Starring: Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb, Bob Odenkirk, Stacy Keach, Mary Louise Wilson, Rance Howard, Tim Driscoll

"This was my parents' room. I got whipped if they found me in here. I guess nobody's gonna whip me now." - Woody Grant

Why watch this? Aging parents can be hard to deal with. Then there's Woody Grant... 

Dad's Review: Woody Grant wants to be taken to Lincoln, Nebraska. He's convinced that he has won a million dollar sweepstakes prize. His son, Dan, reluctantly agrees to take him. On the way there they stop at Woody's hometown. The million dollar rumor quickly gets around, and on come the relatives and friends to get the money. It all builds to a rewarding conclusion. Bruce Dern, a prolific journeyman actor, finally accomplishes his magnum opus. 

Starring: Jodie Foster, Liam Neeson, Natasha Richardson, Richard Libertini, Nick Searcy, Robin Mullins, Jeremy Davies, O'Neal Compton

"I like it here. It's a quiet place. You've got the right idea, Nell. You live with people, you get problems. First they screw you up, then they leave you, right?" - Jerry

Why watch this? This is a fascinating film about human connection.

Dad's Review: A local doctor, Jerry, discovers Nell Kellty living in a cabin in the North Carolina wilderness. Her mother recently died of a stroke. The teenager Nell, who speaks her own language, appears to be an infant emotionally. Jerry brings in an autism specialist, Dr. Paula Olsen. They finally earn Nell's trust, and learn how intelligent she is. However, a city doctor insists that she be put into an institution. This film is about Nell's comprehension that humans need each other, even herself. Foster is truly amazing and deserved the Best Actress Oscar.

Starring: Barret Oliver, Noah Hathaway, Tami Stonach, Patricia Hayes, Sydney Bromley, Gerald McRaney, Moses Gunn

"He doesn't understand that he's the one who has the power to stop it. He simply can't imagine that one little boy could be that important." - The Empress

Why watch this? Fairytale films are usually just for kids. This will inspire adults as well.

Dad's Review: This wonderful German fantasy film has it's share of heroic figures, elves and unique creatures. It even has a talking dragon. What separates it from the rest is that there are truly dark and scary moments (like all good fairytales should have). Like a dream, that flips into a nightmare, and you pray for a happy ending. By all means, watch this with your kids, just be sure to pull them close when the prince reaches the lair of the Gmork!

Night Passage (1957), Director: James Neilson, Rated Approved (Dad's guess PG)

Starring: James Stewart, Audie Murphy, Dan Duryea, Dianne Foster, Brandon deWilde, Jay C. Flippen, Hugh Beaumont, Jack Elam, Paul Fix

"Because I like to steal! Maybe I like to see what people will do when I take it away from them." - Utica Kid, when asked why he steals from people

Why watch this? This Western centers on a man looking for the gunslinger his brother has become.

Dad's Review: Whitey Harbin and the Utica Kid have been stealing the railroad's payroll. They hire Grant McLaine (Stewart) to get the money through. Grant has sworn to find Utica Kid (Audie Murphy). Jimmy Stewart was a master at portraying the reluctant hero. Audie Murphy was one of the most decorated American combat soldiers of WWII. He even starred in his own film biography, To Hell and Back (1955).

Starring: Nick Nolte, Mac Davis, G.D. Spradlin, Dayle Haddon, Bo Svenson, John Matuszak, Marshall Colt, Steve Forrest, Dabney Coleman, Charles Durning

"You had better learn how to play the game, and I don't mean just the game of football." - Maxwell

Why watch this? As a Dallas Cowboy fan, I loved this raunchy 70's comedy about the highs and lows of pro football.

Dad's Review: This dramatic comedy, about the ugly side of Pro Football, features the adorably gruff Nick Nolte and Top 40 recording artist Mac Davis (whose acting skills surprised me). The team's greedy ownership is all about money and winning. A player is to be used, shot full of pain medicine and forced back onto the field without regard for player safety. Nolte, however, gets the last laugh.

Starring: Blanchard Ryan, Daniel Travis, Saul Stein, Michael E. Williamson
 

"Where's the boat. Daniel. Where's the boat?" - Susan

Why watch this? Next to Jaws, this may be the most terrifying film about the ocean.

Dad's Review: Shot like a home movie, this harrowing film centers on a couple on a scuba diving expedition. The dive itself is beautiful, but when they resurface, their boat is gone (we learn due to a counting error). The couple quickly realizes that they are stranded at sea. Their situation moves from denial, to calm, to worried, to hysterical, as the minutes turn into hours. Then fins begin to criss-cross the surface...

