2010 1984  PG, 116 min.
Genre: Sci-Fi
Director: Peter Hyams
Cast: Roy Scheider, John Lithgow, Helen Mirren, Bob Balaban, Keir Dullea, Madolyn Smith, Dana Elcar, Douglas Rain, Candice Bergen
In this sequel, it is nine years later when a new team of American and Russian astronauts are sent into space to discover the mystery of the errant computer HAL. The question is whether, if recovered, HAL can be trusted.
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Absence of Malice 1981 PG, 116 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Sydney Pollack
Cast: Paul Newman, Sally Field, Bob Balaban, Melinda Dillon, Wilford Brimley, Luther Adler, Barry Primus, Josef Sommer, John Harkins
If you're looking for a good story, this is it. Over-eager news reporting and its victimization of innocents are exposed as a young reporter (Sally Field) has not yet learned the power of the press to harm as well as help. Tragedy results when pressure is put on an innocent warehouse owner (Paul Newman). Newman received an Oscar nomination (Best Actor) as did Melinda Dillon (Best Supporting Actress).
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Amos and Andrew 1993  PG-13, 94 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: E. Max Frye
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Dabney Coleman, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Lerner, Margaret Colin, Brad Dourif, Tracey Walter, Bob Balaban, Chelcie Ross, Jodi Long
Police chief Tolliver (Dabney Coleman) has his men surrounding a home and its suspected burglar. The "burglar" is a Pulitzer Prize winner (Samuel L. Jackson) who also just happens to be an African-American. When Tolliver realizes that residents have mistakenly called in the police, he tries to talk prisoner Amos Odell (Nicolas Cage) into the act so the police can come to the rescue.
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Bank Shot 1974 PG, 83 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Gower Champion
Cast: George C. Scott, Joanna Cassidy, Sorrell Booke, Clifton James, Bob Balaban, Frank McRae, Harvey Adams, G. Wood, Don Calfa, Jack Riley, Bibi Osterwald, Harvey Evans, Hank Stohl, Pat Zurica, Harvey J. Goldenberg
Irving (Harvey Adams) plots a bank robbery with a twist–he plans to rob the entire mobile home in which the bank funds are temporarily housed. This is one nutty comedy.
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 Best in Show 2000 PG-13, 90 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Christopher Guest
Cast: Christopher Guest, Parker Posey, Michael Hitchcock, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, John Michael Higgins, Michael McKean, Patrick Cranshaw, Jennifer Coolidge, Bob Balaban, Jay Brazeau, Colin Cunningham, Will Sasso, Stephen E. Miller, Dany Canino
This mockumentary, set at Philadelphia's annual Mayflower Kennel Club Dog Show, centers on anxious owners and their coddled pets. The actors were handed a script but encouraged to improvise as the film was shot, and the fun begins as TV cameras bring Weimaraner "Beatrice," Shih Tzu "Miss Agnes," Poodle "Rhapsody in White," and Bloodhound "Hubert"–and their owners–into the homes of millions. The result is a very funny movie.
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Capote 2005  R, 110 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Bennett Miller
Cast: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Clifton Collins Jr., Chris Cooper, Bruce Greenwood, Bob Balaban, Amy Ryan, Mark Pellegrino, Allie Mickelson, Marshall Bell, R.D. Reid, Marina Stephenseon Kerr, Kelci Stephenson, Craig Archibald, Bronwen Coleman
In 1959, Truman Capote (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and his good friend, author Harper Lee (Catherine Keener), traveled to Holcomb, Kansas, to get background information for Capote's book, "In Cold Blood." This is the story of that journey and of the relationship Capote formed with one of the killers, Perry Smith (Clifton Collins Jr.). Hoffman won an Academy Award for Best Actor. The film received four other nominations, including Best Picture, Director, and Supporting Actress (Catherine Keener).
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Clockwatchers 1997 PG-13, 105 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Jill Sprecher
Cast: Toni Collette, Parker Posey, Lisa Kudrow, Alanna Ubach, Helen FitzGerald, Stanley DeSantis, Jamie Kennedy, Paul Dooley, Kevin Cooney, Bob Balaban
Four young women–Iris (Toni Collette), Margaret (Parker Posey), Paula (Lisa Kudrow), and Jane (Alanna Ubach)–work as office temps and enjoy their friendship UNTIL petty thefts occur in the office, and suspicions pervade the workplace.
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 Close Encounters of the Third Kind 1977 PG, 132 min.
Genre: Adventure / Drama / Sci-Fi
Director: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Richard Dreyfuss, Teri Garr, Francois Truffaut, Melinda Dillon, Cary Guffey, Bob Balaban, Warren J. Kemmerling, Roberts Blossom, Lance Henriksen, George DiCenzo, J. Patrick McNamara, Philip Dodds, Carl Weathers
Steven Spielberg's award-winning masterpiece is about the Earth's first communication with aliens. Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss) is haunted by inexplicable images, and Gillian (Melinda Dillon) is the mother of a missing youngster presumably taken by the aliens. Gillian joins Roy on his quest to find the source of his torment. Oscars were presented for Best Cinematography and Sound Effects Editing (Special Achievement); seven nominations included Best Director and Supporting Actress (Dillon).
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Dead Bang 1989 R, 102 min.
Genre: Action
Director: John Frankenheimer
Cast: Don Johnson, Penelope Ann Miller, William Forsythe, Bob Balaban, Frank Military, Tate Donovan, Tim Reid, Antoni Stutz, Mickey Jones, Ron Campbell, William Traylor, Hy Anzell
During L.A. homicide detective Jerry Beck's (Don Johnson) investigation into the case of a murdered policeman, he opens up a can of worms involving racism. Good action scenes.
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Deconstructing Harry 1997  R, 93 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Woody Allen
Cast: Woody Allen, Billy Crystal, Demi Moore, Robin Williams, Judy Davis, Elisabeth Shue, Kirstie Alley, Bob Balaban, Richard Benjamin, Eric Bogosian
Three-times-married Harry Block (Woody Allen) is a novelist, suffering from writer's block, who has no qualms about using his family and friends as material for his stories. Often represented in thin disguises, the subjects of his novels become quite upset.
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Dedication 2007 R, 111 min.
Genre: Drama / Comedy / Romance
Director: Justin Theroux
Cast: Billy Crudup, Mandy Moore, Bob Balaban, Tom Wilkinson, Dianne Wiest, Bobby Cannavale, Christine Taylor, Peter Bogdanovich, Amy Sedaris, Cassidy Hinkle, Catherine Lloyd Burns, Jeremy Shamos, John Ellison Conlee, Martin Freeman
Henry Roth (Billy Crudup) suffers from depression but makes a living writing children's books, and his only friend is his illustrator Rudy Holt (Tom Wilkinson). But Rudy's health declines, and he dies of a brain tumor. Now, Henry's publisher Arthur Plank (Bob Balaban) wants Henry's latest book completed and assigns illustrator Lucy (Mandy Moore) to complete the job. As Henry lets go of Rudy through conversations with the dead man, he falls in love with Lucy and learns that life can be a gamble as he tries to win Lucy away from her former professor (Martin Freeman).
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End of the Line 1988 PG, 105 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Jay Russell
Cast: Wilford Brimley, Levon Helm, Mary Steenburgen, Barbara Barrie, Bob Balaban, Kevin Bacon, Holly Hunter, Clint Howard, Trey Wilson, Bruce McGill
Protesting the closing of a train yard, railroaders Will Haney (Wilford Brimley) and Leo Pickett (Levon Helm) steal a train engine and head for Chicago where they confront railroad owners.
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For Your Consideration 2006 PG-13, 86 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Christopher Guest
Cast: Catherine O'Hara, Eugene Levy, Harry Shearer, Christopher Guest, John Michael Higgins, Jennifer Coolidge, Parker Posey, Bob Balaban, Michael McKean, Fred Willard, Ed Begley Jr., Jane Lynch, Jim Piddock, Rachael Harris
In this satire on movie hype, cameraman Simon Whitset (Jim Piddock) spots an online item that suggests actress Marilyn Hack (Catherine O'Hara) may win an Academy Award nomination for the movie he is filming. In a matter of days, rumors fly on the Internet that the movie Simon and Marilyn are working on is a masterpiece, and it doesn't take long before actors, crewmembers, executives, and media figures get caught up in the frenzy.
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 Ghost World 2001 R, 110 min.
