If you can ride Shack's train and live, you will be Emperor of the North

Starring: Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Keith Carradine, Charles Tyner, Malcolm Aterbury, Simon Oakland, Harry Caesar, Hal Baylor, Matt Clark, Elisha Cook Jr., Diane Dye, Robert Foulk

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"You ain't stopping at this hotel, kid. My hotel! The stars at night, I put 'em there. And I know the presidents, all of them. And I go where I damn well please." - A-No.-1

Why watch this? Hobos during the Great Depression. Hitchin' Trains. Sledge hammers and chains.

Plot Summary: During the Depression, homeless men, aka hobos (also referred to as "Bos" in the film) would often travel by freight train on the Oregon-Pacific-Eastern (OPE) Railroad. On engine No. 19, a ruthless conductor, called Shack, does anything necessary to kick these vagrants off his trail (including murder). One seasoned veteran hobo, called A-No.-1 (and known as the "King of the Bo's"), decides to ride the dangerous No. 19 all the way to Portland, mostly to show up a kid, called "Cigaret", who brags too much.

Inter-Hemisphere; 20th Century Fox

Into the heart Into the soul

Starring: Emile Hirsch, Vince Vaughn, Catherine Keener, Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt, Jena Malone, Brian H. Dierker, Kristen Stewart, Hal Holbrook, Zach Galifianakis, Vince Vaughn

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"The core of man's spirit comes from new experiences." – Christopher McCandless (aka "Alexander Supertramp")

Why watch this? The tale of this deep-thinking young man has lessons for all of us.

Plot Summary: There are those who are drawn to living life on the free edge, as close to nature as possible. Beautiful mountains. Scenic deserts. Raging rivers. One such person is Christoper McCandless, a man in his early twenties, disenchanted with modern America, and determined to experience life "off the grid". After graduating from Emory University, he burns his credit cards and embarks to see the wild, leaving behind no trail to follow. This devastates all those who love him, but he MUST do this to be honest with himself. He is a cheerful, intelligent kid who enamors the wayward folks he encounters, yet breaks their hearts when he moves on. His destination is Alaska.

River Road Ent., Square One C.I.H.,
Linson Films; Paramount Vantage

Nature just got gangsta

Starring: Sam Neill, Julian Dennison, Rhys Darby, Rima Te Wiata, Rachel House, Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne, Oscar Kightley

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I'm not going back to jail, I'm better off up here. This is no place for a kid. You're gonna have to go back, Ricky." - Hec

Why watch this? I instantly fell for this uniquely warm and oddly funny flick.

Plot Summary: After the sudden death of his loving foster aunt, rebellious city kid Ricky Baker finds himself on the run in the vast New Zealand wilderness with his grumpy foster uncle Hec. A series of misunderstandings leads child services to believe Hec has kidnapped Ricky, sparking a national manhunt. The unlikely duo must learn to work together and survive in the challenging bush while evading capture and forming an unexpected bond.

Defender Films, Piki Films, Curious, New Zealand
Film Comm.; Madman Films, Piki Films

some say he's dead... some say he never will be.

Starring: Robert Redford, Will Geer, Stefan Gierasch, Dell Bolton, Josh Albee, Joaquin Martinez, Allyn Ann McLerie, Paul Benedict, Jack Colvin, Matt Clark, Richard Angarola, Charles Tyner, Tanya Tucker

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"And there ain't no churches, except for this right here! And there ain't no priests excepting the birds. By God, I are a mountain man, and I'll live 'til an arrow or a bullet finds me. And then I'll leave my bones on this great map of the magnificent..." – Del Gue

Why watch this? This simple, compelling Western film focuses on a lone man in the Rocky Mountains of the mid 1800's.

Plot Summary: Jeremiah Johnson is a veteran who seeks to escape civilization and live a solitary life as a mountain man in the Rocky Mountains. He faces the challenges of the harsh wilderness and learns to survive with the help of others, eventually forming a unique family. However, a tragic event leads to conflict with the Crow tribe, resulting in an ongoing vendetta and Jeremiah's transformation into a legendary figure.
 

Dad's Preview: There is a realness, a raw edge, to this neo-Western. Portraying a wild, bearded mountain man was an odd choice for the suave, handsome Redford, but it pays off. The story is based on the life of trapper John "Liver-Eating" Johnson. Seeing our American wilderness, as it was back then, is awe-inspiring. That said, it would be a dangerous, confusing, and difficult place to survive. That is the beauty of the film. I believe this is how it would have been. The Native Americans are portrayed honestly, with traits both brutal and humane. People isolated in a harsh wilderness would all have to be a little odd. That is reality.

Sanford Productions (III); Warner Bros.

May the Lord have mercy and grant you a swift death.

