A fabulous, fantastical twist on Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid, Miyazaki’s “Ponyo” tells the story of an enchanting goldfish whose desire to become human unleashes a tsunami of ecological disturbances on ...

Fun, fanciful, and nothing short of spectacular on a visual level, Miyazaki’s adventurous “Porco Rosso” is like a mid-century cartoon strip animated by Warner Brothers in the 1940s. As voiced by Michael Keaton, Cary ...

An early example of French film noir, Carne’s “Shadows” is an exceptionally sordid tale of fate and doomed love starring two icons of classic French cinema: tough-guy Gabin and oddball actor Simon, here playing ...

Produced by the fabled David O. Selznick, "Jennie" remains one of the screen's few romantic ghost stories, "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" being another worthy entry. Still while "Ghost" is a ...

A dark character study told in flashbacks, "Possessed" finds Joan Crawford doing what she does best: acting unhinged. Joan earned another Oscar nomination for it, but the supporting players also elevate the ...

Based on Carrie Fisher’s razor-sharp, viciously funny memoir, this under-appreciated Mike Nichols outing stands as one of the most trenchant satires of the movie business. To its great credit, “Postcards” manages to be ...

Devlin's gripping film unblinkingly exposes a Western audience to the fundamental upheavals accompanying major transformations in form of government. Shots of major blocks of the city going dark (as A.E.S cracks down on ...

Penned by Aldous Huxley, this splendid adaptation of Jane Austen's satirical novel seamlessly translates her barbed criticisms of upper-class mores to the big screen. Under MGM journeyman Leonard's guiding hand, Olivier ...

This biopic of a real-life Marine hero provides a harrowing portrait of the impact of war on wounded veterans. Once blinded, Al feels like less than a man, and starts drowning in bitterness, isolation and self-pity. ...

Potent inspiration for a country newly at war, this sentimental tearjerker still holds up beautifully, with lots of patriotic flavoring and the inspiring atmosphere of a simpler, nobler time. The magnetic Cooper was ...

One of Gere’s more intriguing efforts, “Primal Fear” features the A-lister as a cynical attorney whose client, a Southern altar boy with a troubled mental-health history, forces him to reassess his ethics. ...

Using a small camera and a bare-bones crew (including future documentarians D.A. Pennebaker, Albert Maysles, and Richard Leacock, who acted as sound recordist), Drew managed to capture intimate footage of JFK in his ...

Based on the “anonymous” roman a clef by Newsweek columnist Joe Klein, