Movies We Forgot About

From Sergio Leone, starring Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, Lee Van Cleef, Aldo Giuffrè
Rated R

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is an epic Italian spaghetti western film directed by Sergio Leone and starring Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Eli Wallach. Set in the American Civil War, the film follows the story of three men – "the Good" (Eastwood), "the Bad" (Van Cleef) and "the Ugly" (Wallach) – as they join forces to survive the war and find a fortune in Confederate gold buried in a grave. Along their journey, the unlikely trio encounter shootouts, double-crosses, deception, greed, and the occasional moment of humanity. Filled with iconic shots and gripping action sequences, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly has become one of the most celebrated westerns of all time.

From Martin Scorsese, starring Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco
Rated R

Goodfellas tells the true story of Henry Hill, a small-time gangster from the streets of New York City. The film follows Henry's rise from a petty criminal to a major player in the world of organized crime. Along the way, he develops strong relationships with his fellow mobsters, including Jimmy Conway, Paul Cicero, and Tommy DeVito. As Henry's criminal activities escalate and his loyalty is tested, his life begins to unravel. In the end, Henry must confront the consequences of his actions and decide whether he will take the easy path or the right one.

From David Fincher, starring Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Kevin Spacey, Andrew Kevin Walker
Rated R

Se7en is a psychological thriller directed by David Fincher and starring Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, and Kevin Spacey. The film follows homicide detectives William Somerset (Freeman) and David Mills (Pitt) as they investigate a series of murders inspired by the seven deadly sins: Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Pride, Lust, and Envy. The detectives race against time to catch the killer, John Doe (Spacey), before he can complete his gruesome plan. Along the way, the detectives struggle with their own inner demons as they are forced to confront the darkness of human nature. In the end, the detectives are left to make a difficult moral decision that has lasting consequences.

From Luc Besson, starring Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman, Danny Aiello
Rated R

Léon: The Professional is a crime/drama film about an emotionally detached hitman, Léon, and an orphaned 12-year-old girl, Mathilda, who form an unlikely bond in New York City. When corrupt DEA agents murder Mathilda's family, Léon is the only one who can protect her. With Léon as her guardian, Mathilda learns the art of assassination and sets out to take revenge on the men responsible for her family's death. Along the way, the two develop an unbreakable bond as they navigate the dangers of the city.

From Ridley Scott, starring Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt, Veronica Cartwright
Rated R

Alien is a 1979 science fiction horror film directed by Ridley Scott and written by Dan O'Bannon. The movie follows the crew of a commercial towing spaceship called the Nostromo as they investigate a distress call from an alien planet. The crew, including Captain Dallas (Tom Skerritt), Executive Officer Kane (John Hurt), and Navigator Lambert (Veronica Cartwright), soon discover that the distress call is coming from a mysterious alien spacecraft. After investigating the ship, Kane discovers an alien organism, which he brings back aboard the Nostromo. The alien organism soon hatches and begins killing the crew members one by one. The remaining crew, led by Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), must battle the alien in order to survive. Ultimately, Ripley defeats the creature and the crew escapes, but not before the alien has caused significant damage to the ship and killed several crew members.

From Bryan Singer, starring Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Chazz Palminteri, Stephen Baldwin
Rated R

The Usual Suspects is a 1995 crime thriller directed by Bryan Singer and written by Christopher McQuarrie. The film follows five criminals, Dean Keaton (Gabriel Byrne), Roger “Verbal” Kint (Kevin Spacey), McManus (Stephen Baldwin), Fenster (Benicio Del Toro) and Hockney (Kevin Pollak), who are brought together in a line-up by the police. After they are released due to a lack of evidence, they plan an elaborate heist of a mysterious criminal mastermind known as Keyser Söze. Along the way, they are pursued by both law enforcement and mysterious underworld figures. The film culminates in an intense and unpredictable climax, where the truth behind Söze and the identity of the criminals is revealed.

From Christopher Nolan, starring Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson, Michael Caine
Rated PG-13

The Prestige is a 2006 psychological thriller film directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale as two rival magicians in the late 19th century. The film follows Robert Angier (Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Bale) as they attempt to out-do each other in their magic acts and create the ultimate illusion. As the rivalry between them intensifies, the two men will resort to any means necessary, including deception and sabotage, to get ahead. The film also focuses on their pasts and the secrets they keep from each other. In the end, the two men will discover that the cost of victory may be more than either of them expected.

