Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

Sonny Wortzik and his friend Sal rob a Brooklyn bank one hot summer afternoon to pay for Sonny’s boyfriend Leon’s sex change operation. But before he can get the money and leave, he gets an unexpected phone call from Police Captain Moretti, who tells him the place is surrounded by the city’s entire police force. So having few options under the circumstances, Sonny demands an escort to the airport and a plane so he and Sal can go out of the country. In exchange, he will release hostages.
One of the best 70’s films, and one of Pacino’s greatest performances.
Starring Al Pacino, John Cazale, Charles Durning, Chris Sarandon 9/10

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Harsh Times (2005)

Bale stars as Jim Luther Davis, an ex-Army ranger who is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and finds himself going back to his old life of crime, booze and drugs when his LAPD application is rejected. His plan was to join the police department so he can marry his Mexican girlfriend Marta. His best friend Miguel ‘Mike’ Alonzo is also being pressured by his girl Sylvia to find a job as well. Jim is eventually offered a job from Homeland Security, assigned to go to Colombia while Mike lands a dream job. They celebrate by inviting their friend Toussant to spend the weekend in Mexico, and he agrees to go with them. Jim introduces them to Marta and her family and they go to a party to dance and drink. But when Jim finds out that Marta is pregnant, he can’t deal with it and goes on a violent rampage that leads to a tragic end.
Bale gives a compelling and strong performance in this captivating drama.
Starring Christian Bale, Freddy Rodriguez, Eva Longoria Parker 7/10

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Lolita (1962)

Humbert Humbert is middle-aged college professor of French poetry who arrives in Ramsdale, New Hampshire looking for a place to stay for the summer until he starts his teaching in the fall. He agrees to stay at the house of Charlotte Haze, a lonely widow but only so he can be around her fourteen-year-old flirtatious daughter, Lolita, whom he is entranced by at first sight.
When Charlotte tells him that she’s going to send Lolita to an all girl’s camp for the summer, he decides that the only way to be around Lolita permanently is to marry Charlotte. But when a tragic accident occurs one rainy day, for Humbert it is heaven sent because he can have Lolita all to himself. They travel together to Beardsley College where he has a teaching position but their lives are interrupted by a scheming con artist named Clare Quilty.
Mason is amazing, Sellers is fantastic and Lyon is terrific in her film debut.
Starring James Mason, Shelley Winters, Sue Lyon, Peter Sellers 9/10

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Rebel Without a Cause (1955)

Jim Stark is a rebellious young man who is the new kid in town. He got in trouble in his previous town when he got into a fight with a kid who called him chicken, which was the reason why his family had to move.
On his first day in a new school, he meets Judy and John (nicknamed Plato). Judy has issues at home as well, with a father who doesn’t give her love and affection, and Plato because his mother is never around and his father is dead. Jim’s first day isn’t easy when Buzz, the leader of a gang takes the air out of Jim’s car tires and forces him to a knife fight to test him. He challenges him to race cars known as a “chickie run” at the bluff. After the race ends in a tragic accident, Judy, Jim and Plato go to an abandoned mansion to escape their tough home lives, finding friendship and belonging that they so desperately want.
One of the greatest movies ever made, James Dean gives a powerful and emotional performance in his most famous role.
Starring James Dean, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo, Jim Backus, Ann Doran, Corey Allen, Edward Platt, Dennis Hopper 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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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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