Terry (Marlon Brando) is a failed prize-fighter that now acts as muscle for the corrupt longshormen’s union. He’s sent by his brother, Charley (Rod Steiger), and boss, Johnny Friendly (Lee J. Cobb), to trap a squealer who is then murdered. The dead man’s sister, Edie (Eva Marie Saint), and the local priest (Karl Malden) won’t
The Dark Knight (2008)
District attorney—and current boyfriend of Rachel (Maggie Gyllenhaal taking over for Katie Holmes)—Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), is the new star of Gotham City. He joins with Lieutenant Gordon and Batman to take down the mob by targeting their banking. The mob strikes back by unleashing the Joker (Heath Ledger), whose desire for anarchy is not
Solaris (1972)
Something has gone wrong at the Soviet space station around the planet Solaris. The planet has a sentient ocean that may be creating hallucinations and that idea frighten those in charge. Kris Kelvin (Donatas Banionis), an unpleasant and simple man who is supposedly a psychologist, but never displays that in any way, has been chosen
An American in Paris (1951)
American expatriate painter Jerry Mulligan (Gene Kelly) is picked up by a wealthy divorcĂ©e (Nina Foch). She becomes his patron, with an eye to becoming his lover, but he falls for Lise (Leslie Caron), an anonymous young shop girl. However, she has a secret: She’s engaged to a successful singer (Georges GuĂ©tary) who also happens to
Cat People (1942)
Irena Dubrovna (Simone Simon), a Serbian immigrant, falls in love with Oliver Reed (Kent Smith), and they quickly marry. Irena refuses to consummate the relationship, believing that arousal would turn her into a panther. Eventually, Oliver persuades her to see psychologist Louis Judd (Tom Conway), but he is more interested in getting his hands on
Contact (1997)
Faithless, and therefore unhappy, astronomer, Dr. Eleanor Arroway (Jodie Foster), searches for years for signs of extraterrestrial life. Along the way, she is thwarted by shortsighted scientist Dr. David Drumlin (Tom Skerritt), and she meets man-of-faith, Palmer Joss (Matthew McConaughey), who will later become an advisor to Bill Clinton. Finally, she discovers a broadcast from space
Hamlet (1948)
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (Laurence Olivier), upset that his mother, Queen Gertrude (Eileen Herlie) has married his uncle Claudius (Basil Sydney) just two months after the death of the old king, is informed by his father’s ghost that Claudius murdered him. Hamlet vows revenge, but moves slowly, feigning madness, rejecting and abusing the young Ophelia (Jean
Mildred Pierce (1945)
It’s not the mystery, or the emotional impact, or the philosophical theme that make this film a pleasure, as it has none of those. It’s the humor. This is a movie to laugh at (not with), and occasionally just to stare at in disbelief.
Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
Housewife Rosemary Woodhouse (Mia Farrow) and her self-absorbed husband Guy (John Cassavetes) move to an apartment next to a strange old couple (Ruth Gordon, Sidney Blackmer). Rosemary becomes pregnant, but this happy event is also the beginning of her paranoia and fear that witches want her baby. Along with The Omen and The Exorcist, Rosemary’s
Touch of Evil (1958)
In 1958, Film Noir was no longer original. Either by design (like Sunset Blvd.) or by mistake (like Touch of Evil) Noirs had been reduced to parodies. And this parody documents the fall of Orson Welles. Few have fallen farther.