From Stanley Kubrick, starring Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, Scatman Crothers
Rated R

The Shining, an American psychological horror film directed by Stanley Kubrick, follows Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) and his family as they move into the isolated Overlook Hotel for the winter. Jack, an aspiring writer and recovering alcoholic, takes a job as the hotel's winter caretaker in order to cure his writer's block and focus on his family. However, as the winter progresses, Jack slowly begins to succumb to the supernatural forces of the hotel that influence his mental state and threaten his family's safety. With the help of Dick Hallorann (Scatman Crothers), the hotel's cook, Jack's son Danny (Danny Lloyd) must battle the hotel's sinister forces in order to save his family and himself. The Shining is considered one of the greatest horror films ever made, and is considered the quintessential horror film of the 1980s.

From James Cameron, starring Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Carrie Henn, Paul Reiser
Rated R

Aliens is a 1986 science-fiction action-adventure horror movie directed by James Cameron and starring Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley. The movie is a sequel to the 1979 film Alien, and follows Ripley as she is forced to return to the planet populated by the hostile alien species she first encountered in the previous film. Accompanied by a motley group of space marines, Ripley must confront her fears and battle the alien lifeforms on the planet in order to save humanity. As the group struggles to survive the alien onslaught and defeat the alien queen, they discover the horrific secret behind the aliens' existence. Aliens is widely considered to be one of the greatest action movies of all time, and is a milestone in the science fiction and horror genres.

From Michael Mann, starring Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer, Jon Voight
Rated R

Heat is a 1995 crime drama directed by Michael Mann. It follows two men, Lt. Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino), a veteran LAPD detective, and Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro), a professional criminal and master thief, as their lives intertwine in an ever-escalating battle of wits, skill, and determination. The film follows their respective crews as they plan, commit and investigate complex heists, all while trying to stay one step ahead of the other. As their lives and criminal enterprises come into closer contact, the lives of both men become more and more intertwined until their ultimate, fateful confrontation. Along the way, the film explores themes of loyalty, guilt, morality, and the power of friendship and love in the midst of a violent world.

From Paul Thomas Anderson, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Ciarán Hinds, Martin Stringer
Rated R

"There Will Be Blood" is a 2007 drama film written, co-produced, and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Set in the late 19th century, the film follows the story of oil prospector Daniel Plainview as he faces off against a charismatic preacher, Eli Sunday. It is an epic exploration of greed, power, and corruption, as Plainview slowly loses his morality and humanity in the pursuit of wealth. Along the way he faces personal tragedies, business conflicts, and a devastating rivalry with Sunday. Ultimately, Plainview must make a choice between money and his own moral convictions.

From Directors: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, starring Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson
Rated R

No Country for Old Men is a 2007 American neo-Western crime thriller directed by the Coen brothers. The film follows Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin), a Vietnam veteran who finds a suitcase filled with two million dollars and inadvertently sets off a violent chain of events involving a relentless, psychopathic hitman (Javier Bardem), a corrupt sheriff (Tommy Lee Jones), and a small-town drug kingpin (Woody Harrelson). The film follows their attempts to outwit each other in a bleak, unforgiving landscape. No Country for Old Men was a critical and commercial success, earning four Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The film has been praised for its masterful cinematography, editing, and sound design, as well as its powerful performances and compelling story.

From David Lean, starring William Holden, Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins, Sessue Hayakawa
Rated PG

The Bridge on the River Kwai is a 1957 British-American epic war film directed by David Lean. Set in 1943 during World War II, the film tells the story of British prisoners of war who are forced by the Japanese to build a bridge in order to connect Bangkok and Rangoon. The prisoners are led by Colonel Nicholson, played by Alec Guinness, who is determined to complete the bridge perfectly despite overwhelming odds. As the project progresses, Nicholson gradually comes to admire and respect his Japanese captors, even helping them when they are threatened by a British commando raid. In the end, Nicholson is forced to choose between his loyalty to his country and his newfound respect for the Japanese. The film won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Guinness.

