Sherrybaby (2006)

A woman returns from jail and tries to reunite with her young daughter.  No Hollywood happy endings or cheesy lessons from this one.  It's an all-too-true portrait of Sherry, an idealized addict who is clueless as a bag of hammers as to her own behavior.  Maggie Gyllenhaal is absolutely outstanding.  She is cut and dried as a troubled addict, yet elicits compassion as well.  Brad William Henke and Bridget Barkan are well balanced as her her brother and sister in-law, who have been caring for Sherry's child and have their doubts as Sherry desperately comes back into their lives.  Very well told by writer/director Laurie Collyer.  If you werent  a fan of Maggie Gyllenhaal, you will be after this one.  A real treat is Danny Trejo's appearance playing a pretty nice guy.  Gritty, true and good.

Quickie Synopsis
Ex-con
Wants
Her Baby



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School of Rock (2003)

A failed musician scams a gig as a schoolteacher and teaches a group of 10-year olds to rock out.   This is perfect vehicle for Jack Black, who is majorly nutty and hysterical.  His insane passion for music shines and actually infects the viewer as much as the kids.  Excellent tale of redemption with thorough laughs throughout and great for the family.  His original songs are pee-in-your pants funny.  Cute appearance by young actress Miranda Cosgrove (aka iCarly) The ultimate Jack Black.

Quickie Synopsis
Teacher
Rocks
Out


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Master of the Flying Guillotine (1975)

A one-armed kung fu instructor is hunted down by a blind "flying guillotine' master.
Ok, ok.  Yes, cheesy.  Also magnificent.  Fu Sing Wu Chi (say that fast) expertly wields what looks like a fiercely weirded-out hat on a chain.  But alas, if it lands on your melon, you're in trouble!  Forget plot and all that.  This is pure Kraft Velveeta Kung Fu.  Fantastic fight scenes with an oddball assortment of kung fu masters, running up walls, extending their arms to 10 feet long, and of course, the deadly Flying Guillotine.  Make sure to see the 1975 original, as there are a few in this franchise.  Most likely an inspiration for Quentin Tarantino's deadly schoolgirl Gogo Yubari  in Kill Bill.

Quickie Synopsis
Beheading
From A
Distance

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Time After Time (1979)

H.G. Wells travels in time to modern San Francisco to hunt down Jack the Ripper.  Mucho fun, with Malcolm McDowell perkily playing Wells, and Mary Steenburgen is cute as pudding playing a sweet Frisco girl.  Watching Malcolm as the brilliant Wells adapting to modern day Frisco is a treat as is David Warner playing Jack the Ripper.  Basically a feel good thriller with a bit of an edge.  A must for McDowell fans!  Go see!

Quickie Synopsis
Killers
Through
Time

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Now Voyager (1942)

Self-effacing woman goes to therapy and finds confidence and love.  One of Bette Davis' defining roles, which she executes perfectly.  Claude Rains is slick and lovable.  Gladys Cooper gives you chills as the bitter controlling mother.  And of course the famous scene where Claude lights 2 cigarettes, who can forget that.  One of the excellent melodramas coming out of the WWII era.  When you hear the term, "They don't make em like that anymore", this is the one they're talking about.  Don't miss it.

Quickie Synopsis
Spinster
Finds
Love

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The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

The story of 3 WWII servicemen adjusting to coming back home.  This won a truckload of Oscars, but if you haven't seen this one you're missing out.  Top notch cast including Frederic March, Myrna Loy (!), Dana Andrews and Teresa Wright.  Dana Andrews is a good, standup guy returning to a slutty wife.  Frederic March is a banker with a grown daughter trying to fit into his old slot in life.  Harold Russell is an ordinary guy who tries to adjust to having lost both his arms.  Brilliant story, dialogue, and characters all the way round.  And sadly still relevant today.  See it!

