Confessions of a Not-So-Dangerous Mind*

"Desperate Hours": March 11-14, 2020

Six years ago this week, the world slowed to a crawl... then seemed to stop. Desperate Hours, indeed.

Guilty Pleasure Movies: The Quick and the Dead

The newest entry in our ongoing series is Sam Raimi's terrific 1995 Western The Quick and the Dead, featuring an insanely-stacked cast led by Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Russell Crowe, who steals the movie right out from under his co-stars.

New Jack City and NYC Nostalgia

New Jack City opened on March 8, 1991. Wesley Snipes' electric turn as Harlem drug lord Nino Brown stands as the best performance of his career and director/costar Mario Van Peebles, Judd Nelson, Chris Rock, Ice-T, and others are strong in support.

From Curiosity to Classic: Angel Heart Turns 39

Sir Alan Parker's controversial neo-noir/horror Angel Heart opened March 6, 1987. Despite strong advance buzz, the movie failed to ignite with critics and audiences. The intervening years have seen significant reappraisal; it's now regarded as one of the most distinctive movies of its decade.

"I'm the Dude, Man!" The Big Lebowski Turns 28

The Big Lebowski opened March 6, 1998 to decent reviews but disappointing boxoffice. Over time, the Coen Bros. quirky crime/comedy gained an enormous following on cable and home video, becoming a cult classic which defines its decade.

The Great Movies: Up in the Air

The newest entry in our continuing series is Jason Reitman's fantastic comedy/drama Up in the Air. An enormous boxoffice hit (later nominated for 6 Oscars), the film boasts one of George Clooney's finest performances.

"It's a Film About Two Movie Stars!"

Jon Avnet's romantic drama Up Close and Personal opened March 1, 1996 to poor critical reviews but big boxoffce, grossing over $100 million... thanks entirely to its glittering stars, Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert Redford.

Falling Down and a Generation's Broken Promises

Joel Schumacher's Falling Down opened February 26, 1993 to mixed reviews and so-so boxoffice. History has been kind to this difficult, challenging film.

One Night In Miami: Four Legends, one crazy night

Regina King's terrific 2020 film takes a piece of real history -- Jim Brown, Sam Cooke, Malcolm X, and Muhammad Ali were together the night of February 25, 1964 -- and speculates about who might have said what, to whom.

Outbreak (1995): A classic cautionary tale

Now nearly 31 years old, Outbreak hits differently in a post-Covid world.