(1993) John McNaughton – Uma Thurman, Bill Murray, Robert DeNiro, et al. Synopsis: A mediocre crime-scene photographer—the eponymous Mad Dog, played by DeNiro— stumbles across a robbery-in-progress at a convenience store, managing to save the life of a mob boss Frank Milo (that would be Bill Murray). At the behest of his therapist, Frank makes […]

(2002) directed by George Clooney – starring Sam Rockwell, Drew Barrymore, George Clooney (and, briefly, Maggie Gyllenhaal) Synopsis: Based on a ‘true’ story. Covers the life of game show mastermind Chuck Barris and delves into the murky waters of his round-the-globe adventures as a CIA hitman. We see Chuck rise to prominence as a game […]

(2001) Tony Scott – Robert Redford, Brad Pitt, Catherine McCormack, etc. Synopsis: The last day on his job at the CIA, Nathan Muir (Redford) finds out that an old protege of his (Bishop, played by Pitt) has stumbled into a whole world of trouble. And is, in fact, going to be executed in 24 hours. […]

(1994) dir. Roger Avery – w/ Eric Stolz, Julie Delpy, Jean-Hughes Anglade, and a bunch of wholly insignificant figures, most of whom die (particularly one who plays a stupid American) Synopsis: A bank-heist in France. You know how it is: one last job before everyone buys his own private island, resting in the lap of […]

(2002) directed by Spike Jonze, starring Nicolas Cage, Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper, and a few people as themselves, etc. Synopsis: A nontraditional, nested story (set of stories, actually) about a screen-writer, writer, etc. Promising, but. Review: Probably the worst well-done movie I’ve ever seen. The acting, for what it’s worth, is extremely on-target. […]

(2002) Steven Spielberg – starring Samantha Morton, Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell, Max von Sydow, Lois Smith, etc. Synopsis: You know the schtick: psychics help cops of the future prevent murders from happening. Then, surprise, maybe there’s something wrong with this system. Most of the story centers around a basically inexplicable murder that is predicted by […]

(English title: Princess and the Warrior) (2000) – Tom Tykwer – Franka Potente, Benno Fürmann, usw. Synopsis: Franka is Sissi. Sissi works in a psychiatric clinic. She has her problems. Benno is Bodo, who doesn’t work. He… does things to get by. (Okay, so he robs gas stations, but there’s a reason behind it; it’s […]

(2000) dir. David Mamet – starring Rebecca Pidgeon and Philip Seymour Hoffman, with a bunch of other people Synopsis: Movie crew invades small-town New England. Nothing goes as planned. Townspeople, movie stars, and everybody makes fools of themselves. Hilarity ensues. In a quirky, offbeat kind of way. And there’s an unexpected love story. Review: A […]