SHERLOCK HOLMES lives again in a masterpiece of mystery!

Starring: Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Richard Greene, Wendy Barrie, Lionel Atwill, John Carradine, Barlowe Borland, Beryl Mercer

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"There's no doubt about it in my mind. Or perhaps I should say, in my imagination. For that's where crimes are conceived and where they're solved... in the imagination." - Sherlock Holmes

Why watch this? On film, Basil Rathbone is the best Sherlock Holmes - cool and smart.

Plot Summary: Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are called in to investigate the mysterious death of Sir Charles Baskerville, believed by some to be caused by a legendary demonic hound that haunts the family estate on the fog-shrouded Dartmoor. Holmes, while initially skeptical of the supernatural, dispatches Watson to Baskerville Hall to protect Sir Henry, who has just arrived from Canada, and gather information about the eerie happenings on the moor.

Dad's Preview: This was the first of fourteen Sherlock Holmes films featuring Rathbone and Bruce as sleuth and assistant. Sir Henry Baskerville, the last heir to his family estate, inherited a family curse that involves a blood-thirsty canine prowling the moors intent upon ending the family bloodline. It's up to Holmes and Watson to figure out the truth and prevent Sir Henry's death. In my youth, I loved these intelligent, often scary, British mysteries.

Gene Markey, Darryl F. Zanuck; 20th Century Fox

The true story behind the scandal that shook the world.

Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, John Slattery, Brian D'Arcy James, Stanley Tucci, Elena Wohl, Lou Cariou

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"They knew and they let it happen! It could've been you, it could've been me, it could've been any of us." - Mike Rezendes

Why watch this? This covers the breaking story that many refused to believe.

Plot Summary: This crime true story recounts the Boston Globe's investigative reporting team as they uncover a massive scandal within the local Catholic Archdiocese. Prompted by a new editor, the team begins to delve into allegations of child molestation by priests and discovers a deep-rooted cover-up. Their meticulous investigation ultimately exposes a system that protected perpetrators and silenced victims, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its core.

Dad's Preview: Child manipulation and molestation are horrible. There can be no tolerance of it. Catholic priests are revered like they are God. This power, in the hands of people who are around children a great deal, can only corrupt. It also attracts those who's motive is to molest our most innocent. When confronted, the Church covers it up. The pedophile priests are transferred to new parishes. It's so goddamn ugly and disgusting. You need to see this film, about the determination to bringing sin into light. Covering up for pedophiles... God can't be happy about that.

Participant Media, First Look Media, Anonymous Content, Rocklin/Faust Prod.,
Spotlight Film; Open Road Films

Only the legend will survive.

Starring: Johnny Depp, Heather Graham, Ian Holm, Robbie Coltrane, Ian Richardson, Jason Flemyng

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"One day, men will look back and say that I gave birth to the Twentieth Century." – Sir William Gull

Why watch this? It's an interesting take on the Ripper's identity.

Plot Summary: In 1888 London, amidst the poverty-stricken streets of Whitechapel, a series of gruesome murders targeting prostitutes grips the city. Inspector Frederick Abberline, a brilliant yet troubled detective, investigates the horrifying crimes, using his drug-induced psychic visions to guide his pursuit of the elusive killer dubbed Jack the Ripper. As Abberline delves deeper, he uncovers a sinister conspiracy that reaches into the highest echelons of Victorian society.

Dad's Preview: This film is set in the deplorable city slums of 1888 London. Prostitutes are being murdered in the most gruesome of ways. A young inspector, Abberline, is called in to investigate and find the brutal killer. I do so love grimy period films. Incidentally, the real-life Ripper was never caught. This film is eerie, suspenseful, and truly frightening.

Underworld Pictures; 20th Century Fox

Infiltrate hate.

Starring: John David Washington, Adam Driver, Laura Harrier, Topher Grace, Jasper Pääkkönen, Ryan Eggold, Paul Walter Hauser

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Huh, sorry. Come on. America would never elect somebody like David Duke, President of the United States of America." - Ron Stallworth

Why watch this? Washington and Driver shine in this movie about infiltrating the Klan.

Plot Summary: This is the true story of Ron Stallworth, an African-American detective who infiltrates the Ku Klux Klan in the 1970s. He enlists the help of a fellow officer, Flip Zimmerman, to pose as him in person, while Stallworth communicates with Klan members over the phone. Together, these two detectives work to expose the organization and thwart their plans.

Dad's Preview: Set in the early '70's, this Spike Lee film adaptation of a true story hits a lot of notes about race in this country. This biting, racially-charged film makes lots of points that are incredibly pertinent to our political climate today, and I'm sure that was the point. The film is thought-provoking, and exposes some deep issues that still require resolution.

Blumhouse Prod., Monkeypay Prod./QC Ent./40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks; Focus Features

If he were any cooler, he'd still be frozen, baby!

Starring: Mike Myers, Elizabeth Hurley, Robert Wagner, Seth Green, Mindy Sterling, Michael York, Fabiana Udenio, Will Ferrell, Mimi Rogers

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"You know, I have one simple request, and that is to have sharks with frickin' laser beams attached to their heads!" – Dr. Evil

Why watch this? All great comedy bits need an introduction. This one blows the lid off.

Plot Summary: A hip British secret agent from the 1960s is cryogenically frozen and thawed out in the 1990s to combat his arch-nemesis, Dr. Evil, who has also been frozen and resurrected. Austin must adapt to the vastly different world of the 90s while trying to stop Dr. Evil's latest plan for global domination.

Dad's Preview: As silly as it is absurd, this film is a deep dive into the mind of the talented Mike Myers. I remember thinking "what a dumb concept". Boy, was I wrong. You can't help but fall in love with this James Bond spy spoof. Myers' comedic genius shines through as he portrays the out-dated British Secret Agent, and also his greatest foe, the chrome-domed mastermind Dr. Evil. Elizabeth Hurley also shines as his sexy assistant. If you don't find this humor funny, I can't help you.

New Line Productions, Eric's Boy, KC Medien, Moving Pictures; New Line Cinema

First, he fought for the Crown. Now he's fighting for the Family Jewels.

Starring: Mike Myers, Heather Graham, Michael York, Robert Wagner, Rob Lowe, Mindy Sterling, Seth Green, Verne Troyer, Gia Carides, Will Ferrell

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"If you've got a time machine, why don't you just go back in time and kill Austin Powers when he's on the crapper or something?" – Scott Evil

Why watch this? AP2 is more of the same, and by "more" I mean, bloody wonderful more!

Plot Summary: Once again Austin Powers must square off against his nemesis, Dr. Evil. Only this time, His Baldness has been, that's right, cloned, in the form of the 2 ft. 6 in. Mini-Me - a little person with a big temper. Austin Powers has mysteriously lost his "mojo", so he travels back to 1969 and enlists blonde-bombshell CIA Agent Felicity Shagwell. Together they take on Dr. Evil and his most notorious henchman, the nasty Fat Bastard!

Dad's Preview:  If you liked Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) this raunchy, hilarious romp will thrill you. This is a confident comedian, Mike Myers, at the peak of his creative mastery. Part of why these films are so funny is that Powers can be sexist, and he gets a pass because he literally is from a time when that was somewhat excepted. He gets most of the laughs at his own expense... and I can laugh at that all day long. 

Eric's Boy, Team Todd, Moving Pictures; New Line Cinema

Dr. Evil on the loose. A sexy new cohort. Mini-Me at your side. Oh, Baby, Yeah!

Starring: Mike Myers, Beyoncé Knowles, Michael York, Michael Caine, Seth Green, Verne Troyer, Mindy Sterling, Fred Savage

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"There are two things in the world I can't stand: people who are intolerant of other people's cultures... and the Dutch." – Nigel Powers

Why watch this? Powers' third and final outing puts forth a hilarious, well-oiled comedy.

Plot Summary: Groovy spy Austin Powers learns that his famous spy father, Nigel Powers, has been kidnapped by a Dutch villain named Goldmember, who has an obsession with gold. Austin travels back in time to the year 1975 to stop Goldmember and rescue his father, where he encounters FBI Agent, Foxxy Cleopatra, who joins him on his mission. Together, they must foil Goldmember and Dr. Evil's plot, which involves a tractor beam designed to pull a molten meteor of gold to Earth, threatening global devastation

Dad's Preview: In this outing, Myers takes on four roles: Powers, Dr. Evil, Goldmember, and, back again, the blubber-filled Scottish mass known as Fat Bastard. It's a fitting end to the film series with lots of laughs. The scene on the submarine where Powers and Mini-Me are forced to take a Navy physical is one of the funniest comedy bits I can remember.

Gratitude International, Team Todd, Moving Pictures; New Line Cinema

The Dark Knight fights to save Gotham City from its deadliest enemy.

Starring: Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Dana Delaney, Stacy Keach, Hart Bochner, Abe Vigoda, Dick Miller, John P. Ryan, Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Vengeance blackens the soul, Bruce. I've always feared that you would become that which you fought against." – Alfred

Why watch this? This animated classic is one of the best Batman stories ever.

Plot Summary: A new vigilante, known as the Phantasm, begins eliminating Gotham City's crime bosses, and Batman is wrongly accused of the murders. While trying to solve the mystery and clear his name, Bruce Wayne reconnects with an old love, Andrea Beaumont, whose return stirs up complex emotions and raises questions about his decision to become Batman. The film explores Batman's past and present, as he grapples with the escalating violence and the resurfacing feelings for Andrea, leading him to confront difficult choices about his future.

Dad's Preview: After the incredible Batman: The Animated Series, the same creators finally gave audiences this full-length animated film. It delivers big time. It features two legendary voice actors in Kevin Conroy as Batman and Mark Hamill (yes, Luke Skywalker) as The Joker. The plot is, of course, a who-done-it, with everyone intent on stopping the mysterious Phantasm, a devious villain, murdering folks in Gotham City. The Caped Crusader will have to look deep within to solve this confounding caper.

Warner Bros. Family Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation; Warner Bros.

He was the perfect weapon until he became the target.

Starring: Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Chris Cooper, Clive Owen, Brian Cox, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Julia Stiles, Gabriel Mann

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"You're US government property! You're a malfunctioning thirty million dollar weapon!" - Conklin to Jason Bourne

Why watch these? If you films about dark clandestine operations, this is for you.

Plot Summary: A man with amnesia is rescued at sea and discovers he has extraordinary skills but no memory of who he is. As he attempts to unravel his past, he finds himself pursued by dangerous individuals seeking to eliminate him. He must stay ahead of his pursuers while uncovering the truth about his identity and the organization behind his predicament.

Dad's Preview: The first film adaptation of author Robert Ludlum's Bourne trilogy, kicks things off with a bang. It follows the story of Jason Bourne, a man who has no memory of his past. The fun is how he unravels the mystery. As people try to kill him, he demonstrates unique survival skills. Who is this highly-trained individual? By sheer luck, he find an ally in Marie Kreutz. The action sequences successfully create a manic mood that keeps the tension tight. It also leaves us wanting more after the end credits roll.

Kennedy/Marshal, Hypnotic Prod., Kalima Prod, Stillking Films; Universal Pictures

They should have left him alone.

Starring: Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, David Strathairn, Scott Glenn, Paddy Considine, Joan Allen, Brian Cox, Franka Potente, Karl Urban, Gabriel Mann

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"It's not a mistake. They don't make mistakes. They don't do random. There's always an objective. Always a target." - Nicky Parsons

Why watch these? The second Bourne film does not disappoint.

Plot Summary: Years after the events of The Bourne Identity (2002), Jason Bourne is living in hiding. A CIA operation goes wrong, and evidence points to Bourne, forcing him to resurface and evade both government agencies and assassins. Seeking answers about his past and who is trying to frame him, Bourne embarks on a high-stakes journey across international locations.

Dad's Preview: As Jason Bourne starts to remember more, CIA agent Pamela Landy begins to take more interest in the case. Meanwhile the Russians assign their own assassins to take out Bourne. Jason skips around the globe searching for clues and learns about an organization called Treadstone. There is always a lot going on and complexities compound, giving the audience plot-lines that require resolution in the third and final film. It is action-packed movie fare at its best!

Kennedy/Marshal, Ludium Ent., Motion Picture THETA; Universal Pictures

This Summer Jason Bourne Comes Home

Starring: Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, David Strathairn, Scott Glenn, Paddy Considine, Edgar Ramirez, Albert Finney, Joan Allen

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"This is Jason Bourne. You are nine hours behind the toughest target you have ever tracked. Now I want everyone to sit down, strap in, and turn on all you've got... That would mean now!" - Pamela Landy

Why watch these? This trilogy's conclusion is very satisfying.

