A mature, thoughtful look at tragedy, grieving and coping, Ordinary People is about an upper-class family attempting to rebuild after the sudden loss of their oldest son. Donald Sutherland and Mary Tyler Moore are sensational as the parents trying to recover from death of one son and the near suicide of another; however, the film's best moments are the therapist (Judd Hirsch)—patient (Oscar winner Timothy Hutton) sessions, which are both emotionally draining and inspiring. Highly recommend.
If you are a die-hard, cookie-cutter Western fan, High Noon may not be your cup of tea. In this 1952 classic, the townspeople are almost as dastardly as the film's prime villain, Frank Miller. The movie plays just about in real time and allows the viewer to feel the minutes slipping away as we watch Will Kane (in an absolutely stunning performance by Gary Cooper) desperately try to prepare for a showdown with four murderers. The film has a ton of quality supporting turns, including Grace Kelly, Lon Chaney, Jr., Thomas Mitchell and Otto Kruger. Katy Jurado gives the top performance of the supporting cast as the practical businesswoman of "dubious character." It's 90 minutes long and there isn't an ounce of waste in the film. An all-time classic!
Tarantino's masterpiece. Dark comedy at its finest. Tarantino's script is top drawer. Samuel L. Jackson's performance should have won him an Oscar. And is there anyone cooler than The Wolf (played expertly by a perfectly-casted Harvey Keitel)? It's violent, it's funny, and continuously unpredictable. Can't miss!
The massive commercial success of the original made a sequel inevitable; therefore, we get Jaws 2. The film works because of the quality Roy Scheider brings to just about any movie he does and there's just enough excitement to keep you interested (there's no suspense for the viewer, unless you were in a coma for the last 45 years and Jaws 2 was the first movie you saw when you awoke). Water ski and helicopter scenes are cool. Watchable, nowhere near to par with the original, case closed.
A journey from the beginning of man to the edge of the universe, Kubrick's masterwork continues to fascinate (or frustrate, depending on the viewer) the moviegoing public. Its ponderous pace and inconclusive resolution upsets many moviegoers. The film's most fascinating character is HAL, the spacecraft's computer/nerve center. 2001 is not your ordinary movie, which is why it continues to impress over 50 years later. The best way to watch 2001 is to look at it as one looks at a Picasso or Pollock. Open your mind, come to your own conclusions, and enjoy the ride! Easily a top 10 all timer!
