Tightrope (1984)

Tightrope (1984)

[5] Clint Eastwood plays a detective (who isn't Dirty Harry) assigned to a case involving a serial rapist and murderer whose victims begin to include Eastwood's acquaintances. This is a paint-by-numbers serial killer movie, full of all the old cliches…
Young Sherlock Holmes (1985)

Young Sherlock Holmes (1985)

[7] Young Holmes meets young Watson in prep school and the two solve a mystery involving an ancient Egyptian cult that is killing members of a secret society and sacrificing virgins in ceremony! Unfortunately, the mystery isn't very engaging and…
Three Days of the Condor (1975)

Three Days of the Condor (1975)

[6] A CIA researcher tries to avoid multiple assassins until he learns who he can trust in this well-made suspense thriller that prophesied the current oil crisis and the wars therein. Robert Redford carries the movie superbly as always, and…
Satan Met a Lady (1936)

Satan Met a Lady (1936)

[4] This second retelling of The Maltese Falcon (before John Huston proved the the third time was the charm) is a bizarre pseudo-comedy with an ingratiating performance by Warren William in the role Humphrey Bogart would later immortalize. Warren got…
The Maltese Falcon (1931)

The Maltese Falcon (1931)

[5] A mysterious woman enters detective Sam Spade's office with information about a valuable statue called the Maltese Falcon. Spade is soon swept up into a mystery involving multiple pursuers of the statue in this famous story from Dashielle Hammett.…
The Maltese Falcon (1941)

The Maltese Falcon (1941)

[7] A claustrophobic mystery featuring a career-launching performance from Humphrey Bogart. Characters like Sam Spade can often be played over the top, but Bogart keeps it grounded and accessible for me. I also like the ensemble of supporting players, including…
M (1931)

M (1931)

[7] Peter Lorre gives a star-making performance as a child murderer running from both the law and the criminal underground in this stylish early 'talkie' from Fritz Lang (Metropolis). As much as I love both Lang and Lorre, M is…
To Catch a Thief (1955)

To Catch a Thief (1955)

[7] Cary Grant stars as an ex-jewel thief trying to clear his name after precious jewels start disappearing in the French Riviera. This outing for Alfred Hitchcock succeeds more in character than in suspense set pieces, though you'll get some…
Dark Country (2009)

Dark Country (2009)

[5] While traveling through the desert, newlyweds pick up a car-wreck survivor who plunges them into a night of suspicion and suspense. Thomas Jane (The Mist, Hung) makes his directorial debut with Dark Country. On one hand, I admire his…
Red Dragon (2002)

Red Dragon (2002)

[7] While it lacks the pervasive chill that runs through The Silence of the Lambs, Red Dragon is a well-made thriller that engages from beginning to end, thanks to a briskly-paced script adaptation by Ted Tally (who won an Oscar…