From Ron Howard, starring Russell Crowe, Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly, Christopher Plummer
Rated PG-13

A Beautiful Mind is a 2001 American biographical drama directed by Ron Howard and written by Akiva Goldsman. It is based on the biography of the same name by Sylvia Nasar. The film is about John Nash, a Nobel Laureate in Economics, and his struggles with schizophrenia. The film follows Nash from his graduate school days at Princeton through his years at MIT, where he develops revolutionary theories in game theory. Along the way, Nash experiences paranoia and delusions, which he must overcome in order to reach his full potential as a mathematician. Throughout the story, he is supported by his friends and colleagues, as well as his wife Alicia. A Beautiful Mind deals with themes of perseverance, love, and hope in the face of a serious mental illness. It has earned critical acclaim and won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

From John Sturges, starring Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, Charles Bronson
Rated Approved

The Great Escape is a 1963 American war film based on an escape by British Commonwealth prisoners of war (POWs) from a German POW camp during World War II, starring Steve McQueen, James Garner, and Richard Attenborough. The film was directed by John Sturges and produced by the Mirisch Company. The plot is based on a true story, as chronicled in Paul Brickhill's 1950 book of the same name, about the mass escape from Stalag Luft III in Sagan (now Żagań, Poland), in the province of Lower Silesia, Nazi Germany. A group of POWs, led by Royal Air Force Squadron Leader Roger Bartlett (Richard Attenborough), plan an escape from the prison camp by digging three tunnels, named Tom, Dick, and Harry. The prisoners successfully escape from the camp, but only a few make it to safety. The rest are either killed or recaptured.

From Steven Spielberg, starring Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine Gary
Rated PG

Jaws is a 1975 American thriller directed by Steven Spielberg and based on Peter Benchley's novel of the same name. The film is set in the fictional resort town of Amity Island, where the residents are terrorized by a great white shark. Police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) leads a team of fishermen, shark hunters, and a marine biologist (Richard Dreyfuss) on a mission to hunt down and kill the shark before it can do any more harm. As they search for the shark, they face danger and peril, as well as their own personal fears and doubts. Ultimately, they are successful in destroying the shark, but not before it has left a lasting impression on the town.

From Rob Reiner, starring Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell
Rated R

Stand by Me is a classic coming-of-age film directed by Rob Reiner that follows four young boys as they embark on a daring adventure to find the body of a missing teenager. In the summer of 1959, best friends Gordie, Chris, Teddy, and Vern leave their homes in rural Oregon to follow a rumor that a dead body is lying in the woods. Along the way, the boys face a number of obstacles, from bullies to wild animals, that test their courage, resilience, and loyalty to each other. As the boys’ journey progresses, each of them discovers something about themselves and learns lessons about friendship and growing up that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

From Jim Sheridan, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Pete Postlethwaite, Alison Crosbie, Philip King
Rated R

In the Name of the Father is a 1993 biographical courtroom drama directed by Jim Sheridan. The film stars Daniel Day-Lewis as Gerry Conlon, a young Irishman wrongly convicted of an IRA bombing in London in 1974. With the help of an attorney on the case (Emma Thompson), Gerry struggles to prove his innocence and expose the truth about his father, Giuseppe Conlon (Pete Postlethwaite), who was also wrongfully convicted of the bombing. While in prison, Gerry and Giuseppe's friendship and bond grows as they battle to prove their innocence. The film highlights Giuseppe's struggles to cope with life in prison as an innocent man, as well as his efforts to secure a pardon for his son. In the end, the two are exonerated and the movie highlights the journey of Gerry's awakening to injustice and the power of truth.

From Oliver Stone, starring Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, Keith David
Rated R

Platoon is a 1986 American war drama film written and directed by Oliver Stone, and starring Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, and Charlie Sheen. The film follows a group of young U.S. soldiers serving in the Vietnam War and is based on Stone's own experiences as a soldier there. The movie begins with the arrival of a new recruit, Chris Taylor (Sheen). His unit quickly faces intense firefights, moral dilemmas, and the harsh realities of war. Chris soon finds himself in the middle of a power struggle between two sergeants, Barnes (Berenger) and Elias (Dafoe). Barnes is a hardened veteran who is willing to do whatever it takes to survive, while Elias is a kinder, more humane figure who tries to protect the young recruits from Barnes' brutality. The movie follows Chris and his fellow soldiers as they fight for survival, grapple with their own moral code, and ultimately come to terms with the horrors of war. Platoon is ultimately a powerful exploration of the brutality of war, and the complicated relationships between soldiers in combat.

