Hitchcock (2012)

It is 1959, and after the success of his film North by Northwest, director Alfred Hitchcock is frustrated by Hollywood thinking he's lost his touch. However after finding himself intrigued by a book based on serial killer Ed Gein titled Psycho, Hitch decides that this will be his next picture, to everyone's astonishment of the horrific subject matter. Hopkins is outstanding as The Master of Suspense, as well as Mirren's Alma, Hitch's doting wife. I also found D'Arcy, whose uncanny liking to Anthony Perkins, is quite intriguing to see. The making of the Psycho film is the most interesting, with Hitch sparring with the censor board and Paramount execs; however the marital problems between Hitch and Alma left much to be desired. Based on the book, Alfred Hitchcock and The Making of Psycho by Stephen Rebello. Starring Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, Scarlett Johansson, James D'Arcy, Jessica Biel, Toni Collette, Danny Huston, Michael Wincott 7/10 Rated PG-13

My Week with Marilyn (2011)

Colin Clark, a young man travels to London for his first job; landing the position in film production as Laurence Oliviers' assistant as the actor is filming his new picture, The Prince and the Showgirl, alongside the world's most famous actress, Marilyn Monroe. But being in the movies isn't easy, as Colin soon witnesses; her insecurities about herself and her work take a toll on everyone on set. Despite constant warnings not to, Colin strikes up a friendship with her and soon comes to realize that the Marilyn off screen is much different from her persona on screen. Michelle Williams is absolutely breathtaking to watch, giving a most beautiful performance of one of the world's most iconic sex symbols of all time. Starring Michelle Williams, Kenneth Branagh, Dominic Cooper, Eddie Red Mayne, Julia Ormond, Toby Jones, Judi Dench, Emma Watson, Dougray Scott 8/10 Rated R

The Iron Lady (2011)

This is the story of Margaret Thatcher, formerly Margaret Roberts who was a grocer's daughter growing up in Britain. As seen through flashbacks Margaret meets businessman and future husband Denis, is voted on to become a member of Parliament, and despite being in a political world of men runs in the race for British Prime Minister, the first female to ever do so. As shown in the present day, she is haunted by the ghost of her deceased husband. Streep is absolutely incredible, and plays Thatcher with such strong-will and conviction, as a woman who just wanted to make a difference in the world. Starring Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent, Olivia Colman, Iain Glen, Richard E. Grant, Anthony Head, Michael Maloney, Susan Brown, Nick Dunning, Alexandra Roach 8/10 Rated PG-13

Nowhere Boy (2009)

The year is 1955, the place Liverpool, England. John Lennon is a rebellious young man of fifteen, living with his strict aunt Mimi because his father left and the whereabouts of his mother unknown. Until he locates his mother Julia, a warm and free-spirited woman who vies with Mimi for John's affection. Greatly influenced by the music of Elvis Presley, John decides to start his own rock band, The Quarrymen. Two years later John meets Paul McCartney, another young musician who sees him performing on stage. They soon become friends, sharing an interest in music. Paul becomes a member of John's band and while teaching him about the guitar they start to write and play their own music. A wonderful and emotional coming-of-age story about the birth of one of the most iconic music legends in history; Aaron Johnson is simply impeccable as Lennon. Starring Aaron Johnson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Anne-Marie Duff, Thomas Brodie Sangster 8/10 Rated R

Basquiat (1996)

Jean-Michel Basquiat lives in Thompkins Square Park in a cardboard box, who writes graffiti on the streets of Brooklyn, New York; he spends his time with friend Benny and the waitress from a coffee shop named Gina. He encounters Andy Warhol at a restaurant and gives him some art to buy, later on a poet named Rene Ricard is marveled by one of Jean's paintings at a party. Ricard ends up launching Jean's career and he becomes a star. However, Jean's friends think that Andy is just out to use him. Jeffrey Wright is beyond amazing in the title role of this biopic story about one of America's most influential postmodernist/neo expressionist artists, as well as a terrific cast of supporting characters. Starring Jeffrey Wright, David Bowie, Benicio del Toro, Gary Oldman, Dennis Hopper, Michael Wincott, Parker Posey, Claire Forlani, Courtney Love, Christopher Walken 8/10

Braveheart (1995)

A Scotsman by the name of William Wallace, who in the 19th Century rebelled against England's King Edward the Longshanks when he tried to take control of Scotland. It starts off when William is a small boy, and his father and brother are murdered. He travels to Europe with his uncle Argyle where he teaches him how to use the sword. William becomes a man and returns home, where he falls in love with Murron, his friend from childhood and marries her in secret. But when she is tragically murdered, he takes his revenge by fighting against the English and going on a mission to free Scotland. Braveheart is in my humble opinion one of the most grand and exhilarating historical dramas ever made; Mel Gibson gives a most extraordinary performance in the film, in which he also directed and produced. One of the best scores by the great James Horner. Starring Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Partick McGoohan, Catherine McCormack, Brendan Gleeson, Brian Cox 9/10

