u/Much_Machine8726

Info:

Release: December 21st, 1988

Director: Oliver Stone

Music by: Stewart Copeland

Starring: Eric Bosgosian, Alec Baldwin, Ellen Greene, Leslie Hope, John C. McGinley, John Pankow, Michael Wincott

Studio: Universal Pictures

Runtime: 1 hour, 50 minutes

Rating: R

Synopsis: On-air radio personality Barry Champlain (Eric Bogosian) likes to push buttons -- and the envelope. The talk show host has gained popularity by being controversial, and now his show is going national. But as Barry enjoys his professional success, his personal life is unraveling. He is still battling with his ex-wife (Ellen Greene), and also receiving sizable amounts of hate mail. When Barry hits the airwaves for a lengthy session, he gets a deranged caller who just may prove to be his match.

Review: This movie is very stressful and the equivalent of watching someone kick a hornet's nest repeatedly for almost two hours. I'm only faniliar with the lead actor as he was also in "Dolores Clayborne," but Eric Bosgosian delivers a fantastic performance as Barry Champlain, a gigantic asshole who's radio show consists of him receiving calls and usually insulting and belittling the person on the other end of the line in a derogatory or offensive manner. Some people may ask "who would listen to this shit?" but when people like Nick Fuentes and Andrew Tate have a platform, it makes more sense. People have an inherent appetite for depraved and offensive rhetoric being spewed out by an equally as disgusting individual, but some others purely watch for the innevitable downfall that's coming, a train crash in slow motion.

Info:

Release: July 19th, 2002

Director: Kathryn Bigelow

Music by: Klaus Badelt

Starring: Harrison Ford, Liam Neeson, Peter Sarsgaard

Studio: Paramount Pictures

Runtime: 2 hours, 18 minutes

Rating: PG-13

Synopsis: The story of Captain Alexei Vostrikov who, at the height of the Cold War, is ordered to take over command of the nuclear missile submarine K-19, pride of the Soviet Navy. His assignment: Prepare the K-19 for sea and take her out on patrol -- no matter what the cost. But problems with the K-19 arise that may lead to a core meltdown and explosion that will certainly kill all aboard, and possibly trigger a nuclear war. Vostrikov must choose between his orders and the lives of his men.

Review: This is a good movie, but Harrison Ford switching back and forth between his normal voice and a Russian accent in the same scene throughout the movie is very irritating. That being said, it takes courage to get on a supposedly cursed submarine (10 members of the crew had perished before the ship had even left port). The part where the men are sent in to fix the reactor was very harrowing, I especially liked the church bells ringing as the first two went in, signifying that these men were giving their lives to prevent a catastrophic disaster. The following scenes showcasing the radiation sickness were equally tragic, in just 10 minutes their bodies were horrible burned that badly, the doctor claiming he didn't know how to treat it and was only giving them aspirin as a way to soothe their pain really upset me. What a horrible way for anyone to die.

Info:

Release: December 14th, 2001

Director: Cameron Crowe

Music by: Nancy Wilson

Starring: Tom Cruise, Penelope Cruz, Kurt Russell, Jason Lee, Noah Taylor, Cameron Diaz

Studio: Paramount Pictures

Runtime: 2 hours, 16 minutes

Rating: R

Synopsis: David Aames takes all he has for granted; his wealth, his inherited publishing company, his good looks - his relationships. Especially his relationships. It catches up to him when a friend/sometimes sex-partner can't see their relationship the way he sees it. From that point, the movie takes a bizarre twist that ultimately and literally pulls us into Aames' tortured psyche.

Review: I did not expect this to turn into the film it ended up being knowing very little about it going in. I'm not a fan of the theories I saw online saying that "the whole movie is a dream!" The first act of the movie feels like a real enough story of a man playing with fire and getting burned for it. While the ending came out of nowhere, I personally find it too jarring for that to be the real answer, I feel it works as David letting go of whatever guilt and trauma he has and awakening for real this time.

Info:

Release: December 17th, 2010

Director: David O. Russell

Music by: Michael Brook

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo

Studio: Paramount Pictures

Runtime: 1 hour, 56 minutes

Rating: R

Synopsis: For Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg), boxing is a family affair. His tough-as-nails mother is his manager. His half-brother, Dicky (Christian Bale), once a promising boxer himself, is his very unreliable trainer. Despite Micky's hard work, he is losing and, when the latest fight nearly kills him, he follows his girlfriend's advice and splits from the family. Then Micky becomes a contender for the world title and he -- and his family -- earns a shot at redemption.

Review: While the movie is about Micky Ward, I would like to believe that the movie's title is referring to his brother Dicky. Christian Bale turns in one Hell of a performance as him, a complete burn out of a man who's relieving seemingly what's his only glory day in his life (which is still highly contested by others), sets his brother up with bad fights, and is addicted to crack. The film does a great job making you want to see him get his ass kicked, but at the same time also feeling sorry for him due to his failed career. I did think that was a nice ending though where he kicks his drug habit and helps his brother win the title fight, allowing him to have the success he could never have.

Info:

Release: August 3rd, 1990

Director: Spike Lee

Music by: Bill Lee

Starring: Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, Wesley Snipes, Giancarlo Esposito, Robin Harris, John Turturro, Joie Lee, Cynda Williams

Studio: Universal Pictures

Runtime: 2 hours, 10 minutes

Rating: R

Synopsis: Financially irresponsible Giant (Spike Lee) manages a jazz group, but his sax player, Shadow (Wesley Snipes), wants to replace him with a better businessman. Bleak (Denzel Washington), the band's trumpeter, then tries to defend his close pal Giant, leading to a power struggle between the two musicians. Meanwhile, as Bleak tries to straighten things out with his bandmates and manager, he also must choose to be with either sweet teacher Indigo (Joie Lee) or sultry singer Clarke (Cynda Williams).

Review: This is a great film about how one's passion can become their obsession and overtake their life completely. Bleeck is a real selfish asshole, he pretty much lives only for the trumpet while he fools around with two different women and acts like a control freak towards his band mates. That's actually crazy that he fucks up that badly and makes the same mistake during intercourse twice with both Clarke and Indigo, cool scene though where we become just as disoriented as he is as both arguments are shown at once. It is both karmic and tragic when his lip gets split open for trying to help Giant (who's another asshole for a different reason), that's a tough scene to watch where Shadow invites him onstage to play and he can't do it anymore. I loved the ending montage of him marrying Indigo, having a son, and then at the end, letting his son go and play with his friends instead of keeping him inside all day to practice the trumpet. Making sure not to repeat the same mistakes his own mother made.

Info:

Release: October 24th, 1978

Director: Sidney Lumet

Music by: Charlie Smalls

Starring: Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, Lena Horne, Richard Pryor

Studio: Universal Pictures

Runtime: 2 hours, 14 minutes

Rating: G

Synopsis: When Harlem schoolteacher Dorothy tries to save her dog from a storm, she's miraculously whisked away to an urban fantasy land called Oz. After accidentally killing the Wicked Witch of the East upon her arrival, Dorothy is told about the Wiz, a wizard who can help her get back to Manhattan. As Dorothy goes in search of the Wiz, she's joined by the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion.

Review: The Urban Version of The Wizard of Oz, I love the creativity in the sets and costumes. Some of my favorites include the Tin Man being a carnival barker from Coney Island and the Flying Monkeys being a biker gang, that's pretty creative. I wish the movie took its time a little bit more with Dorothy before she gets transported to Oz, it happens a little too quickly. Maybe have a scene or two where she has difficulties with her job and having the same actress who plays Evillene show up earlier as her mean landlord/neighbor. Also, The Emerald City being The World Trade Center raises a few questions.

Info:

Release: March 26th, 1986

Director: Richard Benjamin

Music by: Michael Colombier

Starring: Tom Hanks, Shelley Long, Alexander Godunov, Maureen Stapleton

Studio: Universal Pictures

Runtime: 1 hour, 31 minutes

Rating: PG

Synopsis: Young lovers Walter (Tom Hanks) and Anna (Shelley Long) are house-sitting the New York City apartment owned by Max (Alexander Godunov), Anna's ex-husband, who suddenly decides to toss them out. Needing a new home, they settle on buying a country estate outside the city, which is available for a suspiciously low price. It soon becomes apparent why, as doors fall off their hinges, staircases come tumbling down and a bathtub falls through the floor. The couple's relationship suffers similarly.

Review: This is definitely going in the Guilty Pleasure pile. The scenes of the house falling apart are very amusing, helped by Tom Hanks's great reactions to the utter chaos happening around him. His maniacal laugh when the bathtub falls through the floor and sheer terror and panic when he gets stuck in the rug via a hole in the floor are really funny. The marital drama kinda sucks though, I feel like the movie would've been a lot stronger without it, the conflict felt out of place for a slapstick comedy like this.

Info:

Release: January 25th, 1985

Director: Kevin Reynolds

Music by: Alan Silvestri

Starring: Kevin Costner, Judd Nelson, Sam Robards, Chuck Bush, Brian Cesak, Suzy Amis

Studio: Warner Bros.

Runtime: 1 hour, 31 minutes

Rating: PG

Synopsis: Gardner Barnes is a young Texan who has just graduated from college and is unsure of what to do next. Along with his friends, collectively known as the Groovers, Gardner embarks on a road trip to the Rio Grande as a last hurrah for the group. As the trip progresses, Gardner and his buddies, including Kenneth Waggener and Phil Hicks, struggle with their impending adulthood and the looming issue of the Vietnam War.

Review: Very similar to "Stand By Me," but focused on the loss of youth rather than adolescence. That ending is such a gut punch, not knowing if they'll ever see each other again, each of the friend group goes their seperate ways as they've all been drafted for the Vietnam War. Gardner, not having the heart to face his friends, watches from a hill as he prepares to run and hide in Mexico. The movie is not without comedy though, the highlight being the skydiving scene which I would rather someone watch than have me explain it in words here. Other notable bits are when they tie the front bumper of their car to a moving train believing it will drag them along with the train, scamming an entire town to set up a wedding for their friend, and one member of the group being knocked out for almost the whole movie. He missed the trip!

Info:

Release: June 1st, 1984

Director: Walter Hill

Music by: Ry Cooder

Starring: Michael Pare, Diane Lane, Rick Moranis, Willem Dafoe, Amy Madigan

Studio: Universal Pictures

Runtime: 1 hour, 33 minutes

Rating: PG

Synopsis: Raven Shaddock (Willem Dafoe), along with his gang of merciless biker friends, kidnaps rock singer Ellen Aim (Diane Lane). Ellen's former lover, soldier-for-hire Tom Cody (Michael Paré), happens to be passing through town on a visit. In an attempt to save his star act, Ellen's manager, Billy Fish (Rick Moranis), hires Tom to rescue Ellen. Billy and Tom, along with former soldier McCoy (Amy Madigan), battle through dangerous cityscapes, determined to get Ellen back.

Review: This did not go in the direction I thought it would on two seperate occassions, and I kinda wish it did. Rick Moranis's character is such a massive douchebag, surprising considering how he acts in other films like "Ghostbusters" and "Honey I Shrunk the Kids," I wish Cody, or someone else, did beat the shit out of him. Both the opening and closing songs were great though. Willem Dafoe, as always, is amazing as thr villain.

Info:

Release: August 2nd, 1989

Director: Ron Howard

Music by: Randy Newman

Starring: Steve Martin, Tom Hulce, Rick Moranis, Martha Plimpton, Keanu Reeves, Jason Robards, Mary Steenburgen, Dianne Wiest

Studio: Universal Pictures

Runtime: 2 hours, 4 minutes

Rating: PG-13

Synopsis: Perfectionist Gil Buckman (Steve Martin) struggles with the deficiencies of his children, thinking they reflect poorly on his parenting -- and Gil's siblings only add to the stress of his life. One of his sisters (Dianne Wiest) faces difficulty when her teenage daughter (Martha Plimpton) becomes pregnant. Another (Harley Jane Kozak) clashes with her husband (Rick Moranis) when she asks for more children. Gil's immature brother (Tom Hulce) turns up as well, with a young son he can barely handle.

Review: I really like the roller coaster analogy, life should be wild, thrilling, and unpredictable contrasted with the Merey Go Round that's safe, slow, and boring. I didn't think anything was too wrong with Kevin, I would've reacted that way if a kid stole my money and I lost my retainer, Gil was at least attempting to be a good father though. Larry on the other hand, I've met people like him. A self destructive idiot where you can offer them so many ways out and hands to help them, but they're their own worst enemy. Sometimes you have to let people like that go.

Info:

Release: July 12th, 1996

Director: Edward Zwick

Music by: James Horner

Starring: Denzel Washington, Meg Ryan, Lou Diamond Phillips, Matt Damon, Scott Glenn

Studio: 20th Century Fox

Runtime: 1 hour, 57 minutes

Rating: R

Synopsis: During the 1991 Gulf War, Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Serling (Denzel Washington) accidentally caused a friendly fire incident, a mistake that was hushed up by his superiors. Following the war, he is assigned to investigate the case of Army Captain Karen Walden (Meg Ryan), killed in action when her Medevac unit was attempting to rescue the crew of a downed helicopter. But, as Serling interviews the members of Walden's crew, he realizes their stories about the incident don't add up.

Review: I love the "Rashomon" approach to storytelling, seeing differing accounts of the same scenario from different people. At first I was confused about how Nat's guilt fit in with the story of the death of Walden, but after learning what really happened it made a lot more sense. The difference is that Nat, although he drank his sorrows away, owned up to his mistake, Monfriez couldn't bear the guilt of what he had done and took the coward's way out. I did think that was kinda lame at the end when it's revealed that Nat and Walden indirectly met, would've been better if that hadn't happened.

Info:

Release: July 29th, 1998

Director: F. Gary Gray

Music by: Graeme Revell

Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Spacey, David Morse, Ron Rifkin, John Spencer, J. T. Walsh

Studio: Warner Bros.

Runtime: 2 hours, 19 minutes

Rating: R

Synopsis: Danny Roman (Samuel L. Jackson) is considered the best police hostage negotiator in Chicago. After a friend warns him that someone is embezzling from a disability fund, the person is found dead. Internal affairs investigator Niebaum (J.T. Walsh) discovers the gun used had been handled by Roman. When no one believes his innocence, Roman takes Niebaum hostage. When Chris Sabian (Kevin Spacey) arrives to hear Roman's demands, the two skilled negotiators begin a tense stand-off.

Review: What a great idea for a thriller, the hostage negotiatior becomes the hostage taker. This is what happens when you drive a man into a corner, if pressured enough he will begin to fight for a way out, or in this case, clear his name. As Danny puts it, they killed his friend, took his badge, and we're going to take him away from his wife, what did he have to live for at that point? The movie isn't without some levity, Danny fucking with the initial negotiator on the phone was pretty funny, terrorizing the poor man into being unable to say the word "no" because it was bad for a hostage crisis. Fuck the secretary for telling the police where Danny had escaped to though, asshole.

Info:

Release: January 25th, 2002

Director: Kevin Reynolds

Music by: Edward Shearmur

Starring: Jim Caviezel, Guy Pearce, Richard Harris, James Frain, Dagmara Dominczyk, Luis Guzman

Studio: Touchstone Pictures

Runtime: 2 hours, 11 minutes

Rating: PG-13

Synopsis: The classic story of an innocent man wrongly, but deliberately imprisoned and his brilliant strategy for revenge against those who betrayed him. Dashing young sailor Edmond Dantes is a guileless and honest young man whose peaceful life and plans to marry the beautiful Mercedes are abruptly shattered when his best friend Fernand, who wants Mercedes for himself, deceives him.