Starring: Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba, Rinko Kikuchi, Charlie Day, Ron Perlman, Diego Klattenhoff, Burn Gorman, Max Martini

"Today we face the monsters that are at our door and bring the fight to them! Today, we are canceling the apocalypse!" - Stacker Pentecost

Why watch this? Any fan of Godzilla or Transformers will love this robot-kaiju slug-fest!

Dad's Review: From somewhere deep in the sea bottom, gigantic monsters are coming forth to wreak havoc on the world. After years of taking a beating, mankind finally begins to fight back using equally gigantic, well-armed mechas, called "jaegers". These robots can match these monsters in combat. Up to now, humans have held their own, but more are coming... The plot is fun to follow, the actors are young and attractive, and the special effects are next-level!

Starring: Bob Hope, Jane Russell, Robert Armstrong, Iris Adrian, Bobby Watson, Jackie Searl, Joseph Vitale, Charles Trowbridge

"I've been chased by women before, but never when I was awake!" - "Painless" Peter Potter

Why watch this? When Bob Hope is in a film, it's a comedy from start to finish. Enjoy!

Dad's Review: In the old West, Calamity Jane is sent undercover to find out who's smuggling rifles to the Indians. She marries a bumbling correspondence-school dentist as part of her cover. When their wagon train is attacked, she does all the shooting, but Potter gets all the credit. This is vintage Bob Hope, portraying the hapless grifter, lacking in both skills and courage. Yet, he's incredibly loveable and somehow gets the girl. 

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Michael Moriarty, Carrie Snodgress, Richard Dysart, Chris Penn, Sydney Penny, John Russell, Richard Kiel, Charles Hallahan

"Nothing like a nice piece of hickory." - The Preacher

Why watch this? It's always nice to watch Mr. Eastwood ride into town and dish out a whoopin' to some nasty fellers who deserve it.

Dad's Review: This was Eastwood's return to Westerns after The Outlaw Josey Wales, ten years earlier. In familiar fashion, he portrays a mysterious "preacher" who descends upon a town lorded over by ruthless thugs. His purpose, naturally, is to help those oppressed and rid the world of a few bad guys in the process. It pure Western iconography. Eastwood's fans more than welcomed back the stern-faced man of action.

Starring: Sergi López, Maribel Verdú, Ivana Baquero, Doug Jones, Ariadna Gil, Álex Angulo, Manolo Solor

"I've had so many names. Old names that only the wind and the trees can pronounce. I am the mountain, the forest and the earth. I am... I am a faun. Your most humble servant, Your Highness." - Pan to Ofelia

Why watch this? As critic Roger Ebert penned, "It is a fairy tale for grown-ups".

Dad's Review: Set in Spain during WWII, a young girl, Ofelia, who lives with her pregnant mother and ruthless father-in-law. She escapes to an imaginary world, and encounters Pan, a faun that gives her three task to proof her worthiness to become a princess. This allegorical, fantastic film won buckets of awards, and set a new standard for fantasy films.

Starring: Jim Caviezel, Monica Bellucci, Maia Morgenstern, Christo Jivkov, Francesco De Vito, Mattia Sbragia, Luca Lionello, Hristo Shopov, Fabio Sartor

"Forgive them, Father. They know not what they do." - Jesus

Why watch this? Director Mel Gibson makes sure you feel each lash of the whip as Jesus endures his final trial on earth.

Dad's Review: This powerful film rendition of Christ's last days and crucifixion will leave a painful impression on viewers. It juxtaposes tender beauty and unbearable brutality. It also shows Gibson's deft hand at visceral direction. James Caviezel is unforgettable as The Christ. Warning: the scourging of Jesus is very violent and hard to watch.

Starring: Harrison Ford, Sean Bean, Anne Archer, Patrick Bergin, Thora Birch, James Fox, Samuel L. Jackson, Polly Walker, James Earl Jones

"I couldn't just stand there and watch him shoot those people right in front of me. It was... rage. Pure rage... Just made me mad." - Jack Ryan

Why watch this? Harrison Ford assumed the role of Jack Ryan. As usual, he delivers a perfect performance.

Dad's Review: After The Hunt for Red October, I had high expectations for the next Clancy film adaptation. Alec Baldwin was out as Jack Ryan, and Ford was in. I was skeptical, but that was for naught. This action-filled story is exciting, but remains personal in scope. Ryan inadvertently gets involved in an IRA terrorist attack, thus becoming the target of an Irish radical determined to avenge his brother's death. The cast is as good as the story-telling.

Starring: Marisa Tomei, Anjelica Huston, Alfred Molina, Chazz Palminteri, Trini Alvarado, Celia Cruz, Ranjit Chowdhry, Diego Wallraff

"Dori, you're beautiful. You always know where you are on this earth." - Juan Raul Perez

Why watch this? This is a romantic little film about Cuban refugees fresh in America.