Conviction (2010)

Betty Anne Waters is a single mother working her way through law school so she can become a lawyer and help get her brother Kenny out of prison. Kenny has been in prison for twelve years, convicted of a murder he didn't commit. So with the help of The Innocence Project, a non profit organization that's dedicated to overthrowing wrongfully convicted cases, she tries to prove her brother's innocence, but only if she can find DNA evidence that can exonerate him. Based on a true story that began in 1980 in Ayer, Massachusetts, Hilary Swank and Sam Rockwell both give powerfully emotional performances in this truly inspiring story. Starring Hilary Swank, Sam Rockwell, Melissa Leo, Minnie Driver, Juliette Lewis, Peter Gallagher, Clea DuVall 8/10

Copying Beethoven (2006)

Twenty-three year old Anna Holtz studied composition and aspires to become a composer one day, so she is honored when she gets the opportunity to transcribe Beethoven's work until the premiere of the Maestro's 9th symphony. Despite Beethoven's erratic behavior and eccentric nature, Anna thinks his music is brilliant and wants to show him her work, but she is told to wait until after the premiere. Because of his deafness, she helps him conduct the orchestra and he helps her with her composition. Ed Harris gives an incredible performance, with an electrifying and powerful soundtrack that is nothing short of genius. Starring Ed Harris, Diane Kruger, Matthew Goode 8/10

Monster (2003)

Aileen "Lee" is a hooker who lives in Daytona Beach, Florida. She ends up befriending a young girl named Selby Wall whom she met at a bar. But one night while Lee is with a customer, she is beaten and raped and in self-defense shoots the guy as a result. Lee and Selby soon become lovers and Selby leaves home to be with her, while Lee vows to stop hooking and go straight. But she can't get work as she and Selby struggle to survive. So Lee starts hitchhiking with strange men, luring them into the woods and killing them to take their money. Lee becomes a killer on the run and eventually the authorities begin the search to find her. Shocking, sad and depressing, this film is based on a true story about the life of convicted killer Aileen Wuornos; an almost unrecognizable Charlize Theron is absolutely extraordinary in her Oscar-winning role. Starring Charlize Theron, Christina Ricci, Bruce Dern, Scott Wilson 8/10

JFK (1991)

It's New Orleans, November 22, 1963. The assassination of the President of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy is shown on television. New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison and his team begin to investigate possible suspects who may have been part of a conspiracy to kill the president; including private pilot David Ferrie, alleged assassin Lee Harvey Oswald, and Jack Ruby who killed Oswald. With an all-star cast, this is a very intriguing film about a very significant time that impacted America. It was adapted by director Oliver Stone and Zachary Sklar from the books On the Trail of the Assassins by Jim Garrison and Crossfire: The Plot That Killed Kennedy by Jim Marrs. Starring Kevin Costner, Gary Oldman, Kevin Bacon, Tommy Lee Jones, Laurie Metcalf, Joe Pesci, Brian Doyle-Murray, Donald Sutherland, John Candy, Sissy Spacek, Walter Matthau, Jack Lemmon, Wayne Knight, Vincent D'Onofrio 8/10

Love is a Many-Splendored Thing (1955)

William Holden plays Mark Elliott, an American reporter in Hong Kong during Chinese Civil War who falls in love with the beautiful Han Suyin (Jennifer Jones), the half Asian, half European doctor. However, their courtship is threatened when their friends and her family want them to end the relationship. Adapted from the 1952 novel A Many-Splendoured Thing by Han Suyin, this is one of the most romantic films of the fifties; Jones and Holden are simply magnetic. Starring William Holden, Jennifer Jones, Torin Thatcher, Isobel Elsom 8/10

Julie & Julia (2009)

The story of two women; Julia Child who lived in Paris with her husband in the 1940's, taught cooking and wanted to get her book published. And Julie Powell; who lives in New York City in the modern day world, is a young writer that doesn't like her job so she starts a blog where she is determined to make 524 recipes in 365 days from Julia's first book of French cooking. An interesting story about two extraordinary women who come from very different backgrounds but have one thing in common; they love to cook. A wonderful interesting story; Meryl Streep gives an exceptional performance as well as Amy Adams. Starring Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci, Craig Messina, Jane Lynch 7/10

Papillon (1973)