Review: This is a great revenge story, Mondego is such a petty asshole. Really liked the section when Dantes is imprisoned and befriends an old prisoner who's been trying to escape for years. Although the old man doesn't succeed, Dantes's escape plan is really clever. The revenge was well done, my favorite being his revenge on the Prosecutor. That was cold how he gave him an unloaded gun as a "way out," that's super cold.

Info:

Release: December 4th, 1987

Director: Alex Cox

Music by: Joe Strummer

Starring: Ed Harris, Richard Masur, Rene Auberjonois, Peter Boyle, Miguel Sandoval, Marlee Matlin

Studio: Universal Pictures

Runtime: 1 hour, 34 minutes

Rating: R

Synopsis: A hallucinatory biopic that breaks all cinematic conventions, WALKER, from British director Alex Cox, tells the story of nineteenth-century American adventurer William Walker (Ed Harris), who abandoned a series of careers in law, politics, journalism, and medicine to become a soldier of fortune and, for many months, the dictator of Nicaragua. Made with mad abandon and political acuity—and the support of the Sandinista army and government during the contra war—the film uses this true tale as a satirical attack on American ultrapatriotism and a freewheeling condemnation of “manifest destiny.”

Review: This is "Repo Man" if it went full mask off, Alex Cox got blacklisted from Hollywood for making this and I can completely understand why. Walker isn't so much of a character as he is the personification of America's rampant imperialism and patriotism rolled into one maniac of a man. I really like that he's also the narrator, nit because he's obviously lying about his accomplishments or how Nicaraguan society is doing, but because it also perpetuates the "history is written by the winners!" quote. The modern day items showing up is really jarring at first, but makes sense as a "the more things change, the more they stay the same" message.

Info:

Release: March 2nd, 1984

Director: Alex Cox

Music by: Steven Hufsteter and Humberto Larriva

Starring: Emilio Estevez, Harry Dean Stanton, Olivia Barash

Studio: Universal Pictures

Runtime: 1 hour, 32 minutes

Rating: R

Synopsis: After being fired from his job, Los Angeles slacker and punk rocker Otto (Emilio Estevez) lands a gig working for an eccentric repossession agent named Bud (Harry Dean Stanton). At first, Otto is reluctant to work as a repo man, but he grows to love the fast-paced job. After learning of a Chevy Malibu that has been given a $20,000 price tag, Otto embarks on a quest to find the car with the beautiful Leila (Olivia Barash), who claims the trunk's contents are otherworldly.

Review: This is a very angry movie, everyone in it is either pissed off or incredibly foul mouthed. Got a big kick out of seeing all the products be named, "Food," "Beer," and "Drink." Despite being very cynical the movie is also pretty funny, Otto is such an endearing dumbass to follow around as the protagonist. That ending may also be one of the greatest things I have ever seen.

Info:

Release: July 1st, 1987

Director: Joe Dante

Music by: Jerry Goldsmith

Starring: Dennis Quaid, Martin Short, Meg Ryan, Kevin McCarthy

Studio: Warner Bros.

Runtime: 2 hours

Rating: PG

Synopsis: A scientifically miniaturized marine (Dennis Quaid) unexpectedly finds himself floating around the body of a hypochondriac (Martin Short), and trying to outwit saboteurs who want the device that shrank him. Attempts by his colleagues to retrieve the little man - protected inside a tiny submersible - are hampered by the would-be thieves.

Review: A humorous spin on "The Fantastic Voyage" with some amazing VFX work for the time, insane that it was all done practically. It got a little absurd when a character named "The Cowboy" showed up, an arms dealer who literally dresses up and larps as a cowboy. Though the scene where Putter turns into him and back again was very funny, especially the villain praying to God when he changes back, loved the PG body horror. Very threatening henchman as well, I thought the fact that he had a replaceable hand (even one for holding the steering wheel in his car) was a good gag. The way he dies raises some questions though, does that make Putter a cannibal since he technically ate him?