The Amityville Horror 2005  R, 90 min.
Genre: Horror / Thriller
Director: Andrew Douglas
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Melissa George, Philip Baker Hall, Jesse James, Jimmy Bennett, Chloe Moretz, Rachel Nichols, Isabel Conner, Brendan Donaldson, Annabel Armour, David Gee, Danny McCarthy
George and Kathy Lutz (Ryan Reynolds and Melissa George) move their combined families into a house in Amityville, Long Island, where, one year ago, Ronald Deifio (Brendan Donaldson) had killed six members of his own family. Within days, unexplained events occur; ghosts, blood, and strange writings appear in the home. How long can the Lutz family survive their eerie circumstances?
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 Boogie Nights 1997  R, 152 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore, John C. Reilly, Don Cheadle, Heather Graham, Luis Guzman, William H. Macy, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Alfred Molina, Philip Baker Hall, Robert Ridgely, Melora Walters, Ricky Jay
Porn star Dirk Diggler (Mark Wahlberg) was once a dishwasher before Jack Horner (Burt Reynolds) opened doors for him in the film industry. This is a behind-the-scenes look at the world of pornographic filmmaking that parallels that of mainstream Hollywood. Reynolds and Julianne Moore received Supporting Actor and Actress Oscar nominations.
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Bruce Almighty 2003  PG-13, 101 min.
Genre: Comedy / Drama / Fantasy
Director: Tom Shadyac
Cast: Jim Carrey, Morgan Freeman, Jennifer Aniston, Philip Baker Hall, Catherine Bell, Lisa Ann Walker, Steve Carell, Nora Dunn, Eddie Jemison, Paul Satterfield, Mark Kiely, Sally Kirkland, Tony Bennett, Brian Tahash, Timothy Di Pri
Television reporter Bruce Nolan (Jim Carrey) has complained loud and long about his human interest story assignments in Buffalo, New York. But, after he complains that God (Morgan Freeman) isn't fair to him, God grants Bruce temporary power and challenges him to perform better than he has in the past.
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 The Contender 2000 R, 126 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Rod Lurie
Cast: Joan Allen, Jeff Bridges, Gary Oldman, Christian Slater, Sam Elliott, William Petersen, Saul Rubinek, Philip Baker Hall, Mike Binder, Robin Thomas
U.S. President Jackson Evans (Jeff Bridges) nominates Ohio Senator Laine Hanson (Joan Allen) to replace his deceased Vice President. But problems rise to the surface during Hanson's House Judiciary Committee hearings when a background check reveals a dark secret in her past. Allen was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar and Bridges was nominated for Best Supporting Actor.
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Cradle Will Rock 1999  R, 132 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Tim Robbins
Cast: Hank Azaria, Ruben Blades, Joan Cusack, John Cusack, Cary Elwes, Philip Baker Hall, Cherry Jones, Angus Macfadyen, Bill Murray, Vanessa Redgrave
Set in 1936, this Tim Robbins story gives insight into how President Franklin Roosevelt's subsistence program for artists often proved suspect to redbaiters. In this case, a pro-labor musical does not stand a chance of making it when it is threatened by Congressional testimony about the production team's leftist leanings.
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Die, Mommie, Die 2003 R, 90 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Mark Rucker
Cast: Charles Busch, Natasha Lyonne, Jason Priestley, Frances Conroy, Philip Baker Hall, Stark Sands, Victor Raider-Wexler, Nora Dunn, Stanley DeSantis, Josh Hutchinson, Angela Paton, Christopher McDaniel
Drag queen Charles Busch takes on the role of ex-pop singer Angela Arden who murders her producer husband (Philip Baker Hall) so she can be with her gigolo boyfriend (Jason Priestley) in this campy tale of greed, corruption, and revenge. A dark comedy.
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Eye for an Eye 1996 R, 101 min.
Genre: Drama / Horror / Thriller
Director: John Schlesinger
Cast: Sally Field, Kiefer Sutherland, Ed Harris, Beverly D'Angelo, Joe Mantegna, Charlayne Woodard, Keith David, Olivia Burnette, Alexandra Kyle, Darrell Larson, Philip Baker Hall, Wanda Acuna, Geoffrey Rivas, Armin Shimerman, Natalia Nogulich
While talking to her daughter over the cell phone, Karen McCann (Sally Field) listens helplessly as the conversation is interrupted, and her daughter is raped and murdered. Her subsequent dealings with the tragedy and the murderer are the focus of this film.