From Clint Eastwood, starring Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon, Emmy Rossum
Rated R

Mystic River is a 2003 drama film directed, co-produced and scored by Clint Eastwood. It stars Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, and Kevin Bacon, and is based on the novel of the same name by Dennis Lehane. The film follows the lives of three childhood friends, Dave Boyle (Tim Robbins), Sean Devine (Kevin Bacon), and Jimmy Markum (Sean Penn), who are reunited when Dave is suspected of murdering a young girl. As the investigation continues, long-buried secrets from their past come to the surface, and their present lives become entangled in a web of tragedy and guilt.

From Taylor Hackford, starring Damian Chapa, Jesse Borrego, Benjamin Bratt, Enrique Castillo
Rated R

Blood In, Blood Out is a 1993 crime drama film directed by Taylor Hackford and starring Damian Chapa, Jesse Borrego, Benjamin Bratt, Enrique Castillo, and Victor Rivers. It tells the story of three Mexican-American cousins from East Los Angeles, who are bonded together by their shared experiences of family, culture and life in the barrio. Spanning three decades, the film follows the three cousins as they get involved in the gang life, and face the consequences of their choices. As their lives unfold, the film explores themes of love, loyalty, betrayal, and identity. It is an emotional, heartfelt story of the struggles of life in the barrio and the power of brotherhood.

From Lee Tamahori, starring Rena Owen, Temuera Morrison, Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell, Julian Arahanga
Rated R

Once Were Warriors is a 1994 New Zealand drama film based on the novel of the same name by Alan Duff. The film follows the story of the Hekes, a Māori family living in modern-day New Zealand. The family is made up of the alcoholic and violent father, Jake, his long-suffering wife, Beth, and their five children. Through their struggles with poverty, alcoholism, domestic abuse, and gang violence, the Hekes strive to stay together as a family. The film highlights the difficult social issues faced by Māori people in contemporary New Zealand, and explores the effects of poverty and broken family structures. It also examines the power dynamics between men and women in Māori society, and the ways in which violence affects the whole family. Ultimately, the story serves as a sobering reminder of the daily struggles faced by Māori people in modern-day New Zealand.

From Ridley Scott, starring Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Josh Brolin
Rated R

American Gangster is a crime drama film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. The movie is based on the true story of Frank Lucas, a Harlem drug lord who smuggled heroin into the United States on American service planes returning from the Vietnam War in the 1970s. When law enforcement agencies began to crack down on organized crime, Lucas became the target of a massive federal investigation led by a newly-appointed detective, Richie Roberts. As Lucas builds an empire while avoiding the increasing efforts of the police to stop him, Roberts discovers a web of corruption that reaches to the highest levels of government. The film follows the two men as they come face-to-face in a showdown that will define their destiny and decide the fate of the entire city.

From Steven Spielberg, starring Christian Bale, John Malkovich, Miranda Richardson, Nigel Havers
Rated PG

Empire of the Sun is a 1987 epic war drama directed by Steven Spielberg, based on J.G. Ballard's semi-autobiographical novel of the same name. The film tells the story of a young British boy, Jim Graham (Christian Bale), living in Shanghai during World War II who is separated from his parents and the comfort of his privileged lifestyle. He is interned in a Japanese concentration camp, where he struggles to survive, discovering his own inner strength and resourcefulness. During his journey, Jim is befriended by an American soldier, Basie (John Malkovich), and ultimately transforms from a spoiled young boy into a mature and resourceful young man. Along the way, he learns the importance of friendship, loyalty and courage, as he finds himself increasingly at odds with the harsh realities of war.

From John Boorman, starring Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty, Ronny Cox
Rated R

Deliverance is a 1972 American thriller film produced and directed by John Boorman. It is based on the 1970 novel of the same name by James Dickey, who has a small role in the film. The film tells the story of four city-dwellers who embark on a weekend weekend canoe trip into the Georgia wilderness, only to find themselves in a fight for their lives against the violent hill folk of the area. Starring Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty, and Ronny Cox, the film was a critical and commercial success, earning three Academy Award nominations and grossing over $44 million at the box office.