Directed by James Mangold (Kate and Leopold, Girl Interrupted, Cop Land)Starring John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Ray LiottaRated R for strong violence and languageIt got me. I never predicted it. I haven’t been stumped like this since the Usual Suspects.I sat down to watch this film the way I'd like to start any film . . . knowing...

Rated PG-13 for violence, language and sexual references.Directed by Clark JohnsonStarring Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Farrell, Michelle Rodriguez, and LL Cool JWhen I saw the preview to S.W.A.T., I feared that I had just viewed the entire film. (You've seen those previews!) I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the film still had plenty left for...

Directed by William Friedkin (Rules of Engagement, The Exorcist, The French Connection)Starring Tommy Lee Jones and Benicio Del ToroRated R for strong bloody violence and some languageTired of slow motion, wire work, long-drawn-out fight scenes? Me too. (Don't get me wrong- I liked the first few!) The Hunted is a necessary break from the “unrealistic” with some...

Rated PG-13 for violence and some intense plot materialDirected by Robert SchwentkeStarring Jodie Foster, Sean Bean, and Peter SarsgaardSomeone messed with the wrong mom!Flying at 40,000 feet in a cavernous, state-of-the-art 474 aircraft, Kyle Pratt (Jodie Foster) faces every mother’s worst nightmare when her six-year-old daughter, Julia, vanishes without a trace mid-flight from Berlin to New York. But...

Rated R for language, sexual content and some violenceDirected by Paul Haggis (writer of Million Dollar Baby)Starring Don Cheadle, Larenz Tate, Ludacris, Ryan Phillippe, Matt Dillon, Sandra Bullock, Brendan Fraser, Keith David, Jennifer EspositoCrash was a combination pizza for me. There were some great ingredients, and others that left a bad taste in my mouth. In hind...

Rated PGDirected by Steven Spielberg (ET, Schindler's List, Jurassic Park . . .)Starring Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard DreyfussJAWS is one of my favorite films of all time.Not to be confused with any of the pathetic sequels, JAWS, the original JAWS that scared the entire U.S. out of the ocean, the JAWS that turned Hollywood's attention toward this new...

Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, violence, language and drug references.Directed by Peter Segal (50 First Dates, Tommy Boy…)Starring Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Burt Reynolds, Michael Irvin, Nelly . . .The “new Adam Sandler movie” . . . that is all that really needs to be said. This young actor, the most awarded “Teen Choice Award” comedian...