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Fired Up! 2009 PG-13, 90 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Will Gluck
Cast: Nicholas D'Agosto, Eric Christian Olsen, Sarah Roemer, Molly Sims, Danneel Harris, David Walton, Philip Baker Hall, John Michael Higgins, Adhir Kalyan, AnnaLynne McCord, Juliette Goglia, Smith Cho, Margo Harshman, Hayley Marie Norman, Jake Sandvig
Shawn (Nick D'Agosto) and Nick (Eric Christian Olsen) are top scorers on the Ford High School team who decide to avoid football camp and sign up for cheerleading camp instead where they plan to score with the beautiful girls. They get Shawn's younger sister Poppy (Juliette Goglia) to show them basic cheerleading moves and then head for camp. Shawn falls for head cheerleader Carly (Sarah Roemer), but she suspects their motives. Now, Shawn and Nick must come up with some great moves if Shawn is going to gain Carly's trust and love.
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Goddess of Love 1988 TV, 97 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Jim Drake
Cast: Vanna White, David Naughton, David Leisure, Amanda Bearse, Philip Baker Hall, Betsy Palmer, John Rhys-Davies, Little Richard, Ray O'Connor, Michael Goldfinger, Jennifer Bassey, David Donham
Venus (Vanna White), the Goddess of Love, is sent to Earth to earn a modern man's love. If she fails in her mission, she will be banished from Mount Olympus forever. This lame romantic fantasy was made for TV.
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Hit Me 1996  R, 125 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Steven Shainberg
Cast: Elias Koteas, Laure Marsac, Jay Leggett, Bruce Ramsay, Kevin J. O'Connor, Philip Baker Hall, J.C. Quinn, Haing S. Ngor, William H. Macy
Based on Jim Thompson's "A Swell Looking Babe," this is the story of a hapless bellhop, Sonny (Elias Koteas), whose home life is just as miserable as what he endures at the two-star Stillwell Hotel. One night he agrees to join his friend Del (Bruce Ramsay) in a plot to rob the safe, which holds $500,000 for an illegal poker game. Of course, the best-laid plans go awry and result in only adding to Sonny's grief.
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Implicated 1998  R, 91 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Irving Belateche
Cast: William McNamara, Amy Locane, Philip Baker Hall, Frederic Forrest, Priscilla Barnes, Elizabeth Barondes, Amanda DeCadenet, Richard Tyson, Cara Keough, Roger Clinton
Tom (William McNamara) has diabolical plans to fake the kidnapping of his boss' daughter so the two men can reap benefits from the ransom. The plans involve the unwitting help of his girlfriend, Ann (Amy Locane), but when the boss dies suddenly after the "kidnapping," Ann and Tom are left with no place to turn.
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In Good Company 2004 PG-13, 110 min.
Genre: Comedy / Drama / Romance
Director: Paul Weitz
Cast: Dennis Quaid, Topher Grace, Scarlett Johansson, Marg Helgenberger, David Paymer, Clark Gregg, Philip Baker Hall, Selma Blair, Frankie Faison, Ty Burrell, Kevin Chapman, Amy Aquino, Colleen Camp, Lauren Tom, Zena Grey
Dan Foreman (Dennis Quaid) gets a new boss, up-and-comer Carter Duryea (Topher Grace), who just happens to be half Dan's age and also is more than a little interested in Dan's college-age daughter, Alex (Scarlett Johansson). To make matters worse, Dan's wife Ann (Marge Helgenberger) is expecting a new baby, and he is in no position to quit his job. But, slowly, a father/son bond is formed between Dan and Carter. An entertaining film about business ethics.
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 The Insider 1999 R, 162 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Michael Mann
Cast: Al Pacino, Russell Crowe, Christopher Plummer, Diane Venora, Philip Baker Hall, Lindsay Crouse, Debi Mazar, Stephen Tobolowsky, Colm Feore, Rip Torn
Based on a 1994 "60 Minutes" episode, Al Pacino plays Lowell Bergman, the "60 Minutes" producer who was responsible for Mike Wallace's (Christopher Plummer) interview with Jeffrey Wigand (Russell Crowe), the fired researcher at Brown & Williamson–one of America's largest tobacco companies. The interview proved damaging to the tobacco industry, and, faced with the probability of a lawsuit, CBS refused to air the segment. The film received seven Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Actor (Crowe), and Director.
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Live Wire 1992  R, 85 min.
