Tom's Cinema Database
Tom's Cinema Database
| Score | title | Year | Director | Cast | Comments | IMDB | Times seen | Favorite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.50 | American Beauty | 1999 | MENDES, Sam | SPACEY, Kevin; BENING, Annette; BIRCH, Thora; BENTLEY, Wes; SUVARI, Mena; GALLAGHER, Peter; COOPER (I), Chris | Mesmerizing in its perfection - performances, story, direction, courage | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0169547 | 5 | Yes |
| 9.50 | Ararat | 2002 | EGOYAN, Atom | ALPAY, David; KHANJIAN, Arsinéel; PLUMMER, Christopher; | Awsome - Perhaps Egoyan's best, and that's saying a lot. Intricate as always. Totally beautiful and thoughtful. | http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0273435/ | 1 | Yes |
| 9.50 | Once were Warriors | 1994 | TAMAHORI, Lee | Rena Owen, Temuera Morrison, Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell, Julian Arahanga | Amazingly well made view and explanation of brutal urban Mauri life. Every moment contributes. (Brutal violence) | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0110729 | 2 | Yes |
| 9.25 | Big Night | 1996 | TUCCI, Stanley; SCOTT, Campbell | Stanley Tucci, Tony Shalhoub, Ian Holm, Minnie Driver, Isabella Rossellini, Allison Janney, Campbell Scott, Marc Anthony | One of the most nearly perfect films made in the U.S. Perfect textures and tension. (Eat well before or after!) | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0115678 | 2 | Yes |
| 9.25 | English Patient, The | 1996 | MINGHELLA, Anthony | Ralph Feins, Juliette Binoche, Willem Dafoe, Kristin Scott Thomas, Naveen Andrews, Colin Firth, Julian Wadham, Juergen Prochnow, Kevin Whately, Clive Merrison, Nino Castelnuovo, Hichem Rostom | An almost perfectly made film. Disappointing but perhaps necessarily simplifed version of the book. | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0116209 | 1 | No |
| 9.25 | Hamlet | 1996 | BRANNAGH, Kennith | BRANNAGH, Kenneth, CHRISTIE, Julie, CRYSTAL, Billy, ATTENBOROUGH, Richard; | Marvelous. Wonderfully directed, especially well shot and staged. Slightly tiresome cameo appearances. | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0116477 | 1 | No |
| 9.25 | High Art | 1998 | CHOLODENKO, Lisa | SHEEDY, Ally; MITCHELL, Rhada; CLARKSON, Patricia; GRIMES, Tammy; MANN, Gabriel | Extraordinarily well made, intelligent, beautiful and sexy film. Realism in no way detracts from the tension. | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0139362 | 1 | No |
| 9.25 | High Noon | 1952 | ZINNERMANN, Fred | COOPER, Gary; MITCHELL (I), Thomas; BRIDGES, Lloyd; JURADO, Katy; KELLY, Grace | Very stylish, suspenseful (western) suspense thriller | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0044706 | 1 | No |
| 9.25 | I am Sam | 2001 | NELSON, Jessie | PENN, Sean; PFEIFFER, Michelle; DERN, Laura; FANNING, Dakota; WIEST, Dianne | Very powerfull tear-jerker. Michelle over-the-top in first half only. So well made. | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0277027 | 1 | No |
| 9.25 | Manchurian Candidate, The | 2004 | DEMME, Jonathon | WASHINGTON, Denzel; STREEP, Meryl | An unusually good re-make of an outstanding original | http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0368008/ | 3 | Yes |
| 9.25 | Mystic River | 2003 | EASTWOOD, Clint | PENN, Sean; ROBBINS, Tim | Very very well done. Great ensemble. Rich characters but none ever over the top. Marcia Gay Harden might be good - but she only shows one emotion all through the film. (One goof - the girl can be seen breathing on the autopsy table.) | http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0327056/ | 1 | No |
| 9.25 | Naked | 1993 | LEIGH, Mike | David Thewlis, Leslie Sharp, Katrin Cartlidge | Wonderful dark film; philosopher societal drop-out and bevy of pathetic heros | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0107653 | 1 | No |
| 9.25 | Run Lola Run | 1998 | TYKWER, Tom | POTENTE, Franka; BLEIBTREU, Moritz | Fantastic three-scenario/version hip movie - clever, superbly edited. | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0130827 | 2 | No |
