...if they kill me? / I'll be miserable for days

Poor Marie drags the average rating down to 6.25.

Marie Antoinette (2006) - "An Austrian teenager marries the Dauphin of France and becomes that country's queen following the death of King Louis XV in 1774. Years later, after a life of luxury and privilege, Marie Antoinette loses her head during the French Revolution."

source: DVD
I watched it because: I was curious
IMDB: 6.5/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 57% Audience: 56%
my IMDB: 2/10 (DNF)

notable quote: "'So, I hear you like to make keys as a hobby?'

    'Yes.'

    'And do you enjoy making keys?'

    'Obviously.'"

MPAA rating: PG-13

directed by: Sofia Coppola

my notes: this movie has multiple personality disorder. Is it history? Is it a teen romp, as evidenced by the Converse sneakers and Siouxie and the Banshees-esque soundtrack? Is it comedy, or farce? Is it an exploration of the subjugation of women? Is it a colorful feast for the senses?

    Nope. It's just a fucking mess - and, worse than that, it's boring. Nothing happens! Ugh.

Academy Award winner: Best Costume Design—Milena Canonero 
overall: not  recommended

Infernal Affairs (2002) - "Idealistic police cadet Chan Wing-Yan (Tony Leung) is recruited by Police Superintendent Wong (Anthony Wong) to go deep undercover as a member of the criminal Triad society. Into the same cadet class, crime boss Hon Sam (Eric Tsang) installs new Triad member Lau Kin Ming (Andy Lau) to become a long-term mole for the gang. A decade later, both have risen through the ranks in their respective aliases—but when both of their covers are in danger of being blown—a game of life and death ensues."

source: DVD
I watched it because: I love Andy Lau's work as a director, and Tony Leung Chiu-wai is a terrific actor (previously reviewed here)
IMDB: 8.0/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 94% Audience: 95%
my IMDB: 8/10

notable quote: "I'll dream of you, Officer Yan."

MPAA rating: R

directed by: Andrew Lau, Alan Mak

my notes: based on the same screenplay as The Departed (2006), in a lot of ways this is the better treatment. Scorsese overdoes, while Lau is a minimalist. Long scenes with no music, almost no sound, compare favorably to the huge body-count and incessant F-bombs. This movie is beautifully shot, thoughtful, and tense as hell.

overall: highly recommended

The Hustler (1961) - "Story features Fast Eddie Felsen (Paul Newman) and his adventures in the world of professional pool. Fast Eddie is a young hopeful on his way to challenging Minnesota Fats (Jackie Gleason) for his world title. When he starts getting feelings for a woman he gets into a dilemma."
source: DVD
I watched it because: any excuse to watch acting this good (also reviewed here)
IMDB: 8.0/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 94% Audience: 93%
my IMDB: 8/10

AFI: 10 Top 10 (2008) Sports #6

notable quote: "Look, I've got troubles and I think maybe you've got troubles. Maybe it'd be better if we just leave each other alone."

MPAA rating: Approved (TV-PG)

directed by: Robert Rossen

my notes: bleak, beautiful, and smooth. George C. Scott is chilling.

Academy Award winner: 

• Best Cinematography, Black and White—Eugen Schüfftan

• Best Art Direction—Set Decoration, Black and White—Harry Horner, Gene Callahan

Academy Award nominee: 

• Best Picture—Robert Rossen 

• Best Actor—Newman 

• Best Actress—Piper Laurie 

• Best Supporting Actor—Gleason 

• Best Supporting Actor—Scott (refused even to be nominated) 

• Best Director—Rossen 

• Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium
overall:  recommended

Wild Card (2015) - "Nick Wild (Jason Statham) is a Las Vegas bodyguard with lethal professional skills and a personal gambling problem. When a friend is beaten by a sadistic thug, Nick strikes back, only to find out the thug is the son of a powerful mob boss. Suddenly Nick is plunged into the criminal underworld, chased by enforcers and wanted by the mob. Having raised the stakes, Nick has one last play to change his fortunes...and this time, it's all or nothing. "
source: DVD
I watched it because: it's been way too long since I saw it last (October 2015, not reviewed)
IMDB: 5.6/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 32% Audience: 29%
my IMDB: 7/10

notable quote: "'Guess you haven't liked Vegas much, huh?'

    'You're not supposed to like Vegas. It's just this creeping virus that people catch sometimes.'"

MPAA rating: R

directed by: Simon West

my notes: welp, there's really nothing like watching a woman who's been brutally attacked going after her rapist with a sharp pair of garden shears.

    It's not high-class cinema, but it's a good story, well told, and I like it. The casino fight scene is one of the best I've seen, and Stanley Tucci's a treat.

overall:  recommended

 

[the title quotation is from Wild Card]