To erase the line between man and machine is to obscure the line between men and gods

Starring: Alicia Vikander, Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson, Sonoya Mizuno, Corey Johnson, Claire Selby, Gana Bayarsaikhan

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Isn't it strange, to create something that hates you?" – Ava

Why watch this? This is a superb story about artificial intelligence and the risk it may pose.

Plot Summary: Caleb Smith is a young programmer who wins a competition to spend a week at the remote estate of Nathan Bateman, the reclusive CEO of his company. Upon arrival, Caleb discovers he's been chosen to participate in a groundbreaking experiment: administering a Turing test to Ava, an advanced humanoid AI created by Nathan. Caleb's task is to evaluate Ava's consciousness and determine if her intelligence is indistinguishable from that of a human. This leads to unforeseen revelations and a complex examination of artificial intelligence and humanity.

Dad's Preview: Sci-fi often asks its audience about the meaning of being "human". Today, modern computing is asking a new question: What role do humans have if AI can run things better. Then it's about two clicks away from SkyNet and Terminators wiping out the human race. But I digress. This smart, tense, engrossing film is eye-candy for us nerds because it is futuristically beautiful. As expected, it certainly calls into question what it means to be human, and whether it's wise to create sentience within a machine.

Film4, DNA Films; A24

The terror starts the moment he stops.

Starring: Rutger Hauer, C. Thomas Howell, Jeffrey DeMunn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, John M. Jackson, Billy Greenbush, Jack Thibeau

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I want you to stop me." - John Ryder

Why watch this? It's as dreadfully suspenseful as a movie can get.

Plot Summary: Driving a car across country, young Jim Halsey picks up a hitchhiker who reveals himself to be a dangerous serial killer. After Jim narrowly escapes, the relentless hitchhiker proceeds to stalk him, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake and framing Jim for his crimes. Now pursued by the police and the killer, Jim's only hope for survival and clearing his name lies in the aid of a truck stop waitress named Nash.

Dad's Preview: This is the ultimate cautionary tale regarding why you should never pick up a hitchhiker. It is brutal and a little unrealistic, but that's what movies are for. No matter what the young protagonist does, he cannot escape the homicidal maniac who enjoys toying with his prey. I must point out that there is a "I can't believe that just happened" moment... and it is very disturbing. It also makes the film exceptional.

HBO Pictures, Silver Screen Productions; TriStar Pictures

If you come in five minutes after this picture begins, you won't know what it's all about!
When you've seen it all, you'll swear there's never been anything like it!

Starring: Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh, Angela Lansbury, James Gregory, Henry Silva, Leslie Parrish, John McGiver, Khigh Dheigh, James Edwards, Douglas Henderson, Albert Paulsen, Barry Kelley, Lloyd Corrigan, Madame Spivy, Reggie Nalder

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I told them to build me an assassin. I wanted a killer from a world filled with killers and they chose you because they thought it would bind me closer to them." – Mrs. Iselin

Why watch this? This Frankenheimer thriller was certainly ahead of its time. I genuinely left me disturbed.

Plot Summary: The film opens in the Korean War with the capture of U.S. soldiers by Soviet/Chinese forces. Three days later the men return and are eventually sent back home. For their service, Sergeant Raymond Shaw receives the Medal of Honor, thanks to Captain Ben Marco's recommendation. Marco, and many of the men involved, however, are having horrible nightmares. In Marco's fever dreams he witnesses Shaw murder two fellow soldiers in front of communist military leaders. He convinces his superior office that something happened in Korea akin to brainwashing, and he feels that Shaw may be compromised.

Dad's Preview: This exercise in Cold War paranoia plays both as satire and dead-serious drama. There are several scenes that are shocking, even by today's standards. There is nothing more terrifying to any American than the thought of being mentally manipulated to betray their loved ones. Harvey and Sinatra's performances are excellent, but Angela Lansbury, whose portrays of a powerful woman willing to sacrifice everything for her wanton ambitions, steals every scene and frankly deserved an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

M. C. Productions; United Artists

On the other side of drinks, dinner and a one night stand, lies a terrifying love story.