Note:
Oscar winner Harold Russell had actually lost both his arms in the service and was chosen for the part after appearing in an Army documentary on wounded soldiers.

Quickie Synopsis
Hard
To
Readjust

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After Hours (1985)

A word processor in Manhattan gets trapped in Soho overnight with crazed artists and weirdos.  A marvelous twisted Scorsese dark comedy.  Griffin Dunne does it just right as normal everyman Paul who just wants to get home.  Rosanna Arquette is the troubled object of his desire; the pretty girl-next-door with issues.  Teri Garr is a special treat as a neurotic bar waitress.  Scorsese piles up the tension so remarkably.  Paul losing his cab fare would seem innocuous enough, but with Marty directing, it seems so huge and devastating. The whole movie builds this way, so get ready for a ride.  Awesome cast as well, including John Heard, Catherine O'Hara, Cheech n Chong; Linda Fiorentino and Will Patton.  Dark and funny.

Quickie Synopsis
Just
Get Me
Home

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The Boondock Saints (1999)

Irish twins become vigilantes to rid Boston of the Russian mob.   You're gonna love this one or hate it.  Smartish, fast-moving, innovative action movie.  Interesting plot thingy going on here...first comes twisted FBI agent (Willem Dafoe) describing the events of the crime scene, then you see how it all went down.  Cheeky dialogue, fun characters -- all around good time.  And check out Bill Connolly in a juicy role.  Excellent soundtrack too.  Part of what throws this dark comedy into cult status is a brief appearance by Ron Jeremy.  Get past that, and you'll enjoy a couple hours of mucho fun.

Quickie Synopsis
Holy
Irish
Killers

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Primal Fear (1996)

A hotshot lawyer defends a shy kid accused of murdering a Chicago priest.   Great on so many levels.  One of Richard Gere's best.  Standing most excellently toe to toe with him is Laura Linney.  Beautifully crafted courtroom thriller.  Edward Norton won a truckload of awards for his part, and if you want to see a primo example of Norton's talent, this is the one to see.  Also a nice visit by Steven Bauer and the always spot-on John Mahoney.  One of the best endings ever.  With Alfre Woodard as the Judge and Frances McDormand as the psychiatrist, you absolutely positively no-way can go wrong with this awesome film.

Quickie Synopsis
Naughty
Priests
And Lawyers

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The New Centurions (1972)

An idealistic L.A. rookie cop teams up with an old veteran. Based on the book by master policeman/novelist Joseph Wambaugh. This movie is thought to be an extremely accurate look at life as a cop in LA in the 70's. Stacey Keach is great as the rookie cop, but its George C. Scott who steals it as the lifer who turns policing into an art form. Instead of busting hookers, he'll drive them around in a truck and get them drunk to get them off the street for a night. Keep an eye peeled for Erik Estrada (Pre-CHIPS). This movie shows the toll that being a cop takes on a person. Very serious and very good.

Quickie Synopsis
Old Cop
And
New Cop


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Enter The Dragon (1973)

A kung fu expert goes undercover to a martial arts tournament run by an evil fiend.  This movie is Bruce Lee all the way.  This was the first major Kung Fu movie to hit the US, and it made Lee a international superstar.  Great characters as well by John Saxon and Jim Kelly.  Kien Shih is the evil Han, who can put spikes, claws or blades on the end of his severed arm.  Bruce's nunchuk virtuosity is epic here.  Keep an eye peeled for a Jackie Chan cameo and Sammo Hung, the gargantuan kung fu gorilla.  This one is classic with a capital C.

Quickie Synopsis
Everybody
Was
You know the rest...

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Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

James Bond must discover what his evil nemesis Blofeld is doing with all those stolen diamonds.  What makes this one so much fun is all the little touches.  Sadistic gymnasts Bambi and Thumper throwing Bond a beating; Jill St. John in a purple bikini; crazy car chase through Las Vegas; M beating out the slot machines; and of course the 2 creepy henchmen Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd. The most bubblegummy and campy of all the Bond films, but way enjoyable.

