ironcity18

Beautifully directed, dark thriller with twists and turns as an obsessed detective tracks a dead-end serial killer case with clues that point to him as he gets closer to the killer. Andy Garcia smolders with gravitas and intensity in a way he has had trouble matching ever since. classic scene in a rainy dump in the beginning, where he uncovers a severed hand. John Malcovich nearly steals the film in a series of interrogations as a smarmy investigator trying to pin the murders on Garcia, and Lance Henrikson puts in some very solid character work. Uma Thurman looks great and the film has a surprise ending that satsifies.

97 _92%

The Parallax View (1974) - Rated 19 Jan 2007

Great, under-appreciated 70's political thriller that holds up today in a way most of the quiet conspiracy films do not. Needs to be reintroduced to a new generation, and could easily be remade today. Beatty is kickass in a lcaonic way, with some cool fights and chases has he tracks a shadowy organization. Great ending that will piss you off. I like it most for its blaring lack of a constant underscore/soundtrack like most action thriller today, which over-engineer the sound. this has a ta

97 _92%

North by Northwest (1959) - Rated 19 Jan 2007

Inconic film with amazing twists, great perfs, beautiful acting, and the best suit ever donned on film. cary grant is dashing and perfect and the set pieces never fail to satisfy on repeat viewings. The score by Hermann is also fantastic.

82 _26%

Friday Night Lights (2004) - Rated 19 Jan 2007

Over-hyped drama that captures the smalltown hysteria of texas high school football. Pace, tone, colors, directing all are fisrt-rate. But the TV show version blows the movie out of the water, so watch that instead before it gets cancelled.

71 _3%

Waterworld (1995) - Rated 19 Jan 2007

Disappointing. The beginning of the end for Costner, whose ego spiralled out of control. He obviously liked it so much he did the Postman, which must've borrowed the same sets (and was even worse).

84 _34%

Mission: Impossible III (2006) - Rated 19 Jan 2007

Surprisingly good the third time out, this is the first and only MI film i enjoyed, let alone followed plot-wise. Basically it was like an episode of Alias starring Tom Cruise, which isn't a bad thing. The bad guys are still a little arch, and the mask-trick is getting old, but this film is very fun overall. no Bourne Supremacy, but worth watching nonetheless.

90 _69%

American Pie (1999) - Rated 19 Jan 2007

Fun, ribald teen sex comedy that hits all the marks and offers plenty of outrageous never-seen-before moments. Simple story about getting laid before high school graduation becomes a coming of age tale with its share of touching and tender moments to go with its "touching" and crazy moments. Succeeds because it has a heart. Sean william Scott as Stiffler is classic, as is the term the movie coined : MILF.

95 _80%

The Shawshank Redemption (1994) - Rated 19 Jan 2007

A great film. Sweeping story, coherent story-telling, great perfs. This was the film where Morgan Freeman's classy acting did not feel like it was a put-on. Noble, true and with its share of surprises, this elegant mive is worthy of repeated viewings.

90 _69%

Alien (1979) - Rated 19 Jan 2007

The film that kick-started the baddest-ass heroine in the galaxy. Weaver packs a pnch but Lance Henrikson is most special in his droid role. Classic tension and more straightforward than the crowd-pleasing Aliens, which is more like Rocky 3 compared to the original Rocky. Alien lacks some of the humor of Aliens but is more even tonally, and therefore a better film.

72 _11%

Miracle (2004) - Rated 19 Jan 2007

Surprisingly weak version of an uplifiting story we all know. A bit slow and short on exciting gameplay, it takes so long to get us to the point we all know it is going that the upset is almost an afterthought. Concentrated too much onthe coach, whose personal story was not as interesting as the team as a whole and the world geoplotical ramifications of the win. Nice casting of real players, solid directing.