Great Movies Everyone Should See
My personal list of faves, movies I can watch over and over. I tend to seek out surprising and different indie films, some of which are mixed in here with summer blockbusters I can't help but love. Hopefully there is something for everyone, including some undiscovered gems!
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- DirectorDavid MackenzieStarsChris PineBen FosterJeff BridgesToby is a divorced father who's trying to make a better life. His brother is an ex-con with a short temper and a loose trigger finger. Together, they plan a series of heists against the bank that's about to foreclose on their family ranch.Taylor Sheridan is today's Shakespeare. The way he weaves his characters into the West Texas lifescape is compelling, agonizing, and beautiful. Disagree and you'll think there's ten of me!
- DirectorYimou ZhangStarsJet LiTony Leung Chiu-waiMaggie CheungA defense officer, Nameless, was summoned by the King of Qin regarding his success of terminating three warriors.This film rises above all but very few other movies I have experienced. Hero is film as poetry. Drop all your expectations of a Chinese martial arts movie. This one stands in a category of its own.
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsRussell CroweJoaquin PhoenixConnie NielsenA former Roman General sets out to exact vengeance against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family and sent him into slavery.Quotable. Memorable. Watchable and re-watchable. Solidifying Russel Crowe as the ultimate man-crush and Joaquin Phoenix as the creepiest Roman ever, Gladiator is a must-see for every human. Hans Zimmer has never been better!
- DirectorPark Hoon-jungStarsHitanshu BarikKim Hong-paPark In-SooWhile the Kingdom of Korea is under occupation by the Japanese, an old and experienced hunter is challenged by the hunt of the last tiger.A contender for "the perfect film", deeply stirring, powerful, terrifying and beautiful. The story of a hunter and the Lord of the Mountain should be at the top of everyone's watchlist. that has so much more to say about life and love and our place in the world.
- DirectorBoaz YakinStarsDenzel WashingtonWill PattonWood HarrisIn 1971 Virginia high school football was everything to the people of Alexandria. But when the school board was forced to integrate an all-black school with an all-white one, the very foundation of football's tradition was put to the test.The tale of Denzel and his team of ill-fit high school football players inspires and entertains with irrepressible potency.
- DirectorJustin LinStarsVin DieselPaul WalkerDwayne JohnsonDominic Toretto and his crew of street racers plan a massive heist to buy their freedom while in the sights of a powerful Brazilian drug lord and a dangerous federal agent.You should really start with the first film in the series. However, if you only watch the first, it's impossible to see what this franchise will grow into. So, if you don't think you can last through the first four to get to this one, just start with Fast Five, then watch 1-4 as backstory (although 3 is actually after 6 chronologically). I can guarantee you'll be crying with the rest of the world at the tragic loss of Paul Walker.
- DirectorJames CameronStarsSam WorthingtonZoe SaldanaSigourney WeaverA paraplegic Marine dispatched to the moon Pandora on a unique mission becomes torn between following his orders and protecting the world he feels is his home.James Cameron works his magic in this film that surely everyone has seen at this point. But, in case you haven't, you should. Despite some predictableness in the story, it's a true achievement.
- DirectorLana WachowskiLilly WachowskiStarsKeanu ReevesLaurence FishburneCarrie-Anne MossWhen a beautiful stranger leads computer hacker Neo to a forbidding underworld, he discovers the shocking truth--the life he knows is the elaborate deception of an evil cyber-intelligence.It's almost redundant to include this movie in this list, so established is it in the canon of movie greatness and in our national psyche as a metaphor for our relationship with reality (or is it?).
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsLiam NeesonRalph FiennesBen KingsleyIn German-occupied Poland during World War II, industrialist Oskar Schindler gradually becomes concerned for his Jewish workforce after witnessing their persecution by the Nazis.Spielberg's lovesong to the efforts of Osak Schindler to save more than 1000 Jews from Nazi concentration camps y employing them in his factory. Ralph Fiennes as TERRIFYING. This is as hard a film as you will ever watch. But, an examination of a period of history we all need to never forget.
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsTom HanksMatt DamonTom SizemoreFollowing the Normandy Landings, a group of U.S. soldiers go behind enemy lines to retrieve a paratrooper whose brothers have been killed in action.Another gift from Stephen Spielberg reminding us of the cost of war. Important, memorable, and a difficult watch.
- DirectorRon HowardStarsTom HanksBill PaxtonKevin BaconNASA must devise a strategy to return Apollo 13 to Earth safely after the spacecraft undergoes massive internal damage putting the lives of the three astronauts on board in jeopardy.