Genre: Comedy / Drama
Director: Terry Zwigoff
Cast: Thora Birch, Scarlett Johansson, Steve Buscemi, Brad Renfro, Illeana Douglas, Bob Balaban, Teri Garr, Stacey Travis, Ashley Peldon, Dave Sheridan, Charles C. Stevenson Jr., Tom McGowan
Adapted from a comic book series about high-school friends who try to find their place in the lonely, fake world of suburbia, this film is both funny and insightful. Extroverted Enid (Thora Birch) and her direct opposite, Rebecca (Scarlett Johansson), plan to share an apartment but find their lives diverging as their interests change.
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Girlfriends 1978 PG, 86 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Claudia Weill
Cast: Melanie Mayron, Anita Skinner, Eli Wallach, Bob Balaban, Christopher Guest, Amy Wright, Viveca Lindfors, Mike Kellin, Jean De Baer, Kenneth McMillan
Photographer Susan Weinblatt (Melanie Mayron)–young, lonely, confused–tries to cope after her roommate leaves to get married.
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 Jakob the Liar 1999 PG-13, 114 min.
Genre: Comedy / Drama
Director: Peter Kassovitz
Cast: Robin Williams, Hannah Taylor-Gordon, Eva Igo, Istvan Balint, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Bob Balaban, Alan Arkin, Michael Jeter, Mark Margolis, Liev Schreiber
Set during World War II in Nazi-occupied Poland, this is the story of Jakob Heym (Robin Williams) who tells lies about fictitious news bulletins, which he claims show the Allies winning. The fabrications bring renewed hope to his fellow Jews who have been on the verge of suicide.
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 Lady in the Water 2006  PG-13, 110 min.
Genre: Drama / Fantasy
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Cast: Paul Giamatti, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jeffrey Wright, Bob Balaban, Sarita Choudhury, Cindy Cheung, M. Night Shyamalan, Freddy Rodriguez, Bill Irwin, Jared Harris, Mary Beth Hurt, Noah Gray-Cabey, Joseph D. Reitman
After rescuing a "Narf" named Story (Bryce Dallas Howard) from his apartment swimming pool, superintendent Cleveland Heep (Paul Giamatti) learns that she is a nymph from a fairy tale who is trying to make her way back home. But, Story is being pursued by a "Scrunt" (a wolf that camouflages itself to look like a lawn). In an effort to help, Cleveland recruits his apartment tenants to protect Story from harm.
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The Late Shift 1996 R, 95 min.
Genre: Comedy / Drama
Director: Betty Thomas
Cast: Kathy Bates, John Michael Higgins, Daniel Roebuck, Bob Balaban, Treat Williams, Rich Little, Reni Santoni, Peter Jurasik, Ed Begley Jr., John Kapelos, Steven Gilborn, John Getz
Based on a true story, this film depicts behind-the-scenes events during which TV executives (Bob Balaban and Ed Begley Jr.) decided whether Jay Leno (Daniel Roebuck) or David Letterman (John Michael Higgins) would be named Johnny Carson's replacement.
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Little Man Tate 1991 PG, 99 min.
Genre: Family / Drama
Director: Jodie Foster
Cast: Jodie Foster, Dianne Wiest, Adam Hann-Byrd, Harry Connick Jr., Michael Shulman, Nathan Lee, Debi Mazar, George Plimpton, Josh Mostel, Bob Balaban, David Hyde Pierce, P.J. Ochlan, Alex Lee, Danitra Vance, Richard Fredette
Fred (Adam Hann-Byrd) is a gifted child whose mother Dede (Jodie Foster) differs from his wealthy mentor Jane Grierson (Dianne Wiest) as to what is best for Fred's happiness. Fred is a fourth grader who has problems dealing with children his own age but excels with school work. Jane admires Fred's genius and invites him to attend her summer camp for child prodigies. While at camp, Fred misses Dede's love and support, and, by summer's end, Dede and Jane learn that Fred needs what both of them can offer him.
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Marriage: Year One 1971  TV, 100 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: William A. Graham
Cast: Sally Field, Robert Pratt, Cicely Tyson, William Windom, Agnes Moorehead, Neville Brand, Bob Balaban, Lonny Chapman, Michael Lerner, Mantan Moreland
Sally Field is the only bright spot in this comedy/love story as a poor medical student (Robert Pratt) and a rich, strong heiress (Field) marry and try to live on his meager salary.