Starring: Michael Douglas, Glenn Close, Anne Archer, Stuart Pankin, Ellen Latzen, Fred Gwynne, Ellen Foley, Meg Mundy

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Well, what am I supposed to do? You won't answer my calls, you change your number. I mean, I'm not gonna be ignored, Dan!" – Alex Forrest

Why watch this? If you are a married man, this film will keep you married.

Plot Summary: A seemingly happily married lawyer has a one-night stand with a sultry woman, Alex, he meets through work. He believes it to be a fleeting encounter, but she harbors a different view and refuses to let their affair end. Her obsession escalates into increasingly dangerous and threatening behavior, putting his life and family in jeopardy.

Dad's Preview: This is the worse-case scenario for men who cheat on their wives. I could not believe that innocent, plain Glenn Close could transform into Alex, a foxy seductress. After a brief affair, she is jilted. Her heartbreak turns her into an obsessive, insane stalker. Michael Douglas is also awesome as the cheater, who, after the initial mistake, just wants it to end and go away. Alex, however, will not be denied, with disastrous results. Just remember to pass on the rabbit stew.

Jaffe/Lansing Productions; Paramount Pictures

Act like you own the place

Starring: Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Choi Woo-shik, Park So-dam, Lee Jung-eun, Jang Hye-jin

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"So, there's no need for a plan. You can't go wrong with no plans. We don't need to make a plan for anything. It doesn't matter what will happen next. Even if the country gets destroyed or sold out, nobody cares. Got it?" - Ki-Taek

Why watch this? ... it starts to build, gets crazier, crazier, until the jaw-dropping finale.

Plot Summary: The impoverished Kim family schemes to become employed by the wealthy Park family, eventually infiltrating their household one by one by posing as unrelated, highly qualified individuals. This deception allows the Kims to enjoy the luxurious lifestyle of the Parks, living off their resources without the Parks realizing their true intentions. However, this carefully constructed plan faces a threat when an unexpected discovery within the Park household destabilizes the Kims' newfound comfort.

Dad's Preview: You'll need to get used to subtitles to watch this Korean film (called a "black comedy thriller") about a poor Korean family in Seoul. The entire family schemes their way into the employment of a wealthy family, the Parks. When the Parks go on vacation, the Kim's party in the luxurious home. That is just the beginning! After that we are taken on a rollercoaster ride into the expected, bordering on surreal. This is the first non-English film to win the Oscar for Best Picture. It's that good!

Barunson E&A; CJ Entertainment

A Masterpiece of Modern Horror

Starring: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, Scatman Crothers, Barry Nelson, Philip Stone, Joe Trukel, Anne Jackson, Tony Burton

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I'm not gonna hurt ya. You didn't let me finish my sentence. I said, I'm not gonna hurt ya. I'm just going to bash your brains in!" - Jack Torrance

Why watch this? The setting at the empty grand hotel, the gigantic snow-covered maze, all creates one hell of an eerie atmosphere.

Plot Summary: Jack Torrance, an aspiring writer and recovering alcoholic, takes a job as the winter caretaker of the isolated Overlook Hotel in the Colorado Rockies. He moves in with his wife, Wendy, and son, Danny, who possesses psychic abilities known as "the shining". As a winter storm leaves the family snowbound, the hotel's sinister presence begins to influence Jack, threatening the safety of his family.

Dad's Preview: It took me a while to figure this one out. Jack, a writer, agrees to stay a deserted hotel in Colorado for the winter. He takes along his wife and son. What I realized is that the film, like Jack's sanity, becomes more and more deranged with each passing minute. The visions and apparitions are real in Jack's (and the audience's) mind. The bigger question: is there something manipulating him... something evil. Is he crazy or possessed? Finding out is the point.

The Producer Circle Co., Peregrine Prod., Hawk Films; Warner Bros.

Somewhere...Somehow - He'd Loved and Killed That Self-Same Girl Before!

Starring: James Stewart, Kim Novak, Barbara Bel Geddes, Tom Helmore, Henry Jones, Raymond Bailey, Ellen Corby

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Scottie, do you believe that someone out of the past - someone dead - can enter and take possession of a living being?" - Gavin Elster

Why watch this? An eerie tale of a man's obsession with a beautiful, mysterious woman.

