 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, Thomas Jane
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–for her role as star Amber Waves– received Supporting Actor and Actress Oscar nominations.
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The Brothers Bloom 2009   PG-13, 113 min.
Genre: Comedy / Adventure / Drama / Romance
Director: Rian Johnson
Cast: Rachel Weisz, Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo, Rinko Kikuchi, Robbie Coltrane, Maximilian Schell, Ricky Jay, Zachary Gordon, Max Records, Andy Nyman, Noah Segan, Ram Bergman, Craig Johnson, Nora Zehetner, Dubravko Jovanovic
Orphaned brothers Stephen (Max Records) and Bloom (Zachary Gordon) grow up protecting each other while scamming their playground pals. Now, as adults, there is competition between Stephen (now played by Mark Ruffalo) and Bloom (now played by Adrien Brody). Stephen comes up with a "grand" scheme to con lonely heiress Penelope (Rachel Weisz) by posing as antique dealers and taking off with her money. All goes as planned–until Bloom falls in love with Penelope.
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The Great Buck Howard 2009  PG, 90 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Sean McGinly
Cast: John Malkovich, Colin Hanks, Emily Blunt, Steve Zahn, Tom Hanks, Ricky Jay, Debra Monk, Griffin Dunne, Regis Philbin, Kelly Ripa, John Stewart, Martha Stewart, Tom Arnold, George Takei, Adam Scott
Buck Howard (John Malkovich) is an illusionist whose show business career is on the down slope. He is hoping for a comeback when he hires law school dropout Troy Gable (Colin Hanks) as his road manager. Troy's father (Tom Hanks, Colin's real life father) disapproves of Troy's choice of careers, but Troy sees his job as a new beginning. Troy tries to deal with Buck's large ego and manages to hold his own when Buck exhibits tantrums. Buck has also hired Valerie Brennan (Emily Blunt) as his new publicist with hopes that she will stage his comeback, and Valerie does not hesitate to tell Buck exactly what she is thinking. Meanwhile, Valerie exhibits a sexual interest in Troy. Despite Buck's downsides, he does teach Tony lessons about life and the importance of being true to yourself.
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Hacks 1997 R, 100 min.
Genre: Comedy / Mystery
aka: Sink or Swim
Director: Gary Rosen
Cast: Stephen Rea, Illeana Douglas, John Ritter, Dave Foley, Richard Kind, Dusty Kay, Tom Arnold, Robert Patrick, Ryan O'Neal, Ricky Jay, Jason Priestley, Olivia d'Abo, Matt Clark, Lisa Kudrow, Kim Lores
TV script-writer Brian (Stephen Rea) is given the task of coming up with a new TV series–but he's out of ideas. Then, while at his routine poker game with his buds, Brian sees a couple on a balcony and gets an idea for the series. He meets the balcony-girl, offers to buy her life story, and then disappears with her. Well-known cast, but the film didn't hit it big.
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Heist 2001 R, 107 min.
Genre: Drama / Action / Thriller
Director: David Mamet
Cast: Gene Hackman, Danny DeVito, Delroy Lindo, Sam Rockwell, Rebecca Pidgeon, Ricky Jay, Patti LuPone, Karen Cliche, Christopher Kaldor, Christian Maguire, Mark Camacho, Michelle Sweeney
Great performances provide solid entertainment in this David Mamet thriller. Joe Moore (Gene Hackman) has led a successful life of crime when fellow jewel thief Bergman (Danny DeVito) talks him into one last score. But when Bergman adds his hot-headed nephew, Jimmy Silk (Sam Rockwell), to the mix, the result is one double-cross after another.
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House of Games 1987 R, 102 min.
Genre: Mystery
Director: David Mamet
Cast: Lindsay Crouse, Joe Mantegna, Mike Nussbaum, Lilia Skala, J.T. Walsh, Willo Housman, William H. Macy, Meshach Taylor, Karen Kohlhaas, Steven Goldstein, Jack Wallace, Ricky Jay, G. Roy Levin
When a psychiatrist (Lindsay Crouse) tries to help her patient (Steven Goldstein) by pleading with the person (Joe Mantegna) to whom he owes a gambling debt, she becomes hopelessly involved in his mysterious world.
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Last Days 2005  R, 97 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Gus Van Sant
Cast: Michael Pitt, Lukas Haas, Asia Argento, Scott Patrick Green, Nicole Vicius, Ricky Jay, Ryan Orion, Harmony Korine, Thadeus A. Thomas, Riley G. Matthews Jr.
