Movies

200 Cigarettes

This would be a great one to revisit on New Years Day.  A delightful character study set to the music of the eighties.

Apostle, The

Perhaps a little long, but Robert Duvall’s labor of love offers him his greatest role.

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me

Mike Myer’s may be the Peter Sellers of his generation.  This parody of sixties spy movies is actually a musical in disguise.

Blast from the Past

Brendon Fraser. Alicia Silverstone, Christopher Walken, and Sissy Spacek are delightful in this cold war comedy.

Celebrity

Kenneth Branagh impersonates Woody Allen, as a journalist whose work puts him in constant contact with beautiful people who aren’t so beautiful.  Woody Allen impersonates Fellini directorially, in the tradition of Stardust Memories.

Detroit Rock City

Don’t pass this one up, even if you never liked the rock group, Kiss. The exploits of the teenage fans trying to get ticket’s to a Kiss concert will remind you of moments from American Graffiti and I Want to Hold Your Hand.

Ever After

Yet another retelling of the Cinderella story.  Drew Barrymore is as endearing as Angelica Huston is evil.

Go

Stylish little story of drug deal gone bad, should keep you on the edge of your seat.

Gods and Monsters

Ian McKellen is superb as the aging James Whale, best remembered for directing The Bride of Frankenstein.  This film is dark, but witty, like Sunset Boulevard.

Little Voice

See this one just to see how evil Michael Caine can be. 

Mask of Zorro, The

A beautifully photographed and well-acted revision of the Zorro story.  Anthony Hopkins is great as the aging Zorro. Anthony Banderas is perfect as his overzealous successor.

Mighty, The

A great film about friendship. Kieran Culken and Elden Ratliff are wonderful together.

The Other Sister

Juliett Lewis stars as a mentally retarded girl eager to advance herself. Diane Keaton is her overprotective mother who can’t let go.

Pleasantville

Jeff Daniels always does his best work in period pieces.  It’s nice to see a film that brings a little color to a black and white world.

Prince of Egypt, The

Nice animated musical based on the book of Exodus.  Step aside Cecil B. DeMille, the new Moses is an Action/Adventure hero in the mold of Indiana Jones.

Shakespeare In Love

Gwyneth Paltrow is unforgettable as Shakespeare’s muse. 

Simon Birch

Ian Michael Smith plays Simon Birch, an outspoken youth who believes he is destined to be God’s tool. 

Slums of Beverly Hills, The

Alan Arkin is wonderful as the father who wants only the best for his kids.  Natasha Lyonne shows great comedic potential as the daughter dealing with her sexual development. Carl Reiner does a funny cameo as Arkin’s successful brother.

Snake Eyes

DePalma and Cage.  Stylized vision and moody performance.

Two Days In the Valley

Danny Aiello is a hit man with sensitive side.  James Spader is his sadistic opposite.  All the characters collide in the climactic moments.

Vertigo (Restored)

One of my favorite films of all time beautifully restored.  Both VHS and DVD include a documentary about the restoration of this Hitchcock classic.

Wedding Singer, The

It’s funny.  Especially if you have been a wedding photographer and a wedding DJ, like me.  See if you can dig up Altman’s A Wedding as a second feature.

Wishful Thinking

Told from three points of view.  We don’t know all the facts until the end.  Good story.  Well acted.