Plot Summary: Scottie Ferguson is a retired detective, who develops a severe fear of heights after a traumatic incident. He is hired by an acquaintance to follow his wife, Madeleine, who seems to be behaving strangely and possibly possessed. As Scottie delves deeper into the mystery, he finds himself becoming dangerously obsessed with Madeleine, which leads to a series of unsettling events and revelations.

Dad's Preview: It took me a long time to watch Vertigo, because my natural (if flawed) tenancy is to run from over-hyped films listed as "the best of". I now see why this mystery is so liked. It's the complexity of James Stewart's character, Scottie. Unlike past roles for Hitch, Stewart's protagonist is unsure, tortured, afraid, obsessed, even a little kinky. It IS shocking and intense, even if it moves a little slow at times (that's Hitch, building suspense). This crime mystery is worth a serious gander, just don't look down...

Alfred J. Hitchcock Productions; Paramount Pictures

The road to greatness can take you to the edge

Starring: Miles Teller, J. K. Simmons, Melisssa Benoist, Paul Reiser, Austin Stowell, Nate Lang, Chris Mulkey, Damon Gupton, Suanne Spoke, Max Kasch

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I was there to push people beyond what's expected of them. I believe that is... an absolute necessity. Otherwise, we're depriving the world of the next Louis Armstrong. The next Charlie Parker." – Terence Fletcher

Why watch this? How many roads are there to perfection? What is the cost to bring it out?

Plot Summary: College student and drummer Andrew Neiman desires to be the best, like Buddy Rich-best. Shaffer Conservatory in NYC is prestigious and Andrew is recruited into a Studio jazz ensemble. On the path to core drummer, he (an many players) must endure harsh verbal and physical abuse at the hands of the conductor, Terence Fletcher. It quickly becomes a test of wills pitting the boy's determination to be great against a teacher's unreasonable requirements for perfection.

Dad's Preview: At the heart of this intense psychological drama is the question: "How much is too much, when expecting true greatness?" Can a teacher berate and verbally abuse a student to bring out their best? I've never winced so much watching a film. J. K. Simmon's Oscar-winning performance seethes like open wound... but he drives the plot.  This superb film's final segment is unforgettable.

Bold Films, Blumhouse Prod., Right of Way Films; Sony Pictures Classics

I just want to be perfect.

Starring: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Winona Ryder, Barbara Hershey, Benjamin Millepied, Ksenia Solo, Kristina Anapau, Janet Montgomery, Sebastian Stan

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Perfection is not just about control. It's also about letting go. Surprise yourself so you can surprise the audience. Transcendence! Very few have it in them." - Thomas Leroy

Why watch this? It is a psychological ballet mind-bender that's both complex and gripping.

Plot Summary: Young NYC ballet dancer, Nina Sayers, earns the coveted dual lead role in Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake. She's a natural as the innocent Odette, but struggles as the dark and carnal Black Swan. She gives it everything, both to please her over-critical mother and demanding director, Thomas Leroy. Nina also feels pressures from another dancer, Lily, who is more sexually uninhibited and appears to also want the lead role.

Dad's Preview: This intense, often disturbing film delivers on many levels, as it fades in and out of reality. This is due to Nina's hallucinatory descent into exhaustion, jealousy and an unwavering obsession to be perfect. It is beautifully shot, frantic and dreamlike, a play within a play. The film was nominated for five Academy Awards (Picture, Director, Actress, Cinematography and Editing), but took home only one - Best Actress for Natalie Portman, whose haunting performance is her best work to date.

Cross Creek Pic., Protozoa Pic., Phoenix Pic., Dune Ent.; Fox Searchlight Pictures

In deadly danger...because they saw too much!

Starring: James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Wendell Corey, Thelma Ritter, Raymond Burr, Judith Evelyn, Frank Cady, Georgine Darcy, Ross Bagdasarian

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"People do a lot of things in private they couldn't possibly explain in public." Lt. Doyle

Why watch this? Nobody did it like Hitchcock. This one drips constant suspense.

Plot Summary: Confined to his apartment with a broken leg, a photographer named L.B. Jeffries spends his days observing his neighbors through his rear window. His casual pastime takes a dark turn when he becomes convinced that one of his neighbors, a traveling salesman named Lars Thorwald, has murdered his wife. Despite skepticism from his girlfriend Lisa and his nurse Stella, Jeffries enlists their help in a perilous amateur investigation.

