Anywhere But Here 1999  PG-13, 114 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Wayne Wang
Cast: Susan Sarandon, Natalie Portman, Shawn Hatosy, Bonnie Bedelia, Hart Bochner, Eileen Ryan, Corbin Allred, Ray Baker, John Diehl, Faran Tahir
Mother Adele (Susan Sarandon) and daughter Ann (Natalie Portman) flee Wisconsin and head for Los Angeles where, away from the bonds of family, they must rely on each other–no matter how difficult that may be.
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Beautiful Girls 1996 R, 113 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Ted Demme
Cast: Matt Dillon, Lauren Holly, Timothy Hutton, Rosie O'Donnell, Natalie Portman, Michael Rapaport, Mira Sorvino, Uma Thurman, Max Perlich, Martha Plimpton, Richard Bright
Willie (Timothy Hutton) returns home for a high-school reunion and finds that the guys–including himself–have not grown up. Furthermore, the women in their lives are not ranked much higher on the maturity scale.
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Brothers 2009 R, 110 min.
Genre: Drama / Thriller
Director: Jim Sheridan
Cast: Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman, Sam Shepard, Clifton Collins Jr., Mare Winningham, Bailee Madison, Taylor Geare, Patrick Flueger, Carey Mulligan, Omid Abtahi, Navid Negahban, Ethan Suplee, Arron Shiver, Jenny Wade
U.S.M.C. Capt. Sam Cahill (Tobey Maguire) is married to Grace (Natalie Portman), and they have two daughters (Bailee Madison and Taylor Geare) when Sam leaves for the war in Afghanistan. His helicopter is shot down, and Sam is presumed dead. Meanwhile, Sam's brother Tommy (Jake Gyllenhaal) has been released from jail, and, after years of sister-in-law Grace not accepting him, Tommy and Grace become friends, and he helps with the house and children. Sam has not died, and he returns home, but the brothers' roles are now reversed. Tommy is now the loving family man, and Sam is an edgy soldier who cannot connect with his family. Will the brothers come to turns with the changes?
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 Closer 2004  R, 98 min.
Genre: Drama / Romance
Director: Mike Nichols
Cast: Natalie Portman, Jude Law, Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Nick Hobbs, Colin Stinton, Robert Stone, Bret Yount, Adbul Popoola, Antony Gabriel, Steve Morphew, Ray Donn, Steve Benham
London novelist Dan (Jude Law) falls in love with Alice (Natalie Portman), but her needs become too much for him. Meanwhile, photographer Anna (Julia Roberts) and Dan are attracted to each other, but she marries Larry (Clive Owen). The relationships in this love quadrangle are shown at the beginnings and endings when flirtations, passions, deceptions, and betrayals rise to the fore. Graphic sexual descriptions. Academy Award nominations were received for Best Supporting Actress (Portman) and Supporting Actor (Owen).
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 Cold Mountain 2003 R, 155 min.
Genre: Drama / Romance
Director: Anthony Minghella
Cast: Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Renee Zellweger, Donald Sutherland, Ray Winstone, Brendan Gleeson, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Natalie Portman, Kathy Baker, James Gammon, Giovanni Ribisi, Eileen Atkins
During the Civil War, a wounded Confederate soldier, Inman (Jude Law), goes AWOL and struggles to return home to Cold Mountain, North Carolina, with dreams of reuniting with the woman (Nicole Kidman) he loves. Renee Zellweger won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. The film was nominated for five other Academy Awards, including Best Actor (Law).
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 Garden State 2004 R, 109 min.
Genre: Comedy / Drama / Romance
Director: Zach Braff
Cast: Zach Braff, Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, Ian Holm, Ron Leibman, Jean Smart, Armando Riesco, Method Man, Denis O'Hare, Jackie Hoffman, Ann Dowd, Debbon Ayer, Alex Burns, George C. Wolfe, Michael Weston
Long estranged from his family, Andrew (Zach Braff) returns home for his mother's funeral where he must deal with relatives and friends he knew in high school. Ever since he caused the accident that paralyzed his mother (Andrew was nine years old at the time), Andrew has been taking anti-depressants, prescribed by his psychiatrist father (Ian Holm). While home for the funeral, Andrew gets rid of his meds and falls in love with Sam (Natalie Portman).
