are you in my dream too?

Average rating: 7, and it's a weird bunch even for me.

Signs (2002) - "Everything that farmer Graham Hess assumed about the world is changed when he discovers a message—an intricate pattern of circles and lines—carved into his crops. As he investigates the unfolding mystery, what he finds will forever alter the lives of his brother and children. A unique story that explores the mysterious real-life phenomena of crop signs and the effects they have on one man and his family."
length: 1 hour, 46 minutes

source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: I hadn't seen it, and this director's films are unique
IMDB: 6.8/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 75% Audience: 67%
my IMDB: 7/10

MPAA rating: PG-13

notable quote: "'I cursed.'

    'I heard.'"

directed by: M. Night Shyamalan (who also wrote it, and plays a role)

my notes: What an odd movie! I knew nothing about this one before I watched it—my preferred mode for this genre. It is tense from the first scene and held my interest throughout. Some of it is unbelievable or cheesy but overall it hits all marks. I'm also realizing that I like Joaquin in supporting roles rather than as a lead.      (Roger Ebert's terrific review is here.)

overall:  recommended

 

The Bone Collector (1999) - "Policewoman Amelia Donaghy is in hot pursuit of a serial murderer whose calling card is a small shard of bone extracted from each of his victims. Unable to decipher the cryptic clues the killer leaves behind at the scene of the crime, Amelia calls upon quadriplegic forensic criminology expert Lincoln Rhyme to help. With Amelia acting as Rhyme's able-bodied go-between, the pair piece together disparate clues, hoping they will learn who the next victim is."
length: 1 hour, 58 minutes

source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: I thought it might be a decent cop thriller, though I didn't know anything beyond the title and stars
IMDB: 6.7/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 29% Audience: 63%
my IMDB: 6/10

MPAA rating: R

notable quote: "Yesterday you stopped a train. You can do anything you want when you put your mind to it."

directed by: Phillip Noyce

my notes: it's not as dumb as it sounds, but it is pretty dumb. The crime story is compelling, the mystery reasonably good, the law parts not terrible. It's just that the background, the mechanism for it all, is preposterous. A few key plot points (THE keys) are absolutely impossible, and thus impossible to buy into. There's also a boatload of evidence that could never be collected or presented as evidence because of the blatant contamination issues. Finally, when you're writing your screenplay, make sure that the resolution—the why of the story—is at least remotely knowable prior to the ending. Even if you ferreted out the who of this one, you'd have to be a fortune-teller to guess the why.

    Roger Ebert's take: "Most movies with a zillion clues have the good manners to supply a couple that are helpful."

overall: mildly recommended, with a lot of disclaimers

Elf (2003) - "Buddy was accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler and raised to adulthood among Santa's elves. Unable to shake the feeling that he doesn't fit in, the adult Buddy travels to New York, in full elf uniform, in search of his real father. As it happens, this is Walter Hobbs, a cynical businessman. After a DNA test proves this, Walter reluctantly attempts to start a relationship with the childlike Buddy with increasingly chaotic results."
length: 1 hour, 37 minutes

source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: ...I'm still asking myself that question
IMDB: 7.1/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 86% Audience: 79%
my IMDB: 6/10

MPAA rating: PG

notable quote: "Son of a nutcracker!"

directed by: Jon Favreau

my notes: a little Will Ferrell goes a long way. This movie is bursting at the seams with him. My brain just doesn't vibrate at this frequency, y'know? I feel exhausted.

    I know I've seen this before, but it was neither posted to FB nor to the blog. That ought to say something.

overall:  recommended only because some kids would probably like it, and it was a favorite of someone whose opinion I trust in other areas

Four Faces West (1948) - "When his father's ranch faces foreclosure, cowboy Ross McEwen sets out to rob a bank. Leaving an IOU after committing the crime, McEwen makes a successful escape via train, though a rattlesnake bites him in the process. Fortunately for McEwen, nurse Fay Hollister is on board to save his life. However, McEwen is far from free and clear, since Sheriff Pat Garrett is hot on his trail. With a reward on his head, McEwen must be careful whom he trusts."
length: 1 hour, 29 minutes

source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: Joel McCrea is dreamy (previously reviewed here)
IMDB: 7.0/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: N/A% Audience: 71%
my IMDB: 9/10

MPAA rating: Approved

directed by: Alfred E. Green

my notes: such a good movie. McCrea was brilliant with horses. His gently ironic delivery makes McEwen's dialog uniquely soothing. He and Frances Dee (Ms. Hollister)—married for 15 of their 57 years together already when this was made!—had such great chemistry, too. I also really liked Joseph Calleia as Monte Marquez. 

overall: highly recommended

 

[the title quotation is from Signs]