When the French cafes are bombed and destroyed, there is so much realism that the scene looks like it was caught on the nine o’clock news hour. These scenes are what heightened the story for me because they seemed very authentic and it helped create a tense moment. These tense moments between the realistic bombing sequences and the militia that France forces into the ghettos of Algiers were terribly captivating. All in all, this movie is a very intense and sweeping drama about the conflict and betrayals during a revolutionary time.

On the Waterfront shows why Brando is so great. Kazan allows him to act without any restrictions. Because of this, most movie critics believe that Brando delivers perhaps the greatest performance as an actor ever. I’m not one to boast, but Brando is almost pitch-perfect as Terry Malloy. The way he moves like a caged guerilla with a tender heart exemplifies the way he’s able to transform himself.  And Terry Malloy is one of those rare characters that people identify with, even though he is a bit naïve. The rest of the cast is rounded out perfectly, even Rod Steiger as Brando’s money driven brother.

This movie has stood the test of time, and because it has, remaking this movie would probably result in a complete failure. Each scene from the film feels dirty and black and white look is perfect for the industrial time. Look out for the Taxi scene; it is one of the greatest acted scenes in the history of Hollywood.

Very surreal, dark and almost organic, this movie and Lynch’s style of directing have gone on to inspire a slew of copycats (Richard Kelly’s ‘Donnie Darko’ to name a few).  This movie has also created a cult following for more of Lynch’s movies. Fortunately this movie was made because it almost wasn’t. And unfortunately if this movie were released in our current American cinema, it wouldn’t have the same impact that it had back in the 70’s.  Thank god for the midnight theaters, and thank god for David Lynch! Sometimes we need to look beyond ourselves and dig deeper into our inner conscience. If you can sit through Eraserhead, it will be a great discussion with your friends and it will haunt your dreams.

It is rumored that this is the only story where Gene Hackman actually researched his part. The movie won several awards and Hackman went on to win his first Oscar. However, that’s beside the point. The movie has one of the greatest car chases in Hollywood history, it has a realistic story based on true events and it has one of the greatest characters in Hollywood history, Jimmy Doyle. In fact, the obsessive nature of Hackman’s character Doyle helps keep the movie interesting and enthralling. He is able to keep people on the edge of their seats. Doyle’s partner, Det. Buddy Russo (aka Roy Scheider) helps display the type of humanity that a detective might portray in a narcotics situation. The director William Friedkin gives the movie an authentic feeling by filming in the urban areas of New York City and by capturing the type of people that you would normally see in their native habitat.   This film is a must for those who are into CSI and it is a must for those who love crime sagas.

The movie is shot in black and white, which helps drive the films feel and contrast. The score is done by the percussionist from the band “The Police,” which creates a different sound than the typical John Williams score. Filmed in the ghetto of Tulsa Oklahoma, Rumblefish represents what life would be like if you had no control. Mickey Rourke’s character is identical to Camus’ character in “The Stranger.” He only cares about what he is, where he is and where he is going. Dubbed as the Motorcycle Boy, Rourke shows us why being a myth isn’t as great as most people make it out to be.

This is one of my favorite movies because Coppola is able to twist us into believing that Dillon has it all, but in the end, his dreams and desires turn into a journey of learning and choices.

The rest of the movie is about teenage angst. Jimmy revels at the chance for revolution (or maybe just some good ol’ rocker bashing). His obsession over the pretty girl is what drives this movie. As Jimmy and his hood of Mods build up for the big get together in Brighton Beach, we can feel the story turning. The mod versus rocker riot is something that we will probably never see in movies again, and it is very enjoyable to watch. The timing to it is amazing and the riot seems so authentic (watch for glimpses of Sting).

The end of the film is a great climax. Jimmy’s denial of his obsession with Steph becomes his own personal salvation as he rides off into oblivion. A very enjoyable film, especially for the rebellious youths of today and yesterday.

By shooting the actors with a wide angle long lense, Loach allows his actors to move in comfort without the stringent use of the camera mark. This along with the natural realism of his shooting style, the actors are now allowed to act off one another which helps create a more compelling scene. The reason that I like and respect Loach’s technique is because the movie doesn’t seem amateurish at all.

The storyline sticks to a beginning middle and an end and it is quite refreshing. Cillian Murphy (28 Days Later, Batman Begins, and Sunshine) plays the lead Damien O’donovan, outcast, doctor and partial leader of the guerilla movement that took place in Ireland during the 1920’s. His brother Teddy O’donovan (Padraic Delany) heads the guerilla warfare group and eventually trades sides to become a British Confidant (after the treaty of 1920). In the beginning of the story, Murphey is torn and confident that he is going to leave Ireland for more medical practice; however, the influence of his brother Teddy pulls him back. Murphy soon realizes that he is a part of Ireland and that he has to fight for the democracy that the Irish want and believe.

The near perfect script continues to build on the trust of the brothers and climaxes to their doomed ultimate decision in the end. I believe that the ending is the most satisfying in the movie.

Shot on a shoestring budget, Stone displays humanity and will in a third world country driven to madness by right wing guerillas. James Woods plays Richard Boyle, a scummy journalist who’s desperately trying to stay afloat. James Belushi plays Boyle’s side kick Doc Rock, a former DJ that is frustrated with his own personal life (wife evicts him from her apartment saying that he needs to get a ‘real’ job in computers).

The movie starts out with the two friends (Doc Rock and Boyle) drinking and smoking  their way down into Salvador. Boyle (Woods) desperately tries to seek out the next big journalistic story by schmoozing his way into both political houses (liberal and conservative).

Throughout the movie, Stone displays the type of injustice that most people would revel at: the butchery of innocent nuns, the assassination of a high standing priest, and even the massacre of children. It is a foregone conclusion that Stone tends to side with a more liberal point of view, but if you can look past that and dig deeper, this movie is more about the plight of a tortured nation seeking refuge and vindication amongst its very own people. At the end of the movie, we get a chance to see the torn country that El Salvador became and why that event in that time period is something people want to forget.  A great movie with a great cast.