go. Sleep badly. Any questions, hesitate to call. ... Get out. Vanish.

Average rating: 7.75

Thunderheart (1992) - "When a series of murders stuns a small Native American reservation, the FBI sends in agent Ray Levoi to investigate. While Ray is relatively inexperienced, he is one quarter Sioux and the FBI hopes that will make it easier for them to gather information from the locals. While the reservation police officer views the agent as an outsider, the tribal elder believes him to be the reincarnated spirit of Thunderheart, a Native American hero."
length: 1 hour, 59 minutes

source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: I wanted to have a Val Kilmer retrospective
IMDB: 6.8/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 91% Audience: 75%
my IMDB: 7/10

MPAA rating: R

notable quote: "'In case you didn't know it, officer, violation of the...'

    '...Major Crimes Act on an Indian reservation is within the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Intimidation. I know that.'"

directed by: Michael Apted

my notes: for some reason that I cannot understand, I didn't like this one the first time I saw it. It is possible that the subsequent passing of both Graham Greene (Walter Crow Horse) and Val Kilmer (Ray Levoi) has altered the film's emotional chemistry. It's also possible I was in the wrong mood to get into it before. In any case: I liked it. I thought Kilmer's character appreciably grew, from start to finish, and that the remaining characters (particularly Greene's) added real flavor to the action. 

    Roger Ebert's review is here, which I now see—upon my second viewing of the movie—as a revelation. 

overall:  recommended

 

Field of Dreams (1989) - "When Iowa farmer Ray hears a mysterious voice one night in his cornfield saying "If you build it, he will come," he feels the need to act. Despite taunts of lunacy, Ray builds a baseball diamond on his land, supported by his wife, Annie. Afterward, the ghosts of great players start emerging from the crops to play ball, led by "Shoeless" Joe Jackson. But, as Ray learns, this field of dreams is about much more than bringing former baseball greats out to play."
length: 1 hour, 47 minutes

source: I own the DVD
I watched it because: I was in the mood for something gentle

    previously reviewed here
IMDB: 7.5/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 88% Audience: 86%
my IMDB: 8/10

AFI: 10 Top 10 (2008) Fantasy #6 

    100 Years…100 Cheers (2006) #28

MPAA rating: PG

notable quote: "This is really new territory for both of us, I know, but we're dealing with primal forces of nature here, all right? When primal forces of nature tell you to do something, the prudent thing is not to quibble over details."

directed by: Phil Alden Robinson

my notes: I enjoy movies that are unabashedly sweet without getting sticky, and this is one of the all-time greats. Kevin Costner is marvelous, a loosey-goosey boy next door. I completely adore Ray Liotta and James Earl Jones. And as much as I'd like to review this in an intellectual or scientific way—it's a guaranteed tearjerker for me, which I love. 

    Roger Ebert's review is here, with which I fondly agree.

Academy Award nominee: 

• Best Picture—Lawrence Gordon, Charles Gordon 

• Best Writing, Screenplay based on material from another medium—Robinson 

• Best Music, Original Score—James Horner
overall: highly recommended

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) - "In 19th century Qing Dynasty China, a warrior (Chow Yun-Fat) gives his sword, Green Destiny, to his lover (Michelle Yeoh) to deliver to safe keeping, but it is stolen, and the chase is on to find it. The search leads to the House of Yu where the story takes on a whole different level."
Length: 2h | Source: my DVD | directed by: Ang Lee | Why I watched: it's been a long time, and the first time through I think I missed a lot

IMDb: 7.9/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 98% / 86% Audience | My IMDb: 7/10 MPAA: PG-13 Tone & Texture: Lyrical melancholy / grace tethered to destiny 

notable quote: "Sharpness is a state of mind."

my notes: I don't dislike it, but there's something I'm clearly not getting. Ziyi Zhang (Jen) is not a fave, defaulting more to 'blankness' than 'serenity' and fighting in an uncontrolled fashion. I do like Chow Yun-Fat (Li Mu Bai) and Michelle Yeoh (Yu Shu Lien), and was impressed by the physicality and rawness in Chang Chan (Yo).

    Roger Ebert's review is here, with which I do not entirely agree.

Academy Award winner (6x nominee):
• Best Cinematography—Peter Pau 

• Best Music, Original Score—Duo Tan

• Best Art Direction - Set Decoration—Tim Yip

• Best Foreign Language Film—Taiwan

Themes: love redefined through loss / redemption through restraint / ghosts of responsibility
overall:  recommended

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) - "Two-bit crook Harry Lockhart stumbles into an audition for a mystery film while on the run from the cops. Winning the part, he lands in Hollywood, where he's flung into a tangled, murderous conspiracy with his childhood sweetheart, Harmony Lane, and hard-boiled private eye Perry van Shrike."

Length: 1h, 43m | Source: my DVD | directed by: Shane Black  |  Why I watched: Val Kilmer retrospective in process (previously reviewed here and here)

IMDb: 7.4/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 86% / 87% Audience | My IMDb: 9/10 MPAA: R 

Tone & Texture: Sardonic noir / chaos wrapped in charm 

notable quote: "You think that's funny? I'm gonna break your nose now."

my notes: such a delightful, sarcastic, fun film. I love Val Kilmer as (Gay) Perry van Shrike, all deliciously cool, gorgeous action hero. I found it clever, engrossing without excessive tricks, and very satisfying. 

    Roger Ebert's review is here, with which I completely disagree.

Themes: authenticity under pressure / loyalty tested / the fragile ordinary 

overall: strongly recommended

 

[the title quotation is from Kiss Kiss Bang Bang]