Genre: Action
Director: Christian Duguay
Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Lisa Eilbacher, Ron Silver, Ben Cross, Tony Plana, Al Waxman, Brent Jennings, Philip Baker Hall, Michael St. Gerard, Selma Archerd
As if FBI explosives-expert Danny O'Neill (Pierce Brosnan) didn't have enough problems–what with his marital woes and his wife (Lisa Eilbacher) running around with a U.S. Senator (Ron Silver)–two Senators have been blown up with no trace of explosives. Danny is on the case, and his wife's Senator friend seems to be involved. Made for cable TV.
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The Lodger 2009 R, 95 min.
Genre: Drama / Horror / Thriller / Mystery
Director: David Ondaatje
Cast: Alfred Molina, Hope Davis, Shane West, Rachael Leigh Cook, Simon Baker, Philip Baker Hall, Michael Agostini, Michael Albala, J.P. Foster Jr., Donal Logue, Rebecca Pidgeon, Michael O'Hagan, Francois Chau, Roy Werner, Stephen Steelman
In this animated documentary, Ari Folman listens as his friend tells him that he suffers from a nightmare in which 26 ferocious dogs chase him. The two men reason that the nightmares must be related to a mission they participated in during the first Lebanon War. Ari realizes that his memory of that time is very poor, and he travels to find old comrades from those days to refresh his memory. As he interviews old friends and acquaintances, Ari's memory emerges, and his recollections of his participation in the war leads, finally, to his denunciation of all wars.
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Lost Souls 2000 R, 102 min.
Genre: Horror / Thriller
Director: Janusz Kaminski
Cast: Winona Ryder, Ben Chaplin, John Hurt, Philip Baker Hall, Elias Koteas, Sarah Wynter, Alfre Woodard, John Beasley, Victor Slezak, John Diehl
The lives of successful author Peter Kelson (Ben Chaplin) and exorcist Maya Larkin (Winona Ryder) cross when Maya finds papers identifying Kelson as the one through whom Satan will become flesh. This thriller about demonic possession and the antichrist sat on the shelf for a year. The additional time did not help.
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Magnolia 1999 R, 185 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Cast: Jason Robards, Julianne Moore, Tom Cruise, Philip Seymour Hoffman, John C. Reilly, William H. Macy, Philip Baker Hall, Melora Walters, Melinda Dillon, Michael Bowen
This film represents a finely tuned ensemble of quality acting. Set in the San Fernando Valley, the story draws parallels between its characters whose lives intertwine for brief periods. Tom Cruise's performance is a highlight, and he received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
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 The Matador 2005 R, 96 min.
Genre: Comedy / Thriller
Director: Richard Shepard
Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Greg Kinnear, Hope Davis, Philip Baker Hall, Adam Scott, Dylan Baker, Roberto Sosa, Jonah Meyerson, Portia Dawson, Antonia Zavala
Denver salesman Danny Wright (Greg Kinnear) is grieving over his son's death when he meets hit-man Julian Noble (Pierce Brosnan) at a bar in Mexico City. The two attend a bullfight together, and a bond is formed. Six months later the friendship is rekindled when Julian appears at Danny's Denver home and tells Danny that he needs a place to hide because he has messed up one too many deals and is now the target of his superiors.
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Path to War 2002 TV, 165 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: John Frankenheimer
Cast: Michael Gambon, Donald Sutherland, Alec Baldwin, Bruce McGill, James Frain, Felicity Huffman, Frederic Forrest, Philip Baker Hall, Tom Skerritt, Cliff De Young, John Aylward, Chris Eigeman
This made-for-TV film covers President Lyndon Johnson's presidency from his 1965 inauguration to the 1968 decision not to seek another term. The Vietnam War decisions (and indecisions) are the main focus as the President and his advisors struggle to make the right choices.
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Psycho 1998  R, 110 min.
Genre: Horror / Thriller
Director: Gus Van Sant
Cast: Vince Vaughn, Julianne Moore, Viggo Mortensen, William H. Macy, Philip Baker Hall, Anne Heche, Rita Wilson, Robert Forster, Chad Everett, Anne Haney
Given the choice of the two "Psychos"? Don't waste your time on this one. Get the Tony Perkins/Janet Leigh version, which is unbeatable in telling the story of Marion Crane's demise in the shower at Norman Bates' motel and the story that follows. 1 User Review
| User Review |
| | I suppose you could, but why would you want to? | 1fatts 03/26/2007 | I remember a long magazine article about twenty years ago which detailed how progressive parents were teaching their six-month-old babies how to swim.