Starring: Kurt Russell, Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox, Richard Jenkins, Lili Simmons, Evan Jonigkeit, David Arquette, Kathryn Morris

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"This is why frontier life is so difficult. Not because of the Indians or the elements but because of the idiots." - Samantha

Why watch this? This Western horror film is intense, gory, disturbing and amazing.

Plot Summary: In the Old West, a small-town sheriff and his unlikely posse of four embark on a perilous journey. Their mission is to rescue three abducted townspeople, including a sheriff's deputy, local doctor and his daughter. The abductors are a brutal, cannibalistic clan living in a desolate region. As they venture into dangerous territory, they quickly realize their foe is far more savage and ruthless than they could have imagined.

Caliber Media Co., The Fyzz Facility;
RLJ Entertainment

127 Hours (2010), Director: Danny Boyle, rated R for language

Every Second Counts

Starring: James Franco, Kate Mara, Amber Temblyn, Lizzy Caplan, Clémence Poésy, Treat Williams

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Don't lose it. Aron, do not lose it." - Aron Ralston

Why watch this? It is a real-life story too compelling to pass over.

Plot Summary: Adventurer-explorer Aron Ralston finds himself trapped in an isolated canyon in Utah when a boulder falls and pins his arm. For the next five days, he faces the elements and examines his life as he tries to survive his predicament. Ralston uses all available resources and reflects on his relationships, ultimately finding the courage and will to survive.

Pathé, Everest Ent., Dune Ent., Film4 Prod,
Handmade Films, Cloud Eight; Fox Searchlight Pics

In the tradition of Shane and High Noon, a new Western Classic is born! BITE THE BULLET

Starring: Gene Hackman, Candice Bergen, James Coburn, Ian Bannen, Jan-Michael Vincent, Ben Johnson

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"When I cross the finish line, I get to be a big man. Top man. A man to remember." – Mister (the old cowboy)

Why watch this? ... it's an outstanding Western cross-country race.

Plot Summary: This oater centers around a grueling 700-mile endurance horse race held at the turn of the century. A diverse group of participants with varying motivations and personalities enters the race, including two former Rough Riders, a woman of questionable virtue, a gunfighter, and an aging cowboy. As the competition pushes them to their limits, their true characters are revealed.
 

Dad's Preview: There were tons of Westerns made in the 1970's. Leone was making "Spaghetti Westerns". John Wayne was was still going strong. Some were masterpieces, some were cow dung. This little-known gem surprised me. It's a grand adventure, a cross-country race on horseback, plagued by natural hazards and man-made obstacles. This is one exciting film. We are blessed to have two great stars, Hackman and Coburn, both "men of action" who seek the $2,000 prize.

Persky-Bright Productions, Vista;
Columbia Pictures

At the edge of the world, his journey begins.

Starring: Tom Hanks, Helen Hunt, Nick Searcy, Paul Sanchez, Lari White, Peter Von Berg, Dmitri S. Bordrine, Nan Martin

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"We live and we die by time, and we must not commit the sin of turning our back on time." - Chuck Noland

Why watch this? Could you survive alone on a deserted island?

Plot Summary: Chuck Noland, a FedEx executive, finds his life disastrously altered after a plane crash leaves him stranded on a deserted island. He must learn to survive and adapt to his isolation, developing resourcefulness and resilience. He will those skills even more if he ever returns to society.

DreamWorks Pictures, ImageMovers,
Playtone; 20th Century Fox

The film about recklessness, friendship, hatred, fear.

Starring: Yves Montand, Charles Vanel, Peter van Eyck, Folco Lulli, Véra Clouzot, William Tubbs, Dario Moreno, Jo Dest, Antonio Centa, Luis De Lima

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"You don't know what fear is. But you'll see. It's catching, it's catching like small pox! And once you get it, it's for life! So long, boys, and good luck." – Dick

Why watch this? Men pushed to the end of the line will do the most desperate things to live.

Plot Summary: Several unemployed men find themselves stuck in the isolated South American village of Las Piedras. A Frenchman, Mario, befriends an ex-mobster, Jo, a German. The only way escape is to be paid for hauling several cases of nitroglycerin to an oil well fire 300 miles away, over treacherous roads. Any bump can cause the volatile liquid to explode, so two more men are recruited to drive a second truck, because one truck will likely not make it.

Vera Film, Filmsonor, C.I.C.C.,
Fono Roma; Cinédis

In 2004, a devastating tsunami hit southeast Asia. This is one family's true story of survival.

Starring: Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, Tom Holland, Oaklee Pendergast, Samuel Joslin, Marta Etura, Sönke Möhring

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Lucas, look at this place. They're so busy in here. You get to go and do something. Go help people. You're good at it." - Maria Bennett, to her son Lucas after they reach the hospital

Why watch this? ... the tsunami, as it smashes into the resort, is harrowing footage.

