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U Turn (1997)

Directed by: Oliver Stone

Starring: Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, Jennifer Lopez, Billy Bob Thornton, Powers Boothe, Claire Danes, Jon Voight, Joaquin Phoenix, Liv Tyler

Rated: R for Strong Violence, Sexuality and Language

Running Time: 2 h 5 m

TMM Score: 2.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Story, Some Acting

WEAKNESSES: Some Acting, Directing, Editing

U Turn (1997)

February 5, 2020

A man heading to Vegas to pay off his gambling debt is waylaid in a strange Arizona town where everything goes wrong.

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In Action, Adventure, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller Tags Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, Jennifer Lopez, Billy Bob Thornton, Powers Boothe, Claire Danes, Jon Voight, Joaquin Phoenix, Liv Tyler, Oliver Stone, R, 2.5 Stars
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Motherless Brooklyn (2019)

Directed by: Edward Norton

Starring: Edward Norton, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Alec Baldwin, Bobby Cannavale, Willem Dafoe, Bruce Willis, Ethan Suplee, Michael Kenneth Williams, Leslie Mann

Rated: R for Language Throughout Including Some Sexual References, Brief Drug Use, and Violence

Running Time: 2 h 24 m

TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Acting, Story, Writing

WEAKNESSES: Length, Pacing

Motherless Brooklyn (2019)

February 5, 2020

A private detective with Tourette’s syndrome in 1950s New York tries to solve the murder of his mentor and friend. 

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In Crime, Drama, Mystery, Noir, Romance Tags Edward Norton, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Alec Baldwin, Bobby Cannavale, Willem Dafoe, Bruce Willis, Ethan Suplee, Michael Kenneth Williams, Leslie Mann, 2019, 3.5 Stars
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The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)

Directed By: Alfred Hitchcock

Starring: Leslie Banks, Edna Best, Peter Lorre

Rated: NR

Run Time: 1h 15m

TMM Score: 3 Stars

Strengths: Clever Plot, Brevity

Weakness: Slight

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)

January 31, 2020

When an American Family, vacationing abroad, gets mixed up in an assassination plot, the couple must choose between stopping an international coup or saving their kidnapped daughter.

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In Crime, Foreign Film, Mystery, Political, Thriller Tags Michael McDonald, Leslie Banks, Edna Best, Peter Lorre, NR, The Man Who Knew To Much, 1934, Alfred Hitchcock, 3 Stars
1 Comment
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The Birds (1963)

Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

Starring: Tippi Hedren, Rod Taylor, Jessica Tandy, Veronica Cartwright, Suzanne Pleshette

Rated: PG-13

Running Time: 1 h 59 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Directing, Writing, Characters, Story, Sound Mixing, Effects

WEAKNESSES: Slightly Schlocky, Some Character Choices

The Birds (1963)

January 31, 2020

A wealthy woman from San Francisco takes a trip to a Northern Californian town where she and the residents are inexplicably attacked by flocks of birds. 

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In Adventure, Action, Drama, Mystery, Thriller Tags Tippi Hedren, Rod Taylor, Jessica Tandy, Veronica Cartwright, Suzanne Pleshette, Alfred Hitchcock, PG-13
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The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)

Directed By: Alfred Hitchcock

Starring: James Stewart, Doris Day, Brenda de Banzie , Bernard Miles

Rated: PG

Run Time: 2h

TMM Score: 4 Stars

Strengths: Sense of Impending Tragedy, Tension

Weakness: Child Acting, Annoying Song

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)

January 29, 2020

When American family, travelling abroad, the McKenna’s, meet a friendly but mysterious Frenchman, they are caught up in an international assassination plot with more than just the life of the Prime Minister at stake.