Papillon is the true story of Henri Charriere, a criminal who's falsely accused of murder and sentenced to life in prison. The name Papillon is French for "butterfly" which he has a tattoo of on his chest. He is sent to the French penal colony in French Guiana, South America. There he becomes friends with another inmate, a counterfeiter named Louis Dega, and with his help plans to make an escape. But escaping isn't easy when he keeps getting captured and put into solitary confinement. However Papillon does not give up, because freedom is all that he wants. An amazing, unforgettable film that doesn't glamorize prison; it shows the harsh and brutal conditions of what penitentiary life is like. McQueen and Hoffman are both fantastic. Starring Steve McQueen, Dustin Hoffman, Don Gordon, Bill Mumy, Anthony Zerbe, William Smithers, Val Avery 8/10

Rescue Dawn (2006)

Based on the real-life story of German American pilot Dieter Dengler, who while bombing Laos is shot down and captured in the early days of the Vietnam War. He is sent to a prison camp where he meets other prisoners, including Duane Martin. Despite being tortured and having hardly any food, Dieter keeps his hopes up by planning an escape out of the camp before he gets killed. However Gene, one of the more unstable prisoners is against it and doesn't think he'll survive out in the jungle. But Dieter is determined to be free again. So along with Duane, he shoots his way out of the camp and flees. But it's not easy, having to deal with the harsh weather conditions and miles of thick foliage. A moving and inspirational story; Christian Bale gives an extraordinary performance. Starring Christian Bale, Steve Zahn, Zach Grenier, Marshall Bell, Jeremy Davies 8/10

Public Enemies (2009)

Set in 1930's Chicago, the notorious bank robber John Dillinger breaks out of jail. Not long after he and his posse start to rob the banks of the big businesses, but leaves the citizens money alone. Meanwhile, after taking Pretty Boy Floyd out, FBI Agent Melvin Purvis is promoted and assigned by J. Edgar Hoover to hunt Dillinger down. But that proves to be no easy task. Dillinger falls in love with Billie Frechette when he meets her at a restaurant. Melvin and his men take her in so they can try to catch the outlaw, but faithful to John she refuses to tell them anything. Purvis and his men apprehend a fellow bank robber named Carroll and interrogate him to find the rest of the Dillingers' gang's location. Purvis organizes an ambush at a hotel named Little Bohemia where Dillinger is supposedly staying, but is unsuccessful when Dillinger manages to escape. So Purvis threatens one of John's friends with deportation if she is not cooperative in setting up Dillinger. She agrees and Purvis stakes out the theater where she and Dillinger are seeing a film. A thrillingly interesting crime drama; Johnny Depp plays a convincing gangster, and Bale is also extraordinary as Purvis. Starring Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, James Russo, Marion Cotillard, Stephen Dorff, Billy Crudup, Giovanni Ribisi, Channing Tatum, Leelee Sobieski 8/10

The Diary of Anne Frank (1959)

Millie Perkins plays Anne Frank, the young Jewish girl living in Amsterdam when she and her family are forced to go into hiding when the Nazis come to power. They also invite another family, the Van Daans to share their hiding place, a tiny annex that's above an old spice factory. Their friends Miep and Mister Kraler who bring them food and news also ask them to take in a dentist named Dussell, despite the cramped quarters and little food that they already have. During the day when the workers are in the factory they have to stay quiet and not move about, for fear that someone will hear them and they'll be arrested by the Gestapo. An emotionally heartbreaking and poignant story; with amazing performances, especially Shelley Winters as Mrs. Van Daan and Joseph Schildkraut as Otto Frank. Not taken directly from the actual diary, but from an adaptation of the Broadway play. A must see. Starring Mille Perkins, Joseph Schildkraut, Shelley Winters, Richard Beymer, Gusti Huber, Lou Jacobi, Diane Baker, Ed Wynn 10/10

The Miracle Worker (1962)

The story of Helen Keller, who was blind and deaf since birth. When she grows older, her family is afraid that she'll be taken away to an institution, so they ask for help from the Perkins Institute, a school for the blind. They send over Annie Sullivan, who has had operations on her eyes because she was once blind herself to be Helen's tutor. But it isn't easy, especially since Helen has been spoiled by her parents and doesn't know how to act civilized. Annie has her work cut out for her, struggling to teach Helen discipline, even something as simple as using a spoon to eat. But she doesn't give up. She feels the only way to get through to Helen is to take her from the house to a place where she can be the only one around to teach her. So Annie finds a little house in the woods that is perfect. Despite their objections, the Keller's pack up her things and brings the inquisitive Helen to the little house. An amazing film; both Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke are sensational in this moving and powerful piece of art. Starring Anne Bancroft, Victor Jory, Inga Swenson, Andrew Pine, Kathleen Comegys, Patty Duke 9/10