Plot Summary: Maria, Henry, and their three sons take a Christmas vacation to Thailand. Unfortunately, that is interrupted by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The family is separated in the chaos and devastation, forcing them to fight for survival and desperately search for each other amidst the aftermath.

Apaches Ent., Telecinco Cinema;
Warner Bros.

When the end comes, not everyone is ready to go

Starring: Rudy Youngblood, Raoul Trujillo, Gerardo Taracena, Jonathan Brewer, Morris Birdyellowhead, Israel Contreras

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"My name is Jaguar Paw. I am a hunter. This is my forest. And my sons will hunt it with their sons after I am gone!" - Jaguar Paw

Why watch this? You will literally feel like you have been transported to the Mayan past.

Plot Summary: Set in the Mayan civilization, a young hunter named Jaguar Paw has his life violently disrupted when he is taken captive, for sacrifice, by hostile raiders. He is taken to a Mayan city, and narrowly escapes being beheaded. Jaguar Paw now must outrun his brutal pursuers through the jungle to save his family.

Touchtone Pictures, Icon Prod.;
Buena Vista Pictures Distributing

Big as the men who faced this challenge! Bold as the women who loved them!

Starring: John Wayne, Montgomery Clift, Walter Brennan, Joanne Dru, Harry Carey, John Ireland, Noah Berr Jr., Coleen Gray, Chief Yowlachie

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"You're soft, you should have let 'em kill me, 'cause I'm gonna kill you. I'll catch up with ya. I don't know when, but I'll catch up. Every time you turn around, expect to see me, 'cause one time you'll turn around and I'll be there." - Tom Dunson

Why watch this? Wayne rarely played against "the good guy" character. Here he is downright nasty as a Western Captain Ahab.

Plot Summary: Thomas Dunson is a determined rancher leading a massive cattle drive from Texas to Missouri after the Civil War renders his land valueless. Faced with Dunson's increasingly tyrannical methods during the arduous journey, his adopted son, Matthew Garth, must choose whether to challenge his adoptive father's authority for the sake of the men and the herd. This conflict between father and adopted son unfolds against the challenging backdrop of the cattle drive.

Monterey Productions; United Artists

A couple alone at sea. When a stranger called for help, they made a fatal mistake... they answered.

Starring: Sam Neill, Nicole Kidman, Billy Zane
 

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Please don't shout. That's always been one of my problems. I can never tell people's real motives until it's too late." - Hughie Warriner

Why watch this? A tense sea tale about rescuing the wrong survivor.

Plot Summary: A young couple, John and Rae. after a life tragedy, seek solace on a yacht. John, after all, is an Austrailian Navy captain, so it should be smooth sailing. Their isolation is shattered when they rescue a lone survivor from a sinking ship, only to discover his chilling secret. The encounter sets off a terrifying ordeal at sea where they both must fight for survival.

Kennedy Miller; Warner Bros.

The nearer they get to their treasure, the farther they get from the law.

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Walter Huston, Tim Holt, Bruce Bennett, Barton MacLane, Alfonso Bedoya, Arturo Soto Rangel, Robert Blake

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Of course I'll go. Any time, any day. I was only waiting for one or two guys to ask me. Out for gold? Always at your service." - Howard

Why watch this? ... to see what gold-fever can do to men - as it exposes their true souls.

Plot Summary: Three Americans, two down-on-their-luck drifters and an experienced prospector, decide to team up and search for gold in the remote Sierra Madre mountains of Mexico. While their quest is initially successful, the pursuit of riches gradually corrodes their sense of camaraderie and ignites a dangerous spiral of suspicion and greed.

Warner Bros.-First National;
Warner Bros. Pictures

No place to run. No reason to hide.

Starring: Robert Duvall, Kevin Costner, Annette Benning, Michael Gambon, Michael Jeter, Diego Luna

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Men are gonna get killed here today, Sue, and I'm gonna kill 'em." - Charley Waite

Why watch this? ... the respect-filled relationship between cowhands Costner and Duvall.

Plot Summary: Boss Spearman and his cattle crew, as free-grazers, are driving their herd across the vast prairies of the Old West. When they encounter a town ruled by a corrupt rancher and sheriff, their peaceful existence is threatened. Forced to defend their values and way of life, Boss and his second-in-command, Charley Waite, find themselves drawn into an inevitable confrontation.

Touchstone Pics, Cobalt Media Group, Beacon
Comm., Tig Prod.; Buena Vista Pictures Dist.

Four men ride a wild river. A weekend turns into a nightmare.

Starring: Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty, Ronny Cox, Bill McKinney, James Dickey, Billy Redden

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Did you ever look out over a lake, think about something buried underneath it? Man, that's about as buried as you can get." – Lewis Medlock

Why watch this? It's a nail-biting journey down a dark river.

