This is a landmark western, featuring Jack Palance (Oscar nominated) in probably the most archetypal villain role in any western. Taken from the terrific Jack Shaeffer novel, which every fan should read, as its a little less sentimental than the film (hence the 9*s). This is a powerful story, at the level of parable and mythology, with some unforgettable scenes, like the drifting newcomer Alan Ladd as Shane (perhaps a bit too spiffily dressed and clean to be a trail vagabond) helping farmer Van Heflin remove a giant tree stump. The first film for doe-eyed Brandon de Wilde, as the kid who looks up to Shane and his gun.

That rarest of films: a sequel better than the original. This film both continues the original and also precedes it in history with brilliant sequences of a young Corleone in both Italy and America, played by Oscar-winning Robert De Niro speaking Italian. The film loses Brando, but introduces acting professor Lee Strasbourg in a terrific Oscar-nominated part as rival don Hyman Roth, and brings the characters of Al Pacino as new Don, Michael, and John Cazale (as brother Alfredo) to full development. This is a truly riveting story, and a near perfect epic film. The two were put together and re-edited for an 8-hr tv miniseries by Coppola, called "The Godfather Saga", very much worth seeing. 8 Oscars

This terrific German film on domestic espionage recalls Coppola's The Conversation. It's a tense, superbly filmed study of the state police of East Germany (the Stasi) using electronic surveillance on a popular writer, who may or may not be guilty of publishing subversive material, which is cause for disappearance. Won both the U.S. and British academy award for Best Foreign Language Film, was nominated for Best Picture in Britain.

War films don't get any better than this, Oliver Stone based this on his own Vietnam experience. Rather than a poetic tribute (Apocalypse Now!), this is a dirty, infected, blood-spurting wound type of war film, very realistic. Perhaps Charlie Sheen wasn't a great choice, but Willem Dafoe and Tom Berenger turned in their best performances. Unforgettable images of the horrors of war and personal moral dilemna. Five Oscars

Quote: Ain't nothin better'n a piece of pussy, 'cept maybe the Indy 500, and country music.

Quote2: Redneck noise, always whining bout how they ho done left em and they aint' got no money for beer; hell, I'd be leavin too if I had to listen to that shit all day!

Definitely a rare find these days: a film whose primary star is the script, and the dialogue in particular - think of Philadelphia Story meets Diner inside Manhattan. If you don't get it, then this film will bore you, but once you fall into the rhythm of these apparently vapid yet interestingly self-absorbed intellectuals, admittedly effete snobs, you realize that you're being shown a unique culture that most of us will never encounter. The style is similar to a 30's parlor comedy, like The Awful Truth, or Frank Capra's You Can't Take it With You (which won Best Picture).

Filmed with non-actors with the goal, as the French director Eric Valli tells his cast in the documentary included, of preserving the story of their culture for generations to come so that we will always have a record of a disappearing way of life. The residents live in perhaps the most isolated village or our times (Dolpo region of Nepal), which is a three week trek over gorgeous Himalayan mountains from the nearest road! Their winter survival depends on their trading salt for food, necessitating their driving a caravan of yaks bearing their product to a valley somewhere over miles of forbidding mountains. The story of the making of this film is perhaps more dramatic than the story within the film; how film crews and sherpas can manage such an undertaking (much like Werner Herzog's Fitzcarraldo) and brave horrific weather defies the imagination of those of us raised in the relative comfort of urban civilization. I recommend this as a must-see for anyone interested in ancient cultures, vast mountain vistas, or beautiful weather-beaten people.

Pat Metheny is not only the greatest living guitarist but may well be the best in history, and I've seen Andres Segovia live! Not all these songs will please everyone, but the ones that shine (to you) are among the best live music you will ever see. Personally, I think Lyle Mays has the best soft touch and lyricism on the Steinway grand of any living pianist, so you're getting at least TWO of the world's best musicians in one group - this is music history, folks! Standout cuts for me were A Place in the World, Are You Going With Me? (on the incredible 42-string guitar built for Pat by a harpist), and the closing duet with Lyle and Pat (Map of the World). This is a MUST for musicians and jazz fans alike, and anyone who wants to see the BEST living player on his instrument.

