Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner (1967)

Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner (1967)

6/10

Starring

Spencer Tracy

Sidney Poitier

Katharine Hepburn

Katharine Houghton

Directed by Stanley Kramer

I think I enjoyed Guess Who (2005), starring Ashton Kutcher and the late Bernie Mac. However, in Guess Who, the racial roles are reversed. Guess Who is loosely based on this movie, but it’s done in a comedic tone rather than the dramatic tone of the Poitier version.

This is a great movie in its own right, one that I think many should see. Hepburn’s acting is masterful and touching.

The movie is about an interracial couple, Dr. John Wade Prentice (Sidney Poitier, Black) and Joanna “Joey” Drayton (Katharine Houghton, White). At that time, interracial marriage was more of a taboo, and Joanna’s family was really worried for their daughter and her future. John’s parents were also worried about the future their child and possible grandchildren would have by their son marrying a white girl. The whole movie revolves around both families trying to resolve their differences.

A funny thing that happened during filming was Sidney Poitier becoming a bit tongue-tied when he had to be in the presence of both Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. The starstruck effect of their presence got to him, as he was standing in front of people he considered giants in the acting world.

The film is notable for being the ninth and final on-screen pairing of Tracy and Hepburn (at the time, they were live-in partners, with Tracy never divorcing his first wife), Spencer Tracy died 17 days after filming was completed.

Hepburn is said to have never seen the completed film, saying the memories of Tracy were too painful.

Well, this is the first Spencer Tracy film I got to see, so I may not be the best judge of how great his acting was compared to his other roles. But as mentioned earlier, Katharine Hepburn was in a class of her own throughout the movie. At times, I wondered if she was crying because of what was happening in the story or because of the fact that her lover was dying.

The movie was a commercial and critical success, winning two Academy Awards for Best Actress (Katharine Hepburn) and Best Writing (Original Screenplay).

Sidney Poitier’s acting in this movie isn’t as grand as what I saw him deliver in, In the Heat of the Night (1967), and for me, the movie focused too much on interracial marriage while sidestepping the harsher realities of racism at the time. Given the issue it was addressing, I felt the conflict was too neatly resolved, without much real tension or depth in the characters’ struggles. The pacing also drags in parts, with some long-winded dialogues that feel more like speeches than natural conversations.

In the end, I enjoyed the movie, and I think you will too.

The Best Man Holiday (2013)

The Best Man Holiday (2013)

6/10

Starring

Taye Diggs

Terrance Howard

Morris Chestnut

Directed by Malcolm D. Lee

The Best Man Holiday was very funny—I really laughed hard while watching this movie. There were just some scenes and lines that caught me off guard. And the way the movie ended felt like Malcolm D. Lee was leaving room in case another movie about these four best friends and the women in their lives should be written. There’s a place they could pick it up from.

To add to this, I think the plot was really bad. The comedy worked for me and I laughed hard, but the main storyline was like something off a soap opera.

The movie is set during Christmas time and is a comedy-drama, directed and written by Malcolm D. Lee, who also directed and wrote The Best Man (1999). This serves as a sequel to that movie. In this holiday get-together, we get to see how their lives have turned out after the weird events of Lance and Mia’s wedding in the first movie.

The producers went all out to get Taye Diggs, Terrence Howard, Harold Perrineau, Morris Chestnut, Monica Calhoun, Sanaa Lathan, Nia Long, Melissa De Sousa, and Regina Hall all to come back, reprising their roles from the 1999 film.

The whole crew came together, acknowledging Mia’s invitation for a get-together, but not all the wounds had healed over their time apart. Lance still held a grudge against Harper for sleeping with his wife (although this happened long before they got married in the first film). Julian married the stripper Candace, whom he fell in love with in the first movie. Harper and Robin are expecting their first child, and Quentin is still single but a lot weirder than he was in the first movie.

The movie’s tragic tone at the end had some light shed on it with a birth—something I kind of liked, even though it’s not new. I know I’ve seen it in a movie somewhere.

The movie went on to be a commercial hit, and because of that, I heard that Universal Pictures and Malcolm D. Lee are in talks for a third installment. I think they should quit while they’re ahead.

