also, you shouldn't be scared of the world. I kinda suspect the world should be a scared of you

One turkey, a couple of hesitant thumbs up, and two that I would watch again right away. Adventure, romance, history, true crime, and a clever indie...

The River (1984) - "A farming family battles severe storms, a bank is threatened to repossess their farm, and there are other hard times in a battle to save and hold onto their farm."
Source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: it was supposed to be a good movie; look at all those Oscar nominations and the win!
IMDB: 6.4/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 24% Audience: 49%

visuals: wet. Watery. Sodden. Soggy. Damp. Soaked. Drenched. Sopping. Dripping. Saturated. Humidified. Sprinkled. Sprayed. Splashed. Flooded. Moist.
costumes, hair & makeup: slickers
acting: dark.

intangibles: 98% disheartening. I cannot imagine anyone wanting to watch this more than once.
Academy Award winner: Special Achievement Award for Sound Effects Editing
Academy Award nominee:
• Best Actress—Sissy Spacek (Mae Garvey)

• Best Cinematography

• Best Sound

• Best Music, Original Score
overall: not recommended

The Horse Soldiers (1959) - "In 1863, a Union outfit is sent behind Confederate lines in Mississippi to destroy enemy railroads but a captive southern belle and the unit's doctor cause frictions within ranks."
Source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: it's a John Wayne that I haven't seen. 
IMDB: 7.2/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 91% Audience: 75%

notable quote: "The man I knew could lose both arms and still try to kick you to death!"
story: Civil War adventure buddy film
visuals: nothing extraordinary
costumes, hair & makeup: Constance Towers was a gorgeous fish out of water, lovely and lively
acting: William Holden (Maj. Henry Kendall) has become one of my favorites. He has gravitas, humor, and gorgeous eyes

intangibles: I liked this one very much. Wayne and Holden had chemistry, treated the film and script with the seriousness it deserved, and looked great doing it. I can't imagine this one is too well known or available, but it is definitely worth seeing.
overall: recommended

John and Mary (1969) - "John and Mary meet in a singles bar, sleep together, and spend the next day getting to know each other."
Source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: the disc said "John & Mary / Dustin Hoffman / 1969," which was enough for me to be curious
IMDB: 6.6/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 42% Audience: 53%

notable quote: "Just like cats—sniffing around before they decide to bed down for the rest of their natural lives."
story: the swinging '60s version of One Night (2012), which I loved (see review here). 
visuals: fantastic sets and an array of nice, short shots
costumes, hair & makeup: Mia Farrow (Mary) looks beautiful, fresh, and fascinating - a perfect representation of the era
acting: Farrow was terrific

intangibles: I didn't love it. Hoffman has played this character a few too many times for me to get excited about it. It's the 'new adult' version of The Graduate, where he's stuttering but not as much, he's had sex a few more times, and yet he's still the same obtuse combination of arrogance and self-consciousness. Easy to see how his John could fall for Mary, but not so in the reverse. Still...
overall: somewhat reluctantly recommended

Monster (2003) - "Based on the life of Aileen Wuornos, a Daytona Beach prostitute who became a serial killer."
Source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: Charlize Theron is always good, and she won the Oscar for this one
IMDB: 7.3/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 81% Audience: 81%

story: fucked. the. fuck. UP. Aileen has been a hooker since middle school. After she becomes involved with Selby (Christina Ricci) her life unravels, and she takes a few others down with her.
visuals: horrifyingly realistic
costumes, hair & makeup: also horrifyingly realistic. This is one of those films, and Theron (and Ricci) the type of actress, where there's no hint of movie-star distraction. It is very easy to fall into the willing suspension of disbelief and buy the story.
acting: outstanding, across the board. Besides the two leads, I thought Bruce Dern (Thomas) and Scott Wilson (Horton) were terrific.

intangibles: this movie revolted me on a visceral level, which is the main reason that I persisted in watching it through to the end. It is important to try and understand how evil works in the real world, what makes some people push past it and others sink into it, and what (if anything) can stop it.
Academy Award winner: Best Actress—Theron
overall: recommended, with the caveat that it is an 'important' film that I never, ever want to see again

Ashby (2015) - "After moving to a new town with his [divorced] mother, a teen befriends a retired CIA [operative] who teaches him valuable life lessons."
Source: streamed on Amazon Prime
I watched it because: I'm a little bit in love with Mickey Rourke. He's, y'know, either butt-ugly or rockstar-hot, and I find that mesmerizing.
IMDB: 6.4/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 52% Audience: 48%

notable quote: "If you're gonna be a pacifist in an irritating personality type, then you'll at least need to know how to take a punch—as you'll no doubt be taking plenty."
story: simple on the surface, and miles deep
visuals: well done. There are some deviously placed plot points, and some highly silly elements as well.
costumes, hair & makeup: pretty people being pretty
acting: Rourke is freakin' amazing in the title role. He looks a little like Ben Roethlisberger, like he's landed on his head a few too many times, but then he comes off with a brilliant little film like this and you know he's smarter than any of us. Nat Wolff (Ed Wallis) is pretty good, too.

intangibles: this got smeared by the critics, but I found it really funny, sweet, and thoughtful. And the soundtrack was good, too.
overall: very highly recommended

[the title quotation is from Ashby]