Street Smart

Street Smart

Cannon Group

March 20, 1987

Crime Drama

DVD

D

A racist crime drama that keeps thinking it's a wacky comedy about journalism.  Jerry Schatzberg directed.

The Shawshank Redemption

The Shawshank Redemption

Castle Rock Entertainment etc.

September 23, 1994

Historical Drama, Crime Drama

DVD
C-

Bumped up a notch for the prettiest movie-prison I've ever seen.  This is based on the Stephen King novel Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, and directed by Frank Darabont, five years before The Green Mile (also inspired by King and set in a prison, and which I gave a D), and seven years before The Majestic (which I gave a B-).

Nutcracker and the Four Realms

Nutcracker and the Four Realms

Disney

November 2, 2018

Fantasy, Historical Drama, Musical

DVD
D+

The musical I got annual school-sponsored naps from, now with steampunk and a creepy dad!  Lasse Hallström and Joe Johnston co-directed, not the first movie for either of them in this project.

Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Warner Bros. etc.

December 15, 2004

Sports Drama

DVD
F+

As a boxing movie, this would be ranked low for me anyway, but I had to take it down a notch for the ludicrous Texan dialect, with phrases like "I likes" and "I knows."  This is based on the short stories of F. X. Toole and directed by Eastwood, who also stars, but not as the title character, I assume.

Invictus

Invictus

Warner Bros.

December 11, 2009

Historical Drama, Sports Drama

DVD
C

Although Freeman is good of course, I found this very slow-moving and I didn't want to stick around for it to become more of a sports drama.  This is based on John Carlin's book Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation.  Eastwood directed.

High Crimes

High Crimes

20th Century Fox

April 5, 2002

Crime Drama

DVD
D

The husband of an unsympathetic lawyer is mysteriously arrested.  This is based on the Joseph Finder novel and directed by Carl Franklin, seven years after the far superior Devil in a Blue Dress.

Gone Baby Gone

Gone Baby Gone

Miramax and Disney?!

October 19, 2007

Mystery

DVD
D+

I didn't really care about the case or the detectives.  Director Ben Affleck (yes, brother of lead Casey) co-wrote the screenplay based on the Dennis Lehane novel.

Edison Force

Edison Force
Millennium Films
March 5, 2005 (DVD premiere)
Crime Drama
DVD
D-

I almost gave this creepy crime movie an F+, but there was finally a scene without the horrible cop character (played by Dylan McDermott).  David J. Burke wrote and directed.

The Bucket List

The Bucket List
Warner Bros.
December 25, 2007
Dramedy
DVD
C-

Two seriously ill men (Nicholson and Freeman) meet in a hospital room and hilarity ensues.  I assume, since I tuned out after fifteen minutes, glad to, yes, cross seeing this movie off my bucket list.  (And that was only because of Easy A.)  Still, it's always nice to get Freeman narration.  Rob Reiner directed.

Along Came a Spider

Along Came a Spider

Paramount

April 6, 2001

Crime Drama

DVD

F+

This is just dreadful and is only saved from an F because I laughed my head off for over a minute at poor Freeman's line, "Vickie, forgiving yourself is the one thing no one can do for themselves."  Then Vickie just gives him a look like she wishes she was back on Amen.  The movie is based on the James Patterson novel and directed with a sledgehammer by Lee Tamahori.  And, no, I haven't seen Kiss the Girls, its predecessor.