Plot Summary: Jason Bourne, an amnesiac former CIA operative, is once again hunted by those who created him. Driven by a desire to uncover the truth about his past and the clandestine operations that shaped him, he travels across the globe, encountering new threats and old faces. Bourne races against time, dodging the relentless pursuit of the CIA and a new generation of trained assassins, in his desperate attempt to finally piece together his true identity.

Dad's Preview: I was very impressed with Matt Damon's portrayal of Jason Bourne throughout the three-film series. The rest of the cast was top notch, too. These are as good as any Bond film, and that is saying something.

Kennedy/Marshal, Ludium Entertainment; Universal Pictures

A Missing Girl. A Brutal Murder. An Unsolved Mystery.

Starring: Michael Nyqvist, Noomi Rapace, Ingvar Hirdwall, Björn Granath, Lena Endre, Ewa Fröling, Sven-Bertil Taube

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Shut up about the victimization! He almost killed you. He raped and murdered and he enjoyed it. He had the same chances as us to choose what he wanted to be. He was no victim." – Lisbeth Salander

Why watch this? This is one intense film - and Noomi Rapace - dag yo, what a force!

Plot Summary: After facing a libel conviction, journalist Mikael Blomkvist takes on a case for industrialist Henrik Vanger to solve the decades-old disappearance of his niece, Harriet. Unbeknownst to Blomkvist, skilled computer hacker Lisbeth Salander conducts a background check on him, ultimately getting drawn into the investigation herself. Together, they delve into the dark secrets of the Vanger family's past, discovering disturbing connections to other grotesque murders.

Dad's Preview: This is the original Swedish film version, and it is the best of the film trilogy. It follows an investigation into a family disappearance, and weaves a complicated web regarding the truth. A journalist, Mikael Blomkvist, and freelance hacker, Lisbeth Salander, team-up to solve the mystery. Salander herself is a compelling part of the film, as she sports numerous body tattoos, a Mohawk, and black leather clothing. Despite her goth-punk appearance, this intelligent young lady excels at crime investigation. Noomi Rapace absolutely kills the part of Lisbeth, and her character is more interesting than the film's plot itself.

Yellow Bird, ZDF Enterprises, Sveriges Television, Filmpool Stockholm-Mälardalen; Nordisk Film

"Just The Facts."

Starring: Dan Aykroyd, Tom Hanks, Christopher Plummer, Harry Morgan, Alexandra Paul, Jack O'Halloran, Elizabeth Ashley, Dabney Coleman

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"There are two things that clearly differentiate the human species from animals. One, we use cutlery. Two, we're capable of controlling our sexual urges." - Sgt. Joe Friday

Why watch this? It's so much fun watching deadpan Aykroyd and flippant Hanks.

Plot Summary: Joe Friday is the meticulously by-the-book nephew of the original Detective Sergeant Joe Friday. He's reluctantly partnered with Pep Streebek, a free-spirited detective who chafes at Friday's strict adherence to procedure. The two mismatched cops must overcome their clashing personalities to investigate a series of strange crimes seemingly committed by a mysterious cult.

Dad's Preview: Most films using 1960's TV shows as a reference point fail badly. Not so with this stellar effort. The show Dragnet was very serious and dry. This film, however, is light-hearted and fun. Hanks is at the tail-end of his comedic film run. But it is Dan Aykroyd who steals the show as deadpan Joe Friday, nephew of the TV show's main detective. They even brought in Harry Morgan, from the TV show, and he's great as their grumpy commanding officer! It's a bit crude, but very funny.

Applied Action; Universal Pictures

If a woman answers...hang on for dear life!

Starring: Ray Milland, Grace Kelly, Robert Cummings, John Williams, Anthony Dawson, Leo Britt, Patrick Allen, Robin Hughes

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I sat in that Knightsbridge Pub actually planning to murder her. And I might have done it, if I hadn't seen something that changed my mind." - Tony Wendice

Why watch this? It's classic Hitchcock, loaded with, you guessed it, suspense!

