 8 Mile 2002  R, 118 min.
Genre: Drama / Musical
Director: Curtis Hanson
Cast: Eminem, Kim Basinger, Mekhi Phifer, Brittany Murphy, Eugene Byrd, Omar Benson Miller, Taryn Manning, De'Angelo Wilson, Chloe Greenfield, Larry Hudson, Evan Jones, Proof, Mike Bell, Michael Shannon
Eminem takes on the role of a total loser, Jimmy Smith Jr, who lives in the rundown Detroit neighborhood of 8 Mile. Better known as "Rabbit," Jimmy is determined to overcome his problems with stage fright and become a successful rapper. Eminem's song "Lose Yourself" won the Academy Award for Best Song.
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Bad Influence 1990  R, 100 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Curtis Hanson
Cast: Rob Lowe, James Spader, Lisa Zane, Christian Clemenson, Kathleen Wilhoite, Tony Maggio, Marcia Cross, Joyce Meadows, Kelly Miller, John Verea
Alex (Rob Lowe) comes to the aid of timid Michael (James Spader) during a barroom incident. The aggressive Alex befriends Michael, and soon takes control over Michael's life, introducing him to drugs, sex, and a life of crime. Things go from bad to worse for Michael in this well-paced thriller.
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The Bedroom Window 1986 R, 112 min.
Genre: Mystery
Director: Curtis Hanson
Cast: Steve Guttenberg, Elizabeth McGovern, Isabelle Huppert, Paul Shenar, Wallace Shawn, Frederick Coffin, Brad Greenquist, Maury Chaykin, Mark Margolis
Sylvia (Elizabeth McGovern) witnesses an attack on Denise (Isabelle Huppert) while having an affair with Terry (Steve Guttenberg), one of her husband's associates. In order to protect her reputation, Terry tells the police that he was the witness. When Denise's body is found nearby, Terry becomes the suspect because his story has more holes in it than Swiss cheese. A good little thriller.
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 The Goonies 1985 PG, 114 min.
Genre: Family / Adventure / Comedy / Mystery
Director: Richard Donner
Cast: Josh Brolin, Jeff Cohen, Sean Astin, Corey Feldman, Kerri Green, Martha Plimpton, Joe Pantoliano, John Matuszak, Robert Davi, Mary Ellen Trainor, Jonathan Ke Quan, Anne Ramsey, Lupe Ontiveros, Keith Walker, Curtis Hanson
A treasure map could be the tool for saving a housing project that is in line for demolition by greedy developers. After finding an old pirate's treasure map, a group of young boys decides to spend their afternoon searching for the treasure. Steven Spielberg wrote the story and was the executive producer of the film.
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The Hand That Rocks the Cradle 1992 R, 110 min.
Genre: Horror / Thriller
Director: Curtis Hanson
Cast: Annabella Sciorra, Rebecca De Mornay, Matt McCoy, Ernie Hudson, Julianne Moore, Madeline Zima, John de Lancie, Kevin Skousen, Mitchell Laurance, Justin Zaremby
A doctor commits suicide after he is accused of molesting Claire (Annabella Sciorra), one of his patients, followed by accusations from other women. His wife (Rebecca De Mornay) takes on a pseudonym and is hired by Claire's family as a nanny. The intent: revenge on Claire for causing the death of the doctor. A good psychological thriller.
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In Her Shoes 2005 PG-13, 130 min.
Genre: Comedy / Drama
Director: Curtis Hanson
Cast: Cameron Diaz, Toni Collette, Shirley MacLaine, Mark Feuerstein, Ken Howard, Candice Azzara, Francine Beers, Norman Lloyd, Jerry Adler, Brooke Smith, Richard Burgi, Anson Mount
Sisters Maggie (Cameron Diaz) and Rose (Toni Collette) are direct opposites but best friends. Responsible Rose has rescued flighty Maggie on more than one occasion. But, when a drunken Maggie seduces Rose's boyfriend, Rose finally throws her out of the house. Maggie's solution is to track down their long-lost grandmother, Ella (Shirley MacLaine), who lives in a Florida seniors' complex. Rose finds Ella, and by story's end, both sisters take charge of their own lives and come to grips with life.
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 L.A. Confidential 1997  R, 138 min.