| 9.25 | Sammy and Rosie Get Laid | 1987 | FREARES, Stephen | Shashi Kapoor, Frances Barber | Excellent nothing-for-granted view of alternative England. | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0093913 | 1 | No |
| 9.25 | Secrets and Lies | 1996 | LEIGH, Mike | Brenda Blethy, Timothy Small, Marianne Jean-Baptiste | Incredable film. Totally believable, superbly directed and acted. Massive tension created just from compassion for the characters. At least two wonderful shots of several minutes duration - very theatrical. | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0117589 | 2 | No |
| 9.25 | Seven | 1995 | FINCHER, David | Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Kevin Spacey, Gwyneth Paltrow | Absolutely superb, wonderfully made, incredibly suspensfull. | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0114369 | 1 | No |
| 9.25 | William Shakespere's Romeo + Juliet | 1996 | LUHRMAN, Baz | Leonardo DiCaprio, Claire Danes, Pete Postlethwaite | Awsome present-day setting. Terrific insertion of scenes into gangsta culture. Better than Zerffereli's, for acting, direction, but especially design. | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0117509 | 3 | Yes |
| 9.00 | 101 Reykjavík | 2000 | KORMAKUR, Baltasar | GUONASON, Hilmir; ABRIL, Victoria; KARLSDOTTIR, Hanna Maria; KORMAKUR; Baltasar | Fabulous! Makes me want to go to Iceland and party. Colorful. Very well made. | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0237993 | 1 | No |
| 9.00 | 21 Grams | 2003 | Alejandro González Iñárritu | PENN, Sean; WATTS, Naomi; DEL TORO, Benicio; GAINSBOURG, Charlotte; LEO, Melissa | Inticate structure creates suspense until it unfolds. Great acting. Nice style. | http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0315733/ | 1 | No |
| 9.00 | A Prairie Home Companion | 2006 | ALTMAN, Robert | HARRELSON, Woody; JONES, Tommy Lee; KEILLOR, Garrison; KLINE, Kevin; LOHAN, Lindsay; MADSEN, Virginia; STREEP, Maryl; TOMLIN, Lily | Utterly charming. (Robert Altman was a master of diverse styles.) Great ensemble cast and casting. | http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0420087/ | 1 | No |
| 9.00 | American History X | 1998 | KAYE, Tony | NORTON, Edward; FURLONG, Edward; D'ANGELO, Beverly; LIEN, Jennifer | Amazingly well done - Norton is fantastic | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0120586 | 1 | No |
| 9.00 | An Ideal Husband | 1999 | PARKER (II), Oliver | EVERETT, Rupert; MOORE, Julianne; NORTHAM, Jeremy; BLANCHET, Cate; DRIVER, Minnie | Superbly made, perfect performances, a triumph. | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0122541 | 2 | No |
| 9.00 | Apocalypse Now | 1979 | COPPOLA, Frances Ford | Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Dennis Hopper, DUVAL, Robert | Awesome, fantastically well made, tremendously powerful. "The Horror..." | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0078788 | 4 | No |
| 9.00 | Beautiful Mind, A | 2001 | HOWARD, Ron | CROWE, Russell; HARRIS, Ed; CONNOLY, Jennifer | Powerful and moving. Slightly subtler acting (and makeup) would have been good. Nice saturated but dark pallate. | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0268978 | 1 | No |
| 9.00 | Big Lebowski, The | 1998 | COEN, Joel | GOODMAN, John; BRIDGES, Jeff | Hilarious and clever | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0118715 | 1 | No |
| 9.00 | Boys Don't Cry | 1999 | PIERCE, Kimberly | SWANK, Hillery | Powerful, moving, superbly performed and made | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0171804 | 1 | No |
| 9.00 | Career Girls | 1997 | LEIGH, Mike | CARTLIDGE, Katrin; STEADMAN, Lynda | Excelent, funny. Extraordinarily well directed, written, and acted. | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0118818 | 1 | No |
| 9.00 | Children of Men | 2006 | Cuarón, Alfonso | OWEN, Clive | Really thoughtful a la 28 Days. Cleverly disturbing. | http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0206634/ | 1 | No |
| 9.00 | Contempt | 1963 | GODDARD, Jean-Luc | BARDOT | Splendid self-referential film. Interesting critical commentary - which neglects to suggest that the title perhaps refers also to Godard's view of the mainstream which he is joining? | http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0057345/ | 1 | No |