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Me, Natalie 1969 PG, 111 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Fred Coe
Cast: Patty Duke, James Farentino, Martin Balsam, Elsa Lanchester, Salome Jens, Nancy Marchand, Al Pacino, Philip Sterling, Bob Balaban, Deborah Winters
An ugly-duckling teenager, Natalie Miller (Patty Duke), leaves Brooklyn and heads for Greenwich Village where she hopes to find happiness. This marks Al Pacino's first feature film.
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 The Mexican 2001 R, 123 min.
Genre: Adventure
Director: Gore Verbinski
Cast: Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, James Gandolfini, David Krumholtz, Gene Hackman, Luis Felipe Tovar, Bob Balaban, J.K. Simmons, Sherman Augustus, Richard Coca
Jerry (Brad Pitt) is a criminal who–despite the urging of girlfriend Samantha (Julia Roberts) to turn over a new leaf–cannot resist one final job: getting an antique gun called The Mexican out of Mexico and back to the United States. Those who expect good entertainment from a Pitt/Roberts teaming are going to feel cheated.
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 Midnight Cowboy 1969  R, 113 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: John Schlesinger
Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Jon Voight, Sylvia Miles, John McGiver, Brenda Vaccaro, Barnard Hughes, Ruth White, Jennifer Salt, Bob Balaban, Paul Benjamin
New York's 42nd Street is the setting for this great movie about a hick, Joe Buck (Jon Voight), from Texas who comes to the big city to find work as a male prostitute, teams up with petty thief Ratso Rizzo (Dustin Hoffman), and gets out-hustled in the process. The film depicts the seedy side of America and does it so well that it won three Academy Awards for Best Picture, Director, and Screenplay. Additionally, Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight were nominated for Best Actor, and Sylvia Miles was nominated for Best Supporting Actress. 1 User Review
| User Review |
| | sam 08/05/2007 | it was a classic movie which had two fine actors nominated for the oscar who in
normal years deserved to win it the proof of the pudding is to this day it stands out the preformances of jon voight and dustin hoffman were overwhelming they both later won oscars and had great careers as actors it won best picture which it deserved |
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A Mighty Wind 2003 PG-13, 92 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Christopher Guest
Cast: Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Bob Balaban, John Michael Higgins, Jane Lynch, Parker Posey, Ed Begley Jr.
In this amusing mockumentary, 1960s' folksingers–represented by master improvisers–reunite for a memorial concert that is scheduled for public broadcasting.
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My Boyfriend's Back 1993 PG-13, 84 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Bob Balaban
Cast: Andrew Lowery, Traci Lind, Danny Zorn, Edward Herrmann, Mary Beth Hurt, Austin Pendleton, Jay O. Sanders, Libby Villari, Matthew Fox, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Johnny (Andrew Lowery) has loved Missy McCloud (Traci Lind), the most beautiful and popular girl in high school, since the first grade. But, being shy, he hasn't had the courage to ask her out. With the prom coming up, Johnny is about to ask her when he gets killed. Even this doesn't stop him, and he rises from the dead and takes her out. She even likes him more now that he is dead. Strange, but fun.
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No Reservations 2007 PG, 105 min.
Genre: Comedy / Drama / Romance
Director: Scott Hicks
Cast: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Aaron Eckhart, Abigail Breslin, Patricia Clarkson, Jenny Wade, Bob Balaban, Brian F. O'Byrne, Lily Rabe, Eric Silver, Arija Bareikis, John McMartin, Celia Weston, Zoe Kravitz, Matthew Rauch, Dearbhla Molloy
In this remake of the 2002 German film "Mostly Martha," Catherine Zeta-Jones takes on the role of control-freak, New York City chef Kate Armstrong whose only friends appear to be her therapist (Bob Balaban) and the restaurant owner Paula (Patricia Clarkson). Things change after Kate's sister is killed in a car accident, and Kate's adolescent niece Zoe (Abigail Breslin) moves in with her. Kate is forced to take a brief time off to cope with the situation. When she returns to work, she clashes with the new, free-spirited chef Nick (Aaron Eckhart), but he gets along well with Zoe who spends her evenings in the restaurant kitchen. And, it isn't long before the opposite personalities of Kate and Nick turn into attractions for each other.
