The Deer Hunter (1978)

The Deer Hunter (1978)

[8] Close-knit friends from a mining community share a harrowing experience during their tour of duty in Vietnam. Michael Cimino's three-hour long film focuses primarily on the aftermath of the ordeal, now one of the most famous scenes in movie…
The Godfather Part II (1974)

The Godfather Part II (1974)

[7] An unusual sequel of sorts, The Godfather Part II spends equal time in the past and the present, exploring the early life of Vito Corleone (with Robert DeNiro taking over the mantle from Marlon Brando) while also following the…
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945)

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945)

[7] Elia Kazan (East of Eden) made the jump from Broadway plays to feature films with this adaptation of the book by Betty Smith. The story centers around a young girl named Francie growing up in Brooklyn in the early…
Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

[4] A man named Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) steps in to replace a drunken Santa in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and does such a good job that Macy's then hires him to play Santa in their stores during the holiday season.…
The More the Merrier (1943)

The More the Merrier (1943)

[6] A pleasant screwball comedy from the versatile George Stevens. Jean Arthur, Joel McCrea, and Charles Coburn play mismatched roommates during a housing shortage. Scenes where the three narrowly avoid collision while getting ready in the morning will remind you…
Beginners (2010)

Beginners (2010)

[4] Ewan McGregor plays a man falling in love with a woman after his father has passed away. His father, played by Christopher Plummer, was married to Ewan's mom for decades before coming out as gay and enthusiastically embracing a…
Adaptation (2002)

Adaptation (2002)

[6]  [Warning: This review contains spoilers.]  Spike Jonze directs this meta tale of a screenwriter losing his mind trying to adapt a book called The Orchid Thief. While his twin brother moves in and begins mirroring him in many ways,…
Mister Roberts (1955)

Mister Roberts (1955)

[6] Henry Fonda is caught between a beleaguered WWII cargo crew and their vindictive captain in this oddly cheerful, lightweight drama directed by John Ford and Mervyn Leroy. James Cagney hams it up as the nutcase captain while William Powell…
An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)

An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)

[7] Richard Gere plays a navy cadet who falls in love with a factory worker played by Debra Winger. The romance part of the story doesn't work as well as Gere's combative relationship with his drill instructor, played by Louis…
Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

[7] Matthew McConaughey stars as Ron Woodruff in this true story about a womanizing electrician whose given thirty days to live after doctors discover he carries HIV. The year was 1985 and the American government was loathe to take HIV/AIDS…