Dad's Review: When you watch certain films, it's clear from the start that one actor "owns it". The amazing Marisa Tomei dominates here as a Cuban refugee doing all she can to pull together a faux family to get into America. After all, she has a crush on John Wayne. Her personality and internal spirit are a lit fuse burning hot. We also have a great supporting cast including Alfred Molina and Anjelica Huston. This spicy Cubano film is a wonderful winner.

Starring: Lon Chaney, Mary Philbin, Norman Kerry, Arthur Edmund Carewe, Gibson Gowland, John St. Polis, Virginia Pearson

"Beneath your dancing feet are the tombs of tortured men! Thus does The Red Death rebuke your merriment!" - The Phantom, dressed as The Red Death

Why watch this? This is the original Phantom film starring the amazing Lon Chaney Sr.

Dad's Review: This silent film's success was the catalyst that convinced Universal studios to make more gothic horror films. It rewards the viewer with spectacle and adventure, but also suspense. The famous scene where Christine unmasks the phantom terrified audiences so much that it was reported some filmgoers became ill. Chaney's make-up and facial transformation, in 1925 mind you, was too incredible to believe.

Starring: Gary Cooper, Teresa Wright, Babe Ruth, Walter Brennan, Dan Duryea, Els Janssen, Ludwig Stössel, Virginia Gilmore

"Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth... play ball!" - Lou Gehrig

Why watch this? This is a homage to the beloved baseballer Lou Gehrig, who died at age 37.

Dad's Review: This sad yet inspiring film documents one America greatest sports legends. Gehrig played for the New York Yankees, but suffered from the incurable ALS (also called Lour Gehrig's Disease) and died too soon. Many actual baseball players appear in the film including Babe Ruth and Bill Dickey. The real highlight of the film is Gehrig's final speech to his adoring fans. The film was nominated for ten Oscars.

Starring: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, John Gavin, Martin Balsam, John McIntire, Simon Oakland, Frank Albertson

"Well, a boy's best friend is his mother." - Norman Bates

Why watch this? Ah, Norman Bates and his mother... for its time, this film was disturbing.

Dad's Review: I resisted seeing this film for years because I shy away from films that are over-hyped. However, this psychological thriller, which may well be the first slasher film, certainly plays with your head, as it steadily builds in tension to a knock-your-socks-off ending. It really is genius, and don't be surprised if it creeps up Dad's film lists. Perkins' memorable performance typecast the young actor for years.

Starring: Harrison Ford, Kristin Scott Thomas, Charles S. Dutton, Bonnie Hunt, Dennis Haysbert, Sydney Pollack, Richard Jenkins, Paul Guilfoyle, Peter Coyote

"You know what I do for a living? I get paid to notice stuff. I get paid to know who's lying. I didn't have a clue." - Dutch Van Den Broeck

Why watch this? Ford once again proves that he's not just an action hero.

Dad's Review: A detective, Dutch, and congresswoman, Kay, meet each other when their spouses are both killed in a plane crash. In the midst of their grief, they discover another devastating secret that threatens to throw both their lives into chaos. He's the cop who wants answers. She's the politician who wants to avoid public embarrassment. This story is about grief, betrayal, and finding the truth in order to move past a tragic event.

Starring: Fred Ward, Joel Grey, Wilford Brimley, J. A. Preston, George Coe, Charles Cioffi, Kate Mulgrew, Patrick Kilpatrick, Michael Pataki

"For an apricot, yes. For a head of lettuce, even more so. For a mountain, I have not even begun in years. For a man, I am just right." - Chiun, when asked his age.

Why watch this? I loved Fred Ward (Tremors), so I gave this film a chance... and LOVED IT!

Dad's Review: This loosely film is based on The Destroyer, a series of pulp paperbacks centered on a U.S. Government operative who gets the covert, dangerous missions. This flick is Remo's origin story, and focuses mostly on his Zen training, under the mysterious Korean master Chen. Sure, it's full of standard action, yet the characters are interesting. Joel Grey steals every scene as the stoic yet witty Chen.  

The Revenant (2015), Director: Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Rated R for language, violence

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Will Poulter, Domhnall Gleeson, Forrest Goodluck, Paul Anderson, Kristoffer Joner, Joshua Burge

"As long as you can still grab a breath, you fight. You breathe... keep breathing." - Hugh Glass

Why watch this? This is a hyper-realistic account of the merciless life in the pre-1850 American wilderness.

Dad's Review: Can you imagine the North American frontier before malls, Arby's and National Parks? It was a brutal time, and inhabitants had to be able hunt, brave the elements and defend themselves. Life was, as they say, cheap. This incredible tale centers on a father's love, betrayal, murder and the quest for vengeance. It is essential viewing. That said, what you'll remember most is the harrowing bear attack.

