Apollo 13 1995  PG, 145 min.
Genre: Adventure / Drama
Director: Ron Howard
Cast: Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton, Gary Sinise, Ed Harris, Kathleen Quinlan, Mary Kate Schellhardt, Emily Ann Lloyd, Joe Spano, Xander Berkeley, Miko Hughes, Max Elliott Slade, Jean Speegle Howard, Tracy Reiner, Chris Ellis
Often, real life is better than fiction. This true story of the ill-fated, 1970's Apollo 13 space mission that suffered an explosion in the command module, is gripping from beginning to end. "Houston, we have a problem" is the message sent from the astronauts–mission leader Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks), Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon), and Fred Haise (Bill Paxton)–while on their lunar landing mission. At Mission Control, leader Gene Kranz (Ed Harris) and the original mission commander Ken Mattingly (Gary Sinise) work together with technicians and scientists to bring the crew home alive. The film won Academy Awards for Best Film Editing and Sound and had several nominations, including Best Picture and Supporting Actor (Ed Harris).
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Bean 1997  PG-13, 90 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Mel Smith
Cast: Rowan Atkinson, Peter MacNicol, Pamela Reed, Harris Yulin, Burt Reynolds, Larry Drake, John Mills, Danny Goldring, Johnny Galecki, Chris Ellis, Andrew Lawrence, Peter Egan, Peter Capaldi, June Brown, Peter James
When an ineffective museum caretaker, Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson), arrives in Los Angeles to preside at an art gallery exhibit featuring the famous painting, "Whistler's Mother," young curator David Langley (Peter MacNicol) is forced to put up with Bean's havoc-producing antics.
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Beyond the City Limits 2002  R, 91 min.
Genre: Drama
aka: Rip It Off
Director: Gigi Gaston
Cast: Jennifer Esposito, Nastassja Kinski, Alyson Hannigan, Steve Harris, Brian McCardie, Todd Field, Michael Cole, Alexis Denisof, Chris Ellis, Marcos A. Ferraez
Three women (Nastassja Kinski, Alyson Hannigan, and Jennifer Esposito), two of which are living with thugs, plan to rob a casino without the boyfriends and do it on their own. Things don't go too well in this weak effort.
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Catch Me If You Can 2002  PG-13, 140 min.
Genre: Action
Director: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken, Martin Sheen, Nathalie Baye, Amy Adams, James Brolin, Frank John Hughes, Brian Howe, Steve Eastin, Chris Ellis, John Finn
Based on a true story, FBI agent Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks) is on the trail of con-artist Frank Abagnale Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio) who has used numerous identities to collect over $2 million from his victims. Very entertaining. Christopher Walken received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role; the film was also nominated for its Musical Score.
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 Days of Thunder 1990 PG-13, 108 min.
Genre: Action / Drama / Romance
Director: Tony Scott
Cast: Tom Cruise, Robert Duvall, Nicole Kidman, Randy Quaid, Cary Elwes, Michael Rooker, John C. Reilly, Don Simpson, Donna W. Scott, Fred Dalton Thompson, J.C. Quinn, Caroline Williams, Chris Ellis, Peter Appel, Stephen Michael Ayers
"Top Gun" (Tom Cruise) tactics have moved from the air to the racetrack in this fast-paced film about a young rookie who tries to unseat the champion. Cole Trickle (Cruise) is discovered by businessman Tim Daland (Randy Quaid) who commissions former stock-car racer Harry Hogge (Robert Duvall) to build a car and then hires Cole to drive it. Cole wins the respect of Hogge who teaches him the intricacies of winning on the stock car circuit. But, a crash lands Cole in the hospital with his rival Rowdy Burns (Michael Rooker), and Cole and Rowdy now become friends after Rowdy's injuries force him to bow out of racing. At the same time, Cole is attracted to his doctor, Claire Lewicki (Nicole Kidman), who gives him the courage to race again.
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 Domestic Disturbance 2001 PG-13, 88 min.
Genre: Drama / Mystery / Horror / Thriller
Director: Harold Becker
Cast: John Travolta, Vince Vaughn, Teri Polo, Matt O'Leary, Steve Buscemi, Chris Ellis, Nick Loren, James Lashly, Rebecca Tilney, Debra Mooney, Leland L. Jones, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Susan Floyd, William Parry, Suzanne Nystrom
Nice-guy Frank (John Travolta) and Susan (Teri Polo) are divorced but share custody of 12-year-old Jason (James Lashly). On the day of Susan's marriage to Rick (Vince Vaughn), Frank suspects that there is more to Rick than first meets the eye. In fact, Rick is a cold-blooded murderer, and Jason is about to witness Rick's dastardly deed. Now, it's up to Rick to come to Jason's rescue.
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G-Force 2009 PG, 89 min.
Genre: Action / Adventure / Fantasy
Director: Hoyt Yeatman
Cast: Sam Rockwell, Penelope Cruz, Tracy Morgan, Nicolas Cage, Jon Favreau, Steve Buscemi, Bill Nighy, Zach Galifianakis, Will Arnett, Kelli Garner, Loudon Wainwright III, Chris Ellis, Tyler Patrick Jones, Niecy Nash, Dee Bradley Baker
In this Disney film, dastardly billionaire Leonard Saber (Bill Nighy) intends to take over the world by turning household appliances into robots. But, the government has a secret project that trains animals to become espionage agents–named G-Force. Led by Guinea Pig Darwin (voice of Sam Rockwell), the G-Force sets out to save the world. Plenty of action–but scaled down for the young ones. Live action, animation, and 3D contribute to making this an entertaining film.
