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Face/Off (1997)

Directed by: John Woo

Starring: John Travolta, Nicolas Cage, Alessandro Nivola, Joan Allen

Rated: R for Intense Sequences of Strong Violence, and For Strong Language

Running Time: 2 h 18 m

TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Practical Effects and Stunts, Ridiculous Performances, Bizarre Story

WEAKNESSES: Logic, Hokey 90s Moments

Face/Off (1997)

August 21, 2019

An FBI agent undergoes a facial transplant surgery to work his way into a terrorist sect, but the plan goes awry when the terrorist whose face he stole impersonates the FBI agent. 

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In Action, Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Fantasy, Sci Fi, Thriller Tags John Woo, 1997, 3.5 Stars, John Travolta, Nicolas Cage, Alessandro Nivola, Joan Allen
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Joe (2013)

Directed by: David Gordon Green

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Tye Sheridan, Gary Poulter

Rated: R for Violence, Disturbing Material, Language and Some Strong Sexual Content

Running Time: 2h

TMM Score: 4 Stars

STRENGTHS: Subtle Nic Cage, Performances, Atmosphere, Story

WEAKNESSES: Some Directing/Writing Choices, Unnecessary Animal Violence

Joe (2013)

August 20, 2019

Joe is a hard working ex-con man who forms an unlikely bond with Gary, a 15 year old with an abusive father, and eventually Joe’s past catches up with him.

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In Crime, Drama Tags Karl Nagurski, Nicolas Cage, David Gordon Green, Tye Sheridan, Gary Poulter, Rated R, Joe, 4 stars
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Limitless (2011)

Directed by: Neil Burger

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, Abbie Cornish

Rated: PG-13 for Thematic Material Involving a Drug, Violence Including Disturbing Images, Sexuality and Language

Running Time: 1 h 45 m

TMM Score: 3 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Fun Concept, Some Acting

WEAKNESSES: It Thinks It’s Smarter Than It Is, Some Acting

Limitless (2011)

August 19, 2019

A struggling writer takes an experimental drug and suddenly becomes a genius.

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In Crime, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Sci Fi, Thriller Tags Neil Burger, Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, Abbie Cornish, 3 Stars
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Bad Lieutenant (1992)

Directed by: Abel Ferrara

Starring: Harvey Keitel, Frankie Thorn, Zoe Lund

Rated: NC-17 for Sexual Violence, Strong Sexual Situations and Dialogue, Graphic Drug Use

Running Time: 1 h 36 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Acting, Writing, Directing

WEAKNESSES: Content Will Deter Some Viewers, Some Melodrama

Bad Lieutenant (1992)

August 19, 2019

A police lieutenant with serious gambling and drug addictions reevaluates the way he chooses to live his life during his investigation into the rape of a nun. 

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In Art House, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller Tags Harvey Keitel, Frankie Thorn, Zoe Lund, Abel Ferrara, NC-17, 4 Stars, 1992
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Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009)

Directed by: Werner Herzog

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Val Kilmer, Xzibit, Fairuza Balk, Jennifer Coolidge, Tom Bower, Brad Dourif, Shea Whigham, Michael Shannnon

Rated: R for Drug Use and Language Throughout, Some Violence and Sexuality

Running Time: 2 h 2 m

TMM Score: 3 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Some Acting, Story

WEAKNESSES: Some Acting, Cheesy Ending, Uneven Quality

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009)

August 19, 2019

A drug and gambling addicted detective working in post-Katrina New Orleans investigates the brutal killings of five Senegalese immigrants.

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In Action, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller Tags Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Val Kilmer, Xzibit, Faiiruza Balk, Jennifer Coolidge, Tom Bower, Brad Dourif, Shea Whigham, Michael Shannnon, Werner Herzog, 2009, 3 Stars
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A Touch of Zen (1971)

Directed by: King Hu

Starring: Feng Hsu, Chun Shih, Ying Bai

Rated: NR (Suggested R for Sustain Sequences of Martial Arts Action Violence)

Running Time: 3 h

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Unconventional Storytelling, Characters, Action, Excitement, Worldbuilding, Empowerment

WEAKNESSES: -

A Touch of Zen (1971)

August 16, 2019

An unambitious small town painter and monks from a Buddhist monastery aid a lady fugitive in her run from corrupt government officials.  

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In Action, Adventure, Drama, Epic, Foreign Film, Martial Arts, Romance, Mystery, Thriller, War Tags Feng Hsu, Chun Shih, Ying Bai, King Hu, 1971
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Casablanca (1942)

Directed By: Michael Curtiz

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, Peter Lorre

Rated: PG

Run Time: 1h 42m

TMM Score: 5 Stars

Strengths: Cinematography, Acting, Lighting

Weakness: Nothing

Casablanca (1942)

August 15, 2019

When Rick, the owner of a club in Casablanca, is given travel papers for safe keeping, he is unwittingly placed at the center of a love triangle, refugee escape plan, and Nazi manhunt.

