Twister (1996)

Twister (1996)

[7] Following in the tradition of Irwin Allen disaster movies like The Towering Inferno and The Poseidon Adventure comes this tornadic thrill ride from director Jan de Bont (Speed). Helen Hunt (As Good As It Gets) and Bill Paxton (Frailty)…
Punch-Drunk Love (2002)

Punch-Drunk Love (2002)

[4] About two minutes into Punch-Drunk Love, an absurdist romance from Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, Magnolia), you learn the movie doesn't really take place in the real world and none of the characters are real, either. It's all... some…
Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (2007)

Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (2007)

[8] Two brothers plot to rob their parents' jewelry store, sending their lives and the lives of their loved ones into a tragic, downward spiral. Sidney Lumet (Network, Dog Day Afternoon) directs his final film with a stellar cast in…
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…
Cold Mountain (2003)

Cold Mountain (2003)

[7] Anthony Minghella (The English Patient, Talented Mr. Ripley) adapts Charles Frazier's book about a Civil War deserter trying to get back to his lover. The film goes back and forth between the soldier's story and the sweetheart's story. My…
The Master (2012)

The Master (2012)

[5] Gosh. I guess I just don't get this movie. I mean, it's beautiful and all, and the performances are certainly something special. But what the hell do I take from the story? It's so open-ended (thematically), it's practically a…
Moneyball (2011)

Moneyball (2011)

[7] In this film based on a true story, Brad Pitt stars as Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane, who introduced computer analysis of player statistics into recruitment strategy and forever changed the way baseball is played. Jonah Hill plays…
Magnolia (1999)

Magnolia (1999)

[9] Writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson follows Boogie Nights with another sprawling emotional epic full of spectacular acting and rich directorial style. The screenplay is an exercise in whimsical allegory, connecting the lives of nine different characters in a sometimes obtuse…
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

[10] Anthony Minghella (The English Patient) adapts the Patricia Highsmith novel for the big screen, casts it perfectly, and delivers a superb character study and psychological thriller. Matt Damon anchors the film in the best performance of his career, playing the…
Boogie Nights (1997)

Boogie Nights (1997)

[9] Writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson’s ode to the '70s porn industry brings poignant depth to its sensational subject matter.  It’s also an amazing showcase of top-notch acting and directing.  Anderson is a rare creative talent, as skilled with actors as…