The best comment on this new athletic phenomenon came from some doctor or another who said: "I suppose you could, but why would you want to?"
You don't remake a masterpiece. You especially don't film the same shooting script word for word and shot by shot. Virtually everyone in this thing suffers by comparison. The best they could have hoped for was "a worthy homage". But it wasn't. |
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 Rules of Engagement 2000 R, 125 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: William Friedkin
Cast: Tommy Lee Jones, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Kingsley, Blair Underwood, Anne Archer, Guy Pearce, Philip Baker Hall, Bruce Greenwood, Nicky Katt, Roma Maffia
After Colonel Terry L. Childers (Samuel L. Jackson) is accused of inciting a riot and then firing on innocent civilians, Colonel Hayes Hodges (Tommy Lee Jones) reluctantly takes on the legal case in defense of his comrade, who, 28 years ago, saved his life in Vietnam.
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Rush Hour 1998 PG-13, 94 min.
Genre: Action / Drama / Comedy / Thriller
Director: Brett Ratner
Cast: Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker, Tom Wilkinson, Elizabeth Pena, Tzi Ma, Julia Hsu, Ken Leung, Philip Baker Hall, Chris Penn, Mark Rolston, Robert Littman, Kai Lennox, Larry Sullivan, Yang Lin, Roger Fan
Hong Kong Detective Inspector Lee (Jackie Chan) is called to Los Angeles to work on a kidnapping case involving the Chinese consul's (Tzi Ma) daughter Soo Yung (Julia Hsu). Lee teams up with local cop Detective James Carter (Chris Tucker), and, although neither man likes teamwork, they set out to save the young girl. More of Chan's terrific stunts are displayed.
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Secret Honor 1984 N/R, 91 min.
Genre: Drama
aka: Lords of Treason
Director: Robert Altman
Cast: Philip Baker Hall
Taken from Philip Baker Hall's one-man show, this is an interesting look (through liberal eyes) at Richard Nixon's view of his antagonists including Alger Hiss; Fidel Castro; and, of course, the Kennedys.
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The Shaggy Dog 2006 PG, 98 min.
Genre: Family / Comedy
Director: Brian Robbins
Cast: Tim Allen, Kristin Davis, Robert Downey Jr., Zena Grey, Spencer Breslin, Danny Glover, Jane Curtin, Philip Baker Hall, Joshua Leonard, Shawn Pyfrom, Bess Wohl, Craig Kilborn, Jarrad Paul, Annabelle Gurwitch, Joel Moore
While District Attorney Dave Douglas (Tim Allen) prosecutes animal-rights activist Justin Forrester (Joshua Leonard) who is accused of setting fire to a testing lab, Dave takes in a dog that escaped the fire. That dog turns out to be 200-years old and had been kidnapped in Tibet for tests on creating longevity. The dog bites Dave, turns him into a sheepdog, and the fun begins.
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Sour Grapes 1998 R, 92 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Larry David
Cast: Steven Weber, Craig Bierko, Matt Keeslar, Karen Sillas, Robyn Peterman, Viola Harris, Jennifer Leigh Warren, Jack Burns, Richard Gant, Philip Baker Hall, Mark Chaet
Cousins Richie (Craig Bierko) and Evan (Steven Weber) spend a weekend in Atlantic City. Down to their last quarter, Richie puts Evan's quarter into the slot machine and wins $436,000. Does Richie share his winnings? Three percent is all he offers Evan, and therein lies the plot.
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 The Sum of All Fears 2002 PG-13, 124 min.
Genre: Action
Director: Phil Alden Robinson
Cast: Ben Affleck, Morgan Freeman, James Cromwell, Liev Schreiber, Alan Bates, Philip Baker Hall, Bruce McGill, Bridget Moynahan, Ciaran Hinds, Ron Rifkin
Tom Clancy's novel is brought to the screen with Ben Affleck starring as hero Jack Ryan. This time, Ryan is involved in an international chess game involving a terrorist group that now has its hands on a nuclear weapon and plans to detonate it.
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Sydney 1997 R, 93 min.
Genre: Drama / Thriller
aka: Hard Eight
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Cast: Philip Baker Hall, John C. Reilly, Gwyneth Paltrow, Samuel L. Jackson, F. William Parker, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Nathanael Cooper, Wynn White, Robert Ridgely, Melora Walters, Kathleen Campbell, Michael J. Rowe
Seasoned gambler Sydney (Philip Baker Hall) teaches young John (John C. Reilly) the intricacies of his profession. Two years later, John and Sydney are still friends, and now John and waitress/hooker Clementine (Gwyneth Paltrow) are a hot item. Enter Jimmy (Samuel L. Jackson), a Reno low-life. One night the four characters are in a motel room with a bloody corpse that has a lot to do with failing to pay for Clementine's services and John's reaction. How they work themselves out from their dilemma provides a perceptive view of the four personalities that is entertaining and enlightening.
