[9]

In the wake of the Watergate scandal and the waning Vietnam War, a Connecticut family reunites for Thanksgiving while simultaneously pulling away from each other for private indiscretions. While the characters play in moral shades of gray — drugs, adultery, petty crimes, and sexual experimentation included– the namesake storm arrives, causing a tragedy that puts things in perspective. Based on the book by Rick Moody and directed by two-time Oscar-winner Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain, Life of Pi), The Ice Storm is a very well-acted and superbly crafted piece about personal rebellion and the ties that bind.

Working Girl (1988)

July 22, 1988

[8] Mike Nichols (The Graduate) directs Kevin Wade's tale of a stalwart secretary trying to climb the corporate ladder in New York. Working Girl is a highly enjoyable comedy-drama with a screwball slant. Melanie Griffith has never been better than…

Aliens (1986)

September 4, 1986

[10]

James Cameron accomplishes a rare feat with a sequel that doesn’t shame the original and succeeds on its own merits. Aliens is so different in tone than the original Alien, I think of it as a sequel only in name (this goes for all the Alien movies). In a smart move, Cameron decided not to compete with Ridley Scott in the areas of horror and suspense. Aliens is decidedly a combat movie.

Ghostbusters (1984)

May 11, 1984

[9] When New York City becomes increasingly afflicted with ghost-sightings and demonic possessions, it's up to a rag-tag team of self-proclaimed 'Ghostbusters' to save the world from the imminent arrival of a destructive, ancient god. Ghostbusters succeeds as both a…

Alien (1979)

October 7, 1979

[10] Ridley Scott's sci-fi/horror opus Alien is really a haunted house movie set in outer space, where a ragtag team of "space truckers" do battle with one of the most fascinating monsters in movie history. Scott is one of the…