- DirectorDavid FincherStarsBrad PittEdward NortonMeat LoafAn insomniac office worker and a devil-may-care soap maker form an underground fight club that evolves into much more.The eminently memorable, highly quotable, metaphor for every political period in history.
- DirectorBradley CooperStarsLady GagaBradley CooperSam ElliottA musician helps a young singer find fame as age and alcoholism send his own career into a downward spiral.Rich, layered, emotional drama with world class soundtrack and performances.
- DirectorAditya ChopraStarsShah Rukh KhanAnushka SharmaVinay PathakA breathtaking, goose flesh igniting, awe inspiring love journey of an ordinary man Suri and his 'total opposite' love Taani.If you've never seen a Bollywood film, this is your entry point. Broadly accessible on every level, this Singing In The Rain of Indian musicals is funny, heart warming, surprising, and produced one of the most memorable and beautiful love songs in Indian cinema.
- DirectorBruce BeresfordStarsMorgan FreemanJessica TandyDan AykroydAn old Jewish woman and her African-American chauffeur in the American South have a relationship that grows and improves over the years.Still powerful and pointed, possessing a message that we need as much today as when the film was made.
- DirectorJames CameronStarsLeonardo DiCaprioKate WinsletBilly ZaneA seventeen-year-old aristocrat falls in love with a kind but poor artist aboard the luxurious, ill-fated R.M.S. Titanic.The movie to end all movies. Romantic, exciting, terrifying, visceral, an achievement on every level. And all the more because of James Cameron's commitment to historical detail.
- DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsJohn TravoltaUma ThurmanSamuel L. JacksonThe lives of two mob hitmen, a boxer, a gangster and his wife, and a pair of diner bandits intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption.Tarantino at his crazy, irreverent, violent, profanity-permeated best. Packed with memorable quotes and characters, and everything imaginable to warrant parental advisories, Pulp Fiction achieves the level of *greatness* in film artistry.
- DirectorKenneth LonerganStarsCasey AffleckMichelle WilliamsKyle ChandlerA depressed uncle is asked to take care of his teenage nephew after the boy's father dies.I think of very few movies as candidates for "the perfect film" and this is one of them. A cathartic story about grief that is deliciously brooding and small with a career-defining performance by Casey Affleck.
- DirectorDenis VilleneuveStarsTimothée ChalametRebecca FergusonZendayaA noble family becomes embroiled in a war for control over the galaxy's most valuable asset while its heir becomes troubled by visions of a dark future.A film adapted from a book that has been deemed unfilmable, despite several past attempts. Dune is *fantastic* in it's depth, power, and trueness to Frank Herbert's book.
- DirectorGeorge LucasStarsMark HamillHarrison FordCarrie FisherLuke Skywalker joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a Wookiee and two droids to save the galaxy from the Empire's world-destroying battle station, while also attempting to rescue Princess Leia from the mysterious Darth Vader.Included because I know there are still people in the world who have never seen Star Wars. Seriously, now. Watch Star Wars. This one started it all and is the best starting point.
- DirectorRomain GavrasStarsDali BenssalahSami SlimaneAnthony BajonHours after the tragic death of their youngest brother in unexplained circumstances, three siblings have their lives thrown into chaos.A Shakespearian-level tragedy rich with irony that manages to take four characters and move them past each other in a tense conflict over the police killing of a one of four Algerian-born brothers in the urban French neighborhood Athena.
- DirectorPeter JacksonStarsElijah WoodIan McKellenOrlando BloomA meek Hobbit from the Shire and eight companions set out on a journey to destroy the powerful One Ring and save Middle-earth from the Dark Lord Sauron.Still my favorite of the trilogy. If somehow you haven't seen these, start at the beginning and bow to the greatness of Jackson's epic, personal, stunning take on one of the most enduring pieces of fantasy literature of the 20th century.
- DirectorPeter WeirStarsRobin WilliamsRobert Sean LeonardEthan HawkeMaverick teacher John Keating returns in 1959 to the prestigious New England boys' boarding school where he was once a star student, using poetry to embolden his pupils to new heights of self-expression."O captain, my captain!" Such brilliance, such inspiration, and such tragedy. This film reminds us why Robin Williams was one of the most important actors ever, and made Carpe Diem come to life in the most memorable way imaginable.
- DirectorRob ReinerStarsWil WheatonRiver PhoenixCorey FeldmanA writer recounts a childhood journey with his friends to find the body of a missing boy.Kids that curse freely and explore the deep questions about growing up as they undertake a quest to see a dead body. River Phoenix left us way, way too early.
