True Confessions (1981) stars Robert De Niro and Robert Duvall as brothers in a classic crime/drama. The late-Charles Durning also has some memorable lines. The film is as underappreciated by critics and fans alike as it gets, in my opinion. Check it out.

From imdb.com

A worldly ambitious monsignor clashes with his older brother, a cynical L.A.homicide detective investigates the brutal murder of a young prostitute.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACcB8uHkEIs

I caught the Norwegian thriller Headhunters (2011) or Hodejegerne (original title) over at Amazon Prime Instant Video and came away very impressed. Aksel Hennie delivers a memorable lead performance. I highly recommend you check it out.

It is probably a contrarian point of view, but I have always thought there was something off about Quentin Tarantino’s films. Granted, he has made some entertaining ones. But they are not quite on the level of genius or even excellent films that many would have you believe.

As an alternative to some of Tarantino’s campy films, consider Out of Sight (1998), the Steven Soderbergh-directed film based on the great Elmore Leonard’s novel.

In my view, Soderbergh does a better job of interweaving several different story lines at once in an ensemble cast, something that Tarantino does in all of his films to a lesser extent.

It would probably be a bit too cliché for me to recommend a cheerful holiday movie. You know all of the classics, namely It’s a Wonderful Life (1946). But if you have not seen it, then make sure you do by Christmas.

If, on the other hand, you are looking for an excellent and gripping drama, you simply must watch Mississippi Burning (1988). This is terrific acting and storytelling, as gritty and thrilling as it gets.

From YouTube:

Mississippi Burning Trailer – Directed by Alan Parker and starring Gene Hackman, Willem Dafoe, Brad Dourif, R. Lee Ermey, Gailard Sartain. Two FBI agents investigating the murder of civil rights workers during the 60s seek to breach the conspiracy of silence in a small Southern town where segregation divides black and white. The younger agent trained in FBI school runs up against the small town ways of his former Sheriff partner.

The very first film I chose for my inaugural Saturday Night at Chess Cinemas post was Unforgiven (1992). I described it as being arguably the best anti-violence Western ever made.

In light of the mass shootings in recent months, especially Friday’s monstrous rampage in a Connecticut elementary school, I am going to pick Unforgiven again, in case you still have not seen it. The film is directed by and stars Clint Eastwood, along with great performances from Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, and Richard Harris. Eastwood dedicated the film to his two mentors: Sergio Leone and Don Siegel.

To give some background about the film, Gene Hackman originally did not even want to do the project, as he was tired of doing so many violent movies. However, Clint Eastwood persuaded him to re-read the script, as he was confident that Hackman would pick up on the anti-violence undertones.

This film is not anti-gun, it is anti-violence. And I think that is an important point to emphasize. That said, you will note in the film that back in the Wild West there were indeed many towns which had checkpoints outside city limits where guns needed to be turned in. That is not logistically possible in today’s America, but the anti-violence message rings true nonetheless.

The scene below is one of the more memorable ones from the film. In fact, it is probably the film’s best non-action scene. Note the anti-violence undertones, with Eastwood’s character stoically getting across the point to his young outlaw partner of just how unglamorous killing is. Simple, but highly effective and poignant writing and acting–The hallmark of Eastwood films as he has gotten older.

Much like Sylvester Stallone with the original Rocky (1976), I believe the best work Bruce Willis has done in his career was the original Die Hard (1988).

They both should have quit while they were ahead instead of putting out subpar sequels…