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In Crime, Drama, Mystery, Political, Thriller Tags Michael McDonald, James Stewart, Doris Day, Brenda de Banzie, Bernard Miles, Alfred Hitchcock, 1956, The Man Who Knew To Much, Rated PG, 4 Stars
1 Comment
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Vertigo (1958)

Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

Starring: James Stewart, Kim Novak, Tom Helmore, Barbara Bel Geddes

Rated: PG

Running Time: 2 h 8 m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Writing, Directing, Characters, Cinematography, Acting, Emotional Impact, Soundtrack

WEAKNESSES: -

Vertigo (1958)

January 29, 2020

At the request of a friend, a former detective investigates an acquaintance’s wife, whom has been acting mysterious. As he does, he finds himself falling in love with the woman. 

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In Crime, Drama, Mystery, Noir, Romance, Thriller Tags Alfred Hitchcock, James Stewart, Kim Novak, Tom Helmore, Barbara Bel Geddes, PG, 5 Stars, 1958
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Rope (1948)

Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

Starring: James Stewart, John Dall, Farley Granger

Rated: Approved

Running Time: 1 h 20 m

TMM Score: 4.5 Stars

STRENGTHS: Humor, Technical Aspects, Writing, Suspense

WEAKNESSES: Obvious Cuts

Rope (1948)

January 28, 2020

Two men try to prove they’ve committed a perfect crime by hosting a dinner party after strangling their former classmate.

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In Crime, Comedy, Drama, Mystery, Thriller Tags James Stewart, John Dall, Farley Granger, Approved
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Split Second (1992)

Directed by: Tony Maylam

Starring: Rutger Hauer, Kim Cattrall, Alastair Duncan, Pete Postlethewait, Michael J Pollard, Alun Armstrong

Rated: R for Gore and Language

Running Time: 1 h 30 m

TMM Score: 3 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Fun Concept, Fun World, Fun Story

WEAKNESSES: Overacting, Dialogue, Plot Holes, General Execution

Split Second (1992)

January 20, 2020

In 2008 dystopian London, global warming has caused flooding, and Detective Harley Stone must wade his way through the streets to find a vicious serial killer whom might not be human.  

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In Action, Adventure, Mystery, Noir, Sci Fi Tags Tony Maylam, Rutger Hauer, Kim Cattrall, Alastair Duncan, Pete Postlethewait, Michael J Pollard, Alun Armstrong
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The Happiness of the Katakuris (2001)

Directed by: Takashi Miike

Starring: Kenji Sawada, Keiko Matsuzaka, Shinji Takeda, Naomi Nishida, Tesuro Tanba, Tamaki Miyazaki

Rated: R for Violent Images and Some Sexual Content

Running Time: 1 h 53 m

TMM Score: 4.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Absurdity, Themes, Story, Fun, Innovation

WEAKNESSES: Also Absurdity

The Happiness of the Katakuris (2001)

January 15, 2020

A dark comedy concerning a family that opens an inn in a remote mountain region, only to have the arriving customers die in mysterious ways. 

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In Adventure, Art House, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Fantasy, Foreign Film, Musical, Mystery Tags Takashi Miike, Kenji Sawada, Keiko Matsuzaka, Shinji Takeda, Naomi Nishida, Tesuro Tanba, Tamaki Miyazakii
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Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006)

Directed by: Tom Tykwer

Starring: Ben Winshaw, Dustin Hoffman, Alan Rickman

Rated: R for Aberrant Behavior Involving Nudity, Violence, Sexuality, and Disturbing Images

Running Time: 2 h 27 m

TMM Score: 3 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Direction, Acting, Production Design, Story, Concept

WEAKNESSES: Length, Ending

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006)

January 10, 2020

A perfumer with an incredible sense of smell has a deadly obsession with his pursuit of trying capture the scent of women. 

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In Crime, Drama, Epic, Mystery, Thriller Tags Tom Tykwer, 2006, Ben Winshaw, Dustin Hoffman, Alan Rickman, R, 3 Stars
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Brimstone (2016)

Directed by: Martin Koolhoven

Starring: Dakota Fanning, Guy Pearce, Emilia Jones, Kit Harrington

Rated: R for Brutal Bloody Violence, Strong Sexual Content Including Disturbing Behavior, Graphic Nudity, and Language

Running Time: 2 h 28 m

TMM Score: 2.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Story and Structure, Cinematography, Some Themes

WEAKNESSES: Acting, Pacing, Heavy Handed Themes

Brimstone (2016)

January 8, 2020

A young mute woman is tracked by a mysterious preacher.

