Broken Arrow (1950)

The story follows an ex-military scout who sees decency in the Apaches and works toward peace between whites and Indians. Good message, but it didn't need to be pounded so hard -- I got it.

B-

Lost in La Mancha (2003)

Whoa - this makes the Project Greenlight production of "Stolen Summer" look like it was run by mighty minds in great control.

Terry Gilliam (the “director” of the film being documented) comes off as being nothing more than a Tom Arnold who’s been given too much praise and creative freedom. This guy is so in love with himself and his own ideas, and so incredibly fractured in his instructions and thought processes that I'm amazed he's ever gotten any movies made. I realize that the horrible weather conditions and poor health of his lead were out of his control – but no contingency plans for possible shooting problems? Idiot.

I was hoping for a fascinating peek behind the curtains of a production train wreck...but even the documentary seemed as though it didn't know what it wanted to say. I was not entertained.

D+

Tully (2002)

A farming family of father and two grown sons has their quiet life shaken. Layer by layer the story opens up. So quietly stunning...an altogether gorgeous film. One of those times I feel genuinely privileged to have found a film most have missed.

A

The Boondock Saints (2000)

Fantastic premise – two decent fellows fall into vigilantism and decide to take out all bad guys. Truly original, clever and funny most of the time. The big drawback (and it's HUGE) is Willem Dafoe's over-the-top character & performance. I mean, come on. He's a genius. And he solves crimes while conducting opera music on his walkman. And he gets so caught up in his work that he runs hands soaked with victims' blood through his hair. And he's a gay man who freely insults "fags." And he's not afraid to cross-dress and tongue gangsters. And he respects and wants to help the vigilantes. And he Riverdances. A real Renaissance man is he.

B-

Two Weeks Notice (2002)

I wasn't expecting a masterpiece…but come on! Usually I complain about modern romantic comedies being so obvious with all the jokes, but this went in the opposite direction. The jokes were muddled and too quiet and the "comical" situations just kind of laid there clearing their throats.

C-

What's Up, Doc? (1972)

As fun today as when it first came out. Just a crazy romp with Streisand in top form. Best scenes: the "Burnsey" banquet & the climactic chase.

B+

Madame Curie (1943)

Compelling film about the work of Pierre & Marie Curie. Though I know that the "personal" anecdotes can't be trusted to be anything but whimsy on the part of the filmmakers, those interludes made the couple delightfully human.

A-

Father of the Bride (1991)

Boy - I remembered this as much more gut-bustingly funny than it actually is. Martin Short's foreign Franc schtick cracked my kids up, and I found myself wishing he would just move on into the Banks' house, because they could've used him to keep the laughs coming.

B-

The Fugitive (1993)

Here's the deal…Tommy Lee Jones is excellent. Harrison Ford is fine. The story is pretty good. The contrivances are extreme. Just not nearly as good as I remembered it -- things were just a little eye-rollingly over-the-top.

But still a fine diversion, and Jones deserved that Oscar.

B-

Frida (2002)

This falls into that amazing "two-hour-movie-that-feels-much-much-longer" category. How do they do that? Not as bad as I was fearing; and the art direction is actually amazing. The montages of art melding with film were alone worth the rental.

Unfortunately, the film takes great jumps in time and logic and never lets me care enough about Frida. The acting is all-around good, though. I feel kinda bad now that I smirked when I'd heard Hayek had been nominated.

C-

The Count of Monte Cristo (2002)

Pretty decent revenge film -- reminded me quite a bit of "The Mask of Zorro" with the training sequences which transform our hero from ignorant and unskilled to a Count in 15 years flat. Kept my attention, but nothing I'm going to be raving about long-term.

B

Stagecoach (1939)

Quickly paced story about a stagecoach traveling through Apache territory with quite a mixture of people on board. John Wayne (of whom I'm not overly fond) is charming, and Claire Trevor is lovely. Pretty good, although the comic relief was almost too much at times.

B-

Super Troopers (2002)

The opening scene with the stoners (the Snozberries taste like Snozberries!) was blow-soda-out-your-nose hysterical. I managed only slight giggles -- few & far between -- throughout the rest of this throwback to the juvenile films of the '80s.

D+

Little Secrets (2002)

Shot like a TV show…just had this soundstage look that was unnatural. Alright message movie (keeping secrets = bad) but, when it's over you realize you've just watched a full-length after school special.

C

Fame (1980)

The "Audition" act is the best, most alive portion of the entire film. The rest is diverting, but rather flat. Too many students to really feel deeply about any of them. Paul McCrane is the lone standout.

C+

Talk to Her (2002)

So inventive and wonderful -- putting down words to describe it is just cheating when everyone should see it rather than read about it.

A

Teacher's Pet (1958)

A too-old Gable takes the lead as a newspaper man who hates education and says experience is the way to go. College professor has disdain for his macho ways. He pretends to be a student in her class...they fall in love...can love survive when the lie is exposed? Duh.

C