Should you see this movie? Well, maybe, it’s funny, but the emotional line it tried pulling did not work for me. The plot isn’t airtight, though, and the screenplay was at times just dull or irritating. Imagine, someone thought it was a good idea to add some singing into the movie. I felt all the singing parts were just crap and unnecessary.

The Family (2013)

The Family (2013)

5/10

Starring

Robert De Niro

Michelle Pfeiffer

Tommy Lee Jones

Directed by Luc Besson

Regardless of what has been said or what I’m going to say, I liked the movie. I think it’s because of the teenagers in it. They were very violent and smart in a way that proved a Mafia Boss was truly their father, and they learned a lot from him. That is all I liked in the movie, the rest of the plot wasted the talent of the cast that it was to work with.

Then, when things turned sour, their actions were just annoying, and I started to resent the film. But their annoying behavior didn’t last long—soon, they picked up guns and started killing the other bad guys.

The Family is a 2013 film that isn’t going to be on many high scorers’ lists this year—or ever. But I liked it and wished I could rate it higher. The story is very glitchy, and the plot had many holes. Then there’s the character of Giovanni, played by Robert De Niro, who lacked the finesse I would have expected, especially knowing he’s had training in being a Mafia Boss in The Godfather Part II (1974).

The movie is about a Mafia Boss, Giovanni, who ratted out his Mafia friends to the Feds. Now, he’s in witness protection with a $20 million bounty on his head. He and his family are finding it hard to settle anywhere—every time they try to make a life in a new place, something goes wrong, forcing them to move again.

The movie is based on the novel Malavita by Tonino Benacquista and is directed by Luc Besson (Taken (2008)). It’s an English-French action-crime comedy that could have been great if the producers had put more effort into it and hired someone else to adapt the story.

In the end, the movie is a critical failure but a commercial success in its own right. I do think Tommy Lee Jones is getting too old to play tough guy roles, even if it just means standing around looking tough. On the other hand, I can never get tired of seeing Michelle Pfeiffer. She’s one woman I always love seeing on TV, and it was because of her that I decided to watch the movie in the first place.

Is this a movie I would recommend for you to go see? Nope. I may have enjoyed it, but I can’t guarantee anyone else will. So, if you catch it on TV one evening, just sit through it.

L.A. Confidential (1997)

L.A. Confidential (1997)

7/10

Starring

Guy Pearce

Russell Crowe

Kevin Spacey

Kim Basinger

Danny DeVito

Directed by Curtis Hanson

L.A. Confidential is a 1997 classic with a 99% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and after seeing the movie yesterday, I now know why.

L.A. Confidential is very captivating. The twists and turns in the movie take you on a wild ride. At the time of its release, both Guy Pearce and Russell Crowe were unknowns and delivered fantastic performances. Their performances help drive this movie as they were cast as the leads, while known actors like Kevin Spacey, Kim Basinger, and Danny DeVito were cast in supporting roles.

The movie presents itself as a narration by Danny DeVito, who plays a newspaper writer. It then switches gears when DeVito’s character’s status in the movie is compromised.

The movie is based on James Ellroy's 1990 novel of the same title. L.A. Confidential also happens to be the third book in his L.A. Quartet series. The film is a little different from the usual "police taking down the mafia" script. It starts with the mafia boss already busted by the police, and every gun-loaded gang with enough guts is trying to fill the power vacuum left behind.

The movie tells the story of a group of LAPD officers. One, Edmund "Ed" Exley (Guy Pearce, is the son of a legendary detective sergeant, determined to live up to his father’s reputation and even surpass it. The other, Officer Wendell "Bud" White (Russell Crowe), is obsessed with violently punishing women beaters. Their paths cross when there’s an outburst in the station, resulting in Ed being promoted to Det. Lt.

From there, a rape case, a drug scandal, and celebrity look-alike prostitutes lead to the plot of a new man trying to take over the mafia boss’s position.

Before filming started, the cast and crew held a "mini-film festival," showing one film a week. The leads (Crowe and Pearce) spent time in L.A. watching police films and mixing with real-life police officers—all to get acquainted with life in the 1950s and understand what being a police officer was like.

