The United States of Leland

The United States of Leland

Thousand Words etc.

January 18, 2003

Crime Drama

DVD
D+

At least the music isn't bad.  Matthew Ryan Hoge wrote and directed.

Traitor

Traitor

Overture Films etc.

August 27, 2008

Crime Drama

DVD
D

Surprisingly, the title character is by far the most sympathetic.  Jeffrey Nachmanoff directed and co-wrote, a decade before Replicas, which I also gave a D.

Swordfish

Swordfish

Village Roadshow etc.

June 8, 2001

Crime Drama

DVD
D-

Does not contain humans.  Dominic Sena directed, eight years after Kalifornia.

Reign Over Me

Reign Over Me

Sony Pictures Rising etc.

March 23, 2007

Drama

DVD
D+

A dentist has poor boundaries.  Mike Binder wrote and directed.

Manic

Manic

IFC Films

January 27, 2001

Crime Drama

DVD
D-

Pretty unwatchable but the acting isn't bad.  Jordan Melamed directed.

Hotel Rwanda

Hotel Rwanda

Lionsgate

22 December 2004

Drama

DVD
C-

A country on the edge of genocide, mostly seen through the eyes of a hotel manager.  Terry George directed and co-wrote.

Hamburger Hill

Hamburger Hill

Paramount

August 28, 1987

War Drama

DVD
D-

Vietnam.  John Irvin directed.

Devil in a Blue Dress

Devil in a Blue Dress
TriStar
September 29, 1995
Crime Drama
DVD
B-

This neo-noir mostly works well, with its blend of mystery and social commentary, although there were times I found it confusing, and others that I found it predictable.  (I knew the Beals character was "passing" as soon as I saw her.)  The look and sound of 1940s Los Angeles are especially well done.

Carl Franklin directed and wrote the screenplay based on the Walter Mosley novel.  Denzel's then 11-year-old son, John David Washington, appears very briefly at the end, as Boy with Toy Rifle, 23 years before he'd star in BlacKKKlansman.