Plot Summary: Four Atlanta businessmen embark on a canoeing trip down a remote river in the Georgia wilderness before it's dammed and turned into a lake. Their adventure quickly turns into a struggle for survival when they encounter hostile locals intent on killing them. As they navigate the perilous river, the men are forced to do horrible things to survive.

Elmer Enterprises; Warner Bros.

For justice. For loyalty. For friendship.

Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Barry Pepper, Dwight Yoakam, January Jones, Julio Cesar Cedillo, Melissa Leo, Levon Helm, Mel Rodriguez

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"You try to run away again, and I'll kill you. I guess you know that by now." - Pete Perkins

Why watch this? A memorable Texas border tale about murder, penance and retribution.

Plot Summary: When an undocumented Mexican ranch worker is mistakenly killed and improperly buried, his friend, a Texas ranch foreman named Pete Perkins, remembers his promise to bury him in his hometown. Taking matters into his own hands, Pete kidnaps the border patrol agent responsible for the death and exhumes the body. With his captive and the deceased tied to a mule, Pete embarks on a long, arduous journey across the border to fulfill his vow.

EuropaCorp, Javalina Film Company;
Sony Pictures Classics

The African Queen (1951), Director: John Huston, rated PG for some war violence

Bogart the King is back with the 'Queen!'

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn, Robert Morley, Peter Bull, Theodore Bikel, Walter Gotell, Peter Stanwick

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I never dreamed that any mere physical experience could be so stimulating!" – Rose Sayer

Why watch this? It's a wonderful adventure film from the 50's with two Hollywood icons.

Plot Summary: Set during World War I, in German East Africa, Charlie Allnut, a rough-and-tumble Canadian riverboat captain, finds himself thrown together with a strait-laced British missionary named Rose Sayer. Together, they embark on a dangerous journey down a treacherous river on Charlie's dilapidated boat, the African Queen, facing natural dangers and German forces. Despite their vastly different personalities and frequent arguments, an unlikely bond develops as they navigate their perilous mission.

Horizon Pictures, Romulus Pictures;
United Artists

The nation's #1 best-selling novel is now the year's most terrifying movie.

Starring: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine Gary, Murray Hamilton, Carl Gottlieb, Lee Fierro

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #1 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Jaws

"Well, this is not a boating accident! It wasn't any propeller, it wasn't any coral reef, and it wasn't Jack the Ripper! It was a shark." – Matt Hooper after examining the remains of Chrissie Watkins

Why watch this? It's Dad's top film, numero uno. It's ignited the love of film within a curious 10-year-old.

Plot Summary: Chief Martin Brody, new to the small island community of Amity, faces a terrifying challenge when a massive great white shark begins attacking beachgoers during the peak summer tourist season. Despite Brody’s efforts to close the beaches, the town's mayor, fearing economic repercussions, prioritizes tourism over safety. As the attacks escalate, Brody teams up with an expert marine biologist and a seasoned shark hunter to track and kill the formidable creature.

Zanuck/Brown Co.; Universal Pictures

A Mighty Motion Picture Of Action And Adventure!

Starring: Peter O'Toole, Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn, Jack Hawkins, Jose Ferrer, Claude Raines, Omar Sharif

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"He was a poet, a scholar and a mighty warrior. He was also the most shameless exhibitionist since Barnum & Bailey." – Jackson Bentley

Why watch this? An epic movie about a man who's life was, in itself, an epic.

Plot Summary: T. E. Lawrence is a British officer, who navigates the complex politics of the Middle East during World War I. Tasked with liaising between the Arabs and the British against the Ottoman Turks, Lawrence becomes increasingly drawn into the Arab cause for independence. He unites disparate Arab tribes, leading them in daring raids and victories against the Turks, but struggles with his identity and the conflicting loyalties between his British origins and his adopted Arab allies.

Horizon Pictures; Columbia Pictures

An Epic Film as Big as The West

Starring: Robert Duvall, Tommy Lee Jones, Danny Glover, Diane Lane, Robert Urich, Frederic Forrest, D. B. Sweeney, Ricky Schroder, Anjelica Huston, Chris Cooper, Barry Corbin, William Sanderson, Steve Buscemi

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #4 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Lonesome Dove

"By god, it ain't dyin' I'm talkin' about, it's livin!" - Gus McCrae to Captain Woodrow Call

Why watch this? An American masterpiece that perfectly balances Western myth and Western realism.

Plot Summary: This epic Western is about two retired Texas Rangers, Augustus "Gus" McCrae and Woodrow Call, who decide to leave their quiet life in Texas for one last great adventure. They gather a crew and embark on a massive, perilous cattle drive spanning 3,000 miles to the unsettled lands of Montana Territory. Along the journey, the men face numerous challenges, including dangerous terrain, outlaws, and personal struggles that test their enduring friendship and character in the unforgiving American West.

Dyson Lovell, Suzanne de Passe,
Motown Productions; CBS