Six Great Movies About

From William Friedkin, starring Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Linda Blair, Lee J. Cobb
Rated R

The Exorcist is a 1973 American horror film directed by William Friedkin and based on the 1971 novel of the same name by William Peter Blatty. The film is about a 12-year-old girl named Regan who is possessed by a demon. Her mother, Chris MacNeil, then seeks the help of two priests to perform an exorcism. The film is regarded as one of the greatest films ever made and was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, winning two. It has also become one of the most successful horror films in history, grossing over $441 million worldwide. The Exorcist has been praised for its atmospheric visuals, performances, and its use of religious imagery, and is considered one of the scariest films of all time.

From Kar-Wai Wong, starring Brigitte Lin, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Chiu-Wai Leung, Faye Wong
Rated PG-13

Chungking Express is an influential 1994 Hong Kong drama film directed by Kar-Wai Wong. It tells two stories of romance, both involving heartbreak and the search for love. In the first storyline, Cop 223 (Takeshi Kaneshiro) falls in love with a mysterious woman who frequents the Midnight Express take-out restaurant every night at midnight. Cop 223's attempts to uncover the identity of the woman, nicknamed "Faye," ultimately fail, and he is left with a broken heart. In the second storyline, Cop 663 (Tony Leung Chiu-Wai) has recently broken up with his girlfriend, May. He meets a new mysterious woman, dubbed "The Girl with the Blonde Hair" (Brigitte Lin), and the two share a brief moment of connection before going their separate ways. In the end, both stories illustrate how love can be lost and found in unexpected ways.

From Sylvain Chomet, starring Michèle Caucheteux, Jean-Claude Donda, Michel Robin, Monica Viegas
Rated PG-13

The Triplets of Belleville is an award-winning animated film from 2003 by director Sylvain Chomet. It follows the story of Madame Souza, an elderly woman who takes her grandson, Champion, under her wing when his parents are too busy to care for him. Madame Souza encourages Champion's love of cycling, and when he is kidnapped by the French mafia, she recruits the help of the mysterious triplets of Belleville to help her rescue him. The trio of elderly women take Madame Souza to the big city of Belleville, and together they embark on a wild adventure, facing off against the mob and rescuing Champion in the process. The heartwarming story is accompanied by a unique jazz soundtrack, and the animation style is a unique blend of traditional hand-drawn and computer-generated techniques.

From William Friedkin, starring Gene Hackman, Roy Scheider, Fernando Rey, Tony Lo Bianco
Rated R

The French Connection is an Academy Award-winning 1971 crime thriller directed by William Friedkin. It stars Gene Hackman as Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle, an obsessive and determined police detective in New York City, and Roy Scheider as Buddy "Cloudy" Russo, his partner. The two detectives stumble upon a massive heroin-smuggling operation, which leads them to the French connection, a powerful dope-smuggling ring. With the help of an informant, the two detectives set out to bust the ring and bring down its kingpin, Alain Charnier. Along the way, Popeye is faced with internal conflict as his methods become increasingly desperate in his pursuit of justice. The film was a critical and commercial success and won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Friedkin.

From Robert Clouse, starring Bruce Lee, John Saxon, Jim Kelly, Ahna Capri
Rated R

Enter the Dragon is a 1973 martial arts action-adventure film directed by Robert Clouse. The film stars Bruce Lee in his final film performance, as well as John Saxon, Jim Kelly and Kien Shih. The story centers around Lee's character, Lee, a martial artist who is recruited by a British intelligence agency to investigate a mysterious martial arts tournament on a remote island owned by the nefarious Han. Lee must battle his way through the tournament in an effort to uncover Han's criminal activities. Along the way, he encounters a variety of formidable opponents, including former students of the same master who taught him the martial arts. The film is considered to be one of the greatest martial arts films of all time, and established Lee as an icon in the genre. It was a major success at the box office, grossing over $90 million worldwide, and it is still considered to be a classic today.

From Brian G. Hutton, starring Richard Burton, Clint Eastwood, Mary Ure, Patrick Wymark
Rated M

Set in World War II, "Where Eagles Dare" tells the story of a daring commando raid on a German fortress in the Bavarian Alps. A British officer, Major John Smith, is given the task of leading a team of Allied troops on the mission to save an American General who is being held prisoner by the Nazis. Smith and his team must make their way into the fortress, evade the numerous German troops guarding it, and then rescue the General before it is too late. Along the way, they battle fierce enemies, wild weather, and treacherous terrain. In the end, Smith and his team successfully complete their mission and make it out of the fortress alive.

From Directors: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, starring John Getz, Frances McDormand, Dan Hedaya, M. Emmet Walsh
Rated R

"Blood Simple" is a 1984 neo-noir crime thriller directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. The film follows a bar owner in rural Texas who hires a private investigator to kill his cheating wife and her lover. However, as the investigation progresses, things take a turn for the worse and a web of deception and violence ensues. The story is told from multiple perspectives, allowing the audience to piece together the truth. With its twisted plot and suspenseful scenes, "Blood Simple" is an acclaimed and widely-appreciated classic of the noir genre.

From John Sayles, starring Chris Cooper, Elizabeth Peña, Stephen Mendillo, Stephen J. Lang
Rated R

From Sam Peckinpah, starring Dustin Hoffman, Susan George, Peter Vaughan, T.P. McKenna
Rated R

From Wolfgang Petersen, starring Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, Julian Glover
Rated R

From Jacques Audiard, starring Vincent Cassel, Emmanuelle Devos, Olivier Gourmet, Olivier Perrier
Rated R

From Michel Gondry, starring Gael García Bernal, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Miou-Miou, Alain Chabat
Rated R

From Mel Gibson, starring Jim Caviezel, Monica Bellucci, Maia Morgenstern, Christo Jivkov
Rated R

From Directors: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski, starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving
Rated R

From Pen-Ek Ratanaruang, starring Tasanawalai Ongartittichai, Black Phomtong, Lalita Panyopas, Sirisin Siripornsmathikul
Rated R

From Brian Helgeland, starring Mel Gibson, Gregg Henry, Maria Bello, David Paymer
Rated R

From John Maybury, starring Adrien Brody, Keira Knightley, Daniel Craig, Kris Kristofferson
Rated R

From Frank Oz, starring Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, Vincent Gardenia, Levi Stubbs
Rated PG-13

From Len Wiseman, starring Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Shane Brolly, Michael Sheen
Rated R

From Takashi Miike, starring Tadanobu Asano, Nao Ômori, Shin'ya Tsukamoto, Paulyn Sun
Rated R

From Jay Roach, starring Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Teri Polo, Blythe Danner
Rated PG-13

From David Zucker, starring Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, George Kennedy, O.J. Simpson
Rated PG-13

From Ryûhei Kitamura, starring Aya Ueto, Kenji Kohashi, Hiroki Narimiya, Takatoshi Kaneko
Rated Not Rated

From Directors: Mike Judge, Mike de Seve, Brian Mulroney, Yvette Kaplan, starring Mike Judge, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, Cloris Leachman
Rated PG-13

From David Cronenberg, starring Jennifer O'Neill, Stephen Lack, Patrick McGoohan, Lawrence Dane
Rated R