I think the cinematographer did a solid job capturing the 1950s aesthetic, but at times, it feels a bit too polished, missing that gritty noir thriller vibe I would have liked. The pacing also drags in places, especially when the movie jumps between multiple plot threads, making some moments feel less impactful. Plus, the transition away from Danny DeVito’s narration feels abrupt, making the shift in storytelling a little jarring.

L.A. Confidential went on to be both a critical and commercial success. It was nominated for nine Academy Awards, but let’s remember that was the same year Titanic (James Cameron) was released, so it had its work cut out. It was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Production Design, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Original Dramatic Score, and Best Sound Mixing but lost all categories to Titanic. Regardless, it won two Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actress (Kim Basinger) and Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay).

It’s a great film, and I know you’ll enjoy seeing it. But rent the DVD—it’s not one I think you’ll want to watch twice.

In The Heat of the Night (1967)

In The Heat of the Night (1967)

10/10

 

Starring

Sidney Poitier

Rod Steiger

Warren Oates

Directed by Norman Jewison

I don’t know why I just heard about this movie, but it’s one I liked so much that I’m going to tell everybody I know to go see it.

“They call me Mister Tibbs!” is the memorable phrase in this movie. Then there’s the groundbreaking scene where Sidney Poitier, slaps a white man for insulting him. That scene got huge support from Black audiences, and I had to rewind and watch it twice before I was satisfied.

Sidney Poitier was incredible in this movie, and I think deserved a nomination, but he wasn’t even considered for Best Actor that year, while Steiger took the win, I guess after Poitier won Best Actor in 1963 for Lilies of the Field, two in a roll may be pushing it.

Still, it didn’t hold the movie back in any way. The film is a masterpiece. I couldn’t believe how it turned out compared to how it started. While watching, you have to keep in mind the limitations of being Black in the ’60s and how one man’s tenacious spirit to stand up to a white man led him to solve a murder and clear two innocent people of murder charges.

In the Heat of the Night is based on the 1965 book of the same name by John Ball. It tells the story of Virgil Tibbs (Sidney Poitier), a Black police detective from Philadelphia who is passing through a small town called Sparta, Mississippi. While there, a man is killed, and a patrolman driving around spots Tibbs at the train station, arresting him as a suspect simply because he’s Black.

At the police station, the Police Chief (Rod Steiger) also believes Tibbs is the culprit because he’s carrying a large amount of money and isn’t from the town. But the chief is embarrassed when he finds out Tibbs is a police detective—and the best homicide detective in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Police Chief orders Tibbs to stay and help, which neither Tibbs nor the Sparta Police Chief wants. But Tibbs stays, and boy, does he make the local police in Sparta look like a bunch of school kids.

The movie was both a critical and commercial success, and I’m telling you, you have to see it. It’s one of the best films out there. There’s no slack in the story or the acting—it’s pure and true.

That said, no movie is perfect, and a few things stuck out to me as weaknesses. The pacing drags at certain moments, making some scenes feel longer than they need to be. The visuals capture the era well, but some shots feel too staged, taking away from the film’s natural flow. And while the resolution is satisfying, it wraps things up a little too quickly and neatly compared to the buildup.

The Departed (2006)

The Departed (2006)

8/10

Starring

Leonardo DiCaprio

Matt Damon

Jack Nicholson

Directed by Martin Scorsese

I didn’t rush to see this movie, because the cast did not appeal to me back then when it was released. The Departed is a movie that I can tell you you’ll enjoy from the get-go. The way the story unfolds isn’t what you’d expect, and that’s the beauty of it. Hollywood would have loved to take credit for this masterpiece, but The Departed is a remake—a great one, if I can say so myself—of a 2002 Hong Kong crime thriller called Infernal Affairs, written by Alan Mak and Felix Chong. It was directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak.

A friend told me that The Departed is an almost scene-for-scene replica of the Hong Kong version called Infernal Affairs, which received critical acclaim for its original plot and concise, swift storytelling style. The Departed also achieved critical acclaim, winning four Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director (Martin Scorsese), Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Film Editing. I have not seen the original to which this is based, but this movie as amazing as it is, sometimes the pacing is uneven, especially in its slower moments where the tension fizzles out before building back up.

