Attack the Block

Attack the Block (2011) is a British movie about a street gang of young kids ends up having to defend themselves, and their council estate (housing project) alone against alien attack.  The movie is full of action, humor, suspense interspersed with some, but not overtly too much gore.  The movie is a solid B movie which is, according to various sites,, becoming a cult classic.  the lexicon is British and therefore may be hard at times to understand what is being referred to.  For movies of this genre I found it to be a fun experience.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967) is a movie starring Sydney Poitier, Katherine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy.  Tracy and Hepburn play the Drayton's who's daughter announces that she is engaged to be married and that her fiance and his parents are coming to dinner so that they can all meet.  The hitch is that her fiance is black and she is white.  At the time of the making of this movie it was still illegal to have an interracial marriage in 17 states.  By the middle of the year interracial marriages were no longer illegal in the united states.  This movie explores the coming to grip with race and how each person and mix of  people struggle with their perspectives and feelings on the impending marriage.  The performances of the entire cast are powerful. It is clear as you hear the different arguments and discussions between the fathers, mothers, and the mix of the two as well as those of the intended couple you realize how pertinent the issue is still today.  This is Sydney poitier at his best and sadly Spencer Tracy's last film as he died two weeks after filming.

Wait Until Dark

Wait Until Dark (1967) is a movie starring Audrey Hepburn, Alan Arkin and Richard Crenna.  Hepburn plays Susy, a blind woman who finds herself besieged in her apartment, with little or no help, trying to defend herself against drug dealers who believe a secret stash of drugs is hidden in her apartment.  The movie lives up to its categorization as a suspenseful thriller.  Audrey Hepburn does an exceptional job in this role. Even when watched for a second time the suspense is still strong and edgy.

Charade

Charade (1963) is a movie starring Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant.  The movie also co-stars Walter Mathau, James Coburn and George Kennedy.  Both Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn are my favorite actors from that era and it was surprising when I learned that this was the only movie that they did together.  The chemistry works well between Hepburn and Grant.  The story revolves around a mysterious stash of money Hepburn's newly deceased husband allegedly hid away.  There are several people after the money and you don't quite know who is who at any given time.  The movie holds together quite well and the acting is delightful.  Audrey Hepburn breaks out into a slightly different role than she usually plays in this film.

Ladyhawke

Ladyhawke (1985) is a movie about two lovers separated by a curse, he a wolf by night and her a hawk by day; forever together but always apart.  The movie stars Rutger Hauer as Etienne, the knight/wolf and Michelle Pfeiffer as Isabeau, the damsel/hawk.  There is an underlying web of love throughout the movie. the love between characters is not solely delegated to the two lovers in the story but between each character and the others that find themselves part of the tragic tale before them.  It is portrayed in a heartfelt manner and helps to endear each protagonist to the viewer.  There is a subtle humor brought into the tale from time to time to assuage to some degree the painful tragedy between Isabeau and Etienne.  The movie relies mostly on dialogue and the telling of the story with little in the arena of time wasting fight/action scenes.  The movie is entertaining, engaging and does not disappoint.

The Mission

The Mission (1986) is a movie set in 18th century South America Staring Jeremy Irons, Robert De Niro along with Aidan Quinn and Liam Neeson.  Jeremy Irons plays Gabriel, a Jesuit Priest who is establishing a mission in the interior regions of South American to convert and serve the Guarani Indians.  He is accompanied by Rodrigo (Robert De Niro) who portrays a soldier who is doing so as a penance.  This is an exceptional movie.  The acting is powerful, the cinematography is breathtaking and the music is inspiring.  The story is one of human triumph accompanied closely by tragedy.  The movie explores how the beauty of humanity and how it fares when confronted by greed and politics.  The music, by Ennio Morricone, is still played
often on classical radio stations.

Rear Window

Rear Window (1954) is an Alfred Hitchcock movie starring Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelley.  It is by far my favorite Hitchcock movie and still as gripping today as when I first saw it.  Jimmy Stewart plays a convalescing photographer who thinks he witnesses a terrible event though he can't prove it.  The entire movie takes place from his room.  The story is compelling while the acting superb.  While the movie takes place you are witness to life in the 50's as seen from one apartment to others, and without air-conditioning being common the windows and lives of others are open for all to see.