 Adaptation 2002  R, 110 min.
Genre: Comedy / Drama / Romance
Director: Spike Jonze
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper, Tilda Swinton, Cara Seymour, Brian Cox, Judy Greer, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ron Livingston, Jay Tavare, Stephen Tobolowsky, Gary Farmer, Doug Jones, Jim Beaver
Screenwriter Charlie Kaufman (Nicholas Cage) takes on the project of adapting Susan Orlean's (Meryl Streep) non-fiction book, "The Orchid Thief," into a movie. Orlean's story involves John Laroche's (Chris Cooper) poaching of "ghost orchids" from a Florida Everglades natural preserve. Charlie faces a mid-life crisis when his brother Donald (also played by Cage), who is following in his brother's footsteps as a screenwriter, moves in with him. Donald breezes through the writing of his assigned screenplay. Meanwhile, paranoid Charlie encounters more than a few problems writing his and, in the process, ends up as the subject in his script that tells of his inability to adapt Orlean's book into a film. Cooper won an Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role; three other nominations were received, including Best Actor (Cage) and Actress in a Supporting Role (Streep).
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At Sachem Farm 1998  PG, 105 min.
Genre: Drama
aka: Uncorked
Director: John Huddles
Cast: Rufus Sewell, Nigel Hawthorne, Minnie Driver, Amelia Heinle, Michael E. Rodgers, Keone Young, Gregory Sporleder, Chalvay Srichoom, Jim Beaver
A somewhat dysfunctional family of transplanted Brits lives in the wine country of California. Ross (Rufus Sewell) is bankrupt and decides to sell the family's wine collection to finance yet another venture, but eccentric Uncle Cullen (Nigel Hawthorne) has plans of his own. An entertaining film.
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Divided by Hate 1997  PG-13, 97 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Tom Skerritt
Cast: Tom Skerritt, Dylan Walsh, Andrea Roth, Jim Beaver, Michael Ruud, Michael Flynn, Kyle Hansen, Heather Hansen, Alyssa Hansen, David McConnell
After Carol Gibbs (Andrea Roth) comes under the spell of religious/political cult leader Steve Riordan (Tom Skerritt), she leaves her husband Louis (Dylan Walsh) who tries everything in his power to get his family back.
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In Country 1989  R, 120 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Norman Jewison
Cast: Bruce Willis, Emily Lloyd, Joan Allen, Kevin Anderson, John Terry, Peggy Rea, Judith Ivey, Daniel Jenkins, Stephen Tobolowsky, Jim Beaver, Richard Hamilton, Heidi Swedberg
Samantha (Emily Lloyd) lives with her Uncle Emmett (Bruce Willis) in Kentucky. Her father was killed in Vietnam, and Uncle Emmet also served in that war. When Samantha becomes obsessed with learning more about the father she never knew and to better understand the war, she and Uncle Emmett travel to Washington, D.C. to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and gain some emotional release from the traumas caused by the war.
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Joy Ride 2001 R, 96 min.
Genre: Action / Horror / Thriller
Director: John Dahl
Cast: Steve Zahn, Paul Walker, Leelee Sobieski, Matthew Kimbrough, Jessica Bowman, Brien Varady, Jim Beaver, Stuart Stone, Michael McCleery, Rachel Singer
While enduring a long road trip to Colorado to pick up college student Venna (Leelee Sobieski), Fuller (Steve Zahn) and Lewis (Paul Walker) decide to relieve the boredom by contacting a trucker on their CB radio. They play a practical joke on the trucker (Matthew Kimbrough) who, unfortunately, turns out to be a psychotic killer. Now, the tables are turned as the trucker tracks them down.
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 The Life of David Gale 2003 R, 130 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Alan Parker
Cast: Kevin Spacey, Kate Winslet, Laura Linney, Gabriel Mann, Matt Craven, Leon Rippy, Rhona Mitra, Melissa McCarthy, Jim Beaver, Cleo King
A reporter, Bitsey Bloom (Kate Winslet), interviews convicted murderer Dr. David Gale (Kevin Spacey) just three days before his execution date. Her next step is to race against time to prove his innocence in this crime drama, which speaks for those against the death penalty.
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 Next 2007 PG-13, 96 min.
Genre: Action / Sci-Fi / Thriller
Director: Lee Tamahori
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Julianne Moore, Jessica Biel, Thomas Kretschmann, Tory Kittles, Jose Zuniga, Jim Beaver, Jason Butler Harner, Michael Trucco, Enzo Cilenti, Laetitia Danielle, Nicolas Pajon, Sergej Trifunovic
Las Vegas magician Chris Johnson (Nicolas Cage) has a secret gift of clairvoyance that allows him to see two minutes into the future–a talent that allows him to "win" at the blackjack tables. As a child, Chris underwent numerous medical experiments as doctors examined his condition. Now, as an adult, he has changed his name to escape the medical establishment. But, a terrorist group is threatening to blow up Los Angeles, and FBI Counter Terror agent Callie Ferres (Julianne Moore) is determined to find Chris and convince him that he should use his clairvoyance to prevent the catastrophe. And the chase is on as Chris and new girlfriend Liz (Jessica Biel) head through the Arizona desert with Callie in pursuit.
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Sweet Revenge 1987  R, 78 min.
Genre: Action
Director: Mark Sobel
Cast: Nancy Allen, Ted Shackelford, Martin Landau, Sal Landi, Michele Little, Gina Gershon, Jim Beaver, George E. Mahlberg, Stacey Adams, Lotis Key
Jillian Grey (Nancy Allen) finds her job as a reporter becoming dangerous when she is kidnapped by leaders of the white-slavery ring she is investigating. Probably not as good as one star, but the reviewer is easy today.
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| 1. Adaptation (2002)
2. At Sachem Farm (1998)
aka: Uncorked
3. Divided by Hate (1997)
4. In Country (1989)
5. Joy Ride (2001)
6. The Life of David Gale (2003)
7. Next (2007)
8. Sweet Revenge (1987)
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