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In Thriller, Spy Film, Political, Noir, Drama, Romance Tags Michael McDonald, Casablanca, 1942, Michael Curtiz, Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, Peter Lorre, 5 Stars, PG
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Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)

Directed By: Frank Lloyd

Starring: Charles Laughton, Clark Gable, Franchot Tone

Rated: NR

Run Time: 2h 12m

TMM Score: 5 Stars

Strengths: Production Design, Acting, Story

Weakness: None

Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)

August 14, 2019

A ship’s crew, under the fierce cruelty of their captain, leads a mutiny which became famous and changed British attitudes toward nautical law.

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In Adventure, Drama, Epic Tags Michael McDonald, Mutiny on the Bounty, 1935, Frank Lloyd, Charles Laughton, Clark Gable, Franchot Tone, NR, 5 Stars
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Urban Cowboy(1980)

Directed by: James Bridges

Starring: John Travolta, Debra Winger, Scott Glen, Madolyn Smith

Rated: PG

Running Time: 2h 15m

TMM Score: 2 Stars

STRENGTHS: Music, Production Design

WEAKNESSES: Hasn’t Aged Well, Bloated Runtime, Stupid Characters, Silly Plot

Urban Cowboy (1980)

August 13, 2019

A city boy sets out to the country to be the best mechanical bull rider in Texas.

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In Drama, Romance Tags Karl Nagurski, Urban Cowboy, Rated PG, PG, John Travolta, Debra Winger, Scott Glen, Madolyn Smith, 2 Stars, Drama, Romance, Cowboy
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Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

Directed by: Mel Gibson

Starring: Andrew Garfield, Hugo Weaving, Rachel Griffiths, Teresa Palmer, Vince Vaughn, Sam Worthington

Rated: R for Intense Prolonged Realistically Graphic Sequences of War Violence Including Grisly Bloody Images

Running Time: 2 h 19 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Directing, Story, Themes, Acting, Writing

WEAKNESSES: Pacing in First Half

Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

August 12, 2019

The true story of Desmond Doss, a soldier who helped to save wounded at the Battle of Okinawa without ever firing a shot at the enemy. 

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In Action, Adventure, Biographical, Christian Film, Coming of Age, Drama, Epic, Romance, Thriller, War Tags Mel Gibson, Andrew Garfield, Hugo Weaving, Rachel Griffiths, Teresa Palmer, Vince Vaughn, Sam Worthington, 4 Stars, 2016
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Darkman (1990)

Directed by: Sam Raimi

Starring: Liam Neeson, Frances McDormand, Colin Friels, Larry Drake, Bruce Campbell

Rated: R

Running Time: 1 h 36 m

TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Directing, Tone, Writing, Original Character

WEAKNESSES: Some Weaker Story Elements

Darkman (1990)

August 9, 2019

A brilliant scientist left for dead returns to exact vengeance on the people who tried to kill him. 

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In Action, Adventure, Crime, Comedy, Drama, Horror, Romance, Superhero, Thriller Tags Sam Raimi, Liam Neeson, Frances McDormand, Colin Friels, Larry Drake, Bruce Campbell, R, 3.5 Stars
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Official Secrets (2019)

Directed by: Gavin Hood

Starring: Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Matt Smith, Matthew Goode

Rated: R

Running Time: 1h 52m

TMM Score: 4 Stars

STRENGTHS: Performances, Story, Directing

WEAKNESSES: Heavy Handed

Official Secrets (2019)

August 8, 2019

The story of British whistleblower Katharine Gun.

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In Drama, Foreign Film, Political, Spy Film, Thriller Tags Karl Nagurski, Official Secrets, 2019, 4 stars, rated r, Gavin Hood, Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Matt Smith, Matthew Goode
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Mildred Pierce (1945)

Directed by: Michael Curtiz

Starring: Joan Crawford, Jack Carson, Zachary Scott, Ann Blyth, Bruce Bennett

Rated: Passed (TMM Suggested PG-13 for Thematic Material and Brief Violence)

Running Time: 1 h 51 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Story, Writing, Acting, Directing

WEAKNESSES: Mild Pacing Issues in Second Act

Mildred Pierce (1945)

August 8, 2019

A hard-working mother divorces her husband and starts a successful restaurant business to keep her spoiled daughter’s rich-tastes satisfied, but her lust for wealth seems unquenchable, and the pair hurdle towards disaster. 

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In Drama, Mystery, Noir, Romance, Thriller Tags Michael Curtiz, Joan Crawford, Jack Carson, Zachary Scott, Ann Blyth, Bruce Bennett, 1945, 4 Stars
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The Magnificent Ambersons (1942)

Directed by: Orson Welles

Starring: Tim Holt, Agnes Moorehead, Anne Baxter, Joseph Cotton, Dolores Costello

Rated: NR (Suggested PG for Thematic Material)

Running Time: 1 h 28 m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Directing, Writing, Acting, Cinematography, Story

WEAKNESSES: Last Five Minutes

The Magnificent Ambersons (1942)

August 7, 2019

A spoiled young child of a wealthy family comes between his widowed mother and the man she always loved.

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In Drama, Romance, Mystery Tags Orson Welles, Tim Holt, Agnes Moorehead, Anne Baxter, Joseph Cotton, Dolores Costello, 1942, NR, 5 Stars
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Saint Frances (2019)

Directed by: Alex Thompson

Starring: Kelly O’Sullivan, Ramona Edith Williams, Charin Alvarez, Lily Mojekwu

Rated: R

Running Time: 1h 30m

TMM Score: 4.5 Stars

STRENGTHS: Acting, Writing, Subject Matter

WEAKNESSES: Some Heavy Handedness

Saint Frances (2019)

August 7, 2019

A 30 something woman finds acceptance in a new setting.

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In Comedy, Coming of Age, Drama Tags Karl Nagurski, Saint Frances, Traverse City Film Festival, 4.5 Stars, Rated R, 2019, Kelly O'Sullivan, Romona Edith, Charin Alvarez, Lily Mjoekwu, Alex Thompson
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Notorious (1946)

Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

Starring: Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains, Louis Calhern, Leopoldine Konstantin

Rated: NR (Suggested PG for Thematic Material)

Running Time: 1 h 42 m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Directing, Acting, Writing, Story, Pacing, Classic Hollywood Charm

WEAKNESSES: -

Notorious (1946)

August 6, 2019

An American agent recruits a woman with ties to Nazis in South America. After they find themselves falling in love, he finds out her mission is to seduce a man with possible ties to future Nazi plots. 

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In Adventure, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Noir, Romance, Thriller Tags Alfred Hitchcok, Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains, Louis Calhern, Leopoldine Konstantin, 5 Stars, 1946, NR
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Punch-Drunk Love

Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson

Starring: Adam Sandler, Emily Watson, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Luis Guzman

Rated: R for Strong Language Including a Scene of Sexual Dialogue

Running Time: 1h 35m

TMM Score: 5 Stars

STRENGTHS: Direction, Cinematography, Writing, Performances

WEAKNESSES: -

Punch-Drunk Love (2002)

August 6, 2019

A man with crippling social anxiety finds love.

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In Comedy, Drama, Romance Tags Karl Nagurski, Punch-Drunk Love, Adam Sandler, romance, Dark Comedy, Drama, Emily Watson, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Thomas Anderson, Luis Guzman, Rated R, 5 Stars
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Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)

Directed by: Martin McDonagh

Starring: Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Caleb Landry Jones, Abbie Cornish, Lucas Hedges, Peter Dinklage, John Hawkes, Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton

Rated: R for Violence, Language Throughout, and Some Sexual References

Running Time: 1 h 55 m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Writing, Characters, Acting, Unconventionality

WEAKNESSES: -

Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)

August 5, 2019

After her daughter is raped and killed, a mother in a small town puts up three billboards asking the police department why they haven’t found the killer.

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In Crime, Comedy, Drama, Mystery, Thriller Tags Martin McDonagh, Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Caleb Landry Jones, Abbie Cornish, Lucas Hedges, Peter Dinklage, John Hawkes, Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton, R, 5 Stars, 2017
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Top End Wedding (2019)

Directed by: Wayne Blair

Starring: Gwilym Lee, Miranda Tapsell, Kerry Fox, Ursula Yovich

Rated: NR (TMM Suggested: PG-13 for Some Sexual Humor)

Running Time: 1 h 43 m

TMM Score: 2.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Cultural Insights, Cinematography

WEAKNESSES: Plausibility, Stupid Character Choices, Repeated Jokes

Top End Wedding (2019)

August 4, 2019

After Ned and Lauren get engaged, they have ten days to find Lauren’s mom who has gone off the grid somewhere in the remote parts of Australia, reunite her parents and pull of a wedding. 

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In Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Romance Tags Wayne Blair, Gwilym Lee, Miranda Tapsell, Kerry Fox, Ursula Yovich
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The Kill Team (2019)

Directed by: Dan Krauss

Starring: Alexander Skarsgard, Nat Wolff, Adam Long

Rated: R for Language Throughout, Violent Content and Drug Use

Running Time: 1 h 27

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Story, Themes, Directing, Cinematography, Alexander Skarsgard

WEAKNESSES: Emotional Connection, Mild Acting

The Kill Team (2019)

August 4, 2019

An young American soldier faces a moral dilemma when his commanding officer starts to use questionable methods in their missions.  

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In Adventure, Action, Crime, Drama, Coming of Age, Mystery, Thriller, War Tags Alexander Skarsgard, Nat Wolff, Adam Long, Dan Krauss
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