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Goya's Ghosts 2006  R, 114 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Milos Forman
Cast: Javier Bardem, Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgard, Randy Quaid, Blanca Portillo, Michael Lonsdale, Jose Luis Gomez, Mabel Rivera, Craig Stevenson, Julian Wadham, Simon Andreu, Jack Taylor, David Calder
In 18th-century Spain during the Inquisition, painter Francisco Goya (Stellan Skarsgard) is working on a portrait of the archconservative Brother Lorenzo and, at the same time, is painting a portrait of one of his favorite models, Ines (Natalie Portman). After Ines is arrested on suspicion of being a Jew, she is thrown into prison where she is tortured and then raped by Lorenzo. Her father Tomas (Jose Luis Gomez) begs Goya to intercede. But Goya, who is terrified of the Church, will only stand on the sidelines unwilling to help. Fifteen years later, Napoleon (Craig Stevenson) and his army "liberate" Spain, and Lorenzo is now Napoleon's prosecutor. Ines is set free from prison and tells Lorenzo that they have a daughter. Lorenzo declares Ines insane, institutionalizes her, and sets out to find the daughter. Once again, Goya watches helplessly from the sidelines.
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 Heat 1995  R, 165 min.
Genre: Drama / Thriller
Director: Michael Mann
Cast: Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer, Jon Voight, Diane Venora, Ashley Judd, Amy Brenneman, Tom Sizemore, Jeremy Piven, Hank Azaria, Mykelti Williamson, Wes Studi, Dennis Haysbert, Natalie Portman, William Fichtner
Any film that Al Pacino and Robert De Niro both agree to perform in is guaranteed good movie fare. In this story, L.A. Police Detective Vincent Hanna (Pacino) becomes obsessed with the criminal activities of Neil McCauley (De Niro) and his gang of thieves. The climax is a riveting gunfight between cops and robbers across city streets in L.A.–do NOT miss this one.
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Leon 1994  R, 110 min.
Genre: Action / Drama / Thriller
aka: The Professional
Director: Luc Besson
Cast: Gary Oldman, Jean Reno, Danny Aiello, Natalie Portman, Peter Appel, Michael Badalucco, Ellen Greene, Frank Senger, Geoffrey Bateman, Tommy Hollis, Elizabeth Regan, Carl J. Matusovich, Lucius Wyatt Cherokee, Luc Bernard, Kent Broadhurst
Twelve-year old Mathilda (Natalie Portman) lives with her family in a slum, and her father (Michael Badalucco) works for drug agents. One day, Mathilda returns home to find that most of her family has been killed in a botched drug deal. Corrupt Drug Enforcement Administration boss, Stansfield (Gary Oldman), ordered her family's murder. Mathilda takes refuge in the apartment of hit man Leon (Jean Reno) from whom she hopes to learn how to exact revenge on the killers. Leon becomes transfixed by Mathilda, and his life appears to be changing. Mathilda's intended victim is Stansfield, but her plans to avenge the murder of her family fail, and Mathilda is captured. Now, Leon must rescue Mathilda.
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 Mars Attacks! 1996 PG-13, 103 min.
Genre: Sci-Fi / Action / Comedy / Thriller
Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Annette Bening, Pierce Brosnan, Danny DeVito, Martin Short, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michael J. Fox, Rod Steiger, Lukas Haas, Tom Jones, Jim Brown, Natalie Portman, Pam Grier, Lisa Marie
Martians in flying saucers invade Lockjaw, Kentucky; Washington, D.C.; and Nevada. President Dale's (Jack Nicholson) science advisor, Prof. Donald Kessler (Pierce Brosnan), tells him the purpose of their arrival is peaceful.. But, General Decker (Rod Steiger) advises the President to annihilate them. Meanwhile, the aliens are actually in the process of "vaporizing" Earth's inhabitants with their ray-guns while President Dale and Nevada land speculator Art Land (also played by Nicholson) rise and fall with the occasion.