Dad's Preview: When does a little harmless voyeurism become too much, and potentially get a person in trouble? I always thought that our protagonist's little hobby was a bit sick, but Jimmy Stewart makes it seen normal. Well, it's not and Hitchcock had other plans: there's a price for peeping.  This is superb story-telling by the real master of manipulating the audience to build tension and suspense.

Patron Inc.; Paramount Pictures

Not every gift is a blessing.

Starring: Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment, Toni Collette, Olivia Williams, Trevor Morgan, Donnie Wahlberg

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I don't wanna be scared anymore." - Cole Sear

Why watch this? This is a very chilling, sophisticated and creepy film, from a promising new director.

Plot Summary: Child psychologist Malcolm Crowe takes on a new patient, a young boy named Cole Sear, who is isolated and troubled. Cole confides in Malcolm that he can see and communicate with deceased individuals who are unaware of their own deaths. As Malcolm works to understand and help Cole with his unusual ability, he also grapples with personal issues, including a strained relationship with his wife.

Dad's Preview: Director M. Night Shyamalan burst on the movie scene with this story of a child psychologist who is working with a boy who can see ghosts, you know, dead people. We are graced by a wonderful performance from young Haley Joel Osment. Also, if you are watching for the first time, you probably will not see the plot twist at the end. Trust me, you don't want to know. And don't say that you knew, like my pal David! There is just no way you'll see it coming. 

Hollywood Pictures, Spyglass Ent., The Kennedy/Marshall Co.,
Barry Mendel Prod.; Buena Vista Pictures Dist.

Paul Sheldon used to write for a living. Now, he's writing to stay alive.

Starring: James Caan, Kathy Bates, Frances Sternhagen, Richard Farnsworth, Lauren Bacall, Graham Jarvis, Jerry Potter

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I thought you were good Paul...but you're not good. You're just another lying ol' dirty birdy." – Annie Wilkes

Why watch this? ... so that you will always be on the lookout for crazy fans.

Plot Summary: Famous author, Paul Sheldon, after finishing his latest book, crashes his car in a blizzard. He's rescued by Annie Wilkes, a former nurse who claims to be his "number one fan". However, Paul soon discovers Annie's obsession takes a dark turn, and he becomes her prisoner in her secluded home. Annie forces Paul to write a new novel, dictating the story to suit her desires, while Paul desperately attempts to escape his captivity.

Dad's Preview: I cringe at films where someone is trapped in an impossible situation, especially when their captor is bat-shit crazy. This film introduced us to the incredible Kathy Bates. She is demented, as she imprisons her favorite author, hog-ties him to the bed, and keeps him locked up. And, man, when she has had enough of his escape attempts, she gets serious by breaking out the trusty old sledgehammer... time to avert the old eyes!

Castle Rock Entertainment, Nelson Entertainment; Columbia Pictures

The screen's master of suspense moves his camera into the icy blackness of the unexplained!

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

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"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, and generated quite the buzz.

Plot Summary: Marion Crane is a secretary who embezzles money and flees, eventually seeking refuge at the isolated Bates Motel. There, she encounters the timid and troubled proprietor, Norman Bates, who lives with his domineering mother in the house overlooking the motel. The film then delves into the dark secrets and psychological complexities surrounding the Bates family and the mysterious events at the motel.

Dad's Preview: I resisted viewing this film for years because I shy away from films that I feel (often unjustifiably) are over-hyped. However, this psychological thriller, which may be the first slasher film, certainly plays with your head. As Hitch loves to do, it steadily builds in tension to a knock-your-socks-off ending. Perkins' memorable and creepy performance typecast the handsome young actor for years.

Shamley Productions; Paramount Pictures

I am an idea. And ideas are bulletproof

Starring: Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry, John Hurt, Tim Pigott-Smith, Roger Allam, Ben Miles

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"A building is a symbol, as is the act of destroying it. Symbols are given power by people. Alone, a symbol is meaningless, but with enough people, blowing up a building can change the world." - V

Why watch this? ... it's a futuristic tale of a crafty vigilante standing up against fascism.