- DirectorRandall WallaceStarsMel GibsonMadeleine StoweGreg KinnearThe story of the first major battle of the American phase of the Vietnam War, and the soldiers on both sides that fought it, while their wives wait nervously and anxiously at home for the good news or the bad news.Difficult to watch at times, as any war film should be, We Were Soldiers tells an honest tale of men caught in a battle with an enemy no one was prepared for and their equally unprepared families. In the end, it's a study in leadership on both fronts.
- DirectorMel GibsonStarsMel GibsonSophie MarceauPatrick McGoohanScottish warrior William Wallace leads his countrymen in a rebellion to free his homeland from the tyranny of King Edward I of England.Mel Gibson's raw performance as William Wallace inspired a generation to work for freedom.
- DirectorStanley DonenGene KellyStarsGene KellyDonald O'ConnorDebbie ReynoldsA silent film star falls for a chorus girl just as he and his delusionally jealous screen partner are trying to make the difficult transition to talking pictures in 1920s Hollywood.The greatest musical ever made (coming from a die-hard Phantom and Lion King fan). Gene Kelly is magical, Donald O'Connor delivers consistently memorable broad comedy, and Debbie Reynolds is fricking adorable.
- DirectorTodd PhillipsStarsZach GalifianakisBradley CooperJustin BarthaThree buddies wake up from a bachelor party in Las Vegas, with no memory of the previous night and the bachelor missing. They make their way around the city in order to find their friend before his wedding.So. Much. Comedy. Certainly not appropriate for all ages. But, I can't think about this movie without laughing.
- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsChristian BaleHeath LedgerAaron EckhartWhen the menace known as the Joker wreaks havoc and chaos on the people of Gotham, Batman must accept one of the greatest psychological and physical tests of his ability to fight injustice.If you haven't seen Chris Nolan's incomparable descent into the psychosis of the Joker by now, fair warning. It's a difficult emotional journey. Despite that, possibly the best superhero movie ever made (with Guardians of the Galaxy a close 2nd).
- DirectorMilos FormanStarsF. Murray AbrahamTom HulceElizabeth BerridgeThe life, success and troubles of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, as told by Antonio Salieri, the contemporaneous composer who was deeply jealous of Mozart's talent and claimed to have murdered him.A tragic drama about the life of Mozart with incredible power that every creative person should see. This film always inspires me to work harder on my artistic endeavors.
- DirectorChris ColumbusStarsMacaulay CulkinJoe PesciDaniel SternAn eight-year-old troublemaker, mistakenly left home alone, must defend his home against a pair of burglars on Christmas Eve.The infinitely repeatable Christmas film whose first two acts are a series of plot points designed to setup the emotional satisfaction delivered by a series of memorable booby traps in the third act. Works every time.
- DirectorPhil Alden RobinsonStarsKevin CostnerJames Earl JonesRay LiottaIowa farmer Ray Kinsella is inspired by a voice he can't ignore to pursue a dream he can hardly believe. Supported by his wife, Ray begins the quest by turning his ordinary cornfield into a place where dreams can come true.Field of Dreams provides a rich emotional journey through dreams, passion, faith, finding lost vision, family, insanity, and love. It's everything.
- DirectorJordan PeeleStarsDaniel KaluuyaAllison WilliamsBradley WhitfordA young African-American visits his white girlfriend's parents for the weekend, where his simmering uneasiness about their reception of him eventually reaches a boiling point.Horror that makes you think about race issues. Despite being a non-horror person, I thoroughly enjoyed this achievement by the great Jordan Peele.
- DirectorFrank DarabontStarsTim RobbinsMorgan FreemanBob GuntonOver the course of several years, two convicts form a friendship, seeking consolation and, eventually, redemption through basic compassion.Everyone needs to see Shawshank. If you haven't seen Shawshank, just yeah. See it.
- DirectorDavid FincherStarsMorgan FreemanBrad PittKevin SpaceyTwo detectives, a rookie and a veteran, hunt a serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins as his motives.Blow. Your mind. Up. [booosshhhh] But, don't end your day with this one...
- DirectorCameron CroweStarsTom CruiseCuba Gooding Jr.Renée ZellwegerWhen a sports agent has a moral epiphany and is fired for expressing it, he decides to put his new philosophy to the test as an independent agent with the only athlete who stays with him and his former colleague.Ahhh, Jerry McGuire the great!
- DirectorM. Night ShyamalanStarsBruce WillisHaley Joel OsmentToni ColletteMalcolm Crowe, a child psychologist, starts treating a young boy, Cole, who encounters dead people and convinces him to help them. In turn, Cole helps Malcolm reconcile with his estranged wife.Everyone needs to see this. Just, yes. M. Night made some great movies, but never rose above the level of his break out film.
