Much like with my Swingers (1996) recommendation a month or two back, enough time has passed since the original release to the point where I can point you to another popular film which has since seen its cult following cool off. White Men Can’t Jump (1992) is a timeless comedy, obviously in the sports genre with basketball.

Writer/Director Ron Shelton has an excellent reputation for celebrating sports in his films, but also fusing real human stories and relationships [other examples include Bull Durham (1988) Tin Cup (1996)]

Woody Harrelson, Wesley Snipes, Rosie Perez, and Kadeem Hardison headline the memorable flick.

Even if you are not a huge basketball fan, you will enjoy it.

Reader “gatorsun” reminded me of Saving Private Ryan (1998), which of course was Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks’ dramatic World War II epic. The scene involving the Normandy Beach Landings is as intense as it gets.

The all-star cast features Hanks. Matt Damon, Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns, Vin Diesel, Jeremy Davies, Giovanni Ribisi, Paul Giamatti, the late Dennis Farina, the memorable Barry Pepper (pictured above, as the sniper), and Adam Goldberg.

Tough to beat that lineup, literally and figuratively.

Worth watching, again, and again…

As an aside, I actually once saw a film professor convincingly argue that this film met all of the elements of a standard “horror film.”

Hoop Dreams (1994) is an excellent sports drama documentary tracking two inner-city Chicago young men as they attempt to make it to the pros. Notable cameos also from all of the major college coaches of the day.

A poignant and break-taking behind-the-scenes look at big-time basketball.

Immortal Beloved (1994) is a fine example of Gary Oldman’s feisty acting style, portraying the legendary composer Ludwig van Beethoven. In addition, great performances by Jeroen Krabbé and Isabella Rossellini make this a memorable one.

From imdb.com:

The life and death of the legendary Ludwig van Beethoven. Beside all the work he is known for, the composer once wrote a famous love letter to a nameless beloved and the movie tries to find out who this beloved was. Not easy as Beethoven has had many women in his life.

Regardless of your politics during this government shutdown, All the President’s Men (1976) is a fine film and gripping drama about the infamous Watergate scandal.

In my view, what makes the film stand out is the incredible adapted screenplay (from the book by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein) by the legendary William Goldman, who won an Oscar for his effort.

From imdb.com:

Reporters Woodward and Bernstein uncover the details of the Watergate scandal that leads to President Nixon’s resignation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fLdCZm7qgs

Seeing Robert Forster, pictured above, make a great appearance in last week’s “Breaking Bad” episode reminded me of how writer/director Quentin Tarantino brought him back to prominence in Jackie Brown (1997). Recall that just a few years prior, Tarantino had revived John Travolta from the relative Hollywood-dead in Pulp Fiction (1994).

In addition to Forster, Tarantino goes all-in on 1970’s actors by featuring the famous blaxploitation cult genre star, Pam Grier, as the lead in this crime thriller, with plenty of sardonic wit along the way.

Adapted from the late, great Elmore Leonard’s novel, Jackie Brown is an entertaining film, complete with the memorable Kangol hat-wearing Ordell Robbie (Samuel L. Jackson), and Robert De Niro playing against type–When I say De Niro goes against type here, the fact that he plays a criminal is nothing new. But, rather, the fact that his character is a bumbling idiot is in stark contrast to some of the cunning characters he has played over the past few decades.

Also noteworthy are brief but funny performances by Chris Tucker, Bridget Fonda, and even Michael Keaton.

And there is yet another major “Breaking Bad” connection: Michael Bowen, who plays Todd’s Uncle Jack on “Breaking Bad,” plays Michael Keaton’s police partner in the film.