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In Action, Adventure, Crime, Drama, Epic, Mystery, Romance, Thriller, Western Tags Martin Koolhoven, Dakota Fanning, Emilia Jones, Kit Harrington, R
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The Art of Self Defense (2019)

Directed by: Riley Stearns

Starring: Jessie Eisenberg, Alessandro Nivola, Imogen Poots, Steve Terada, Phillip Andre Botello

Rated: R for Violence, Sexual Content, Graphic Nudity and Language

Running Time: 1 h 44 m

TMM Score: 4.5 Stars

STRENGTHS: Black Humor, Story, Acting

WEAKNESSES: -

The Art of Self Defense (2019)

January 7, 2020

After being brutally mugged, Casey Davies enrolls in a Karate course taught by an eccentric sensei.

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In Action, Comedy, Coming of Age, Crime, Martial Arts, Mystery, Thriller Tags Jessie Eisenberg, Alessandro Nivola, Imogen Poots, Steve Terada, Phillip Andre Botello, 2019, Riley Stearns, 4.5 Stars
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The Ninth Configuration (1980)

Directed by: William Peter Blatty

Starring: Stacy Keach, Scott Wilson, Jason Miller, Ed Flanders, Tom Atkins

Rated: R

Running Time: 1 h 58 m

TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Writing, Directing, Themes

WEAKNESSES: A Few Weird Tonal Shifts, Unsatisfying Ending

The Ninth Configuration (1980)

December 23, 2019

An isolated institution in the Pacific Northwest tries a controversial experimental treatment on its primarily Vietnam veteran population.

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In Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller Tags William Peter Blatty, Stacy Keach, Scott Wilson, Jason Miller, Ed Flanders, Tom Atkins, 3.5 Stars, R, 1980
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Doctor Sleep (2019)

Directed by: Mike Flanagan

Starring: Ewan McGregor, Rebecca Ferguson, Kyliegh Curran, Emily Alyn Lind, Alex Essoe, Jacob Tremblay, Danny Lloyd

Rated: R for Disturbing Violent Content, Some Bloody Images, Language, Nudity and Drug Use

Running Time: 2 h 32 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Melding of Kubrick and King’s Worlds, Story, Acting, Ingenuity

WEAKNESSES: Pacing (Particularly in First Act), Length

Doctor Sleep (2019)

December 20, 2019

Years after the events of “The Shining”, Dan Torrance fights to protect a girl who possesses the same psychic ability as him. 

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In Adventure, Crime, Coming of Age, Drama, Epic, Horror, Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller Tags Ewan McGregor, Rebecca Ferguson, Kyliegh Curran, Emily Alyn Lind, Alex Essoe, Jacob Tremblay, Danny Lloyd, Mike Flanagan, 2019, 4 Stars, R
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Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Directed by: George Lucas

Starring: Hayden Christensen, Natalie Portman, Ewan McGregor, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, Frank Oz, Jimmy Smits, Christopher Lee

Rated: PG-13 for Sci-Fi Violence and Some Intense Images

Running Time: 2 h 20 m

TMM Score: 3 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Darker Entry, Some Action, Production Design

WEAKNESSES: Pacing, Battle Fatigue, Acting, Ubiquitous CGI, Dialogue, Cheesy Moments

Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)

December 17, 2019

Three years after the start of the clone wars, Obi-Wan and Anakin find themselves lured into a plot that may offset the balance of the force, and set the Sith up for rule.