- DirectorAdam McKayStarsChristian BaleSteve CarellRyan GoslingIn 2006-2007 a group of investors bet against the United States mortgage market. In their research, they discover how flawed and corrupt the market is.Loaded with memorable performances and witty dialogue, The Big Short is a tour de force for writer-director Adam McKay.
- DirectorGus Van SantStarsRobin WilliamsMatt DamonBen AffleckWill Hunting, a janitor at M.I.T., has a gift for mathematics, but needs help from a psychologist to find direction in his life.So. So very good. A study in finding the human value in an unlikely package.
- DirectorSam MendesStarsDean-Charles ChapmanGeorge MacKayDaniel MaysApril 6th, 1917. As an infantry battalion assembles to wage war deep in enemy territory, two soldiers are assigned to race against time and deliver a message that will stop 1,600 men from walking straight into a deadly trap.Breathtaking for it's honest storytelling and commitment to the "one continuous camera move" filmmaking, 1917 is beautiful and terrifying as any great war film should be.
- DirectorJoel CoenEthan CoenStarsJeff BridgesJohn GoodmanJulianne MooreJeff "The Dude" Lebowski, mistaken for a millionaire of the same name, seeks restitution for his ruined rug and enlists his bowling buddies to help get it.If you've made it this long without seeing The Big Lebowski, you are missing out on a piece of American Culture. The Dude lives.
- DirectorHarold RamisStarsBill MurrayAndie MacDowellChris ElliottA narcissistic, self-centered weatherman finds himself in a time loop on Groundhog Day.The movie that spawned a genre, none of which did it better than Bill Murray, Andie McDowell and Punxsutawney Phil. And, who can forget Sonny & Cher? Part Ramis, part Shakespeare, the film works equally as a LOL 90's comedy, morality play, and "meaning of life" conversation starter. Don't drive angry!
- DirectorRobert ZemeckisStarsMichael J. FoxChristopher LloydLea ThompsonMarty McFly, a 17-year-old high school student, is accidentally sent 30 years into the past in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his close friend, the maverick scientist Doc Brown.The great film trilogy must be on everyone's top 100 list. Always entertaining, always funny, and the source of so much great music!
- DirectorRamin BahraniStarsAdarsh GouravRajkummar RaoPriyanka Chopra JonasAn ambitious Indian driver uses his wit and cunning to escape from poverty and rise to the top. An epic journey based on the New York Times bestseller.A wtf-level impactful Indian film about class. Like, wow. Watch it.
- DirectorPenny MarshallStarsRobert De NiroRobin WilliamsJulie KavnerThe victims of an encephalitis epidemic many years ago have been catatonic ever since, but now a new drug offers the prospect of reviving them.An astounding true story that showcases the talent of two of the finest actors ever: Robin Williams and Robert de Niro.
- DirectorDenis VilleneuveStarsAmy AdamsJeremy RennerForest WhitakerA linguist works with the military to communicate with alien lifeforms after twelve mysterious spacecraft appear around the world.A high-concept sci-fi thriller with deeply felt philosophical overtones. You will still be thinking about this movie the day after you see it.
- DirectorMichel GondryStarsJim CarreyKate WinsletTom WilkinsonWhen their relationship turns sour, a couple undergoes a medical procedure to have each other erased from their memories forever.Jim Carrey and Kirsten Dunst take you places you do not expect to go in this indie film with a well-deserved cult following.
- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsMatthew McConaugheyAnne HathawayJessica ChastainWhen Earth becomes uninhabitable in the future, a farmer and ex-NASA pilot, Joseph Cooper, is tasked to pilot a spacecraft, along with a team of researchers, to find a new planet for humans.The Nolan Brothers' deeply thought provoking ode to love and the universe. The scale is vast, as is the sense of wonder.
- DirectorGary RossStarsJennifer LawrenceJosh HutchersonLiam HemsworthKatniss Everdeen voluntarily takes her younger sister's place in the Hunger Games: a televised competition in which two teenagers from each of the twelve Districts of Panem are chosen at random to fight to the death.
- DirectorRobert ZemeckisStarsJodie FosterMatthew McConaugheyTom SkerrittDr. Ellie Arroway, after years of searching, finds conclusive radio proof of extraterrestrial intelligence, sending plans for a mysterious machine.An examination of science, spirituality, hope and love via a high concept sci fi premise in the style of the great Arthur C Clarke. Classic sconce fiction n
- DirectorAng LeeStarsEmma ThompsonKate WinsletJames FleetRich Mr. Dashwood dies, leaving his second wife and her three daughters poor by the rules of inheritance. The two eldest daughters are the title opposites.First time I saw Kate Winslet. And, my favorite Hugh Grant performance. Everything is so delightfully incredibly awkward and English all the time. Plus, the great Alan Rickman as the tragic Colonel Brandon. Curl up with your favorite ice cream and enjoy this comfort-food film!
