Spotlight (2015)

Spotlight (2015)

[6] Tom McCarthy (The Station Agent) cowrites and directs this true story of a Boston investigative newspaper team who expose the Catholic Church for covering decades worth of pedophilic activity by over 87 priests in the city. Spotlight's not a…
The Lost City of Z (2017)

The Lost City of Z (2017)

[8] Just when I thought good old fashioned escapist adventure storytelling was dead, along comes The Lost City of Z. This movie renewed my faith in movies. I was beginning to think I'd seen the end of grand, romantic films like…
The New World (2005)

The New World (2005)

[5] While I'd rather Terrence Malick make a live-action Pocahontas movie than Disney, the results are still far from amazing... and a wee bit boring. Malick focuses on a love triangle between our girl Poca (Q'orianka Kilcher), John Smith (Colin…
Heaven’s Gate (1980)

Heaven’s Gate (1980)

[4] I'd never seen Heaven's Gate until recently. For decades, it has been the title synonymous with "flop" and studio bankruptcy, but it has also been picked back up, reexamined, and declared somewhat of an artistic treasure in recent years. The…
Chariots of Fire (1981)

Chariots of Fire (1981)

[3] A Jew and a Christian compete in the 1924 Olympics, both running in the name of God and adversity. I'm sorry to say I just couldn't give a shit. I couldn't empathize with their motivations. They feel God when…
Out of Africa (1985)

Out of Africa (1985)

[7] In colonial Kenya, a Danish baroness has an ongoing affair with a big game hunter. On one hand, Sydney Pollacks' Oscar-winning best picture is long and subdued. But on the other hand, it does a great job transporting you to…
The Imitation Game (2014)

The Imitation Game (2014)

[7] Director Morten Tyldum makes this true story of Alan Turing and his team of mathematicians fighting the second world war from their college studies as thrilling and interesting as possible. Benedict Cumberbatch headlines as the socially awkward leader of…
The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936)

The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936)

[7] Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland reteam after their initial pairing in Captain Blood. This time, they're in a love triangle that plays out during an Indian massacre of British women and children, later spurring into action the contents…
Dive Bomber (1941)

Dive Bomber (1941)

[7] Errol Flynn gives a low-key performance as a dedicated flight surgeon who teams with a bitter pilot (Fred MacMurray) to solve the problem of high altitude sickness and blackouts among Navy dive bombers. Despite the pre-WWII setting, this is…
Across the Universe (2007)

Across the Universe (2007)

[7] Across the Universe follows a group of young people who come of age against the turbulent backdrop of the 1960s. The film is set to a constant stream of rejiggered Beatles tunes, which allows director Julie Taymor (Broadway's The…