Plot Summary: In a dystopian future, Britain is under the rule of a totalitarian government. A masked vigilante known as V embarks on a mission to ignite a revolution against the oppressive regime. A young woman named Evey Hammond, a television network employee, becomes unintentionally involved in V's audacious acts of defiance. As V's plans unfold, Inspector Finch races against time to apprehend him, all the while uncovering dark secrets and questioning the very foundations of his government.

Dad's Preview: The world is ruled by a fascist government that rounds up undesirables and rebels, then execute them. The only one with any success against the system is the mysterious "V", a masked figure. This film is brutal and unforgiving, as a small group must gain enough momentum to affect revolutionary change. Once again, Natalie Portman is pure cinematic gold.  

Silver Pictures, Virtual Studios, Studio Babelsberg, Vertigo DC Comics,
Anarchos Prod. Inc.; Warner Bros. Pictures

The adventures of an ordinary man at war with the everyday world.

Starring: Michael Douglas, Robert Duvall, Barbara Hershey, Rachel Ticotin, Frederick Forrest, Tuesday Weld

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I am not a vigilante. I am just trying to get home to my little girl's birthday party and if everyone will just stay out of my way, nobody will get hurt." - Bill Foster

Why watch this? The burger joint. He does what many of us feel like doing when we're being ripped-off.

Plot Summary: In Los Angeles on a hot summer day, a disgruntled and unemployed man, William Foster, abandons his car in traffic and sets out on foot across the city to see his estranged daughter on her birthday. Along the way, he encounters various societal frustrations and injustices, leading to a series of escalating confrontations and increasingly violent acts of lashing out against those he perceives as responsible. Simultaneously, a veteran police officer, Sgt. Prendergast, on his last day before retirement, investigates the string of incidents and finds himself on a collision course with Foster.

Dad's Preview: At one time or another, most of us feel like blowing our tops, letting loose. Luckily, we keep it in check, thanks to internal control mechanisms, a desire to not hurt anyone or go to jail. The genius behind this film is that we sympathize with Mr. Foster. He works hard at a good job, but it just takes from him all the time. We all know how that feels. He's frustrated. He's had enough. Michael Douglas' chose to play against his usual type of role, and he renders a stellar performance.

Le Studio Canal+, Regency Enterprises, Alcor Films; Warner Bros.

Notorious Woman of many Desires! Fateful Fascination! Bold Intrigue!

Starring: Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains, Louis Calhern, Leopoldine Konstantin, Reinhold Schunzel, Moroni Olsen

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Every time you look at me, I can see it running over its slogans: "Once a crook, always a crook", "Once a tramp, always a tramp". Go on. You can hold my hand. I won't blackmail you for it afterwards." – Alicia Huberman

Why watch this? The building suspense within this film is quietly palpable.

Plot Summary: U.S. agent Devlin recruits Alicia Huberman, the daughter of a convicted Nazi spy, to infiltrate a group of Nazis hiding in Rio de Janeiro. Alicia agrees, but her mission becomes complicated when she falls in love with Devlin while being tasked with seducing a prominent Nazi named Alexander Sebastian, who was previously infatuated with her. This arrangement forces her into a difficult position, testing her loyalties and potentially putting her life in danger.

Dad's Preview: In my eyes, what elevates this Hitchcock thriller is its elegant anxiety. Everybody is so damn polite, and they rarely say what they really feel or intend. So much so, that when it finally occurs, it is a long-awaited reward. The film reunites Claude Rains and Ingrid Bergman from Casablanca (1942), and throws in the amazing Cary Grant. The climax is a film school master-class on how to build up tension to an ending worth remembering.

Vanguard Films; RKO Radio Pictures

Are you ready to play?

Starring: Michael Douglas, Sean Penn, James Rebhorn, Deborah Kara Unger, Peter Donat, Carroll Baker, Amin Mueller-Stahl

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Discovering the object of the game is the object of the game." – Daniel Schorr

Why watch this? ... to see the look on your face when you realize what is really going on.

