Boogie Nights (1997) Review
Paul Thomas Anderson's foundational ensemble masterpiece. Mark Wahlberg, Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds.
Tag: American Decay (Page 18)
American DecayThe Taking of Pelham 123 (1974) and The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009) Review
Two substantial adaptations of John Godey's subway hijacking novel. 1974 Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw foundational.
2000s
2010sThe Town (2010) Review
Ben Affleck's Charlestown Boston heist film. Jeremy Renner Oscar-nominated.
1990sCasino (1995) Review
Scorsese's Las Vegas mob masterpiece. De Niro, Pesci, Sharon Stone Oscar-nominated.
2010sLooper (2012) Review
Rian Johnson's time travel thriller. Joseph Gordon-Levitt transforming into Bruce Willis through accumulated choices.
2000sThe Babysitters (2007) Review
The pacing is genuinely good. Some critics and marketing materials have positioned it as dark comedy, which is the wrong genre frame.
1980sAngel (1984) and the Franchise Review
Donna Wilkes, Rory Calhoun, Susan Tyrrell, and pre-gentrification Hollywood Boulevard. Exploitation cinema that survives in spite of itself.
1980sFerris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) Review
Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, and John Hughes's most ambitious teen film. Ferris narrates Cameron's story.
1980sFast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) Review
Sean Penn as Spicoli, Cameron Crowe's undercover research, Amy Heckerling's first feature. The 9 reflects what those viewings have confirmed: the film is the founding document of the modern American teen comedy and one of the most influential teen films…
1990sDie Hard with a Vengeance (1995)
Jackson, John McTiernan returns to direct, Jeremy Irons as Hans Gruber's brother. It is the best Die Hard sequel and the closest the franchise ever came to matching the original.
2000sLive Free or Die Hard (2007) Review
The film is held back from a 9.5 or 10 by the studio's decision to cut the theatrical release to PG-13 and by the inevitable franchise-fatigue cost of being the fourth entry. Olyphant's Thomas Gabriel is the franchise's third great…