The movie is filled with a wonderful cast, each bringing their A-game. In The Departed, we had Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, and Mark Wahlberg, with Martin Sheen, Ray Winstone, Vera Farmiga, Anthony Anderson, and Alec Baldwin in supporting roles.

The film’s plot takes place in Boston, where Irish Mob boss Francis "Frank" Costello (Jack Nicholson) trains a young boy, Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon), and plants him as a mole in the Massachusetts State Police. Ironically, at the same time, the police assign undercover trooper William "Billy" Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) to infiltrate Costello’s crew. Billy’s identity is kept secret from everyone except Capt. Oliver Charles Queenan (Martin Sheen) and Staff Sgt. Sean Dignam (Mark Wahlberg). Soon, both sides realize there’s a mole in their midst, prompting Sullivan and Billy to try and uncover each other’s true identity before their own cover is blown.

Throughout the movie, there’s a father-and-son relationship theme, which I feel could have been best if another layer of complexity was added to the mix, as father-son relationship at times appear shallow. Sullivan sees Costello as a father figure, while Billy looks up to Queenan as his. Both men have lost their actual fathers.

Although Infernal Affairs spawned two sequels (Infernal Affairs II and Infernal Affairs III), I don’t think The Departed will have a sequel, even though it was a commercial success. It’s a great one-off film, and they should leave it as such.

If you haven’t had the privilege of seeing The Departed, hurry to the video store now and get this movie. You’ll be glad you did, I need to also add that some character arcs are a bit predictable, and the storyline, while compelling, is too reliant on clichés found in many crime thrillers.

I think this movie will be one of those who survive the times and will remain watchable no matter the year in the future.

The Sting (1973)

The Sting (1973)

6/10

Starring

Paul Newman

Robert Redford

Robert Shaw

Directed by George Roy Hill

The Sting is a nice and captivating film. The writers put together a screenplay about two grifters who conned a mob boss, but they went one step further by conning the audience too. While I was watching, I felt the movie wasn’t as classy as it was made out to be, but the ending was a con, and the writers got me. I applauded them for it, but I felt the twist overshadowed all the other amazing things the movie has to offer. Plus, it can be a bit predictable, as we know from the start that the mob boss was going to get conned.

The acting in the movie is top-notch because each scene had to be convincing—not just to the man they were trying to con, but also to you, the viewer, so you wouldn’t feel like you were watching a poorly executed mess. The movie’s title phrase (The Sting) refers to the moment when a con artist finishes the "play" and takes the mark’s money (the mark being the person being conned). If the con is successful, the mark doesn’t realize they’ve been "taken" (cheated) until the con men are long gone. The film is shown in different sections with old-fashioned title cards.

The movie is about revenge. Three friends—Johnny Hooker (Robert Redford), Luther, and Joe—conned $11,000 in cash from an unsuspecting victim. Unfortunately, their victim was a numbers racket courier for the vicious crime boss Doyle Lonnegan (Robert Shaw). Doyle, upset that his money was stolen, sends men after Johnny and Luther. Luther is killed, but Johnny escapes and seeks out Luther’s friend, Henry "Shaw" Gondorff (Paul Newman), a mastermind in cons. Together, they plan to con Doyle out of a huge amount of money as revenge for killing their mutual friend Luther.

The plot of this film is gripping and unfolds in ways that keeps you captivated, as you are more interested in how things will turn out, than you are about the cast wellbeing.

The Sting was a major blockbuster in its time. The movie cost $5.5 million to make and went on to earn over $160 million. It was also a critical success, universally acclaimed, and its screenplay is highly celebrated and rated 39th on The Writers Guild of America’s list of 101 Greatest Screenplays Ever Written. It won 7 Oscars at the 46th Academy Awards out of 10 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay.

This is an old-time classic from the ’70s, one I enjoyed watching and would like to see again. I wouldn’t call it a must-see, as there are times when the pacing drags, but if you enjoy classics, this is one for you.

