Animal House

Animal House take place in 1962, when the dean of Faber College plans to rid his campus of the delinquent Delta House fraternity. Starring John Belushi, this low-budget film will bust your gut from laughter. If for some odd reason, you haven't seen this movie yet, see it. From the toga parties to the Homecoming Parade rebellion, this movie is one great comedy. It brings an exaggerated taste of what college life is like. Although half of the movie is about alcohol consumption, it is one that is considered a classic.


My Grade: A-

Rain Man

Charlie Babbitt (Tom Cruise) realizes that his father's inheritance went to his older brother Raymond (Dustin Hoffman) that he never knew about. Determined to get "his half" of the money, Charlie takes his brother from the mental institution that is his home in Cincinnati, planning to take him back to Charlie's home in L.A. and fight for custody of Ray. Realizing that Ray is autistic, he slowly bonds with him and notices what he's doing is not for the money, but for the love between Ray and himself. Rain Man is a touching film that is unforgettable.


My Grade: B+

Goodfellas

Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas is a phenominal tale about what Mafia life is really like. Starring Joe Pesci, Robert De Niro, and Ray Liotta, this film takes it to the next level. It is based on a true story about the life of Henry Hill (Liotta), who is brought up into the Mafia and lives the life of crime. This movie is a slow expansion through levels of the Mafia, with characters introduced casually and some of them not really developed until later in the story. Which is good so it isn't to sudden to actually notice. It pretty much sums up every Mafia movie ever made.


My Grade: A+

Dog Day Afternoon

Dog Day Afternoon is one of those "oldies but goodies" movies. With two of the Godfather stars, Al Pacino and John Cazale, this movie is about Sonny (Pacino) and his brother Sal (Cazale) who decide to rob a bank in New York City. Thinking it would go well, there turns out to be no money in the bank and lots of trouble headed their way. The movie takes place though several suspenseful hours in the bank dealing with hostages, cops, and negotiations. This one of Pacino's best performances. The 1975 thriller just shows the troubles of attempting something like this. Whether you're for Sal and Sonny, or for the cops; you'll definitely have a blast watching this movie.

Braveheart

As Scotland fought against English domination in the 1300's, Mel Gibson came to the rescue. Directed by Gibson, he portrays the Scottish war hero William Wallace through a gruesome series of battles. This movie is based on the idea that everyone should be free and that man can accomplish whatever he sets his mind to. Not only will you love this movie throughout, but the ending is moving and phenomenal. A prominent betrayal shows what one man will do for the freedom of his country. This is one of those classics that can be watched over and over again.


My Grade: A+

Reservoir Dogs

Quentin Tarantino brings us the jaw dropping tale of five men who perform a jewelry heist. With alias' like Mr. Blonde, Mr. Orange, Mr. White, and so on, these men find that there is a "rat" in their group. They assume this after cops swarm in at the bank during the robbery. Throughout the movie, they are trying to find out who the "rat" is. Even if that means torturing cops or even turning on each other. This nail-biting thriller is a little gory and crude but it is one that you'll never forget.


My Grade: A

Fight Club

Starring Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Meat Loaf; and yes, I said Meat Loaf. Fight Club starts with Norton as an unnamed character whose life basically sucks. After he meets Tyler Durden (Pitt), his life takes a turn. The two of them start a fight club which is in the basement of a bar. As many men join, it becomes more of a large group. The revolution of fight club activists is designed to destroy modern society, not transform it into a positive alternative. The movie follows onto an interesting conclusion that isn't expected. It is a must-see movie. It assaults us with violence, brutality, sexual confusion and anarchy and has enough bruising, punishing humor to keep us laughing with relief.


My Grade: A-

Tropic Thunder

This poorly thought-up movie starring big stars like Ben Stiller and Jack Black is just another failure in the movie industry. At first, you find yourself watching a seen from Vietnam, but then you realize that it's not Vietnam, but it's Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., and Ben Stiller playing in a movie about Vietnam. It took me three times to finally finish it because it was so lame. In the movie, a couple of actors find themselves actually on the run from Vietnamese to become better actors. The only part that keeps it alive is Downey Jr. playing a black man.


My Grade: D-

The Shawshank Redemption

Based off of Stephen King's novel, The Shawshank Redemption, Frank Darabont brings this great story to life. Shawshank Redemption stars Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins. As you watch the movie, you can catch a glimpse of what prison life is like, and at the same time, obsessing over the story line. The movie takes you through the life of Andy Dufresne (Robbins). Andy is a successful banker who is imprisoned for murdering his wife. Throughout Andy's sentence, the story carries on successfully bringing a widely talked about conclusion. This is a simple and touching tale graced with great depth and commitment. An uplifting must-see movie.


My Grade: A+

Into the Wild

This 2007 film by Sean Penn follows the story of Chris McCandless and his great Alaskan adventure. Abandoning all of his possessions, Chris hitchhikes to the state of Alaska to fulfill his dream, living in the wild. Based on a true story, Chris meets several characters along the way that shape his life into what it was. Penn brilliantly uses narration form Chris' beloved sister to help understand why he left his troubled family. this moving film is a must-see and will keep you inspired and entertained at the same time.


My Grade : A

Pulp Fiction

Following Reservoir Dogs (1992), director Quentin Tarantino brings us a joy ride from beginning to end. It's the movie like that rare novel where you find yourself checking to see how many pages are left and hoping there are more, not fewer. You could watch it a million times and still not know what comes next. This is one of the only movies that I know of where its a crime thriller, comedy, and shocker at the same time. It's like three movies rolled into one. I like to call it, "The King Kong of Crime Thrillers"

My Grade : A-

Saving Private Ryan

Saving Private Ryan is absolutely genuine and graphic. Proof of the actual horrors of war are given throughout this film, a great cast performance, a touching conclusion, and a portrayal of the humanity and inhumanity suffered by all. Now despite having seen this film after all of the action was over, I still managed to be very impressed by its gripping tale. The first and last scenes were the ones that had me clenched to my seat, feeling the intensity, the bravery and the insanity within all of the panic. While other sequences had me literally crying for their pain, their loss and their lives given away to free and save others.

My Grade : B+

The Pianist

In telling this distressing tale, director Roman Polanski throws at us a story of a man who lives the dread of the 20th century. Played by Adrien Brody, Wladyslaw Szpilman is a Polish musician who is sent to a ghetto in Poland. This film is moving, inspirational, and a little depressing because it shows how people went through times like the Holocaust. It's the kind of film that makes you look back at your own life, seeing if you can change to make the world a better place.


My Grade : B

Schindler's List

Schindler's List brings a mastermind together with a story that demands the deepest reserves of courage and passion. This brilliant film of the life of Oskar Schindler assures that neither he nor the Holocaust will ever be thought of in the same way again. With every scene, Steven Spielberg stalls your mind to make sure this event is never forgotten. The distinctive black and white effect of the movie is barely even noticed as you drown into the story. I think this movie is great because the main character changes greatly throughout the story. Initially, he seems selfish, looking for cheap Jewish labor. He later realizes what is happening is wrong, concluding with the saving of hundreds of lives.


My Grade : A