Quickie Synopsis
Bond
In
Vegas

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Five Easy Pieces (1970)

A talented man from an upper-class family of musicians runs away from it all.  Jack Nicolson, early and great, is a dissatisfied prick running away to work on oil rigs and go bowling and screw around.  Good movie about a talented fortunate man with inner turmoil and restlessness.  Yes, he's a dick and don't go looking for a plot, but Nicholson is brilliant as a man who is screaming on the inside.  Watch for Karen Black as his ditzy clinging gal and Sally Struthers. And of course the famous diner scene.

Quickie Synopsis
Protege
Turns
Bad


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Frenzy (1972)

An down-on-his luck man is falsely accused of multiple rapes/murders in London.  Great Hitchcock.  Both gruesome and funny--best yet are the the scenes of Inspector Oxford having experimental gourmet meals forced on him by his wife, played by Vivien Merchant with a delightfully nutty flair.  Good solid acting all around.  Hitchcock totally messes with you with his long camera shots and suspense, but it's a fun ride.  A real British treat.

Quickie Synopsis
I didn't
Do it
You Bastards!


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The Cowboys (1972)

An aging cattle herder must hire a group of greenhorn schoolboys for a dangerous cattle drive.  A kinder, gentler John Wayne, but no pushover.  Most excellently cast with the likes of Roscoe Lee Browne who just about upstages Wayne, and very early Robert Carradine.  Bruce Dern is again a sublimely miserable prick you love to hate.  Entertaining from start to finish.  I like to see John Wayne like this.

Quote:
"I'm thirty years older than you are. I had my back broke once, and my hip twice. And on my worst day I could beat the hell out of you."

Quickie Synopsis
Coming of Age
With Cattle
And Bandits

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Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005)

A quirky romance between a newly separated single father and an odd performance artist.  John Hawkes and Miranda July create an intimate little romance with unique dialogue.  Written and directed by Miranda July, there are some things in this movie that under other circumstances would be questionable, but all works perfectly here.  Scene to see is the brothers chatting on the computer. Brandon Makenzie-Lee Ratcliff plays the younger brother, and is so cute and interesting, you've got to laugh.  

Quickie Synopsis
Lonely
Quirky
Love




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Frozen River (2008)

A desperate woman resorts to smuggling illegal immigrants to support her family.  This is a grim tale with a hint of redemption and hope.  Melissa Leo is raw and strong.  Misty Upham is perfect as her Native American smuggling partner.  The beauty of this movie is the way these two souls come together, each with their own burdens to bear.  Very minimalistic and hard-hitting movie.  You can feel everything closing around this main character and the harsh winter chill.  Good solid stuff.

Quickie Synopsis
Two
Desperate
Mothers



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Harold and Maude (1971)

Young man obsessed with death falls in love with an 80-year old woman.   Almost 40 years old, this film still stands up solidly as a cult classic.  Bud Cort is a shy, twisted young man who stages his own death and goes to funerals for kicks.  Ruth Gordon plays a sadly happy soul who teaches him how to let go.  Keep an eye out for the great Vivian Pickles as the obnoxious mother, and the coolest Jaguar you'll ever see.  Killer soundtrack by Cat Stevens.

Quickie Synopsis
Love
And
Death



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The Lords of Flatbush (1974)

The Lords,  a gang of four brooklyn youts (not youths) in 1950's Brooklyn, find themselves facing adulthood.   This movie is a treat-- a young, pre-rocky Sylvester Stallone steals every scene he's in playing meathead Stanley.  Perry King is Chico the playboy, and pre-happy days Henry Winkler as Butch.  Imagine a darker, neurotic Jewish Fonzie.  Some very memorable scenes in this one-- Stallone in the store buying a wedding ring for his girlfriend is priceless.  See it.

Quickie Synopsis
Brooklyn
Greasers
Growing up

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