The Legend of Drunken Master (1994)

The Legend of Drunken Master (1994)

10/10

Starring

Jackie Chan

Anita Mui

Ti Lung

Directed by Lau Kar-Leung

After I finished watching this film, I started it again and watched it one more time. This is the best martial arts film out there—there’s none like it. The fluidity in the moves by none other than the Drunken Master himself, Jackie Chan, is something you have to see to understand why it’s considered great. The story and the wonderful acting of the late Anita Mui (as Ling, Wong Fei Hung’s stepmother) were also enough to keep you glued to the screen. Although I have to say, the pacing, can feel a bit off at times, especially when the story slows down between the action scenes.

This is the second collaboration between Jackie Chan and Anita Mui, the first being Miracles (1989). Their last collaboration was Rumble in the Bronx (1995).

The movie isn’t a continuation of Jackie Chan’s Drunken Master (1978). This was Chan’s first traditional-style martial arts film since Dragon Lord (1981), and it was done to near perfection. Every fight scene leaves you wondering, “How the hell did he do that?” Americans have adopted martial arts into their movies, but I haven’t seen any that can overthrow what Jackie Chan delivered in this film. Whether you call it Drunken Master II or The Legend of Drunken Master, this is a movie that practically everyone who’s seen it has loved. And if you haven’t seen it, where have you been all these years?

The movie is set in the early 20th century and follows the Chinese folk hero Wong Fei Hung (Jackie Chan), who is on his way home with his father by train. He hides (when his father’s back is turned) some of their wares in the luggage of first-class passengers. When he goes to retrieve it, he runs into a man who’s also retrieving an item from the same luggage. They get into a fight, and each ends up with the other’s item.

This leads the owner of the luggage—a British Consulate official stealing Chinese artifacts—to track down Wong Fei Hung and try to retrieve the artifact. Meanwhile, the man from the train also tracks him down with the same agenda. Now, Fei Hung is caught in the middle of a battle between the man from the train, who’s trying to protect Chinese heritage from being stolen by the British, and the British Consulate.

The movie features some of the finest martial arts ever put on screen, and it’s widely regarded as one of the best martial arts films ever made, and I can't say enough how much The Legend of Drunken Master shines with its incredible martial arts sequences and Jackie Chan’s charismatic performance. But there are a few other things that hold it back from being perfect. The plot, is a little thin and leans more on the action than on developing the characters. And some of the supporting characters, although entertaining, aren’t given much depth, which makes them feel more like tools to move the plot along. And the humor, is at times slapstick, which might not be everyone’s cup of tea.

There’s no reason every home shouldn’t own a copy of this movie. It’s one of the best action-comedies you’ll ever see, and the final fight in the steel mill is worth watching twice.

The English Patient (1996)

The English Patient (1996)

8/10

Starring

Ralph Fiennes

Juliette Binoche

Willem Dafoe

Directed by Anthony Minghella

What a classic.
The English Patient is a romantic drama based on the novel of the same name by Sri Lankan-Canadian writer Michael Ondaatje. This is a movie you have to make sure you see. Set before and during World War II, the film tells its story through a series of flashbacks, which merge with the present events of how the patient ended up in the monastery.

This is a movie that will thrill you with its screenplay—there’s never a dull moment on screen. Each scene unfolds more of the mystery, drawing you in and making you want to see how it all connects. It was nominated for 12 Academy Awards and won 9, including Best Picture (it also won Best Motion Picture – Drama at the Golden Globes and Best Film at the BAFTA Awards) and Best Director for the late Anthony Minghella.

One of the great things about The English Patient is the acting, particularly by Juliette Binoche, who plays Hana. She was exquisite, and there wasn’t a dull moment whenever she was on screen.

The movie follows an English patient (Ralph Fiennes) during World War II. He’s badly burned and being cared for by a nurse named Hana (Juliette Binoche) in a monastery. The mystery surrounding this patient is that he speaks fluent English and seems to know practically every song, but he refuses to reveal his name, claiming he’s forgotten it.

Also at the monastery is a man who calls himself a thief (Willem Dafoe). He’s hunting for someone he knew before the war, a man he believes betrayed him to the Germans.