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Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium 2007 G, 94 min.
Genre: Family / Comedy / Fantasy
Director: Zach Helm
Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Natalie Portman, Jason Bateman, Zach Mills, Ted Ludzik, Paula Boudreau, Mike Realba, Madalena Brancatella, Rebecca Northan, Steve Whitmire, Liam Powley-Webster, Marcia Bennett
Mr. Magorium (Dustin Hoffman) owns a wonderful toy store, The Emporium, in which all the toys, and the store itself, come to life for those who believe–especially nine-year-old Eric Applebaum (Zach Mills). Mr. Magorium has owned The Emporium for 113 years and decides it is his time to die. He wants to give the store to his assistant Molly Mahoney (Natalie Portman). But, Molly is shy and lacks confidence, the toys are not happy that Mr. Magorium will be leaving and stop playing, and Mr. Magorium hires unmagical CPA Henry Weston (Jason Bateman) to assess the store's monetary value. Will Molly, Eric, and Henry find the ability to believe in themselves and save this land of enchantment?
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My Blueberry Nights 2007 PG-13, 90 min.
Genre: Comedy / Drama / Romance
Director: Wong Kar Wai
Cast: Norah Jones, Jude Law, David Strathairn, Rachel Weisz, Natalie Portman, Frankie Faison, Cat Power, Adriane Lenox, Benjamin Kanes, John Malloy, Chad R. Davis, Katya Blumenberg, Michael Delano, Bill Hollis
Elizabeth (Norah Jones) suffers a rough breakup with her boyfriend and, hoping to find peace following the storm, leaves her new friend, cafe owner Jeremy (Jude Law), behind and sets off on a cross-country trip. To pay for her expenses, Elizabeth finds temporary waitress jobs along the way. Among those she meets on her trek are alcoholic cop Arnie (David Strathairn) and his partying wife Sue Lynne (Rachel Weisz) who are patrons at a bar Elizabeth works at in Memphis. After Arnie kills himself, Elizabeth comforts Sue Lynne. Later, while working as a cocktail waitress in Nevada, Elizabeth becomes involved with compulsive gambler Leslie (Natalie Portman). Through these lost souls, Elizabeth learns how to conquor her own loneliness.
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New York, I Love You 2009 R, 110 min.
Genre: Drama / Romance
Director: Fatih Akin, Yvan Attal, Allen Hughes, Shunji Iwai, Wen Jiang
Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Natalie Portman, Christina Ricci, Andy Garcia, Cloris Leachman, Julie Christie, Eddie D'vir, Bradley Cooper, Blake Lively, Orlando Bloom, Robin Wright Penn, Drea de Matteo, Ethan Hawke, John Hurt, James Caan
In this tribute to New York City, vignettes are presented with an all-star cast. Different characters are shown in stories about looking for connections and love in a variety of neighborhoods. The result is a good collaboration of respected directors and actors whose stories unfold in and around New York City.
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The Other Boleyn Girl 2008 PG-13, 115 min.
Genre: Drama / Romance
Director: Justin Chadwick
Cast: Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana, Jim Sturgess, Mark Rylance, Kristin Scott Thomas, David Morrissey, Benedict Cumberbatch, Oliver Coleman, Ana Torrent, Eddie Redmayne, Tom Cox, Juno Temple, Andrew Garfield
In England during the 16th century, King Henry VIII (Eric Bana) plans to get rid of his wife Catherine of Aragon (Ana Torrent) who has not produced a male heir. The Duke of Norfolk (David Morrissey) sees the solution to Henry's problem as a way to benefit his family. His brother-in-law, Sir Thomas Boleyn (Mark Rylance), has two daughters–Mary (Scarlett Johansson) and Anne (Natalie Portman)–and they decide that Anne is the one who should be Henry's consort. Henry is more interested in Mary, and she, instead of Anne, becomes his mistress. Anne, however, has her eyes set on becoming Queen of England. Time passes, and Henry becomes bored with Mary, divorces Catherine, breaks with the Roman Catholic Church, and marries Anne. But, as history shows, they will not live happily ever after, and the guillotine awaits Anne.