| 9.00 | East is East | 1999 | O'DONNELL, Damien | PURI, Om; BASSETT, Linda; | Clever and delighful. (Sad about the humour drawn from the brides' appearance though) | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0166175 | 2 | No |
| 9.00 | Eyes Wide Shut | 1999 | KUBRICK, Stanley | CRUISE, Tom; KIDMAN, Nicole | Wonderfully made, judiciously paced. Cruise fairly good - Kiddman better | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0120663 | 1 | No |
| 9.00 | Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain, Le | 2001 | JEUNET, Jean-Pierre | TAUTOU, Audrey | Wonderful. Beautiful palate, very richly but economically developed characters. | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0211915 | 1 | No |
| 9.00 | Farenheit 9/11 | 2003 | MOORE, Michael | 1 | No | |||
| 9.00 | Godfather, The | 1972 | COPPOLA, Frances Ford | BRANDO, Marlon; PACINO, Al; | Richly but not over directed, amazing film. UniversallPerfect performances. | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0068646 | 6 | No |
| 9.00 | Good Night, and Good Luck | 2005 | CLOONEY, George | STRATHAIRN, David; DOWNEY Jr. Robert; CLARKSON, Patricia; WISE, Ray; lANGELLA, Frank | Wonderful, hardly-veiled 2005 resonance, cigarrettes (dissent from Ben Hippen, loyal and more perceptive assent from Megan) | http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0433383/ | 1 | No |
| 9.00 | Greed | 1925 | VON STOHEIM, Erich | Gibson Gowland, Jean Hersholt, Zasu Pitts, Chester Conklin, Dale Fuller | Fabulous depressing, detailed silent movie. | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0015881 | 1 | Yes |
| 9.00 | Hustler, The | 1961 | ROSSEN, Robert | NEWMAN, Paul; GLEASON, Jackie; LAURIE, Pyper; SCOTT, George C.; LaMOTTA, Jake; GARDINIA, Vincent | Incredibly well developed characters. Great trick pool shots. Strong screenplay. Good performances. | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0054997 | 1 | No |
| 9.00 | Igby Goes Down | 2002 | STEERS, Burr | CULKIN, Kieran; SARANDON, Susan; GOLDBLUM, Jeff; DANES, Claire; PHILLIPPE, Ryan; PULLMAN, Bill; PEET, Amanda; HARRIS, Jared | Amazing "Catcher in the Rye" meets "The Royal Tenenbaums" - wonderful ensemble; hilarious while real | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0280760 | 1 | No |
| 9.00 | In the Name of the Father | 1993 | SHERIDAN, Jim | Daniel Day-Lewis, Emma Thompson, Peter Postlethwaite | Amazing! Power comes from pure quality and subtleness; unusually logical character development and iter-relationships | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0107207 | 1 | No |
| 9.00 | Jésus de Montréal | 1989 | ARCAND, Denys | Lothaire Bluteau, Johanne-Marie Tremblay, Robert Lepage, Marie-Christine Barrault, Catherine Wilkeny, Remy Girard, Gilles Pelletier, Denys Arcande | As incredable the THIRD time. Performances, script, direction outshine. | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0097635 | 4 | No |
| 9.00 | Laurel Canyon | 2002 | CHOLODENKO, Lisa | McDORMAND, Frances; BALE, Christian; BECKINSALE, Kate; McELHONE, Nataschal NOVOLA, Alessandro | Great ensemble cast; great characters - lots on anxiety | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0298408 | 1 | No |
| 9.00 | London to Brighton | 2006 | WILLIAMS, Paul Andrew | STANLEY, Lorraine; HARRIS, Johnny; GROOME, Georgia; SPRUELL, Sam | Very gripping, horribly realistic | http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0490166/ | 1 | No |
| 9.00 | Malcolm X | 1992 | LEE, Spike | Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, BASSETT, Angela | absolutely superb, (weak editing) | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0104797 | 1 | No |
| 9.00 | Maltese Falcon, The | 1941 | HUSTON, John | BOGART, Humphrey; ASTOR, Mary; GEORGE; Gladys; LORRE, Peter; GREESTREET, Sydney | Classic - they don't do characters like this anymore. Great lighting and shots too. (Prison metaphore at the end.) | http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0033870/ | 1 | No |
