National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
Directed by: Jeremiah S. Chechik
Starring: Chevy Chase, Randy Quaid, Beverly D’Angelo, Juliette Lewis, Johnny Galecki
Rated: PG-13 for Rude Humor
Running Time: 1h 37m
TMM Score: 4 Stars
STRENGTHS: Funny, Christmas Fun, Quotable
WEAKNESSES: Thin on Story
Christmas with the Griswalds!
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Star Wars: Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi (1983)
Directed by: Richard Marquand
Starring: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Billy Dee Williams
Rated: PG for Sci Fi Action Violence
Running Time: 2h 16m
TMM Score: 4.5 Stars
STRENGTHS: Satisfying Conclusion, VFX, Characters
WEAKNESSES: Story not as Strong as Predecessor
The epic conclusion of the original Star Wars trilogy…
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Black Christmas (1974)
Directed by: Bob Clark
Starring: Olivia Hussey, Margot Kidder, Lynne Griffin
Rated: Suggested R for Strong Violence and Language
Running Time: 1h 38m
TMM Score: 3.5 Stars
STRENGTHS: Directing, Mystery, Fun
WEAKNESSES: Too Many Plot Holes
A sorority is harassed by a strange and sinister caller….
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Cape Fear (1991)
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte, Juliette Lewis, Jessica Lange, Gregory Peck, Robert Mitchum
Rated: R for Strong Violence, and for Language
Running Time: 2h 8m
TMM Score: 4 Stars
STRENGTHS: Robert De Niro, Direction, Fun
WEAKNESSES: Silly Last Act
After a man is released from prison, he seeks revenge on his lawyer who let him get convicted…
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Shutter Island (2010)
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams, Patricia Clarkson
Rated: R for Disturbing Violent Content, Language and Some Nudity
Running Time: 2h 19m
TMM Score: 5 Stars
STRENGTHS: Visceral, Unrestrained, Demands and Rewards Multiple Views
WEAKNESSES: -
Two detectives search for a missing psych ward patient on Shutter Island, but there’s more to this island than meets the eye…
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Goodfellas (1990)
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Robert De Niro
Rated: R for Strong Brutal Violence, Pervasive Strong Language, Drug Use, and Some Sexuality
Running Time: 2h 28m
TMM Score: 5 Stars
STRENGTHS: Direction, Performances, Best of the Genre
WEAKNESSES: -
As far back as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to be a gangster…
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Mean Streets (1973)
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Harvey Keitel, Robert De Niro, Amy Robinson, Richard Romanus
Rated: R for Strong Violence and Language Throughout
Running Time: 1h 52m
TMM Score: 4 Stars
STRENGTHS: Performances, Story, Direction
WEAKNESSES: Pacing, Outdated Material
Johnny Boy gets in over his head with a loan shark…
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The American Friend (1977)
Directed by: Wim Wenders
Starring: Bruno Ganz, Dennis Hopper
Rated: R for Violence and Language
Running Time: 2h 6m
TMM Score: 5 Stars
STRENGTHS: Direction, Cinematography, Writing, Performances
WEAKNESSES: -
Jonathan, a man dying of cancer, wanting nothing more than to provide for his family is given a job to kill a man for a lot of money. But Jonathan is no gunman…
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The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019)
Directed by: Tyler Nilson, Michael Schwartz
Starring: Zack Gottsagen, Shia LaBeouf, Dakota Johnson, Bruce Dern, John Hawkes
Rated: PG-13 for Thematic Content, Language Throughout, Some Violence and Smoking
Running Time: 1h 37m
TMM Score: 5 Stars
STRENGTHS: Heartfelt, Poignant, Terrific Performances
WEAKNESSES: -
Two very different people form a bond on an exciting journey…
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The Wailing (2016)
Directed by: Na Hong-Jin
Starring: Kwak Do-Wan, Jun Kunimura, Chun Woo-Hee, Kim Hwan-Hee, Hwang Jung-Min
Rated: Suggested R for Strong Horror Violence, Disturbing Images, Language and Brief Sexuality
Running Time: 2h 36m
TMM Score: 5 Stars
STRENGTHS: Atmosphere, Strong Craft, Excellent Story Telling, Pacing
WEAKNESSES: -
