Just Friends (2005)

Chris Brander is an awkward, overweight young man who has a crush on the beautiful and fun Jamie Palamino. He wants to take their friendship to the next level, so he writes his feelings in her yearbook. But unfortunately the jock Brett who also likes Jamie reads the note to their class at the graduation party at her house and Chris is humiliated. Even more so when Jamie tells him that she thinks of him as “just friends”. Chris rides off on his bike, vowing to everyone that he’s going to be someone important someday.
Ten years later, Chris is a fit, lean and successful record producer in Hollywood. It’s Christmastime and he’s on his way to Paris with an up and coming performer named Samantha James, who has a creepy psychotic crush on Chris. When an accident occurs on the jet on the way to Paris, Chris is forced to return home with her. He sees his mother and his brother, who has a thing for the pop star diva. He also reunites with his friends and Jamie, and plans to be more than “just friends” with her this time around, despite Samantha’s manipulative and jealous behavior and a competitive rival suitor.
One of my favorite Ryan Reynolds films, a hysterically funny and cute romantic comedy.
Starring Ryan Reynolds, Amy Smart, Anna Faris, Chris Klein, Chris Marquette, Julie Hagerty 7/10

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Uncle Buck (1989)

Buck Russell is a sloppy person and not a reliable one. He’s a bachelor who likes to smoke cigars and gamble. But when his brother Bob Russell and his wife Cindy (Buck’s sister in law) use him as a last resort to babysit their children Miles, Maizy and Tia. Buck agrees to fill in while they go to Indianapolis to visit Cindy’s father, who just had a heart attack. So he comes over to watch the kids, while dealing with commitment problems with his girlfriend Chanice Kobolowski, who he’s been seeing for eight years. Miles and Maizy get along with UB (as Miles affectionately calls him) while Tia, the rebellious teenager, hates him with a passion as he tries to protect her from her boyfriend Bug who only wants to use her for sex. My favorite of John Candy’s comedic roles, this film never gets old.
Starring John Candy, Jena Louisa Kelly, Gaby Hoffmann, Macauley Culkin, Amy Madigan, Laurie Metcalf 7/10

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Some Like it Hot (1959)

When two struggling musicians; a saxophone player and a bass violin player witness a mob hit on the 1929 St. Valentine’s Day Massacre in Prohibition-Era Chicago, they think it’s wise to leave the city immediately and find another job somewhere else. But the only gig they can get is in an all-girl band. So they dress up as two women; Jerry (Lemmon) as Daphne, and Joe (Curtis) as Josephine. On the train to Miami, they meet Sugar Kane (originally Sugar Kane Kowalczyk) the lovable, bubbly vocalist/ukulele player for the band. Joe and Jerry become instant friends with Sugar. Joe tries to romance Sugar by pretending to be Junior, a stuffy, frigid millionaire with a yacht and founder of Shell Oil, while Jerry is courted by Osgood Fielding, an older millionaire.
One of the funniest films I’ve ever seen; Lemmon and Curtis are a perfect pair, one of Marilyn’s best roles. Starring Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, Marilyn Monroe, George Raft, Pat O’Brien, Joe E. Brown 10/10

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The Phantom of the Opera (2004)

The story of Christine, a young and aspiring chorus singer who dances at the Paris Opera House. When the opera house’s leading diva Carlotta resigns, Christine is chosen to replace her. She sings one night and catches the attention of The Phantom of the Opera also known as the Opera Ghost. But he’s hardly a ghost; it is a disfigured musical genius whom has been hiding in the Opera House for years because of his facial disfigurement. With the Phantom’s help, Christine becomes his leading lady. But he doesn’t realize that she’s in love with the handsome, noble Viscount Raoul De Chagny, whom they were once childhood sweethearts. He proposes marriage, she accepts and the Phantom feeling betrayed makes plans to get Christine back even if that means forcing to make the ultimate decision; be with him or sending Raoul to his death.
With an astonishing cast and an outstanding soundtrack, this film will take your breath away.
Starring Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson, Miranda Richardson, Minnie Driver 9/10

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The Illusionist (2006)