While lying in bed, unable to move, the English patient begins to have flashbacks about his life before the war—the woman he fell in love with and the events that led to their relationship. The flashbacks and the thief’s investigations all lead to one question: “Who is this English patient, and how did he get so badly burned?”

The movie was both a critical and commercial success in 1996, earning nearly 10 times its $27 million production budget. One thing you’ll also appreciate is the cinematography. The film boasts some of the best cinematography out there, from the plane scenes to the breathtaking desert scenery—it’s all wonderful.

I like the way the movie flows, but I feel the pace might not sit well with everyone. It can be slow at times, and the constant flashbacks disrupt the present-day story. The reveal of who the English patient is feels dragged out, and the focus on his past sometimes overshadows the present events, leaving some plot points underdeveloped.

If you’re like me and waited this long to even consider watching this film, then you’re just delaying the experience of one of the best romantic dramas out there.

The Deer Hunter (1978)

The Deer Hunter (1978)

3/10

Starring

Robert De Niro

Christopher Walkin

Directed by Michael Cimino

Three hours of bad editing. Three long hours I had to sit through what people have called one of the best movies of the ’70s. Three hours I sat through a movie that’s on the AFI list of top 100 films and has a good rating on Rotten Tomatoes. In the end, this is what I think of The Deer Hunter: this movie is total rubbish. The first 70 minutes lead nowhere, and when the film finally picks up, you’re plagued by bad editing, horrible continuity, and left wondering if the director and the Academy Awards judges in 1978 watched the same film you’re watching now.

The Deer Hunter was one of the first films to depict the Vietnam War, which ended in 1975. The movie is somewhat iconic for its Russian roulette scenes, and during its release, it was met with high praise. At the time, it was considered one of the best movies of the ’70s, maybe because it was the first of its kind to depict the war. All the scenes were shot on location (nothing was done on a soundstage), and that statement is supposed to make this movie a must-watch. But in my opinion, it’s a must-miss.

The movie is about three friends who went to the Vietnam War and survived, but none were mentally stable by the end. One lost his mind, another lost his legs—which caused him to lose his mind—and the last one survived but struggled to keep his sanity while trying to help his friends.

I wouldn’t give this movie an award even if I was paid to. The main problem is that the story just doesn’t flow. The movie did have its high point, though—the Russian roulette scene where Michael (Robert De Niro) and Nick (Christopher Walken) had to pull a fast one to escape. That scene will capture your interest, but after that, and once they got home, I kept wondering what else was left to see in this film.

It’s recognized by the American Film Institute, which rated it the 53rd best movie in their 100 Movies… 100 Years, 10th Anniversary Edition. It won 5 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for Michael Cimino (whose next war film, Heaven’s Gate (1980), was panned by critics and audiences alike. That movie was also a box office bomb, failing to make even 10% of its production budget and reportedly leaving United Artists bankrupt), and Best Supporting Actor for Christopher Walken (who also starred in Heaven’s Gate (1980)).

Please, I beg you, don’t watch this film.

Platoon (1986)

Platoon (1986)

6/10

Starring

Charlie Sheen

Tom Berenger

Willem Dafoe

Directed by Oliver Stone

Watching a movie that was released a year after I was born introduces me to actors I’ve come to respect now, I see them at their young age, being the best they can be. I get to see them when they were younger, trying to make a name for themselves. Here’s a list of the men who were in this movie—most of whom, except the first two, had supporting or minor roles:

• Charlie Sheen (Two and a Half Men)
• Tom Berenger (Hatfields & McCoys)
• Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man)
• Kevin Dillon (Entourage)
• Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland)
• Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean)
• Mark Moses (Desperate Housewives)

The movie is good, with scenes so well depicted that I’m glad I never had to witness such things firsthand. It has a way of gluing you to your seat until the end, but the pacing of the movie can feel uneven, especially with some slower scenes that break the tension.

Platoon is a 1986 American war film written and directed by Oliver Stone, who was also a war veteran. The story is based on his experiences as a U.S. infantryman in Vietnam. He says the movie’s aim is to counter the vision of the war portrayed in John Wayne’s The Green Berets. Platoon is the first film in Oliver Stone’s Vietnam War trilogy, followed by Born on the Fourth of July (1989) and Heaven & Earth (1993).