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 The Talented Mr. Ripley 1999 R, 139 min.
Genre: Drama / Thriller
Director: Anthony Minghella
Cast: Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Cate Blanchett, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jack Davenport, James Rebhorn, Sergio Rubini, Philip Baker Hall, Celia Weston, Fiorello, Stefania Rocca, Ivano Marescotti, Anna Longhi
Tom Ripley (Matt Damon) is sent to Italy to bring back the millionaire playboy, Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law). But after seeing and sharing in the Dickie's lifestyle, Ripley is not willing to give it up. His sociopathic personality now takes over in the solution to his dilemma. Academy Award nominations included Best Supporting Actor (Law).
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 The Truman Show 1998  PG, 104 min.
Genre: Drama / Sci-Fi
Director: Peter Weir
Cast: Jim Carrey, Laura Linney, Noah Emmerich, Natascha McElhone, Holland Taylor, Ed Harris, Brian Delate, Una Damon, Paul Giamatti, Philip Baker Hall, Blair Slater, Peter Krause, Heidi Schanz, Ron Taylor, Don Taylor
Insurance salesman Truman Burbank's (Jim Carrey) entire life has been documented as well as broadcast nationally on a 24-hour basis. All the people around Truman are actors, and Truman lives and works in a huge studio. Despite his made-up world, Truman thinks he is an ordinary man–until he decides to experience life in the outside world. Academy Award nominations included Best Director and Supporting Actor (Ed Harris). 1 User Review
| User Review |
| | A good movie that doesn't quite gel | 1fatts 03/31/2007 | The elements are all here, and it is a professonal job. Weir directs; Ed Harris was up for an oscar; a solid performance from Laura Linney and Jim Carrey plays confused without going over the top.
And the script is everyone's paranoid fantasy brought to life.
It is enertaining, amusing, more-or-less satisfying, and has a couple of nice scenes taking advantage of good production values.
Then why isn't it better than this? Why isn't this allegory of the central question in so many lives -- isn't there more to me than this? -- more moving? more challenging? more significant?
I think the director sets the mark rather lower than he might have. Carrey is fine, but not better than fine. There are levels of shading that the actor doesn't bring and the director doesn't seek. Ed Harris' final confrontation with Truman, which should be man facing his creator, falls flat because Carrey isn't man enough and Harris' creator isn't high enough.
Still, a good film and well worth a few hours of your time. But one of those films where you wonder what someone else who was willing to take a few more chances could have made of this. |
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The Zodiac 2006 R, 92 min.
Genre: Drama / Mystery / Thriller
Director: Alexander Bulkley
Cast: Justin Chambers, Robin Tunney, Rory Culkin, William Mapother, Brad William Henke, Rex Linn, Philip Baker Hall, Marty Lindsey, Shelby Alexis Irey, Natassia Costa, Nate Dushku, Kris Palm
This film about the late-1960s' Zodiac Killer focuses on the victims and families and takes place mostly in Vallejo, California, as the story follows fictional detective Sgt. Matt Parish (Justin Chambers) who becomes obsessed with identifying the elusive killer.
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| 1. The Amityville Horror (2005)
2. Boogie Nights (1997)
3. Bruce Almighty (2003)
4. The Contender (2000)
5. Cradle Will Rock (1999)
6. Die, Mommie, Die (2003)
7. Eye for an Eye (1996)
8. Fired Up! (2009)
9. Goddess of Love (1988)
10. Hit Me (1996)
11. Implicated (1998)
12. In Good Company (2004)
13. The Insider (1999)
14. Live Wire (1992)
15. The Lodger (2009)
16. Lost Souls (2000)
17. Magnolia (1999)
18. The Matador (2005)
19. Path to War (2002)
20. Psycho (1998)
21. Rules of Engagement (2000)
22. Rush Hour (1998)
23. Secret Honor (1984)
aka: Lords of Treason
24. The Shaggy Dog (2006)
25. Sour Grapes (1998)
26. The Sum of All Fears (2002)
27. Sydney (1997)
aka: Hard Eight
28. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
29. The Truman Show (1998)
30. The Zodiac (2006)
In The News
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