Set in Seattle, this rock & roll story is reminiscent of Kurt Cobain's life, but it is not really about him. Michael Pitt takes on the role of the heron addicted rock star in this film's glimpse into a very troubled mind.
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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, Alfred Molina, Ricky Jay, Jeremy Blackman, April Grace, Luis Guzman
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 as dying fathers try to connect with their estranged children. Earl Partridge (Jason Robards) is dying of cancer, and his wife Linda (Julianne Moore) is trying to handle her grief. Earl is estranged from his son Frank (Tom Cruise), and his nurse Phil (Philip Seymour Hoffman) tries to arrange a meeting between father and son. Meanwhile, Jimmy Gator (Philip Baker Hall) has terminal cancer and is trying to make up for past mistakes with his cocaine addicted daughter, Claudia (Melora Walters), who does not want to see him. Cruise's performance is the highlight, and he received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
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Redbelt 2008 R, 99 min.
Genre: Action / Drama
Director: David Mamet
Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Emily Mortimer, Alice Braga, Joe Mantegna, Rodrigo Santoro, Ricky Jay, David Paymer, Rebecca Pidgeon, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Tim Allen, Randy Couture, John Machado, Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini, Allison Karman, Renato Magno
Jiu-jitsu instructor Mike Terry (Chiwetel Ejiofor) believes that "competition is weakening" and has chosen to stay out of the ring and, instead, teach self-defense at his gym. Mike and his wife Sondra (Alice Braga) are struggling to make ends meet when, one night, a distraught lawyer (Emily Mortimer) fires a gun that destroys Mike's storefront window. This sets off a chain of events. Mike really needs money now, and his life changes dramatically. He meets promoters Jerry Weiss (Joe Mantegna) and Marty Brown (Ricky Jay) and action star Chet Frank (Tim Allen), and Mike finally agrees to fight in the ring to get the money he needs to pay off his debts.
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The Spanish Prisoner 1997  PG, 110 min.
Genre: Drama / Mystery / Thriller
Director: David Mamet
Cast: Campbell Scott, Rebecca Pidgeon, Steve Martin, Ricky Jay, Ben Gazzara, Felicity Huffman, Ed O'Neill, Richard L. Friedman, Jerry Graff, G. Roy Levin, Hilary Hinckle, Christopher Kaldor, Olivia Tecosky, David Pittu, Charlotte Potok
The con game involving the promise of a fortune IF the mark can come up with some up-front money is the theme of this very good thriller in which a naive inventor, Joe Ross (Campbell Scott), becomes involved in a web of industrial espionage.
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Things Change 1988 PG, 105 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: David Mamet
Cast: Don Ameche, Joe Mantegna, Robert Prosky, J.J. Johnston, Ricky Jay, Mike Nussbaum, William H. Macy, J.T. Walsh, Jack Wallace, Dan Conway
An elderly man (Don Ameche) resembles a Mafia boss who wants him to confess to a gangster's murder. While being coached for the confession, he is mistaken for the real Don and the mistaken identity leads to very funny events.
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 Tomorrow Never Dies 1997 PG-13, 119 min.
Genre: Action / Adventure / Thriller
Director: Roger Spottiswoode
Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Jonathan Pryce, Michelle Yeoh, Teri Hatcher, Gotz Otto, Judi Dench, Desmond Llewelyn, Samantha Bond, Joe Don Baker, Vincent Schiavelli, Ricky Jay, Colin Salmon, Geoffrey Palmer, Julian Fellowes, Terence Rigby
This top-flight James Bond adventure stars Pierce Brosnan as Agent 007 battling media baron Elliot Carver (Jonathan Pryce) who will stop at nothing to boost his ratings–even starting World War III as he and his cohorts plot to sink a British naval ship and then place the blame on China. Bond teams up with Chinese External Security Force agent Wai Lin (Michelle Yeoh) to bring an end to Carver's madness. Carver is married to Paris (Teri Hatcher) who just happens to be one of Bond's former lovers, and his superior, M (Judi Dench), ensures that the past relationship is exploited as Bond and Wai Lin go after the ruthless Carver.
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| 1. Boogie Nights (1997)
2. The Brothers Bloom (2009)
3. The Great Buck Howard (2009)
4. Hacks (1997)
aka: Sink or Swim
5. Heist (2001)
6. House of Games (1987)
7. Last Days (2005)
8. Magnolia (1999)
9. Redbelt (2008)
10. The Spanish Prisoner (1997)
11. Things Change (1988)
12. Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
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