Confessions of a Not-So-Dangerous Mind*

Seen by many critics as a kind of "apology" for the 1971 original, Magnum Force is a thought-provoking film which gets into all kinds of gray areas...

Mike Nichols' 1967 masterpiece is the newest entry in our ongoing series.

The newest entry in our ongoing series is Richard Donner's masterful 1978 "OG" Superman: The Movie

Gregory Hoblit's twisty courtroom thriller Primal Fear opened April 5, 1996. Richard Gere is solid, but Edward Norton -- en route to a Supporting Actor Oscar nom in his film debut -- steals the film as a former altar boy accused of murder.

Jack Nicholson, Al Pacino, and Robert DeNiro have all played Satan. Which of these legends did it best?

During the summer of 1980, 6 y.o. me saw a TV commercial about "a pitching machine for kids" called "Reggie Jackson's Bat Away." I HAD TO HAVE THIS. Join me for a nostalgic piece of true history - me, my dad, Reggie, and a deceptively solid mechanical contraption that was almost revolutionary for 1980.

The newest entry in our ongoing series is John Carpenter's surprisingly hopeful scifi classic Starman.

A key figure in the evolution of New American Cinema, 14x Oscar nominee Warren Beatty turns 89 today.

As movie weekends go, the weekend of March 26, 1992 ranks with the best, and certainly as good as any, *ever*, in the first quarter of a year. That weekend's boxoffice was led by White Men Can't Jump, followed by Basic Instinct, My Cousin Vinny, and Wayne's World.

Hope springs eternal! The 2026 New York Yankees open the season in San Francisco! Join me for some obscure history and personal tales of old-school days at the Big Ballpark in the Bronx.

The newest entry in our continuing series is Oliver Stone's controversial take on the Assassination of John F. Kennedy.

It's been nearly three decade since "The 1996 Mt. Everest Disaster." Join me for a look back at a tragic piece of real history, focusing on Jon Krakauer's harrowing true-life bestseller Into Thin Air.

Garry Marshall's 1991 romcom Frankie and Johnny works better than it should, thanks to the efforts of its two great stars, Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer.

Billy Crystal spoke eloquently during the Oscars' tribute to Rob Reiner, his close friend and collaborator. Join me for some musings about Billy, including a "family connection," and thoughts on his career and legendary turns as Oscars' host.

Six years ago this week, the world slowed to a crawl... then seemed to stop. Desperate Hours, indeed.

The newest entry in our ongoing series is Sam Raimi's terrific 1995 Western The Quick and the Dead, featuring an insanely-stacked cast led by Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Russell Crowe, who steals the movie right out from under his co-stars.

New Jack City opened on March 8, 1991. Wesley Snipes' electric turn as Harlem drug lord Nino Brown stands as the best performance of his career and director/costar Mario Van Peebles, Judd Nelson, Chris Rock, Ice-T, and others are strong in support.

Sir Alan Parker's controversial neo-noir/horror Angel Heart opened March 6, 1987. Despite strong advance buzz, the movie failed to ignite with critics and audiences. The intervening years have seen significant reappraisal; it's now regarded as one of the most distinctive movies of its decade.

The Big Lebowski opened March 6, 1998 to decent reviews but disappointing boxoffice. Over time, the Coen Bros. quirky crime/comedy gained an enormous following on cable and home video, becoming a cult classic which defines its decade.

The newest entry in our continuing series is Jason Reitman's fantastic comedy/drama Up in the Air. An enormous boxoffice hit (later nominated for 6 Oscars), the film boasts one of George Clooney's finest performances.

Jon Avnet's romantic drama Up Close and Personal opened March 1, 1996 to poor critical reviews but big boxoffce, grossing over $100 million... thanks entirely to its glittering stars, Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert Redford.