Monday, September 28

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen

Director: Terry Gilliam

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096764/

Review: Bounces along nicely and has in any given scene more invention and rich design than most films manage in their entire running time.

Watch it if: You have an interest in extended stage fantasy.

And if you liked: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Time Bandits, Gulliver's Travels, Big Fish

Sunday, September 27

Rumble Fish

Director: Francis Ford Coppola

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086216

Review: A few really nice moments swimming in a largely unfocused and overwrought drama.

Watch it if: You have a tolerance for highly stagey set pieces.

And if you liked: The Warriors, Dracula (1996)

Check this out: Rumble Fish

Call Me Lucky

Director: Bobcat Goldthwait

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3899932

Review: Funny and touching in equal measure with a well-woven story and a strong sense of sincerity.

Watch it if: You can deal with some upsetting subjects being addressed.

And if you liked: World's Greatest Dad, Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson

Friday, September 25

Monsters University

Director: Dan Scanlon

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1453405

Review: Shows its gears and never really hits any serious high point but offers plenty to entertain and enjoy along the way.

Watch it if: You enjoy these characters.

And if you liked: Monsters Inc., Ratatouille, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Cropsey

Director: Barbara Brancaccio and Joshua Zeman

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1277936

Review: Leans into a slightly hokey tone every now and then but otherwise holds up as a well made and interesting piece.

Watch it if: You can handle some very upsetting footage.

And if you liked: The Jinx, The Thin Blue Line

Tuesday, September 22

Election

Director: Alexander Payne

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0126886

Review: Doesn't quite hold all its threads together all the way through but still delivers its satire while serving a good story.

Watch it if: You want to see a different angle on a high school comedy.

And if you liked: The Breakfast Club, Arrested Development, Mean Girls, Legally Blonde

Check this out: Election

Sunday, September 20

The Thin Blue Line

Director: Errol Morris

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096257

Review: Haunting and fascinating with an inventive style and a great score.

Watch it if: You're interested in true crime stories.

And if you liked: Tabloid, The Jinx

Sunday, September 13

The Visit

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3567288

Review: Overly telegraphed at times and ends one or two scenes late but overall holds a creepy tone with some genuinely great moments.

Watch it if: You're able to stomach more found footage.

And if you liked: The Blair Witch Project, Signs, The Others, Red State

Saturday, September 12

Legend

Director: Brian Helgeland

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3569230

Review: Some good performances but far too long and uncertain of its tone.

Watch it if: You're interested in mens' clothing and hair.

And if you liked: Bronson, The Black Dahlia

Check this out: The Profession of Violence: The Rise and Fall of the Kray Twins

Monday, September 7

Duel

Director: Steven Spielberg

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067023

Review: A masterclass in storyboarding that grips and builds tension all the way through.

Watch it if: You're interested in simple ideas well made.

And if you liked: The Hitcher, Mad Max, The Twilight Zone

Check this out: Duel