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In Action, Adventure, Epic, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance, Sci Fi Tags Hayden Christensen, Natalie Portman, Ewan McGregor, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, Frank Oz, Jimmy Smits, Christopher Lee, 2005, George Lucas
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Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)

Directed by: George Lucas

Starring: Hayden Christensen, Natalie Portman, Ewan McGregor, Christopher Lee, Samuel L Jackson, Frank Oz, Ian McDiarmid, Rose Byrne

Rated: PG for Sustained Sequences of Sci-Fi Action/Violence

Running Time: 2 h 22 m

TMM Score: 3 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Some Action, Ewan McGregor, Production Design, World Building

WEAKNESSES: Dialogue, Ubiquitous CGI, Hayden Christensen

Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)

December 16, 2019

Ten years after their initial meeting, Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala begin a forbidden romance, while Obi-Wan Kenobi investigates an assassination attempt on Amidala’s life.

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In Action, Adventure, Epic, Fantasy, Mystery, Sci Fi, Romance, War Tags Hayden Christensen, Natalie Portman, Ewan McGregor, Christopher Lee, Samuel L Jackson, Frank Oz, Ian McDiarmid, Rose Byrne, George Lucas, 2002, 3 Stars, PG
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The Report (2019)

Directed by: Scott Z. Burns

Starring: Adam Driver, Annette Bening, Jon Hamm, Corey Stoll, Maura Tierney, Michael C Hall, Tim Blake Nelson

Rated: R for Some Scenes of Inhumane Treatment and Torture, and Language

Running Time: 1 h 59 m

TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Story, Acting, Themes

WEAKNESSES: Pacing, Length

The Report (2019)

December 11, 2019

A senate staffer is tasked to lead an investigation into the CIA’s ‘Enhanced Interrogation Techniques.” 

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In Crime, Drama, Historical, Biographical, Mystery, Political, Thriller Tags Scott Z. Burns, Adam Driver, Annette Bening, Jon Hamm, Corey Stoll, Maura Tierney, Michael C Hall, Tim Blake Nelson, R
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Knives Out (2019)

Directed by: Rian Johnson

Starring: Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, LaKeith Stanfeild, Christopher Plummer, Frank Oz, Riki Lindhome

Rated: PG-13 for Thematic Elements Including Brief Violence, Some Strong Language, Sexual References, and Drug Material

Running Time: 2 h 10 m

TMM Score: 4.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Subversion of Expectations, Writing, Directing, Acting, Humor, Themes

WEAKNESSES: Pacing in First Act

Knives Out (2019)

December 10, 2019

A gentleman sleuth investigates the death of a patriarch of an rich and eccentric family.

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In Drama, Crime, Mystery, Comedy Tags Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, LaKeith Stanfeild, Christopher Plummer, Frank Oz, Riki Lindhome, 2019, Rian Johnson, PG-13, 4.5 Stars
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Total Recall (1990)

Directed By: Paul Verhoeven

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sharon Stone, Michael Ironside, Dean Norris

Rated: R

Run Time: 1h 53m

TMM Score: 4 Stars

Strengths: Arnold, Fun, Action, Mystery

Weakness: A Little Slight in Aim

Total Recall (1990)

December 4, 2019

In the future, when Quaid decides to take a memory vacation from his mundane life, he accidentally triggers a real life action/espionage adventure which ranges across two planets. Or so it seems to.

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In Action, Adventure, Mystery, Sci Fi, Spy Film, Thriller Tags Michael McDonald, Total Recall, 1990, Paul Verhoeven, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sharon Stone, Michael Ironside, Dean Norris, R Rated, 4 Stars
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The Irishman (2019)

Directed by: Martin Scorsese

Starring: Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel, Ray Romano, Bobby Cannavale, Anna Paquin, Stephanie Kurtzuba, Jesse Plemons

Rated: R for Pervasive Language and Strong Violence

Running Time: 3 h 29 m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Directing, Writing, Production Design, Scope, World Building

WEAKNESSES: -

The Irishman (2019)

December 2, 2019

A mob hitman recounts his possible involvement with the killing of Jimmy Hoffa.

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In Crime, Drama, Epic, Historical, Mystery, Political, Thriller Tags Martin Scorsese, Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel, Ray Romano, Bobby Cannavale, Anna Paquin, Stephanie Kurtzuba, Jesse Plemons, 2019, 5 Stars
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