The movie is narrated by Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen), who drops out of college and volunteers for combat duty in Vietnam. There, he serves under the lazy and less influential Platoon Commander Lt. Wolfe, the experienced, more dominant Staff Sergeant Barnes (Tom Berenger), who has been shot seven times and bears scars all over his face and another experienced laid back Sergeant Elias.

Taylor struggles to fit in as the platoon is divided into two sides: some are on Staff Sergeant Barnes’ side, while others side with Sergeant Elias (Willem Dafoe). The two groups are constantly at each other’s throats. Taylor connects with Elias and his group of marijuana smokers, keeping his distance from Barnes and his more hardened followers. The rivalry between Staff Sergeant Barnes and Sergeant Elias drags on at times in this movie, making it feel repetitive.

During the war, Taylor witnesses many atrocities, including backstabbing, rape, and murder—all of which harden him into a better fighter. The film’s heavy focus on the war's brutalities can overshadow the character development, and this mix of slow pacing and underdeveloped characters takes away from the movie's overall impact for me.

The movie cleaned up at the box office, turning its $6 million budget into over $138 million. It won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1986, along with Best Director for Oliver Stone, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Film Editing.

It’s a great movie about the war, and I sure hope you get to see it.

Rain Man (1988)

Rain Man (1988)

8/10

Starring

Dustin Hoffman

Tom Cruise

Directed by Barry Levinson

Wow!
That’s practically the only word that can describe how I felt after watching Rain Man. The movie is extremely captivating, and there’s no way you won’t marvel at Dustin Hoffman’s acting. Do not let the runtime deter you from seeing it, it is a classic and it is amazing. That said, the runtime is something, as it adds to the uneven pacing, especially in the early parts of the film when we see the repetitive situation of Charlie’s reluctance to bond with Raymond dragging the story.

Rain Man is one of those dramas where, by the end, you’ll agree with critics that it’s one of the best when it comes to storytelling. The movie shows that it’s possible to bond with autistic individuals while also challenging the stereotypes often attached to them.

Note: Not all autistic individuals possess the abilities displayed by Raymond (Dustin Hoffman) in this movie, but they are humans like us, with feelings.

The movie makes the best use of its two leads, as we see them display emotions in a way that feels real. Both actors did their best to make the situations they found themselves in believable. The ending is one I truly enjoyed—the writers didn’t go overboard, unlike the future writers of I Am Sam (starring Sean Penn). They kept the flow as grounded and believable as possible.

Rain Man is about two individuals: Charlie (Tom Cruise) and Raymond (Dustin Hoffman). Charlie didn’t connect with his father when he was younger, and they grew apart. After his father’s death, Charlie discovers that his father left his multimillion-dollar estate to his brother, Raymond. The shock isn’t just that everything was left to his brother, but that he even had a brother—a secret Charlie feels was unfairly kept from him.

Charlie goes to meet his brother, only to find out that Raymond is autistic and under the care of a doctor. Feeling cheated twice (first by being kept in the dark about his brother and then by being left out of the will), Charlie decides to kidnap Raymond. He demands that the doctor pay him $1.5 million from Raymond’s inheritance, or he won’t return him.

Charlie’s plan seems simple since Raymond is autistic, making it almost like kidnapping a child. But autistic individuals have specific needs, and soon, Charlie starts to regret taking his brother.

I feel for a great film, which this is, it spends so much time on Charlie’s emotional arc that Raymond’s character doesn’t get as much depth, which leaves him feeling more like a plot device than a fully fleshed-out character.

The movie was both a commercial and critical success, earning numerous Oscar nominations. It won the Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Director, and Dustin Hoffman took home the award for Best Actor.

If you haven’t seen Rain Man, go buy the DVD now.

No Country For Old Men (2007)

No Country For Old Men (2007)

8/10

Starring

Tommy Lee Jones

Josh Brolin

Javier Bardem

Directed by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen

Here’s a movie that deserved its Academy Award for Best Picture. No Country for Old Men isn’t just a masterpiece—it’s one that will be regarded as a classic in the future.