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsDjimon HounsouMatthew McConaugheyAnthony HopkinsIn 1839, the revolt of Mende captives aboard a Spanish owned ship causes a major controversy in the United States when the ship is captured off the coast of Long Island. The courts must decide whether the Mende are slaves or legally free.Oh man, this one is tough, in particular because it’s true. Every American needs to see this film.
- DirectorDoug LimanStarsTom CruiseEmily BluntBill PaxtonA soldier fighting aliens gets to relive the same day over and over again, the day restarting every time he dies.Eminently watchable, Edge of Tomorrow makes stellar use of the great Emily Blount and Tom Cruise in a sci-fi Groundhog Day with an alien threat.
- DirectorEdward ZwickStarsLeonardo DiCaprioDjimon HounsouJennifer ConnellyA fisherman, a smuggler, and a syndicate of businessmen match wits over the possession of a priceless diamond.As hard to watch as it is important, Blood Diamond paints a grim picture of African diamond mining that some how still contains some hope. One of Leo Di Caprios best roles.
- DirectorSteven SoderberghStarsGeorge ClooneyBrad PittJulia RobertsDanny Ocean and his ten accomplices plan to rob three Las Vegas casinos simultaneously.Another franchise that I can watch all the way through in one sitting. But, let the first one win you over if you haven't seen it before. Pitt and Clooney rule the world of quirky banter in a plot that's full of twists and turns and con after con after con.
- DirectorBaz LuhrmannStarsNicole KidmanEwan McGregorJohn LeguizamoA poor Bohemian poet in 1890s Paris falls for a beautiful courtesan and nightclub star coveted by a jealous duke."There was a boy..." I had this movie recommended to me over and over at a time I thought musicals were lame. But, what a mind blowing, resonant, sad, beautiful story this is!
- DirectorNora EphronStarsTom HanksMeg RyanGreg KinnearBook superstore magnate Joe Fox and independent book shop owner Kathleen Kelly fall in love in the anonymity of the Internet, both blissfully unaware that he's trying to put her out of business.Claim my man card if you like. This is a super memorable, funny and heartwarming film that I never grow tired of. Tom Hanks is at his best here.
- DirectorRob ReinerStarsJack NicholsonMorgan FreemanSean HayesTwo terminally ill men escape from a cancer ward and head off on a road trip with a wish list of to-dos before they die.A fiercely poignant, feel good, love letter to the value of friendship and life that is beautifully scripted, directed, and acted by two of the finest American actors.
- DirectorDoug LimanStarsFranka PotenteMatt DamonChris CooperA man is picked up by a fishing boat, bullet-riddled and suffering from amnesia, before racing to elude assassins and attempting to regain his memory.
- DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsJames StewartGrace KellyWendell CoreyA wheelchair-bound photographer spies on his neighbors from his Greenwich Village courtyard apartment window and, despite the skepticism of his fashion-model girlfriend, becomes convinced one of them has committed murder.So, so, so good. Hitchcock takes his time building interest and tension as he leads to one terrifying climax. And all the while, Jimmy Stewart just brushes off the cat-like advances of the unnaturally beautiful Grace Kelley like, "Eh, why would I be into you?"
- DirectorJames GunnStarsChris PrattVin DieselBradley CooperA group of intergalactic criminals must pull together to stop a fanatical warrior with plans to purge the universe.Great on every level, and my favorite of the Disney Marvel films. I had no idea what I was in for when I went to the theater to see it. "A raccoon with a gun? What?" The world is a little brighter because Chris Pratt is in it.
- DirectorJoel SchumacherStarsGerard ButlerEmmy RossumPatrick WilsonA young soprano becomes the obsession of a disfigured and murderous musical genius who lives beneath the Paris Opéra House.The ultimate adaptation of a stage musical to film. Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum seem born for these roles. Dreamy cinematography and a breathtaking score make this the greatest musical of modern film.
- DirectorKevin CostnerStarsKevin CostnerMary McDonnellGraham GreeneLieutenant John Dunbar, assigned to a remote western Civil War outpost, finds himself engaging with a neighbouring Sioux settlement, causing him to question his own purpose.Kevin Costner likened his decision to make this film to falling in love. It plays like a love affair, human, inspiring, sad, and redeeming. Epic in scale and shot in all four seasons in breathtaking locations, Dances With Wolves is an epic self-examination of the cost to native peoples of the colonization of North America by Europeans.