Plot Summary: Nicholas Van Orton, a wealthy and reclusive San Francisco investment banker, receives an unusual birthday gift from his estranged younger brother, Conrad. This gift is an opportunity to participate in a mysterious, customized game provided by a company called Consumer Recreation Services (CRS). As Nicholas enters the game, the lines between reality and the staged events blur, leading to a series of increasingly intense and dangerous occurrences that challenge his carefully constructed life and understanding of what's truly happening around him.

Dad's Preview: I rented this and could not believe that there was not more buzz about it. It is a hell of a tense film with a brilliant plot. You will have to watch it more than once to catch everything. It served as a cautionary tale for the modern day corporate executive - those who live their lives solely to serve the "company", at the expense of living life and spending time with loved ones. Douglas delivers another strong performance, but I was drawn into the mysterious Deborah Unger.

Propaganda Films; PolyGram Films

Some memories are best forgotten

Starring: Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano, Mark Boone Junior, Russ Fega, Jorja Fox, Stephen Tobolowsky

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"We all need mirrors to remind ourselves who we are. I'm no different." – Leonard Shelby

Why watch this? Creative film storytelling 101. Its unorthodoxy is its strength.

Plot Summary: Leonard Shelby is a former insurance investigator who suffers from a rare form of short-term memory loss. Following an assault that resulted in his wife's murder, he can remember events from his past but cannot form new memories. Leonard uses a system of Polaroids, notes, and tattoos to track information as he relentlessly seeks to avenge his wife's death.

Dad's Preview: Once in a while a film comes along that's truly unique, so shockingly original. Think of Fargo (1996), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), and Time Bandits (1981). Memento is told out of order; characters are thrown at us; scenes are restarted over and over. As I describe the film, it sounds maddening to sit through, but it's not. It follows a private investigator trying to solve a crime. The problem - he has short-term memory loss. To accommodate his affliction, he leaves himself notes, takes Polaroid photos, and even tattoos his own body. By the end, we question our protagonist's sanity, and maybe our own.

Summit Entertainment, Team Todd; Newmarket

Free your mind

Starring: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Joe Pantoliano, Marcus Chong, Juian Arahanga

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #19 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of The Matrix

"Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet. You are a plague, and we are the cure." - Agent Smith to Morpheus, as he interrogates him

Why watch this? Conceptually, visually, creatively - this film set a new action sci-fi standard.

Plot Summary: Computer programmer and hacker, Neo, feels there is something wrong with the world around him. He is contacted by Trinity, another hacker, who introduces him to Morpheus, a legendary figure in the hacker underworld. Morpheus reveals the shocking truth about their reality, which compels Neo to join a rebellion against the forces controlling it.

Dad's Preview: A few short minutes into The Matrix, I realized I was seeing the future - it was like nothing I'd experienced before. By the end, I was completely inside my own head. What just happened?! I had to see it again. And again. It was revolutionary cinema that warped all senses of reality. What a mind trip! And the soundtrack is edgy, ass-kicking alternative music. This was a wise career move for Reeves, but the best performances were by newcomers Carrie-Anne Moss as Trinity and Hugo Weaving as the digital assassin, Agent Smith.

Village Roadshow Pictures, Grouch II Film Partnership, Silver Pictures; Warner Bros.

To enter the mind of a killer she must challenge the mind of a madman.

Starring: Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glenn, Ted Levine, Anthony Heald, Brooke Smith, Diane Baker, Kasi Lemmons, Charles Napier

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #13 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of The Silence of the Lambs

"A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti. You fly back to school now, little Starling." – Dr. Hannibal Lecter

Why watch this? ... it's a lethal combination of everything important to great filmmaking.

Plot Summary: FBI trainee Clarice Starling seeks the help of the imprisoned, cannibalistic serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter to gain insight into the mind of another elusive murderer known as Buffalo Bill. Buffalo Bill has been abducting and murdering young women, removing their skin as part of his twisted scheme.

Dad's Preview: This film... damn! It's part psychological thriller, part pure horror-fest. Anthony Hopkins won an Oscar for his portrayal of Dr. Hannibal Lector, a brilliant forensic psychiatrist AND serial killer. Also excellent is the performance by Jodie Foster, the eager FBI trainee who interfaces with Lecter. This film is simply one of those movies that bumps past all others on its way to the top. It is a perfect film.  

Strong Heart Productions; Orion Pictures