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Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace 1999  PG, 131 min.
Genre: Action / Adventure / Sci-Fi / Fantasy
Director: George Lucas
Cast: Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd, Pernilla August, Frank Oz, Ian McDiarmid, Ahmed Best, Samuel L. Jackson, Terence Stamp, Anthony Daniels, Kenny(2) Baker, Hugh Quarshie, Oliver Ford Davies, Brian Blessed
Episode 1 of the "Star Wars" adventure begins with the Jedis (Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, and Natalie Portman) fighting to save the planet Nahoo from the evil forces of the Trade Federation. Despite their efforts, Nahoo is invaded, and the Jedi force must leave. They meet slave boy Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) who they determine may be the "chosen one" and enlist him to help their cause of saving their world from the Trade Federation.
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Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones 2002 PG, 138 min.
Genre: Action / Adventure
Director: George Lucas
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Lee, Frank Oz, Ian McDiarmid, Pernilla August, Jack Thompson, Temuera Morrison, Rose Byrne, Daniel Logan, Anthony Daniels, Kenny(2) Baker, Jimmy Smits
As with previous entries, great special effects highlight this "Star Wars" feature film. It is now 10 years after "The Phantom Menace," and Queen Padme (Natalie Portman) is guarded by an adoring Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen). Meanwhile, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) takes off on an investigation of the planet Kamino. But, he is captured after discovering a plot to create an army of clones prepared to kill Padme and fight an intergalactic war. Will Obi-Wan Kenobi's distress call be answered in time?
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Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith 2005 PG-13, 140 min.
Genre: Action / Adventure / Sci-Fi / Fantasy
Director: George Lucas
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, Jimmy Smits, Frank Oz, Anthony Daniels, Christopher Lee, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Silas Carson, Jay Laga'aia, Kenny(2) Baker, Temuera Morrison, Bruce Spence
This "Star Wars" prequel answers many questions–including how Anakin (Hayden Christensen) became Darth Vader after his showdown with Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) in a light-saber duel that left him disfigured and in need of his black helmet disguise. Special effects are stunning.
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 V for Vendetta 2006 R, 132 min.
Genre: Action / Sci-Fi
Director: James McTeigue
Cast: Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry, John Hurt, Tim Pigott-Smith, Rupert Graves, Roger Allam, Ben Miles, Sinead Cusack, Natasha Wightman, John Standing, Eddie Marsan
Set in the future after World War III resulted in Great Britain becoming a totalitarian state with Adam Sutler (John Hurt) in charge, this story involves the efforts of a masked man, V (Hugo Weaving), to ignite a revolution. With help from Evey (Natalie Portman) who he had rescued from an assault by government forces, V struggles against the oppressive forces of Britain's government.
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Where the Heart Is 2000 PG-13, 120 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Matt Williams
Cast: Natalie Portman, Ashley Judd, Stockard Channing, Joan Cusack, James Frain, Dylan Bruno, Keith David, Sally Field, Richard Jones, Margaret Ann Hoard
This film begins with pregnant 17-year-old Novalee Nation (Natalie Portman) being abandoned by her boyfriend in Sequoyah, Oklahoma, at a Wal-Mart store. She decides to secretly camp out at Wal-Mart. The plan works, until she goes into labor. Rushed to the hospital, Novalee attains celebrity status, a job, a family, and friends–and a small amount of maturity. Well, it's a start!
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| 1. Anywhere But Here (1999)
2. Beautiful Girls (1996)
3. Brothers (2009)
4. Closer (2004)
5. Cold Mountain (2003)
6. Everyone Says I Love You (1996)
7. Garden State (2004)
8. Goya's Ghosts (2006)
9. Heat (1995)
10. Leon (1994)
aka: The Professional
11. Mars Attacks! (1996)
12. Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (2007)
13. My Blueberry Nights (2007)
14. New York, I Love You (2009)
15. The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)
16. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
17. Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)
18. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
19. V for Vendetta (2006)
20. Where the Heart Is (2000)
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