Movie Recommendations

In Rob Reiner’s excellent film of a Stephen King short story, four young boys in the 1950s bond on a hiking trip of discovery.

Wonderfully realized political drama, with Broderick Crawford at the top of his game. Based on poet Robert Penn Warren’s novel, itself a barely disguised portrait of Louisiana senator Huey Kingfish Long.

Beautifully acted and scripted, this small-scale gem shines with an Oscar-winning performance by Ernest Borgnine (nearly always a heavy in films) and great support from Betsy Blair. Iconic catch-phrase: “I don’ know—what do you wanna do?” Romantic but realistic and genuinely heartwarming, with no false sentiment; adapted from his TV play by Paddy Chayefsky.

A lesser but still worthwhile John Ford-John Wayne collaboration. Filmed many times, this tale of redemption and (re)birth in the West has a little comedy, a little pathos, and a lot of sentiment. Three bank robbers on the lam across the desert discover a dying woman and her newborn baby.

Beautifully rendered short version of one of Jane Austen’s gems. The acting is superb in this tale of patience and the enduring power of love.

Overly stagy Hitchcock still has enough classic moments to keep viewers entertained.

A cargo ship of whiskey crashes just offshore of Toddy Island during wartime rationing. The Home Patrol is sworn to protect the goods, but the islanders have their own plans.

Silly—even stupid? Yup. Tasteless? Absolutely. Funny? Indubitably!

What would you do if you lived the same day over for eternity? Bill Murray gives a fine performance as the cynical weatherman trapped in Punxatawney, PA, for a neverending Groundhog Day.