gleeson, and Stephen Rea.

Grade: C+.

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This blockbuster about the end of the world features a cast with talent and a production team that made an inexcusable number of errors in geography, science, and politics. Téa Leoni is never believable as a news anchor for a single frame. Other cast members turn in completely forgettable performances.

Grade: C.

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