To make a great movie, you don’t always need A-list actors anchoring the screen. What you need is a good story, a great director, and dedicated actors ready to follow through.

When directors are also responsible for the screenplay, I personally think (with adequate financial backing) the result will most often be good. The movie will follow the path the screenwriter intends since they’re also the one directing.
The movie is based on the book of the same name by Cormac McCarthy. It was adapted and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, who also won Oscars for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay.

The movie is about the repercussions of greed. Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) stumbles upon a bunch of dead bodies in the Texas desert. After looking around, he realizes the deaths were the result of a drug deal gone terribly wrong. He discovers a suitcase filled with money—and instead of taking some and calling the police (which is what I would’ve done)—he takes the money home with him. What he doesn’t know is that attached to that money is a hitman (Javier Bardem) with more than a few screws loose. The hitman has been sent to retrieve the money and kill anyone who knows about it.

Now, Moss is on the run from the cops, the Mexicans involved in the drug deal, and the hitman.

The Coen brothers made this movie with precision. Every scene is crafted to suit the tone of the story they wanted to tell, and by the end, you’ll be left astonished by the characters, wishing there was more. With all that said, the pacing can be slow, especially during the quieter moments where the tension drags without much forward movement. And while the characters are intriguing, they feel underdeveloped at times, especially when it comes to their motivations and backstories. Plus, the minimalism of the plot works in some ways but can leave things feeling a bit sparse, and the film’s bleak tone and limited dialogue also make it harder to connect with the characters, which takes away from the emotional impact.

This is a drama-thriller everyone should make sure to see. It was both a critical and commercial success, and during its release, it found itself on many “best movies of 2007” lists.

If you haven’t seen No Country for Old Men, dash to the video store and get a copy.

Midnight Express (1978)

Midnight Express (1978)

7/10

Starring

Brad Davis

Randy Quaid

John Hurt

Directed by Alan Parker

Well, I have to say this movie kept my attention from the very start. It’s one of those films where, while watching, you keep wishing the suffering would just end. The movie faced heavy criticism for its portrayal of Turks, which was different from the actual experience.
It’s based on Billy Hayes’ 1977 book Midnight Express and was adapted into a screenplay by Oliver Stone. The film stars Brad Davis, Randy Quaid, and John Hurt.

The movie is a true-life account of Billy Hayes, a young American student sent to a Turkish prison for trying to smuggle hashish out of Turkey. The film’s title, Midnight Express, is prison lingo for an inmate’s escape attempt.

The movie’s portrayal of Turks is concerning, I do not know if this is really accurate depiction of their prisons. While watching, I kept thinking, “If this is how these guys treat prisoners—or people in general—I’d rather stay away from Turkey.” But then again, no prison is inviting. Movies might make prison look like a place to meet interesting people and reinvent yourself, but I don’t buy it. I’ve never been to prison myself (thank God), and I don’t think Hollywood is being realistic.

There are many differences between the book and the movie. For example, in the movie, his girlfriend is with him when he’s arrested, but in the book, he was alone. Another difference is the reason he was sent to a psychiatric hospital in 1972. The movie claims it was because Hayes bit off someone’s tongue, which never happened. Also, the scene where Billy attempts to escape from the Turkish police and is recaptured by Tex didn’t happen either.

Contains Spoiler
In the end, Hayes’ successful escape happened when he was moved to another prison on an island. From there, he eventually escaped by swimming across the lake, traveling by foot and bus to Istanbul, and then crossing the border into Greece. This is very different from what’s shown in the movie.

The above is not the only issue the movie has, as the pacing struggles, particularly during Billy’s time in prison, making parts of it feel drawn out. The emotional depth of the characters is underdeveloped, and at times, the tension feels forced rather than coming across as genuine.

The movie was both a critical and commercial success. It won Academy Awards for Best Music (Original Score) and Best Writing (Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, by Oliver Stone). It also earned nominations for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (John Hurt), Best Director (Alan Parker), Best Film Editing, and Best Picture.

My final take on this movie is that it’s truly worth seeing, and I enjoyed it. I believe you will too—just keep in mind it has an R rating.