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Home Fries 1998  PG-13, 93 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Dean Parisot
Cast: Drew Barrymore, Luke Wilson, Catherine O'Hara, Jake Busey, Shelley Duvall, Kim Robillard, Daryl Mitchell, Lanny Flaherty, Chris Ellis, Robin Williams
When Dorian (Luke Wilson) and Angus (Jake Busey) run their stepfather off the road to kill him, Sally (Drew Barrymore) hears their radio dispatches through her headset at the Burgo-Matic drive-in. This puts her in jeopardy as Dorian and Angus must find out how much Sally knows.
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 My Cousin Vinny 1992 R, 119 min.
Genre: Comedy / Drama
Director: Jonathan Lynn
Cast: Joe Pesci, Ralph Macchio, Marisa Tomei, Mitchell Whitfield, Fred Gwynne, Lane Smith, Austin Pendleton, Bruce McGill, Maury Chaykin, James Rebhorn, Paulene Myers, Raynor Scheine, Lou Walker, Chris Ellis, Michael(2) Simpson
After many failed attempts, Vinny Gambino (Joe Pesci) had just passed the bar exam when he gets a call from his cousin Bill (Ralph Macchio) who, with his friend Stan (Mitchell Whitfield), has been mistakenly accused of murder. Vinny heads south to Alabama with his sexy girlfriend Mona Lisa (Marisa Tomei) to plead their case. Totally unprepared to try his first criminal case, with Mona Lisa's support, Vinny regains Bill's consent to represent him and finally learns to apply himself. He even manages to gain respect from all concerned–even the judge (Fred Gwynne). Tomei won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
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October Sky 1999 PG, 108 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Joe Johnston
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper, Laura Dern, Chris Owen, William Lee Scott, Chad Lindberg, Natalie Canerday, Scott Miles, Randy Stripling, Chris Ellis
"October Sky" is the true story of Homer Hickam (Jake Gyllenhaal). Born in a West Virginia coal-mining town, Homer was ready to follow his father into the mines UNTIL the Russians launched Sputnik on 5 October 1957. That single event redirected Homer's future as, undaunted by his mine-superintendent father's (Chris Cooper) reticence, he entered the space age to become a NASA engineer.
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Planet of the Apes 2001 PG-13, 118 min.
Genre: Action / Adventure / Sci-Fi / Drama / Thriller
Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Tim Roth, Helena Bonham Carter, Michael Clarke Duncan, Kris Kristofferson, Estella Warren, Paul Giamatti, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Erick Avari, Luke Eberl, Evan Parke, David Warner, Glenn Shadix, Chris Ellis, Freda Joh Shen
When astronaut Leo Davidson (Mark Wahlberg) is stranded on a strange planet, he is greeted by human-like apes who keep humans as pets. Davidson is saved by a sympathetic chimp, Ari (Helena Bonham Carter), and meets a band of captured humans who want him to lead a revolt against the apes that are led by General Thade (Tim Roth). It isn't long before Davidson takes on the role of a messiah.
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 That Thing You Do! 1996 PG, 110 min.
Genre: Musical / Comedy / Drama
Director: Tom Hanks
Cast: Tom Hanks, Tom Everett Scott, Johnathon Schaech, Liv Tyler, Steve Zahn, Ethan Embry, Charlize Theron, Obba Babatunde, Giovanni Ribisi, Chris Ellis, Alex Rocco, Bill Cobbs, Rita Wilson, Peter Scolari, Chris Isaak
In 1964, a young rock group, The Wonders (Tom Everett Scott, Johnathon Schaech, Steve Zahn, and Ethan Embry), is signed by agent/manager Mr. White (Tom Hanks) and instant stardom results. This story is about one summer of joy for the group's members and their gradual realization that they are only one facet of the huge industrial complex dominating the music world.
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 The Watcher 2000 R, 93 min.
Genre: Horror / Thriller
Director: Joe Charbanic
Cast: James Spader, Marisa Tomei, Keanu Reeves, Ernie Hudson, Chris Ellis, Robert Cicchini, Yvonne Niami, Jenny McShane, Gina Alexander, Rebakah Louise Smith
Detective Joel Campbell (James Spader) gave up his pursuit of a serial killer (Keanu Reeves) and moved from L.A. to Chicago. Now, three years later, Campbell begins receiving pictures of the killer's newest intended victims, and one of them is Campbell's psychiatrist, Polly (Marisa Tomei).
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| 1. Apollo 13 (1995)
2. Bean (1997)
3. Beyond the City Limits (2002)
aka: Rip It Off
4. Catch Me If You Can (2002)
5. Days of Thunder (1990)
6. Domestic Disturbance (2001)
7. G-Force (2009)
8. Home Fries (1998)
9. My Cousin Vinny (1992)
10. October Sky (1999)
11. Planet of the Apes (2001)
12. That Thing You Do! (1996)
13. The Watcher (2000)
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