Plot Summary: Former tennis player Tony Wendice plots to have his wealthy wife, Margot, murdered for her inheritance after discovering her affair. He blackmails an acquaintance into carrying out the deed while creating an alibi for himself. However, the plan goes awry, and Tony must quickly devise a new strategy to avoid getting caught.

Dad's Preview: Alfred Hitchcock brings us this tale of a man, Tony, who plans to murder his wife. Hitch loved for his villains to be well-educated and confident to a fault. It is this hubris, or pure accident, or a wily old detective, that solves the crime. This film, as the mystery starts to unravel, is thrilling to watch. That is, when you are not drawn to the amazing Grace Kelly. She was one of a kind!

Dimitri Tiomkin; Warner Bros.

Everything is suspect... everyone is for sale... and nothing is what it seems.

Starring: Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, James Cromwell, David Strathairn, Kim Basinger, Danny DeVito

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"If we're going to figure this out, we need to work together." - Ed Exley

Why watch this? This neo-noir crime film is as gritty as sandpaper.

Plot Summary: In 1950s Los Angeles, three LAPD detectives, each with their own contrasting methods and motivations, find their paths intertwined while investigating a brutal mass murder at an all-night coffee shop. As they delve deeper into the seemingly open-and-shut case, they uncover a shadowy world of police corruption, Hollywood glamour, and organized crime. Ultimately, the officers are forced to confront their own moral compasses and navigate the labyrinthine underbelly of the city to uncover the truth.

Dad's Preview: It took me awhile to find my way to this film, but it was worth the wait. Set in 1953, this follows a group of LAPD officers at the center of corruption in the Hollywood police department. Crowe and Pierce are superb as the film's central protagonists, playing two completely different types of cops, yet both on the side of law and order. Kevin Spacey is likewise great as a corrupt police officer trying to walk both sides of the line.

Regency Enterprises, The Wolper Org.; Warner Bros.

All Truths Come to Light

Starring: Kate Winslet, Julianne Nicholson, Jean Smart, Angourie Rice, David Denman, Neal Huff, Guy Pierce, Cailee Spaeny, John Douglas

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"My life's a shit show, Zabel. I'm about to lose custody of my grandson, and I'm still workin' through unresolved issues from the son who killed himself. And, uh, my ex-husband basically lives in my backyard, so, you're right, I don't know what you want, but I'm sure it's not that." - Mare

Why watch this? Winslet captivates as the complicated small town detective.

Plot Summary: Police detective Mare Sheehan investigates the murder of a teenage mother in a small Pennsylvania town, while simultaneously grappling with her own personal struggles, including a divorce and the lingering grief over the death of her son. The investigation unfolds in a close-knit community where everyone seems to have secrets, making it difficult to uncover the truth. As Mare digs deeper into the case, she is forced to confront both the hidden complexities of the town and her own inner turmoil.

Dad's Preview: This HBO limited-series is a master-class on efficiency. No moment is wasted. A Pennsylvania small town detective, with a shit-ton of personal issues of her own, has to solve the murder of a teenager who died at an outdoor party. There are a lot of truly great things about Mare of Easttown, but the most incredible is Winslet's brutally honest performance. She is simply the best actress of her generation.

Zobot Projects, Mayhem Pictures, Juggle Prod., Low Dweller Prod., wiip; HBO

Everyone Wants The Truth... Until They Find It.

Starring: Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan, Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris, John Ashton, Amy Ryan, Amy Madigan, Titus Welliver

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"He lied to me. I can't think of one reason big enough for him to lie that's small enough not to matter.”– Patrick Kenzie

Why watch this? A tense story about a missing girl, her screwed-up mother and those who cover things up.

Plot Summary: Two private investigators, Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro, are hired by a distraught aunt to find her missing four-year-old niece in a tough Boston neighborhood. As they delve into the case, they uncover a dark underworld of drug dealers, criminals, and deception surrounding the girl's neglectful mother.

Dad's Preview: Ben Affleck's directorial debut is a tight, tough South Boston drama about a child's kidnapping. There are some really strong performances from the entire cast. I will single out Casey Affleck, who shows he can carry a film by himself. Then there's Amy Ryan - she's incredible as the worthless, druggy mother who really doesn't deserve the child she's responsible for. Ed Harris, as usual, gives his role the power and ambiguity that makes him intensely interesting.

