Movie Recommendations

Though not the best Astaire-Rogers effort, Carefree offers enough fun moments to make the film worthwhile.

Michael Keaton pulls off a surprisingly good take on the Bruce Wayne/Batman split personality, and the tone as a whole is welcomely dark, not campy. A pity the obligatory romance falls so flat.

Slightly uneven Capra take on media cynicism and human redemption is nonetheless an entertaining and thought-provoking film.

When pampered Clifford Peache transfers to a Chicago public school and runs afoul of a protection ring, he decides to enlist the help of a feared school misfit. A moving story of friendship, understanding, and courage.

Mystery writer Phillip Marlow [sic] replays old memories and the plot of his best-selling book while fighting psoriasis and hallucinations. A groundbreaking original.

Checking over Off-Off-Off-Off-Broadway producer Zero Mostel’s accounts, nebbishy Gene Wilder gets a crazy idea…become rich by producing a flop. Mel Brooks’s first bigscreen hit.

A top musical, albeit suffused with a colonial mindset that modern viewers may find disturbing. Yul Brynner is superb in his signature role as the King of Siam, and Deborah Kerr is very good indeed as the British governess/tutor for his many children. Beautiful Rodgers and Hammerstein score.

Perhaps the first psychological western. John Ford took a fairly hackneyed story and breathed new life into the western. What makes it a standout are the portrayals of the almost stereotypical cast of characters. John Wayne went from B western hero to major movie star with this one film; Claire Trevor is excellent as the…

Rob Reiner’s modern take on It Happened One Night sets John Cusack cross-country for a sure fling; but traveling companion Daphne Zuniga may be his real interest.