- DirectorEric BressJ. Mackye GruberStarsAshton KutcherAmy SmartMelora WaltersEvan Treborn suffers blackouts during significant events of his life. As he grows up, he finds a way to remember these lost memories and a supernatural way to alter his life by reading his journal.An early milestone in great time-travel story telling. This film works as a sci-fi thriller, a personal drama, and uses the idea behind the title to chilling effect.
- DirectorKelly AsburyLorna CookStarsMatt DamonJames CromwellDaniel StudiA captured mustang remains determined to return to his herd no matter what.A beautiful, emotionally rich, funny, heart warming epic story of friendship, respect, and standing up for oneself. The soundtrack has some of Bryan Adam's best work. Don't underestimate this film because it's animated.
- DirectorBrett HaleyStarsNick OffermanKiersey ClemonsBlythe DannerA father and daughter form an unlikely songwriting duo in the summer before she leaves for college.Nick Offerman at his best in an indie film for musicians, dads, daughters and anyone who likes a feel good musical drama with startling musical performances by Offerman and co-star Kiersey Clemons.
- DirectorDavid WnendtStarsOliver MasucciThomas M. KöpplMarc-Marvin IsraelAdolf Hitler wakes up in the 21st century. He quickly gains media attention, but while Germany finds him hilarious and charming, Hitler makes some serious observations about society.Believe it or not, a compelling German comedy about Hitler returning to present day Germany with surprising poignancy.
- DirectorDestin Daniel CrettonStarsBrie LarsonFrantz TurnerJohn Gallagher Jr.A 20-something supervising staff member of a residential treatment facility navigates the troubled waters of that world alongside her co-worker and longtime boyfriend.Brie Larson was obviously destined for greatness as evidenced by her performance in this super low budget indie that's like a rich, multi-course meal. Every scene hits.
- DirectorSpike LeeStarsJohn David WashingtonAdam DriverLaura HarrierRon Stallworth, an African American police officer from Colorado Springs, Colorado, successfully infiltrates the local Ku Klux Klan branch aided by a Jewish surrogate who eventually becomes its leader. Based on actual events.Important, funny, and shocking all at once, BlacKkKlansman inspires and instructs. Everyone should see this film.
- DirectorAntoine DelesvauxJoann SfarStarsFrançois MorelHafsia HerziMaurice BénichouSet in Algeria in the 1920s, a rabbi's cat who learns how to speak after swallowing the family parrot expresses his desire to convert to Judaism.If you have any inkling at all towards spiritual conversation and appreciate snarky satire, this is the movie for you. Funny and surprisingly thought provoking, the story of an atheistic cat, who falls in love with a Jewish girl, is given the gift of speech, then goes on a journey with a Jew and a Muslim is hard to describe. The Rabbis' Cat delivers social and theological commentary as deftly as it does snarky comedy. It's truly one of a kind.
- DirectorMichael SpierigPeter SpierigStarsEthan HawkeSarah SnookNoah TaylorAs his last assignment, a temporal agent is tasked to travel back in time and prevent a bomb attack in New York in 1975. The hunt, however, turns out to be beyond the bounds of possibility.Twisty, turny, and full of surprises. This is a smartly written, taut, time travel thriller with a phenomenal actor at the center.
- DirectorLenny AbrahamsonStarsBrie LarsonJacob TremblaySean BridgersA little boy is held captive in a room with his mother since his birth, so he has never known the world outside.Brie Larson shows her full range in this amazing and terrible story of a woman who raises her son in a single room and how she helps him adapt to a world contained in four walls. It's a study in how far a mother will go to protect her child.
- DirectorJohn CarneyStarsFerdia Walsh-PeeloAidan GillenMaria Doyle KennedyA young lad notices a beautiful girl who begins to occupy his thoughts. While struggling with poverty, personal relationships and life's woes, he starts a band, hoping to catch her attention.If this comes on, I'll watch it to the end every time. The soundtrack is frequently played in my car. it's a completely overlooked gem that is about so much more than the Plot Summary can convey.
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsMatt DamonJessica ChastainKristen WiigAn astronaut becomes stranded on Mars after his team assume him dead, and must rely on his ingenuity to find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive and can survive until a potential rescue.The sci-fi adventure film that earned an Oscar in the comedy category. Highly entertaining and based on a self-published novel, The Martian is a must-see.
