Deepwater Horizon (2016)

Deepwater Horizon (2016)

[7] Mark Wahlberg and Kurt Russell headline this true story about the largest oil drilling disaster in American history. Deepwater Horizon is essentially a disaster movie in the grand tradition of that subgenre, but director Peter Berg is sensitive to the fact that…
An Affair to Remember (1957)

An Affair to Remember (1957)

[6] Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr meet aboard an oceanliner and fall in love, despite the fact they are both already in relationships with partners waiting for them stateside. I like the first half of An Affair to Remember. Grant and Kerr…
Jaws: The Revenge (1987)

Jaws: The Revenge (1987)

[3] I went into Jaws: The Revenge (the fourth movie in the series) thinking, 'Hey, it can't be worse than the third one.' And I was right. It's exactly as bad as the third one. Though for slightly different reasons. Part four…
Jaws 3-D (1983)

Jaws 3-D (1983)

[3] The shark is back, this time working its way into Sea World in Florida where it threatens the tourists. Now, I'm okay if you want to keep bringing back the same shark for four movies, even though it is literally blown…
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 1900's. Her…
The Dunwich Horror (1970)

The Dunwich Horror (1970)

[5] Dean Stockwell and Sandra Dee headline this so-so adaptation of an H.P. Lovecraft story. I gotta say, I've yet to see a Lovecraft adaptation I really like. The internalized dread and abstract horror just don't translate to film very well. Anyway,…
Mommie Dearest (1981)

Mommie Dearest (1981)

[7] Mommie Dearest is something else. I can't tell if it's trying to be an earnest expose on the turbulent home life of legendary star Joan Crawford and her adopted daughter, Christina, or if the dark comedy and camp value were intentional. The film…
The Town (2010)

The Town (2010)

[7] Ben Affleck stars in and directs this drama/thriller about a bank robber who falls in love with the manager at a bank he recently took down while he plans his next heist and evades the FBI. Affleck is a solid director,…
Hot Rod (2007)

Hot Rod (2007)

[4] Saturday Night Live's Andy Samberg stars in this comedy about an aspiring stunt man trying to raise money for his step-father's heart transplant. I like Samberg, but he isn't quite charismatic or funny enough to carry this particular movie over the…
Strange Behavior (1981)

Strange Behavior (1981)

[4] Bill Condon (Gods and Monsters) co-wrote this low-budget horror flick that dovetails two storylines -- one involving a scientist medically experimenting on teenagers to turn them into controlled assassins, and one about a widower sheriff trying to solve the mystery surrounding…