Rollerball is an interesting vision of the future which, if the NFL is an example, seems to have come to fruition. The acting from James Caan is terrific and Norman Jewison’s direction is swift and although hardly the perfect movie, it’s still well worth checking out.
Two Rode Together might not be the greatest western, and certainly not a memorable one for either director John Ford or James Stewart, yet it’s still an enjoyable movie worth at least one look if anything.
The Firm is a well made crime-drama based on a very popular TV movie that starred Gary Oldman. Paul Anderson and Calum MacNab both give great performances and the story, albeit doesn’t quite resonate as an American, is still engaging enough.
Way of the Wicked tries to be a combo of The Omen and Twilight and fails at both angles with hackneyed acting and a story that stumbles around until the predictable and painful end.
Survival Code actually isn’t an entirely terrible flick but it is a low budget, made-for-TV affair with some standard action and fight scenes. Even so, some might find it to be mildly entertaining and with a short running time, makes for a quick watch.
The Deep End is a mostly well acted drama-thriller with Tilda Swinton giving a great performance while Goran Visnjic, attempting to follow in the footsteps of “ER” alum George Clooney, seems out of place but gives it his best.
Great Expectations is yet another well-intentioned adaptation and the cast on the surface appear to be right for their parts, but together with an uneven script and poor pacing makes for a film that never quite gels in spite of a respectable crop of actors. I can’t say this is a particularly bad movie but this certainly not something I will have any desire to revisit anytime soon.
The Terminal is a nice small yet big drama featuring yet another solid performance from Tom Hanks re-teaming with director Steven Spielberg. It is a bit long clocking in over two hours but it’s still an immersive film that has held up well over the 10 years since its release.
Johnson Family Vacation is a dud of a comedy though I can’t place a whole lot of blame on the cast, Cedric the Entertainer in particular, and more so on the dull and unfunny script. It’s one of those movies that isn’t fondly remembered and is more of an afterthought when comparing similar films.
Amistad is another well made film from Steven Spielberg and features several good performances including Morgan Freeman, Djimon Hounsou and Matthew McConaughey who reminds you he’s always had the dramatic acting chops…
Flying Tigers is a well made war drama featuring some well done, for its time, special effects, to go along with strong performances by John Wayne and John Carroll. Unfortunately the Blu-ray release from Olive Films, while featuring respectable audio and video transfers, neglects any bonus features so the bang for the buck is not there, though if you are a fan of the movie, or war films in general, it might be worth the price.
Home of the Brave is another forgotten film that gets a HD treatment courtesy of Olive Films. And while the picture and audio are hardly anything to brad about, it’s nice for this to get a release. That being said, the price on a title without features is extreme at $30 but if you can find a deal and are a fan, then it might be worth picking up.
Sophie’s Choice is a harrowing drama set against truly haunting images. The performances from Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline and Peter MacNicol are all fantastic.
The Suspect, despite a somewhat convoluted story, isn’t all that bad of a film thanks in large part to two great performances from Mekhi Phifer and William Sadler who play off one another so well.
In Rock Star, I can respect Mark Wahlberg’s performance, and some of those in the supporting cast like Timothy Olymphant and Jason Flemyng, but it’s a clichéd drama that never quite hit the, ahem, right high notes to make for an engaging drama.