The Ladd Company; Miramax

1964. When America was at war with itself.

Starring: Gene Hackman, Willem Dafoe, Frances McDormand, Brad Dourif, R. Lee Emery, Gailard Sartain, Michael Rooker

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Down here, things are different; here, they believe that some things are worth killing for." - Anderson

Why watch this? ... Gene Hackman's visit to the private social club.

Plot Summary: In 1964, during the height of the Civil Rights Movement, two FBI agents with starkly different methods are dispatched to a small Mississippi town to investigate the disappearance of three civil rights workers. They face a community steeped in racial prejudice and a local law enforcement system that proves resistant to their inquiries, seemingly complicit in the unfolding events. As the agents delve deeper, they uncover a deeply entrenched network of racism and violence, forcing them to confront the town's secrets and the dangers inherent in challenging the status quo in the segregated South.

Dad's Preview: This film is great for two reasons. First, it tells the true story of three missing civil rights college students who went missing in Mississippi - a story that needs to be told. Second, it unleashes Gene Hackman on a bunch of Southern racists who think they are above the law because the local sheriff is in on their deplorable activity. This film is an exposé on the Klan and the deep bigoted hate of the Old South. The cast is superb. Look for a young Frances McDormand in a key role.

Frederick Zollo, Robert F. Colesberry; Orion Pictures

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994), Director: Tom Shadyac, rated PG-13 for off-color humor, some sexual content

To Serve and Protect... Your Pets!

Starring: Jim Carrey, Courtney Cox, Sean Young, Tone Loc, Dan Marino, John Capodice, Troy Evans, Noble Willingham, Troy Evans, Raynor Scheine

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"It's all that Dan Marino's fault, everyone knows that. If he had held the ball, laces out, like he was supposed to, Ray would never have missed that kick. Dan Marino should die of gonorrhea and rot in hell. Would you like a cookie, son?" – Mrs. Finkle

Why watch this? ... 'cause it is one of the funniest films ever made.

Plot Summary: Ace Ventura is a flamboyant, eccentric pet detective. He is hired to find Snowflake, the missing mascot of the Miami Dolphins. Ace employs his rather unique methods to track down the aquatic mammal and finds himself entangled in a wider mystery along the way.

Dad's Preview: I heard there was this outrageous young new comic, Jim Carrey, on the cable show In Living Color. This low-budget, comedic melee was his first feature film. Carrey's style sort of assaults you, and it takes some getting used to. This gut-buster is scene after scene of outrageousness. It also is genius at work. Incidentally, the great film critic Roger Ebert absolutely HATED this film. Like many critics and viewers alike, he just didn't get it. For me, it never gets old. (Sidenote: the sequel just wasn't as funny.)

Morgan Creek Productions; Warner Bros.

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

A tough bounty hunter. A sensitive criminal.

Starring: Robert De Niro, Charles Grodin, Yaphet Kotto, John Ashton, Dennis Farina, Joe Pantoliano

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Well if you don't shut up, pretty soon you're gonna suffer from fistaphobia." – Jack Walsh to "The Duke"

Why watch this? The exchanges between Grodin and De Niro are priceless.

Plot Summary: Gruff bounty hunter, Jack Walsh, agrees to a seemingly easy job: retrieve a mob accountant from New York and bring him back to Los Angeles. However, the accountant, Jonathan "The Duke" Mardukas, turns out to be a demanding and eccentric individual with a fear of flying, forcing the two men on an arduous cross-country journey by various modes of transportation. As they travel, they are pursued relentlessly by the FBI, who want The Duke to testify against his former boss, and by the mob, who want to silence him permanently, all while facing off against a rival bounty hunter.

Dad's Preview: This is a superb buddy and/or road movie. It focuses on two polar opposite characters: one is a tough bail bondsman, Jack; the other, a meek, soft-spoken mob accountant known as "The Duke". Suffice it to say this film is packed with FBI agents, the Mob, car chases, and train rides. That said, I really enjoy the small scenes: scamming cash from Red's Bar, Jack's hurried visit to his estranged wife and daughter, and the film's perfect ending. What really impressed me was the humor, especially from non-comedic actors De Niro and Grodin - they play so well off each other.

