Movie Recommendations

Movie Picks | Swimming with Sharks (1994) | Every employee has a boiling point, and he just reached his

Swimming with Sharks

I am so grateful my experience working in Hollywood (as a production assistant at Don Mischer Productions) was nothing like the one depicted in this movie! Guy (Frank Whaley) is a gullible, earnest, wide-eyed Hollywood newbie who just landed a position as studio executive Buddy Ackerman’s (Kevin Spacey) assistant. From day one, Buddy berates Guy and makes it clear that Guy’s only purpose is to serve his boss’s needs, no matter how trifling. Eventually, Guy reaches his boiling point, and things get very, very ugly.

Written by George Huang

Directed by George Huang

Produced by Steve Alexander

Released by Trimark Pictures

Movie Picks | Blanche Fury (1948) | With her husband and boyfriend living under the same roof, things were bound to get ugly

Blanche Fury

When Blanche (Valerie Hobson) goes to live as a governess at her wealthy uncle’s massive estate, it isn’t long before she marries her cousin and becomes the mistress of the house. Things get complicated when she begins a love affair with Philip (Stewart Granger), an angst-ridden employee of the estate who also happens to be the illegitimate son of the estate’s former owner. Things take a dark turn when Philip announces his intentions to kill Blanche’s uncle and husband/cousin to gain control of the estate.

Written by Audrey Erskine-Lindop, Cecil McGivern, Hugh Mills (based on the novel by Joseph Shearing, which was actually a pseudonym for Marjorie Bowen)

Directed by Marc Allegret

Produced by Anthony Havelock-Allan

Released by Eagle Lion Films

 

Movie Picks | Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor (2013) | A Step-by-Step Guide for Ruining Your Marriage

Temptation

Judith (Jurnee Smollett-Bell) is married to Brice (Lance Gross), a man who loves her dearly and works hard to provide for his family.  When Judith begins working with Harley (Robbie Jones), a rich, suave Internet entrepreneur, he introduces her to a life of luxury she craves and tempts her to step outside of her marriage. However, Judith eventually learns there is more to Harley than meets the eye, and she is forced to deal with the consequences of her actions.

Written by Tyler Perry (based on his stage play “The Marriage Counselor”

Directed by Tyler Perry

Produced by Tyler Perry, Ozzie Areu, Paul Hall

Released by Tyler Perry Studios

Movie Picks | Running the Sahara (2007) | When was the last time you ran across Africa?

Most recreational runners derive a lot of satisfaction from sharing their most recent running accomplishment with anyone who is kind enough to listen. I know I do.

I am often filled with pride as I share with a kind ear the fact I have conquered a certain course (nothing too strenuous) or endured a certain length of time (20-30 minutes.) While I am quite satisfied with my modest running (okay, jogging) skills, I know they pale in comparison to the skills of the runners in this film. Whether you are an avid runner or have never even as much as run around your block, you can appreciate the spirit of dogged determination portrayed in this story. (more…)

Movie Picks | Been Rich All My Life (2006) | 1930s Cotton Club Dancers Still Struttin’ Their Stuff in Their 80s

BeenRichAllMyLife

This documentary about an inspiring group of dancing divas truly proves “age ain’t nothin’ but a number” and that you’re never too old to strut your stuff. In the 1930s, Marion Coles, Elaine Ellis, Cleo Hayes, Fay Ray, and Berte Lou Wood were sensational chorus girls at Harlem’s famed Cotton Club and Apollo Theater. (more…)

Movie Picks | Black Widow (1954) | Why you shouldn’t invite random houseguests over when your wife is away…

blackwidow

When Broadway producer Peter Denver (Van Heflin) meets young, aspiring writer Nancy Ordway (Peggy Ann Garner) at a party, he has no idea how the chance meeting will impact his life. (more…)

Movie Picks | Dial M for Murder (1954) | He thought he had planned the perfect crime…

dial_m_for_murder

Secretly aware of the fact his wealthy wife Margot (Grace Kelly) has been having an affair with mystery writer Mark Halliday (Robert Cummings), ex-tennis pro Tony Wendice (Ray Milland) concocts a seemingly airtight scheme to have Margot murdered. Of course, things don’t go as planned…

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Screenplay by Frederick Knot (based on his 1952 stage play Dial M for Murder)
Produced by Alfred Hitchcock
Released by Warner Bros.

Movie Picks | St. Louis Blues (1958)

Based on the life of early 20th-century blues composer and musician W.C. Handy, this film tells the story of the man widely considered the “Father of the Blues.” Will (Nat King Cole) is a talented composer who has a knack for churning out rockin’ blues grooves.

(more…)

Movie Picks | Strait-Jacket (1964) | Once an axe-murderer, always an axe-murderer?

Strait-Jacket

After spending twenty years in a psychiatric hospital for the axe-murder of her cheating husband, Lucy Harbin (Joan Crawford) is anxious about re-entering society.

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Movie Picks | Giant (1956) | Boy meets girl. Boy marries girl. Boy brings girl home to ranch. Girl takes over ranch.

giant_poster

The pride of Jordan “Bick” Benedict (Rock Hudson) is his massive Texas cattle ranch Reata. When Bick journeys to Maryland to buy a stud horse for the ranch, he meets and falls hard for the beautiful, strong-willed socialite Leslie Lynnton (Elizabeth Taylor). After a two-day courtship, Bick decides to marry Leslie and take her back to Texas to help him run the ranch. (more…)