Analyze This
Robert De Niro, Billy Crystal, Chazz Palminteri, Joe Viterelli, Lisa Kudrow
Panic-stricken mob boss De Niro tries to
connect with his inner child with the help of hijacked
psychiatrist Crystal. Although De Niro steals the show as the soul searching mob boss, this is a great comeback for Crystal who doesn't overdue his shtick. Viterelli is excellent as Dinero's sidekick and Kudrow is right-on as Crystal's fiance.
200 Cigarettes
Christina Ricci, Gaby Hoffman, Paul Rudd, Ben Affleck, Casey Affleck, Courtney Love, Jay Mohr, Martha Plimpton
200 Cigarettes takes place in New York City on New Year's Eve 1981 complete with the 80s clothes and music by Blondie, the Ramones and Elvis Costello who has a cameo in the film. A bunch of twenty-somethings try to find their way to a New Year's Eve party and cope with love, lust and sex along the way. This is a very funny and enjoyable movie with great performances from a fantastic cast.
Affliction
James Coburn
Willem Dafoe
Nick Nolte
Sissy Spacek
Charles Powell
This is a somber tale
about the long-term effects of child abuse and alcoholism
set in the equally somber wintry New England landscape. Nolte gives an excellent portrayal of a man on the brink of losing everything due to his own alcoholism and James Coburn is terrific as the abusive father. This is a gritty, hard to swallow story, but worth it for the Oscar caliber performances by Nolte and Coburn.
Central Station
Marilia Pera
Fernanda Montenegro
A spinster takes in a young boy after his mother is killed. The two form a bond as they take to the road in Brazil to search for the boy's father. Subtitles.
The Thin Red Line
George Clooney
Woody Harrelson
John Travolta
Sean Penn
John Cusack
Gary Oldman
Bill Pullman
Ben Chaplin
Director Terrence Malick's film about the
Battle of Guadalcanal comes right on the heals of the other WWII epic Saving Private Ryan. This
three-hour drama with a solid cast, does much more justice to the gruesome realities of WWII than Spielberg and his fans claim he did. Well I do have to give Spielburg credit for the first half hour opening scene, that's about it though.
Elizabeth
Richard
Attenborough
Christopher
Eccleston
Geoffrey Rush
Cate Blanchett
Joseph Fiennes
Elizabeth is the tale of
Queen Elizabeth's rise to
the throne with Cate Blanchett who is superb in the title role and
transforms from a naive young princess to the sovereign and shrewd Queen. Expect excellent performances from a strong international cast
including Geoffrey Rush as Sir Francis Walsingham and Joseph Fiennes as the young Elizabeth's lover.
Little Voice
Ewan McGregor
Michael Caine
Jane Horrocks
Brenda Blethyn
This offbeat comedy is the story of an introverted and slightly unbalanced young woman with a squeaky voice which earns her the nickname Little Voice, (Jane Harrocks) who also has a secret talent of belting out show tunes. Chaos ensues when her slightly off-kilter, obnoxious mother, Brenda Blethyn and talent scout Michael Caine attempt to exploit Harrocks singing talent.
Office Space
Gary Cole
Jennifer Aniston
Stephen Root
Ron Livingston
Directed by Mike Judge (Beavis & Butthead, King of the Hill) this workplace comedy shows what happens when disgruntled office workers fight back. Look for lots of laughs.
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