Norton plays Eisenheim, a famous magician in 1900’s Vienna. One night when he’s on stage, the Crown Prince Leopold makes his fiancee help out with a magic trick. When she approaches the stage Eisenheim instantly recognizes her; it’s his childhood friend Sophie whom his father was the cabinet maker that made her family’s furniture. But her parents forbid her to see him. He left and they lost touch. Now they’re reunited. They fall in love and he wants to runaway with Sophie but she knows that Leopold will hunt them down and kill them. She doesn’t want to marry him, and afraid of his plans to overthrow his father. So Eisenheim devises a plan, his greatest magic trick of all. Giamatti plays Inspector Uhl, hired by the Crown Prince to investigate Eisenheim.
A beautiful romantic story, with great performances from Norton, Giamatti and Sewell.
Starring Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, Jessica Biel, Rufus Sewell, 8/10

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The Prestige (2006)

In Nineteenth Century England, Robert Angier and Alfred Borden are friends and assistants to a magician named Milton. Along with Robert’s wife Julia McCullough they perform tricks for the public. During a performance, a magic trick goes terribly wrong and Robert’s wife dies. The men become enemies, Robert blaming Alfred for his wife’s death. They both become admired and famous magicians, disrupting and damaging others’ performance while on the stage. An intriguing story of fixation, deception and jealousy with deadly consequences.
Starring Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Piper Perabo, Rebecca Hall, Scarlett Johansson, David Bowie 8/10

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Stand By Me (1986)

Four friends- Gordie, Chris, Teddy and Vern live in a small town called Castle Rock, Oregon. When Vern learns about a missing teenager’s dead boy he tells the others and they set out to find the body, thinking that when they find it they’ll be heroes of the town. But when they encounter Ace and his delinquent buddies who are also trying to find the body, they refuse to give in.
A funny and suspenseful coming-of-age story of friendship and growing up. Based on the novel “The Body” by Stephen King.
Starring Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O’Connell, Kiefer Sutherland, Richard Dreyfuss, John Cusack 8/10

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High Anxiety (1977)

Brooks plays Doctor Richard H. Thorndyke, who becomes the new administrator of the Psychoneurotic Institute for the Very, Very Nervous after the previous doctor died. He meets some very odd characters including Nurse Diesel and Doctor Charles Montague. When he’s framed for murder, Richard has to confront his own demons, suffering from a fear of extreme heights called “High Anxiety”. With the daughter of a patient at the institute named Victoria Brisbane, he tries to clear his name by finding the real killer.
A wonderfully funny comedy that pays homage to the films of Alfred Hitchcock; with parodies of famous Hitchcock scenes from The Birds, Psycho, and Vertigo.
Starring Mel Brooks, Madeline Kahn, Cloris Leachman, Harvey Korman, Dick Van Patten, Barry Levinson 7/10

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The Quick and the Dead (1995)

Stone plays Ellen, a tough female gunslinger who rides into a small and dirty town with a secret. Hackman plays John Herod, the owner and ruler of the town. She finds out that he’s set up a gun-fighting competition and the prize is a pot of money. So everyone signs up but for different reasons; some revenge, others respect. Herod, who is the fastest gun in the town is also in on the contest, as well as his son “The Kid”. Cort, a local preacher and former henchmen to Herod who refuses to use a gun again is forced by Herod to be in it too.
Intense and fun western, the best gun fighter flick.
Starring Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman, Russell Crowe, Leonardo DiCaprio Keith David, Lance Henrikson, Pat Hingle, Gary Sinise, Kevin Conway 7/10

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3:10 to Yuma (2007)

Bale plays Dan Evans, a rancher and ex-soldier who lost his leg in the Civil War. He owes a large amount of money to a man named Hollander. But he’s poor and doesn’t have the money so he goes into Bisbee to ask for more time. While there a man named Butterfield needs men to help him escort cold-blooded outlaw Ben Wade to Contention and on the 3:10 train to Yuma prison. Desperate, Dan volunteers to do the job for the two-hundred dollars cash reward that is offered.
One of the best westerns I’ve ever seen, with lots of action and a great cast. A fantastic remake of the 1957 version starring Glenn Ford. Starring Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, Logan Lerman, Dallas Roberts, Ben Foster, Peter Fonda, Gretchen Mol 9/10

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