Starring: Tom Cruise, Rebecca De Mornay, Joe Pantoliano, Richard Masur, Bronson Pinchot, Curtis Armstrong, Nicholas Pryor, Janet Carroll

"I don't believe this! I've got a trig midterm tomorrow, and I'm being chased by Guido the killer pimp." - Miles

Why watch this? No film encapsulates the '80s RomCom like this one. It's smart and sexy, yet also crude and funny.

Dad's Review: A young high school senior, Joel, feels the weight and pressure from this over-bearing parents. When they take a weekend trip, he decides to throw a bash at his swanky home. This sets in motion a series of calamities, the worse being an encounter with Guido, the killer pimp. Once again Cruise is in charge, but it's Curtis Armstrong as Joel's foul-mouthed buddy Miles, who delivers all the memorable lines.

Starring: Meryl Streep, Kevin Bacon, David Strathairn, Joseph Mazzello, John C. Reilly, Stephanie Sawyer, Benjamin Bratt, Thomas F. Duffy

"Then go ahead. Don't keep telling me how tough you are, Wade, just show me." - Gail

Why watch this? Meryl impressed me with her portrayal as a bad-ass white water guide.

Dad's Review: When two bank robbers hijack a white water rafting guide, Gail, and her husband and son, the action begins as they work their way down Idaho's Salmon River's raging rapids. Gail has to walk the thin line between angering the kidnappers and keeping her family safe. What awaits them is a nasty stretch of churning water called "The Gauntlet". Streep is strong, capable, and just like a lioness defending her own. 

Starring: Mel Gibson, Sissy Spacek, Shane Bailey, Becky Jo Lynch, Scott Glenn, Don Hood, Billy Green Bush, James Tolkan

"Sooner or later there's gonna be too much rain, or too much drought, or too much corn... I can wait." - Joe Wade

Why watch this? Family farmers have been under attack all their lives. Draught, Floods, Bugs, Developers

Dad's Review: Tennessee farmers, Tom and Mae Garvey just want to work their riverside farm and raise their family. But the economy has crashed. Joe Wade is maneuvering to buy out broke farmers. He's in on a dam project. The river is rising and many farms will be washed out. The film's strength comes from Gibson and Spacek, as they battle the bulldozer of progress. Scott Glenn also shines as the opportunistic a-hole, driving the dozer.

Starring: Billy Campbell, Jennifer Connelly, Alan Arkin, Timothy Dalton, Paul Sorvino, Terry O'Quinn, Ed Lauter, James Handy

"You got a good thing goin' on with that girl, Clifford. And I'm tellin' you right now, if she flies the coop, it's gonna be your fault." - Peevy

Why watch this? Travel back to the 1930's where non-stop action came as screen serials.

Dad's Review: This film honors those, crime, space and sci-fi films, complete with gangsters, Nazis, and the beginnings of aviation. Test pilot Cliff Secord stumbles on a top secret rocket-pack. With mechanic Peevy, he becomes The Rocketeer in order to save the girl he loves from the evil Nazis. This film will seem a little innocent and old-fashioned, but that's its charm. Timothy Dalton is excellent as a villain modeled after the famous Errol Flynn. 

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Burgess Meredith, Tony Burton, Mr. T, Hulk Hogan, Ina Friend, Al Silvani

"No, I don't hate Balboa. I pity the fool, and I will destroy any man who tries to take what I got!" - Clubber Lang, when asked by a reporter if he hates Rocky

Why watch this? I was not expecting the third Rocky film to be this good. Hats off to Stallone and company.

Dad's Review: Rocky has the title now. His dreams are realized. Now what? Does he just rake in the money, and box a few cupcakes along the way, riding his success? All seems fine until he is challenged by Clubber Lang. He's a fierce, monster of a man who call Rocky out and plans to annihilate him. Rocky has to do some soul-searching to get back his "Eye of the Tiger". So, he puts out a call to none other than... Apollo Creed. 

Starring: Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Alan Tudyk, Donnie Yen, Wen Jiang, Ben Mendelsohn, Guy Henry, Forest Whitaker, Riz Ahmed, Mads Mikkelsen, Jimmy Smits

"We have hope. Rebellions are built on hope!" - Jyn Erso

Why watch this? Disney has since over-saturated the Star Wars brand, but this early film shines as interesting and necessary.

Dad's Review: This tale is chronologically set one week before Star Wars. It follows a group of rebels who will steal the design plans of the Empire's Death Star, the greatest weapon in the galaxy. It's packed with young and very capable stars, and the film really works. There is so much within for rabid Star Wars fans, and Felicity Jones stands out. Can't wait to see more of her.

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