City Lights Films; Universal Pictures

No One Gets Away Clean

Starring: Don Cheadle, Michael Douglas, Benicio Del Toro, Luis Guzmán, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Erika Chistensen, Jacob Vargas, Miguel Ferrer, Tomas Milian, Amy Irving, Topher Grace, Albert Finney, James Brolin, Benjamin Bratt

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"If there is a war on drugs, then many of our family members are the enemy. And I don't know how you wage war on your own family." – Robert Wakefield, U.S. Drug Tsar

Why watch this? It drives home that drugs are here, and the war is in our homes.

Plot Summary: This is a multi-narrative exploration of the illegal drug trade, from various perspectives including law enforcement, politicians, traffickers, and users. One storyline follows a judge appointed as the US drug czar, grappling with his new role while discovering his daughter's drug addiction. A second thread focuses on two DEA agents tracking drug distribution across the US-Mexico border, leading to the arrest of a major trafficker. The third narrative delves into the complex world of a jailed drug lord's wife who tries to navigate and maintain the family business.

Dad's Preview: This powerful film is a harsh blast of truth into the average suburban citizen's life, as it tells the story of drug use in the United States, and I am not talking pot. It covers all the related topics and gets down and dirty. There are unforgettable scenes that will make you flinch. It portrays its characters realistically - nobody is truly good or bad. Del Toro's performance really stands out as the Mexican cop working against the drug trade from the other side of the border. It is a parental must see.

Bedford Falls Prod., Laura Bickford Prod., Initial Ent. Group; USA Films

All the President's Men (1976), Director: Alan J. Pakula, rated PG

Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein are about to ask you a few questions.

Starring: Robert Redford, Dustin Hoffman, Jack Warden, Martin Balsam, Hal Holbrook , Jason Robarbs, Ned Beatty

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"It leads everywhere. Get out your notebook. There's more." - Deep Throat

Why watch this? This explains Watergate in a very interesting and suspenseful manner.

Plot Summary: Two reporters from the Washington Post, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, are assigned to what initially seems like a minor break-in at the Democratic Party Headquarters in the Watergate complex. As they investigate, they uncover a much larger political conspiracy, tracing the trail of illegal activity higher and higher within the Nixon administration, despite obstacles and threats to their safety. Their persistent investigative journalism ultimately aims to reveal the truth about the Watergate scandal and its connections to those in power.

Dad's Preview: This is a very intelligent film about the Watergate scandal in 1972. As a teen, I did not understand what Watergate entailed - this film helped a lot. There are stellar performances from Hoffman, Redford and Robarbs, who all work for the Washington Post. Together they expose a depth of political corruption that includes officials, senators and the even the U.S. President. As with most scandals, it's all about the cover-up. This certainly applies today with horrific events related to Enron, the Penn State Sandusky scandal, and child molestation occurring in various religious and civic organizations.

Wildwood Enterprises; Warner Bros.

James Bond 007 Back In Action!

Starring: Sean Connery, Honor Blackman, Gert Fröbe, Shirley Eaton, Tania Mallet, Harold Sakata, Bernard Lee, Martin Benson

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"This is gold, Mr. Bond. All my life I've been in love with its color, its brilliance, its divine heaviness." – Auric Goldfinger

Why watch this? Connery remains my favorite Bond, and this is my favorite Bond film.

Plot Summary: British secret agent James Bond is tasked with investigating the wealthy gold magnate Auric Goldfinger, who is suspected of smuggling gold internationally. Bond's investigation uncovers a grand plot, codenamed "Operation Grand Slam," which threatens to cripple the global economy. To stop Goldfinger's scheme, Bond must navigate treacherous encounters with lethal henchman Oddjob and the cunning Pussy Galore, all while unraveling the true nature of Goldfinger's plan targeting the United States gold reserves at Fort Knox.

Dad's Preview: Sean Connery portrayed super-spy James Bond in many classic films. Here he must outwit the genius Goldfinger. The portly villain's plot is to seize the world's gold supply and contaminate it with atomic fallout. Only Bond... James Bond... can stop him! But first, Bond must overcome the ruthless henchman, Odd Job, who wields a deadly top hat with a razor-sharp brim! It feels corny just keying that last sentence, but the film still works for me! There are even some lasers and slow-moving killing devices!

Eon Productions; United Artists