An ancient evil arrives in small South Korean village…
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Would You Rather (2013)
Directed by: David Guy Levy
Starring: Brittany Snow, Sasha Grey, Jeffrey Combs, June Squibb, Robb Wells
Rated: R for Strong Sadistic Brutal Graphic Violence, and Language
Running Time: 1h 33m
TMM Score: 3 Stars
STRENGTHS: Sick, Twisted Fun
WEAKNESSES: Writing, Directing Plot Details, Could Have Been So Much Better
A harmless game for money turns sinister…
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House of Wax (2005)
Directed by: Jaume Collet-Serra
Starring: Elisha Cuthbert, Paris Hilton, Chad Michael Murray, Jared Padalecki
Rated: R for Horror Violence, Sexual Content, and Language
Running Time: 1h 53m
TMM Score: 2.5 Stars
STRENGTHS: Creative, Violent Kills
WEAKNESSES: Story, Characters, Bloated Runtime
In the Tall Grass
Directed by: Vincenzo Natali
Starring: Patrick Wilson, Laysla De Oliveira, Harrison Gilbertson, Avery Whitted, Rachel Wilson
Rated: Suggested R for Violence, Disturbing Images, and Language
Running Time: 1h 46m
TMM Score: 3 Stars
STRENGTHS: Patrick Wilson, Good Ideas
WEAKNESSES: Poor Execution, Too Long
Strange things happen to those who enter the tall grass…
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The Ruins (2008)
Directed by: Carter Smith
Starring: Laura Ramsey, Jena Malone, Jonathan Tucker, Shawn Ashmore
Rated: R for Strong Violence and Gruesome Images
Running Time: 1h 30m
TMM Score: 2 Stars
STRENGTHS: Good Ideas, Decent Deaths
WEAKNESSES: Amateur Writing, Too Familiar, Silly Character Motivations
A group of friends find themselves on a hostile dig site.
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Case 39 (2009)
Directed by: Christian Alvart
Starring: Renee Zellweger, Bradley Cooper, Ian McShane, Jodelle Ferland
Rated: R for Violence and Terror Including Disturbing Images
Running Time: 1h 49m
TMM Score: 2 Stars
STRENGTHS: Solid Opening
WEAKNESSES: Generic, Not Scary
Social worker Bethany isn’t prepared for this next case, which could be her last….
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The Amityville Horror (2005)
Directed by: Andrew Douglas
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Melissa George, Chloe Grace Moretz
Rated: R for Violence, Disturbing Images, Language, Brief Sexuality and Drug Use
Running Time: 1h 34m
TMM Score: 2 Stars
STRENGTHS: Ryan Reynolds, Couple Creepy Scares
WEAKNESSES: Generic, Poor Direction, Not Very Scary
The Lutz family is haunted by evil spirits in their new home.
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Scream (1996)
Directed by: Wes Craven
Starring: Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Skeet Ulrich, Matthew Lillard
Rated: R for Strong Graphic Horror Violence and Gore, and for Language
Running Time: 1h 51m
TMM Score: 3.5 Stars
STRENGTHS: Fantastic Blend of Humor and Terror, Iconic
WEAKNESSES: Tension isn’t Tight, Over the Top Performances
A ghost faced killer preys on a small town
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The Frozen Ground (2013)
Directed by: Scott Walker
Starring: Nicolas Cage, John Cusack, Vanessa Hudgens
Rated: R for Violent Content, Sexuality/Nudity, Language and Drug Use
Running Time: 1h 45m
TMM Score: 2.5 Stars
STRENGTHS: Nic Cage, Atmosphere, True Story
WEAKNESSES: Vanessa Hudgens, Cinematography, Safe Writing
A detective hunts down the famous serial killer Robert Hansen.
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A Score to Settle (2019)
Directed by: Shawn Ku
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Benjamin Bratt, Noah Le Gros
Rated: R for Violence and Language
Running Time: 1h 43m
TMM Score: 2 Stars
STRENGTHS: Nic Cage
WEAKNESSES: Amateur Filmmaking
A man seeks revenge after being wrongfully put away for 19 years.
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Death Wish (2018)
Directed by: Eli Roth
Starring: Bruce Willis, Dean Norris
Rated: R for Strong Bloody Violence, and Language Throughout
Running Time: 1h 47m
TMM Score: 1.5 Stars
STRENGTHS: Passable Action
WEAKNESSES: Bruce Willis, Direction, Pointless
A mild mannered man is brought to his melting point after a violent act towards his family.
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