Movie Recommendations

Lowbrow but funny tale of two aspiring video directors (John Cusack and Tim Robbins) and a tape with blackmail potential.

Fine drama for which Grace Kelly won the best-actress Oscar; William Holden is good, and Bing Crosby offers a star turn with true pathos as an alcoholic singer-actor.

Strong dramatic fare about the mob-controlled union of dockworkers. Brando stars as Terry, the man who finally stands up to the crooked union boss (played brilliantly by Lee J. Cobb). Rod Steiger is Terry’s brother, a crony of Cobb to whom Brando utters one of the most famous lines of all time: I coulda been…

Excellent adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel by star Emma Thompson, adroitly directed by Ang Lee. Sense is actually a contrast with sensibility, as it refers to sensitivity and living by emotions rather than acting sensibly.

Delightful songs (e.g., “Cheek to Cheek”) and dance numbers more than compensate for the silly mistaken-identity plotline. Though Swing Time is my favorite Fred & Ginger outing, this film is probably their best-known.

This ’90s take on Jane Austen follows a set of NYC debutantes, their escorts, and the lower-class radical socialist who accidentally joins their circle.

Engagingly theatrical feature has some wonderful characters and sparkling tunes.