- DirectorRichard CurtisStarsDomhnall GleesonRachel McAdamsBill NighyAt the age of 21, Tim discovers he can travel in time and change what happens and has happened in his own life. His decision to make his world a better place by getting a girlfriend turns out not to be as easy as you might think.If "Manchester By The Sea" is the perfect drama, "About Time" may be the perfect comedy. The time travel twist only sweetens the package. Well written, well acted, and with perfect chemistry between Domhall Gleeson and Rachel McAdams,
- DirectorPatty JenkinsStarsGal GadotChris PineRobin WrightWhen a pilot crashes and tells of conflict in the outside world, Diana, an Amazonian warrior in training, leaves home to fight a war, discovering her full powers and true destiny.So many top notch superhero movies, but Wonder Woman tops them all. It's fundamental to the superhero ethos to believe in love. But, it took the first ever superhero female lead to say it out loud.
- DirectorTarsem SinghStarsLee PaceCatinca UntaruJustine WaddellIn 1920s Los Angeles, a bedridden patient in a hospital captivates a young girl with a fantastic tale of heroes, myths, and villains on a desert island.Playful, haunting, imaginative, dark, and beautiful. The fall tells a story within a story that is as evocative emotionally as it is visually.
- DirectorKirsten SheridanStarsFreddie HighmoreKeri RussellJonathan Rhys MeyersA musically gifted orphan, Evan, runs away from his orphanage and searches New York City for his birth parents. On his journey, he's taken under the wing of the Wizard, a homeless man who lives in an abandoned theater.Freddie Highmore owns the screen in this mystical love song for music as the language of life. Keri Russel is angelic and Jonathan Rhys Myers perfect as the guy who can't get past his one night with the perfect woman. A turn by Robin Williams is notable, though not his best work. Several transcendent moments elevate August Rush above the typical "musical".
- DirectorHenry Alex RubinStarsJason BatemanJonah BoboHaley RammA drama centered on a group of people searching for human connections in today's wired world.Compelling and occasionally subtley terrifying, this film explores how technology both connects and isolates us and takes three overlapping story lines to surprising places.
- DirectorShawn LevyStarsJason BatemanTina FeyJane FondaAfter their father passes away, four grown siblings are forced to return to their childhood home and live under the same roof for a week, along with their over-sharing mother and an assortment of spouses, exes, and might-have-beens.Jason Bateman leads a fantastic cast in this cathartic comedy about a family sitting Shiva for their recently deceased father.
- DirectorCeyda TorunStarsYaman BarlasSariArzu GölA profile of an ancient city and its unique people, seen through the eyes of the most mysterious and beloved animal humans have ever known, the Cat.Dunno what to say about this film except I watched it twice and none of my enjoyment diminished at all in the second viewing. Probably not for everyone. If you hate cats for some reason, it probably won't work for you. For everyone else, you'll be surprised and delighted.
- DirectorLasse HallströmStarsHelen MirrenOm PuriManish DayalThe Kadam family leaves India for France where they open a restaurant directly across the road from Madame Mallory's Michelin-starred eatery.Ahhh Helen Mirren. Everything about this film works. It's a feel-good film about food set in a village in the south of France that celebrates the Indian-ness and French-ness of its characters with a tender affection for their worlds as they collide.
- DirectorJosh BooneStarsGreg KinnearJennifer ConnellyLily CollinsAn acclaimed writer, his ex-wife, and their teenaged children come to terms with the complexities of love in all its forms over the course of one tumultuous year.A love story for writers. This film examines messy humanity with a wink and the elevation of literature as a lens for life. Just watch it. You'll love it.
- DirectorPeter LandesmanStarsWill SmithAlec BaldwinAlbert BrooksIn Pittsburgh, accomplished pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu uncovers the truth about brain damage in football players who suffer repeated concussions in the course of normal play.Will Smith's portrayal of a Nigerian pathologist who's idealism about America exceeds that of the men in charge of the sport that may be most closely associated with America is visceral and compelling. This film should not be missed.
- DirectorAng LeeStarsSuraj SharmaIrrfan KhanAdil HussainA young man who survives a disaster at sea is hurtled into an epic journey of adventure and discovery. While cast away, he forms an unexpected connection with another survivor: a fearsome Bengal tiger.A journey of journeys, as told by a great story teller. Visually stunning and imaginative. Life of Pi makes me think about everything.
- DirectorKen ScottStarsVince VaughnChris PrattCobie SmuldersAn affable underachiever finds out he's fathered 533 children through anonymous donations to a fertility clinic 20 years ago. Now he must decide whether or not to come forward when 142 of them file a lawsuit to reveal his identity.Revel in the life of David Wozniak, the lovable, failed-to-launch, meat delivery guy who has accidentally sired 100s of children and can't help himself trying to help them anonymously. With Chris Pratt and the always enjoyable Jack Reynor.
