Scent of a Woman (1992)

In New Hampshire, Charlie Simms is a prep school student who witnesses some of his friends playing a prank on the headmaster. The headmaster finds out that he and his friend George know who did it, but doesn't admit anything. So they have until after the Thanksgiving holiday to confess if they saw anything. Charlie is torn because he doesn't want to rat out his fellow classmates but the headmaster tells him that he'll get him into an Ivy League school if he does. Charlie wants to go home to Oregon for Christmas break but doesn't have money for air-fare. So he gets a part-time job house-sitting for a blind ex-colonel named Frank Slade. But when he meets Frank, Charlie discovers the job is not at all what he expected; Frank is a tough, no-nonsense man who says what he means, no matter how blunt he may sound. And what Charlie doesn't realize until later is that the colonel has plans of his own. One of Pacino's best performances; a terrific, emotional, often comical drama. Starring Al Pacino, Chris O'Donnell, James Rebhorn, Gabrielle Anwar, Philip Seymour Hoffman, 7/10

Primal Fear (1996)

A hotshot attorney named Martin Vail takes on a case of an altar boy who's been accused of murdering a priest. As he investigates the evidence and what happened, the case becomes even more complicated when Martin discovers that Aaron, the altar boy has two split personalities; the shy Aaron and the tough Roy. Then when a sex tape is found with the priest being involved in harassing a girl and two young altar boys, one being the accused it is considered that a motive has been found as well. A thrilling and chilling courtroom drama that will keep you guessing until its shocking climax. Norton, in his screen debut is simply astonishing. Starring Richard Gere, Laura Linney, John Mahoney, Alfre Woodward, Frances McDormand, Edward Norton,Terry O' Quinn, Steven Bauer, Maura Tierney 7/10

Empire of the Sun (1987)

It's 1941, and just at the beginning of World War 2. James "Jamie" Graham, a young British boy who lives with his rich family in Shanghai gets separated from his parents when there is a Japanese army invasion. He goes back to his house but his parents aren't there. He stays for a few months until the food runs out. But when he goes back to Shanghai on his bike, he is mugged by a Chinese boy. He's nearly run over by a truck, which the driver named Frank brings him back to where he and his friend Basie are staying. Not long after they are sent to the Soochow Interment prison camp, which is next to an airbase site. When the war ends, Jamie is eventually reunited with his parents but doesn't recognize them right away because of the long time that has passed since he's seen them. From the autobiography of J.G. Ballard, this is an emotional and exciting story. Christian Bale, only thirteen and in his film debut, is simply mesmerizing. Starring Christian Bale, John Malkovich, Miranda Richardson, Nigel Havers, Joe Pantaliano, Ben Stiller 8/10

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

The Machinist (2004)

Trevor Reznik is an industrial worker; emaciated and an insomniac who hasn't slept in a year. The only happiness in his life is spending time with his hooker girlfriend Stevie, and talking with a divorced waitress at the airport restaurant. But weird things start to happen; he keeps seeing a co-worker who everyone says doesn't exist, then he finds mysterious Post-It notes on his refrigerator. Then after there's an accident at work, Trevor claims that it was the non-existent co-worker who distracted him. When he begins to suspect that there's a revenge plot against him, he soon believes that he's slowly losing his mind. A strange and intriguing psychological drama; Bale is simply astounding and barely recognizable. Starring Christian Bale, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, John Sharian, Michael Ironside, Larry Gillard Jr. 8/10