Except ... now you're in love with me, and it screws your little head up

One godawful, hideous disgrace, and four good ones. You just never know what you're going to find....

Killer Wave (2007) - "Suddenly the US east coast is hit by a type of natural disaster formerly reserved, except after a major earthquake, for the Pacific and Indian ocean rims: tidal waves of the destructive tsunami type. Scientist and fiction author John McAdams attends a national emergency conference which concludes the phenomenon must be man-made, quite possibly abusing the findings of John's secret former Sea Lion project, but who wants to and has the means? Indeed John soon finds himself set up for a murder and chased...."
Source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: I really like Angus Macfadyen (John McAdams)
IMDB: 4.4/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: N/A% Audience: 17%

notable quote: "...when I die, I'll die defending my country!"
visuals: cardboard
costumes, hair & makeup: the cast may have just worn what they had from home
acting: even Macfadyen could not save it

intangibles: the sheer awfulness of this movie is difficult to express. 
overall: not recommended. Like, if you watch it I will find you, and I will kill you.

The Paradise (2012-13) - "The story of a young woman who works in a department store and gets caught up in the charms of the modern world."
Source: streamed on Amazon Prime
I watched it because: I was in the mood for a longer work, and it was based on the novel Au Bonheur des Dames by Émile Zola, whose work I've not read. 
IMDB: 7.7/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 76% Audience: 83%

notable quote: "'Like me' as in, like me? Or 'like me' as in, kiss me 'til my lips are sore?"
story: Denise comes to London to stay with her uncle and work in his dress shop. He has no work for her because the new department store nearby has changed the face of the neighborhood. The only way she can fend for herself is to get a job at the department store. So begins her 'real life': the launch of her career and her introduction to John Moray, the owner of The Paradise.
visuals: stunning but subdued
costumes, hair & makeup: pretty, refined, different from the typical. Nothing ostentatious.
acting: I liked Emun Elliott (Moray), David Hayman (Jonas), and especially Sonya Cassidy (Clara).

intangibles: it's a different sort of show. Historical, but progressive. Romantic and sexy, but not overtly sexual. Suspenseful, but not mysterious. Optimistic, friendly, and joyful. 
overall: recommended

Witness (1985) - "When a young Amish boy is sole witness to a murder, policeman John Book goes into hiding in Amish country to protect him until the trial."
Source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: it's one of those movies that everybody's heard of, but it was not on my radar at the time it came out 
AFI: 100 Years ... 100 Passions (2002) #82

IMDB: 7.4/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 93% Audience: 80%

notable quote: "What you take into your hands, you take into your heart. 'Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate....'"
story: it sounds a little kooky, but it works
visuals: very nice
costumes, hair & makeup: the contrast between the two cultures was handled sensitively
acting: the whole cast was chosen well

intangibles: not a film I'd like to see again, but I liked it
Academy Award winner:
• Best Writing, Screenplay written directly for the screen

• Best Film Editing
Academy Award nominee:
• Best Picture

• Best Actor—Harrison Ford (John Book)

• Best Director—Peter Weir

• Best Cinematography

• Best Art Direction—Set Decoration

• Best Music, Original Score
overall: recommended

North Country (2005) - "A fictionalized account of the first major successful sexual harassment case in the United States, Jenson v. Eveleth Mines, where a woman who endured a range of abuse while working as a miner filed and won the landmark 1984 lawsuit."
Source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: I like Charlize Theron (Josey Aimes)
IMDB: 7.3/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 69% Audience: 76%

notable quote: "...sense of humor, ladies—rule-o numero uno."
visuals: it was filmed in the actual town of Eveleth (and other locations), which makes it legit in my mind
costumes, hair & makeup: very realistic 
acting: Woody Harrelson (Bill White) is one of those actors who is either marvelous or a shitshow. In this film, he is tremendous, as is Theron.

intangibles: one of those movies that shakes, and maybe redeems, one's faith in humanity.
Academy Award nominee:
• Best Actress—Theron

• Best Supporting Actress—Frances McDormand (Glory Dodge)
overall: recommended

In the Line of Fire (1993) - "Secret Service agent Frank Horrigan (Clint Eastwood) couldn't save Kennedy, but he's determined not to let a clever assassin take out this president."
Source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: I saw it at release but not since
IMDB: 7.2/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 96% Audience: 79%

notable quote: "I was just wondering where you hide your firearm. Don't tell me—let me guess."
story: Clint's character sort of comes out of retirement to make up for a mistake he made in the 60s, and to take out John Malkovich's Mitch Leary
visuals: the most tense parts of this movie take place at Los Angeles' Westin Bonaventure, in the (exterior) glass elevators. THIS is why I don't like exterior glass elevators.
acting: Eastwood is excellent here. Just crusty enough to be himself, and still spry enough to be believable in the role both as Secret Service and as Rene Russo's (Lilly Raines') unaffectedly desirable older man.

intangibles: very good movie
Academy Award nominee:
• Best Supporting Actor—Malkovich

• Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen

• Best Film Editing
overall: highly recommended

[the title quotation is from In the Line of Fire]