This is a riveting, intellectual police investigation film, not an action thrill ride, and it is another riveting film from excellent director David Fincher (The Game, Fight Club). Even though a bit overlong, it is still gripping and intense throughout its length. The cast is uniformly excellent, especially Jake Gyllenhaal and Chloe Sevigny (wife 2 on Big Love), even Anthony Edwards in a small part, though Robert Downey does mumble his lines a bit, and can be hard to understand. This film will shed more light on the Zodiac killings than most of us know, this will likely be the definitive film on these murders and perhaps close the book. If you haven't, see ALL of David Fincher's films, they entertain and stick with you awhile.

Wilder's film is considered the birth of film noir, or "night film", a crime film using mostly scenes shot at night or in dark interiors. The plot concerns a wife, Barbara Stanwyck, who hires an insurance salesman, Fred McMurray in an abrupt career defying role, to kill her husband for the insurance, double the amount if its an accident. Edward G. Robinson was also persuaded to take a supporting role, likely due to the strength of the script, by Wilder and pulp novel author Raymond Chandler, hired for his underworld dialogue. 7 Oscar nominations, no wins.

Quote: That's some ankle bracelet.

Tim Robbins portrays a film producer looking for that "next major project", who, through an anonymous blackmailer who sends him threatening postcards, become involved in a mystery, and his character degenerates into one who may actually stop at nothing to protect his ego and his wallet, and perhaps find love as well; with the always delectable Greta Scacchi in his sights, who could blame him? The Player is a perfect modern complement to Sunset Boulevard, as each presents the cynical and parasitic side of Hollywood and its shallow, self-centered denizens. Robert Altman's best film (?) includes dozens of famous cameos, including 16 Oscar winners.

Perhaps the most ambitious re-creation of historical events for any docudrama, at times you'll swear its real footage. Pontecorvo deservedly got a Best Director nomination for this taut story of a terrorist network fighting for Algierian independence from France. As topical today, this story should be seen by anyone interested in the international political situation. Beautiful black and white cinematography as this still shot shows.

Larry McMurtry is our generation's best novelist (Terms of Endearment, Hud, The Last Picture Show), and here his epic, grandiose Pulitzer-winning novel is made into a worthy miniseries starring Robert Duvall and Tommie Lee Jones. The title is the small ranch on the Rio Grande they live on, but the drama of the series comes from a 2,500 mile cattle drive from Texas to Montana. Angelica Huston and Diane Lane also star, and for once they filmed a novel properly. My only complaint (hence 9*'s not 10) is that its not widescreen, shot in 35mm for TV, otherwise the perfect Western. 6 Emmys for 18 nominations.

Best Miniseries (Emmy)

This excellent TV miniseries makes a good companion to Lonesome Dove, though not related; directed by veteran film director Walter Hill (48 Hrs). Robert Duvall and Thomas Haden Church (both won Emmy awards) rescue some Chinese girls sold into slavery, and take them and a herd of horses on the trail to Wyoming. At 3 hrs, it has the epic feel of a long journey on the trail. Emmy nominee Greta Scacchi is also in the cast. 4 Emmys in 16 nominations.

This acerbic backstage drama is one of the best plays about film or theater ever put on film, deservedly won a academy award for Best Picture. Both star Bette Davis and her understudy, played by Ann Baxter, are perfect, as is the entire supporting cast, led by George Sanders, another Oscar winner. 6 Oscars total.
Quote: Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night. (Bette Davis)

This groundbreaking SciFi epic was the first to feature totally realistic space effects, and changed forever the way SF films looked. The story, by Arthur C. Clarke, was written for this film because Kubrick wanted to film his incredible novel A Childhood's End, which could not be filmed at the time with existing technology. That book, and this film, are about the next step in the evolution of mankind, from a material to a spiritual being. The previous step, from animal intelligence to human intelligence, is shown in the beginning to give us a major clue, so its surprising that so many people are still baffled by this movie, which has only 20 minutes of dialogue and encourages us to think - what a concept!

Dir: Guiseppe Tornatore, 1988, Italy (10*)
Best Foreign Film (AA, BAA)
A beautiful epic film (cinema magic about the magic of movies) about growing up with a life that revolves around a cinema theater in a small town in Sicily, and the effect of films on the local townfolk, and one boy in particular, played by Salvatore Cascio as a kid and Marco Leonardi when grown up. The story starts when a projectionist, wonderfully played by Philippe Noiret, befriends a boy whose dad is missing during the war and who hangs out at the theater whenever he can. The story follows him from boyhood to adulthood, all tied together with movies. An all-time top 10 for me, the dvd release also includes the longer director's cut, almost an hour longer.

Films Reviewed To Date (Updated: 6.18.09)