- DirectorTaylor SheridanStarsElizabeth OlsenJeremy RennerGraham GreeneA wildlife officer, who is haunted by a tragedy that happened because of him, teams up with an FBI agent in solving a murder of a young woman on a Wyoming Native American reservation and hopes to get redemption from his past regrets.Taylor Sheridan's directorial debut is nothing short of mesmerizing.
- DirectorRussell CroweStarsRussell CroweOlga KurylenkoJai CourtneyAn Australian man travels to Turkey after the Battle of Gallipoli to try to locate his three missing sons.Russel Crowe is in his sweet spot as a father who seeks the remains of his sons, but has a special gift. The pain of the British and Turks who comb the fields of Gallipoli after having faced each other there is palpable and poignant. This one will surprise you.
- DirectorBo BurnhamStarsElsie FisherJosh HamiltonEmily RobinsonAn introverted teenage girl tries to survive the last week of her disastrous eighth grade year before leaving to start high school.Eight grade is a year we all try to forget, but this film captures the joy and pain of that important transition.
- DirectorJoe WrightStarsKeira KnightleyJude LawAaron Taylor-JohnsonIn late-19th-century Russian high society, St. Petersburg aristocrat Anna Karenina enters into a life-changing affair with the dashing Count Alexei Vronsky.Not my personal go-to genre, but this film stretches beyond literal to tone-poem in places, using inventive, narrative devices to tell it's story. The horse race scene is crazy!
- DirectorPaco CabezasStarsAnna KendrickSam RockwellTim RothA girl falls for the "perfect" guy, who happens to have a very fatal flaw: he's a hitman on the run from the crime cartels who employ him.Funny, heart warming, original, and a showcase for the great Anna Kendrick as the best quirky, hot mess ever and the great Sam Rockwell as the best hitman with a conscience ever.
- DirectorRichard LinklaterStarsEthan HawkeJulie DelpyAndrea EckertA young man and woman meet on a train in Europe, and wind up spending one evening together in Vienna. Unfortunately, both know that this will probably be their only night together.Before Sunrise is an amazing film about a great date, that grows into a film about every date and every relationship.
- DirectorJoshua WeigelStarsEduardo VerásteguiNick VujicicDoug JonesA circus troupe brightens the spirits of audiences in Depression-era America and inspires hope in a limbless man from a sideshow.One of the most unbelievable casting choices in the history of film makes this story a one-of-a-kind piece of work. As powerful a message-film as I've ever seen.
- DirectorJan KomasaStarsMaciej MusialowskiVanessa AleksanderDanuta StenkaA young man searches for purpose in a net of hatred and violence that he tries to control.Haunting, surprising, emotional, terrifying, and full of twists. This commentary on politics, social media, manipulative marketing, and narcissism will surprise you.
- DirectorJustin ReardonStarsChris EvansMichelle MonaghanTopher GraceUnrequited love motivates a guy to write about his experiences.Wacky and amusingly told, Chris Evans delivers a great performance as a washed out writer with quirky friends trying to connect with the girl of his dreams. Clever use of animation to tell the story is a highlight of this indie film that probably passed you by in 2014 and is also proof that Aubrey Plaza makes everything better.
- DirectorLake BellStarsLake BellFred MelamedMichaela WatkinsAn underachieving voice coach finds herself competing in the movie trailer voice-over profession against her arrogant father and his protégé.Quirky, original, funny, and full of memorable acting turns, "In A World..." is an instant winner. You'll never look at movie trailers the same way.
- DirectorPhilippe FalardeauStarsReese WitherspoonArnold OcengGer DuanyA group of Sudanese refugees, given the chance to resettle in the U.S., arrive in Kansas City, Missouri, where their encounter with an employment agency counselor forever changes all of their lives.This film will haunt, challenge and win you over. It explores a dark chapter in human history with humor and a heart-warming humanity. Not to be missed.
- DirectorDean IsraeliteStarsAmy LandeckerSofia Black-D'EliaVirginia GardnerA group of teens discovers secret plans for a time machine, and construct one. However, things start to get out of control.Five kids, a time machine in the basement, a high school love story, and a lot of heart make this low-budget sci-fi thriller work better than most big budget films.
- DirectorRoger AllersRob MinkoffStarsMatthew BroderickJeremy IronsJames Earl JonesLion prince Simba and his father are targeted by his bitter uncle, who wants to ascend the throne himself.Surely everyone who reads this has seen the Lion King. If not, drop what you're doing and rent it. It's not just for kids.
- DirectorNick CassavetesStarsGena RowlandsJames GarnerRachel McAdamsAn elderly man reads to a woman with dementia the story of two young lovers whose romance is threatened by the difference in their respective social classes.The film that put Nicholas Sparks movies on the map. And a great one it is.