if you could remember who stabbed you with the wheelchair, and where it happened, it would really help

SPOILER ALERT! Don't read the second entry if you're planning to see it. Average rating: 7.75. Good ones!

Absence of Malice (1981) - "Megan Carter is a reporter duped into running an untrue story on Michael Gallagher, a suspected racketeer. He has an alibi for the time his supposed crime was committed but it involves an innocent party. When she tells Carter the truth and the newspaper runs it, tragedy follows, forcing Carter to face up to the responsibilities of her job when she is confronted by Gallagher."
length: 1 hour, 56 minutes

source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: I loved it the first time around

    (previously reviewed here)
IMDB: 6.9/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 81% Audience: 64%
my IMDB: 9/10

MPAA rating: PG

notable quote: "'Waiter? Check.'

    'Oh, no, no, no. I'll pay. Unless you think that would make you impotent.'

    'You got some mouth.'"

directed by: Sidney Lumet

my notes: it's pretty dated (lots of old-style journalism that isn't even theoretically possible anymore) but at its heart, there's still a lot that's true and resonant. 

    There is no sexier scene in all of film than the couple's meeting at her apartment after the second article. The long shot of them sort of barely holding hands speaks shivery, delicious, unbearably tense volumes.

    The strongest impression that this film leaves: Wilfred Brimley is fucking brilliant in this movie. Truly towering, remarkable, and ought to be taught to every actor in training. Really outstanding.

Academy Award nominee:
• Best Actor—Paul Newman

• Best Supporting Actor—Melinda Dillon

• Best Writing, Screenplay written directly for the screen—Kurt Luedtke
overall: highly recommended

 

The Rainmaker (1997) - "Struggling new attorney Rudy Baylor (Matt Damon) resorts to working for a shady lawyer (Mickey Rourke), where he meets paralegal Deck Shifflet (Danny DeVito). When the insurance company of Dot Black (Mary Kay Place) refuses her dying son coverage, Baylor and Shifflet team up to fight the corrupt corporation, taking on its callous lawyer (Jon Voight). Meanwhile, Baylor becomes involved with Kelly Riker (Claire Danes), an abused wife, whose husband complicates matters when he confronts Baylor."
length: 2 hours, 15 minutes

source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: I'd seen it a few years ago (reviewed here) and liked it quite a bit, which seemed a little strange so I thought I'd better test that
IMDB: 7.2/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 82% Audience: 78%
my IMDB: 6/10

MPAA rating: PG-13

notable quote: "'Are you in over your head, son?'

    '... Absolutely!'"

directed by: Francis Ford Coppola (also co-wrote)

my notes: it's kind of a mess. The medical stuff—the kid would be in the hospital, not at home. And whomever bandaged up the girl accomplished it at a third-grade level; what the fuck purpose is the gauze wrap around her face? 

    The law stuff is a disaster area that doesn't deserve serious consideration; if Grisham actually wrote the crap that turned up in the film, thank God he's not a practicing attorney. 

    The acting stuff: let's call it 'widely divergent'. Damon gamely does what he can with this weird script. Mary Kay Place (Dot Black) is Oscar-level phenomenal, as is Red West as her husband Buddy. DeVito is pretty all right, in the 'supporting' role that kind of steals the show. Danes is meh, Voight is a stereotypical blustery blowhard lawyer in the same vein as Gene Hackman in Runaway Jury (reviewed here)—another Grisham mess—and Rourke is wasted with only moments of screen time that seem pasted on after the fact. Danny Glover is terrific, though, and seems to be enjoying the unwinding of the narrative.

    It's entertaining, but at least part of the enjoyment is akin to watching the fights in hockey or staring at a car crash. How f'ing messed up can something get?

overall: marginally recommended

Breaking Away (1979) - "Dave (Dennis Christopher) and his working-class friends Cyril (Daniel Stern), Moocher (Jackie Earle Haley) and Mike (Dennis Quaid) spend their post-high school days in Bloomington, Indiana, sparring with snooty students from the local university, chasing girls and--in Dave's case--dreaming of competitive bicycle racing. The four friends face opposition from all corners as they decide to make Dave's dreams come true in the university's annual bicycle endurance race."
length: 1 hour, 41 minutes

source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: I hadn't seen it in a while (previously reviewed here) and recall it being a good one
IMDB: 7.7/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 95% Audience: 88%
my IMDB: 8/10

AFI: 100 Years ... 100 Cheers (2006) #8 

    10 Top 10 (2008) Sports #8

MPAA rating: PG

notable quote: "'How are you fellas doing?'

    'Well, we're a little disturbed by developments in the Middle East, but...'"

directed by: Peter Yates

my notes: charming, funny, and thought-provoking. Dennis Christopher is engaging and compelling without being a particularly attractive or "good" character. The parents' storyline is particularly interesting, watching this as someone more their age than his. The other guys in the gang are pretty good, particularly Daniel Stern in his first movie role. It's too bad he's turned into "that guy from Home Alone."

Academy Award winner: Best Writing, Screenplay written directly for the screen—Steve Tesich
Academy Award nominee:
• Best Picture—Yates

• Best Supporting Actress—Barbara Barrie

• Best Director—Yates 

• Best Music, Original Song Score and its adaptation or Best Adaptation Score—Patrick Williams
overall:  recommended

Conspiracy Theory (1997) - "New York City cabbie Jerry Fletcher (Mel Gibson) is an expert on paranoid conspiracy theories. He is also infatuated with government lawyer Alice Sutton (Julia Roberts), who permits his attention because he once rescued her from a mugging. However, when Jerry is captured and put through psychotic tests by Dr. Jonas (Patrick Stewart), he realizes there is an actual conspiracy. After escaping, Jerry enlists Alice's help, but she wonders whether he has uncovered a real threat or is just insane."
length: 2 hours, 15 minutes

source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because:  I remember it being weird, funny, uncomfortable and romantic, and wanted to know if I recalled it right (previously reviewed here)
IMDB: 6.7/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 57% Audience: 64%
my IMDB: 8/10

MPAA rating: R

notable quote: "'This is, like, the best dream I ever had.'

    [. . .]

    'Can you untie me?'"

directed by: Richard Donner

my notes: I like this movie very, very much. I think the characters are believable, compelling, and well motivated. (Cylk Cozart is particularly good as the oft-smacked Agent Lowry.) 

    The story is only crazy if you don't believe. 

    It's love.

overall:  recommended

 

[the title quotation is from Conspiracy Theory]