Genre: Drama / Mystery / Thriller
Director: Curtis Hanson
Cast: Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, James Cromwell, David Strathairn, Kim Basinger, Danny DeVito, Paul(2) Guilfoyle, Ron Rifkin, Matt McCoy, Paolo Seganti, Steve Rankin, Graham Beckel, Elisabeth Granli, Sandra Taylor
This crime story is set in Hollywood in the 1950s and features police detectives Jack Vincennes and Bud White (Kevin Spacey and Russell Crowe) whose ethical behavior is definitely suspect. Then there is Ed Exley (Guy Pearce) who is a "strictly by the book" cop despite the fact that his captain, Dudley Smith (James Cromwell), tries to get him to relax his morals. In this atmosphere, crimes are investigated, but it is not always the guilty who pay. This film, based on James Ellroy's novel, is one of the year's best. Two Oscars were received, including Best Supporting Actress (Kim Basinger for her role as call-girl Lynn Bracken); seven other nominations were received, including Best Picture and Director.
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Losin' It 1983  R, 104 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Curtis Hanson
Cast: Tom Cruise, Jackie Earle Haley, John Stockwell, Shelley Long, John P. Navin Jr., Henry Darrow, James Victor, Rick Rossovich, Joe Spinell, Hector Elias
Three teenage boys (Tom Cruise, Jackie Earle Haley, and John Stockwell) head for Tijuana for fun and first-time sex. Just like the Little Red Hen, they meet a number of characters along the way.
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 Lucky You 2007 PG-13, 124 min.
Genre: Comedy / Drama / Romance
Director: Curtis Hanson
Cast: Eric Bana, Drew Barrymore, Robert Duvall, Charles Martin Smith, Horatio Sanz, Robert Downey Jr., Debra Messing, Jean Smart, Evan Jones, Phyllis Somerville, Delaine Yates, Mykel Shannon Jenkins, Saverio Guerra, Danny Hoch, Olivia Tracey
Huck Cheever (Eric Bana) is a big-time Las Vegas cardsharp who loses as often as he wins. He learned poker from his father, L.C. Cheever (Robert Duvall), who is a two-time World Series of Poker champion, and Huck hopes to be competing against L.C. in the next World Championship. The other part of Huck's life is aspiring lounge singer Billie Offer (Drew Barrymore) who hooks up with him, leaves him, comes back, and leaves again in their on-again, off-again relationship. But the main thrust of this story is Huck trying to obtain the $10,000 needed to enter the World Poker Championship.
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The River Wild 1994 PG-13, 108 min.
Genre: Action / Thriller
Director: Curtis Hanson
Cast: Meryl Streep, Kevin Bacon, David Strathairn, Joseph Mazzello, John C. Reilly, William Lucking, Elizabeth Hoffman, Victor Galloway, Benjamin Bratt, Glenn Morshower
Gail (Meryl Streep) and Tom (David Strathairn) try to solve their marital problems by taking son Roarke (Joseph Mazzello) on a rafting trip in Montana. Along the way, they become entangled with robbers on the run who aren't afraid to kill. The climax is a daring attempt to run "the gauntlet", a VERY dangerous white water run. Predictable clone of "Deliverance" with good photography.
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Wonder Boys 2000 R, 112 min.
Genre: Comedy / Drama
Director: Curtis Hanson
Cast: Michael Douglas, Tobey Maguire, Frances McDormand, Robert Downey Jr., Katie Holmes, Rip Torn, Richard Thomas, Jane Adams, Richard Knox, Philip Bosco, Michael Cavadias, Alan Tudyk, Kelly Bishop, George Grizzard, Bingo O'Malley
Writer/professor Grady (Michael Douglas) had a bestseller seven years ago, but he can't seem to finish his current effort. Grady gets the chancellor (Frances McDormand) pregnant–whose husband (Richard Thomas) is Grady's boss. Grady's agent is hounding him, and his wife has left him. Meanwhile, Grady and a student (Tobey Maguire) embark on a road trip in search of a Marilyn Monroe artifact. Good acting, directing, and story do justice to Michael Chabon's book. Bob Dylan's song "Things Have Changed" won an Academy Award.
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| 1. 8 Mile (2002)
2. Bad Influence (1990)
3. The Bedroom Window (1986)
4. The Goonies (1985)
5. The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)
6. In Her Shoes (2005)
7. L.A. Confidential (1997)
8. Losin' It (1983)
9. Lucky You (2007)
10. The River Wild (1994)
11. Wonder Boys (2000)
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