| 9.00 | Manchurian Candidate, The | 1962 | FRANKENHEIMER, John | SINATRA, Frank; HARVEY, Laurence; LEIGH, Janet; LANSBURY, Angela | Fantastic! (Why does 'The New Yorker' slam it?) Thrilling, stylish, thoughtful. Obviously the seed of a lot of brainwashing belief. Sinatra was very very good. Leigh too - and extremely sexy. Interesting Lincoln motifs. | http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056218/ | 1 | No |
| 9.00 | Matchstick Men | 2003 | SCOTT, Ridley | CAGE, Nicolas; ROCKWELL, Sam; LOHMAN, Alison | Very good - much more so than I expected. Almost plausible. Great ending. | http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0325805/ | 1 | No |
| 9.00 | Million Dollar Baby | 0 | EASTWOOD, Clint | 1 | No | |||
| 9.00 | Persona | 1966 | BERGMAN, Ingemar | Liv Ulman, Bibi Andersson; KROOK, Margaretha | Wonderfully textured. Hard as Hell to out (which is good) | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0060827 | 1 | No |
| 9.00 | Pillow Book, The | 1996 | GREENAWAY, Peter | McGREGOR, Ewen… | Incredibly stunning, visual film. Surperbly edited (often multiple images). | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0114134 | 1 | No |
| 9.00 | Postino, Il | 1995 | RADFORD, Michael | Massimo Troisi, Philipe Noiret, Maria Grazia Cucinotta | Stunningly beautiful (in terms of scenes and characters) film, subtly directed but outstandingly well acted. | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0110877 | 2 | No |
| 9.00 | Pulp Fiction | 1994 | TARENTINO, Quenten | John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Quenten T., Bruce Willis, Harvey Keitel, Christopher Walken, Eric Stoltz, Amanda Plummer, etc. | (Upon reflection SUPERB!) But made me laugh at repugnant violence. All performances, direction great. Most thought provoking film in a long while. | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0110912 | 4 | Yes |
| 9.00 | Raising Victor Vargas | 2002 | SOLLETT, Peter | RASUK, Victor; MARTE, Judy; DIAZ, Melonie; GUZMAN, Altagracia; RASKUK, Silvestre; RODRIGUEZ, Krystal | Brilliant and refreshing. Poignant. Incredible performances by allegedly almost amateur actors | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0316188 | 1 | No |
| 9.00 | Royal Tenenbaums, The | 2001 | ANDERSON, Wes | HACKMAN, Gene; HUSTON, Anjelica; STILLER, Ben; PALTROW, Gwyneth, WILSON, Luke; WILSON, Owen; GLOVER, Danny; MURRAY, Bill | Clever and hilarious and stylish and audatious | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0265666 | 2 | No |
| 9.00 | Sideways | 2004 | PAYNE, Alexander | GIAMATTI, Paul; CHURCH, Thomas Haden; MADSEN, Virginia; OH, Sandra | Very thoughtful and moving - wonderful acting. A delight. | http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0375063/ | 1 | No |
| 9.00 | Sling Blade | 1996 | THORNTON, Billy Bob | THORNTON, Billy Bob; YOAKAM, Dwight; WALSH, J.T.; RITTER, John; BLACK (II), Lucas; CANERDAY, Natalie (DUVALL, Robert; JARMUSCH, Jim) | Awesome ensemble, script, direction, filming, everything. | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0117666 | 1 | Yes |
| 9.00 | Swann | 1996 | BENSON GYLES, Anna | Miranda Richardson, Michael Ontkean, Brenda Fricker | Wonderful film of Carol Shield's book. Similar intricasies to 'Stone Diaries'. Affectively subdued performances | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0117798 | 2 | No |
| 9.00 | Talk to Her | 2002 | ALMODOVAR, Pedro | 1 | No | |||
| 9.00 | Thelma & Louise | 1991 | SCOTT, Ridley | SARANDON, Susan; DAVIS, Geena; KEITEL, Harvey | Important, funny movie. Both stars amazingly good. | http://us.imdb.com/Details?0103074 | 3 | No |
| 9.00 | Toys | 1992 | LEVINSON, Barry | Robin Williams, Joan Cusak, LL J Cool (?) | Wonderfully stylish, funny, warm film. (Top notch design.) That Maltin hates it proves how stupid he is. | http://us.imdb.com/Title?0105629 | 1 | No |
| 9.00 | United 93 | 2006 | GREENGRASS, Paul | wonderful ensemble cast of mainly unknown actors | Powerful - brilliant in it's subtlety and neutrality. High-anxiety, specially for a film where we know the ending | http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0475276/ | 2 | No |
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Tom's Cinema Database