Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

Zero Dark Thirty is the film of the year not because it's about the hunt for Osama bin Laden, but because Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow has used that subject to discuss other things. read more...

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• Stalked/Terrorized ▶ Yes please
• Exhilarating ▶ Yes please
• Anxiety Level ▶ I like my stomach in knots
• Moralistic ▶ Yes please
• Boldness ▶ Bold, aggressive, unrepressed, cathartic or expressive actions
• Rules ▶ Rigid or strongly constrained
• Innocence ▶ Seasoned, Savvy, Streetwise
• Realism ▶ Magical, Futuristic, Fantastic
• How Things Happen ▶ By cause and effect, mechanics, rules or facts
• Comfort Level ▶ Distressed, disturbed, unsettled or unresolved
• Overall Depth ▶ Deep or penetrating
• Takes itself Seriously ▶ Yes please

A History of Violence (2005)

With his new film, A History of Violence, David Cronenberg has joked that he is "selling out." In other words, he has taken a pre-existing job as a director-for-hire. Not that anyone could ever tell the difference; A History of Violence reveals itself as yet another masterpiece from this master director. read more...

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• Stalked/Terrorized ▶ Yes please
• Exhilarating ▶ Yes please
• Anxiety Level ▶ I like my stomach in knots
• Boldness ▶ Bold, aggressive, unrepressed, cathartic or expressive actions
• Rules ▶ Rigid or strongly constrained
• Innocence ▶ Seasoned, Savvy, Streetwise
• Production Level ▶ Polished
• Overall Depth ▶ Deep or penetrating

Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)

John Carpenter has held onto his fans by remaining true to his specific vision, using the Cinemascope aspect ratio, working within "genre" pictures and living by an old-fashioned Hollywood work ethic. Assault on Precinct 13 is one of Carpenter's best, an uncompromising, ultra-gritty cop story wherein angry gang members try to storm a nearly empty police station. read more...

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• Stalked/Terrorized ▶ Yes please
• Exhilarating ▶ Yes please
• Boldness ▶ Bold, aggressive, unrepressed, cathartic or expressive actions

Lady Vengeance (2006)

Director Park Chan-wook establishes himself as the superstar of Korean action cinema this week with Lady Vengeance, the conclusion of his "revenge trilogy." Most Bay Area fans probably started with the second episode, Oldboy (2003), followed by Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002). (They were released here in that order in 2004.) That's probably a good thing, as Sympathy proved almost too random and pointless to be paired with the stunning Oldboy. read more...

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• Exhilarating ▶ Yes please
• Anxiety Level ▶ I like my stomach in knots
• Optimistic ▶ No thanks
• Boldness ▶ Bold, aggressive, unrepressed, cathartic or expressive actions
• Innocence ▶ Seasoned, Savvy, Streetwise
• Comfort Level ▶ Distressed, disturbed, unsettled or unresolved
• Originality ▶ Different or novel for its time

They Live (1988)

From one of the most underrated of all American filmmakers comes one of the most underrated of all films, John Carpenter's They Live (1988). This was one of the few movies to tackle paranoia and brain-washing in the Reagan era, while Reagan was still in office. A drifter called "Nada" (pro wrestler Roddy Piper) arrives in town, gets a job on a construction site, and finds a pair of glasses. When he puts them on, he sees things as they "really" are. Aliens are in power and disguised as humans, and they are controlling the rest of us with subliminal advertising and media messages ("obey" and "conform"). Of course, it's up to Roddy -- along with co-stars David Keith and Meg Foster -- to save the world. ("I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass...and I'm all out of bubblegum.") With Carpenter's clear, widescreen direction and his skill and enthusiasm at their highest peak, this is a masterpiece. read more...

Search for streaming:

• Stalked/Terrorized ▶ Yes please
• Exhilarating ▶ Yes please
• Boldness ▶ Bold, aggressive, unrepressed, cathartic or expressive actions
• Innocence ▶ Seasoned, Savvy, Streetwise