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Parents 1989 R, 82 min.
Genre: Horror / Comedy
Director: Bob Balaban
Cast: Randy Quaid, Mary Beth Hurt, Sandy Dennis, Bryan Madorsky, Juno Mills Cockell, Kathryn Grody, Deborah Rush, Graham Jarvis, Wayne Robson, Helen Carscallen
It is the 1950s, and Michael Laemle (Bryan Madorsky) is growing up in his suburban home where he is often exposed to his parents' (Randy Quaid and Mary Beth Hurt) sexuality and suspects that they are cannibals. He reports this to the school's social worker (Sandy Dennis) who investigates and becomes the family's dinner entree.
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Prince of the City 1981 R, 167 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Sidney Lumet
Cast: Treat Williams, Jerry Orbach, Richard Foronjy, Don Billett, Kenny Marino, Bob Balaban, Lindsay Crouse, Carmine Caridi, Anthony Page, James Tolkan
This is a powerful story about a NYC undercover detective (Treat Williams) and how he becomes the victim of his own investigation of corruption in the city.
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The Strawberry Statement 1970 R, 103 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Stuart Hagmann
Cast: Bruce Davison, Kim Darby, Bud Cort, Bob Balaban, Bert Remsen, Jeannie Berlin, James Coco, James Kunen, Carol Bagdasarian, David Dukes
This adaptation of James Kunen's book about Columbia University's riots in the 1960s involves students occupying a campus building to force the issue of their radical philosophy in that historic era. Unfortunately, the story comes across watered down, and the message is lost.
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Three to Tango 1999 PG-13, 98 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Damon Santostefano
Cast: Matthew Perry, Neve Campbell, Dylan McDermott, Oliver Platt, Cylk Cozart, John C. McGinley, Bob Balaban, Deborah Rush, Kelly Rowan, Rick Gomez
Charles Newmann (Dylan McDermott) is a business tycoon who, while dealing with bids for a new contract, meets one of the bidders, Oscar Novak (Matthew Perry) and mistakenly thinks Oscar is gay. Therefore, Oscar would be the perfect person to chaperone Charles' mistress, Amy (Neve Campbell). Wrong! Guess what happens next!!
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 Waiting for Guffman 1997 R, 84 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Christopher Guest
Cast: Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy, Fred Willard, Catherine O'Hara, Parker Posey, Bob Balaban, Larry Miller, Deborah Theaker, Michael Hitchcock, Scott Williamson, Don Lake, David Cross, Paul Dooley, Linda Kash, Lewis Arquette
Christopher Guest co-wrote, directed, and stars in this very entertaining mock-documentary about the efforts of local residents of Blaine, Missouri, who struggle to put on a musical to celebrate the town's sesquicentennial anniversary. Corky St. Clair (Guest) leads the town's Blaine Community Players and is in charge of putting on a musical about the city's history. The problem is the lack of talent, and they want to impress Broadway producer Mort Guffman who has been invited to the show. The dream continues as they try to make the most out of what they have. The closing credits are a highlight of this film.
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| 1. 2010 (1984)
2. Absence of Malice (1981)
3. Altered States (1980)
4. Amos and Andrew (1993)
5. Bank Shot (1974)
6. Best in Show (2000)
7. Capote (2005)
8. Clockwatchers (1997)
9. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
10. Dead Bang (1989)
11. Deconstructing Harry (1997)
12. Dedication (2007)
13. End of the Line (1988)
14. For Love or Money (1993)
15. For Your Consideration (2006)
16. Ghost World (2001)
17. Girlfriends (1978)
18. Jakob the Liar (1999)
19. Lady in the Water (2006)
20. The Last Good Time (1994)
21. The Late Shift (1996)
22. Little Man Tate (1991)
23. Marriage: Year One (1971)
24. Me, Natalie (1969)
25. The Mexican (2001)
26. Midnight Cowboy (1969)
27. A Mighty Wind (2003)
28. My Boyfriend's Back (1993)
29. No Reservations (2007)
30. Parents (1989)
31. Prince of the City (1981)
32. The Strawberry Statement (1970)
33. Three to Tango (1999)
34. Waiting for Guffman (1997)
35. Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1981)
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