- Absolute Power directed by Clint Eastwood (1997)
[6/10]
"Eastwood does manage the suspense of Absolute Power very well. So well that I didn't really notice many of the flaws until I watched the film a second time. So, I recommend seeing Absolute Power once for the pleasant thrill, but then don't pollute the pleasant memory with closer scrutiny of repeated viewings."
- American Gangster directed by Ridley Scott (2007)
[6/10]
"From the trailers, I expected to see scene after scene of gore and violence, but I was pleasantly surprised at the intellectual comparison of these 'real life' characters from our recent past."
- Capote directed by Bennett Miller (2005)
[8/10]
"Bennett Miller does an excellent job creating an overall tone and mood in Capote that simultaneously evokes the 1950s but also stays subtle enough to work as a canvas for Capote's character."
- Crash directed by Paul Haggis (2005)
[8/10]
"Crash demonstrates that everyone makes decisions based on preconceived ideas about race. Regardless of our racial background, we make decisions about how we react to and treat other people based on racial profiling."
- Die Hard directed by John McTiernan (1988)
[9/10]
"You can watch Die Hard over and over and still get a pleasant thrill with each viewing."
- Glimmer Man, The directed by John Gray (1996)
[6/10]
"The plot moves quickly along the thinnest of threads but holds together just enough to provide plenty of opportunities for explosions, shootings, gruesome murder scenes, and, of course, hand-to-hand combat -- especially in places with lots of glass and furniture."
- Hamlet directed by Michael Almereyda (2000)
[7/10]
"I don't think that this version with its modern setting brings too many young people to an appreciation of Shakespeare, but for those of us who have liked Shakespeare all along, it gives us some new ways of looking at a classic."
- Harvest of Fire directed by Arthur Allan Seidelman (1996)
[6/10]
"A pleasant family movie that earns, rather than manufactures, its warm-and-fuzzy emotional effect."
- Interpreter, The directed by Sydney Pollack (2005)
[6/10]
"I enjoyed watching The Interpreter, but I think with some grooming, it could have provided more thrills and a more satisfactory ending."
- Just Wait by Craig Huls (2001)
[4/10]
"Even though Just Wait missed many opportunities to involve me emotionally, I enjoyed reading the story as a light suspense novel."
- Lethal Weapon directed by Richard Donner (1987)
[7/10]
"The characters, plot, and action all mesh effortlessly. Most action movies sacrifice plot and characterization for the sake of action, but Lethal Weapon balances its action with a logical plot that truly demonstrates a need for the use of lethal force."
- Memento directed by Christopher Nolan (2001)
[9/10]
"The genius of Memento lies not in Leonard's condition, but in the telling. To punctuate Leonard having no direct recollection of the past, director Christopher Nolan plays out Leonard's story in reverse."
- Red Dragon by Thomas Harris (1981)
[6/10]
"Harris writes excellent suspense scenes. You feel the emotional tension building in the characters as they go about their work -- either good or evil."
- Road to Perdition directed by Sam Mendes (2002)
[6/10]
"Visually, Road to Perdition delivers almost a duotone effect with its high contrast and low color. In almost every scene, we feel the coldness of the gangster's soul -- often accompanied by rain. The visual appeal almost makes up for the cliched plot, but the heavy-handed salvation of the sweet angel child with a quickly attached anti-gun message takes away from the film's effectiveness."
- Thin Man, The by Dashiell Hammett (1933)
[6/10]
"From a hardboiled detective story, I expected several shootouts and fist fights, but interestingly, Nick really only interviews numerous suspects and lets the police do most of the dirty work."
- Zodiac, The directed by Alexander Bulkley (2006)
[5/10]
"The Zodiac tries to capture the zeitgeist of the San Francisco Bay area while the Zodiac serial killer actively killed victims and corresponded with the local press."
Average score: 6.56
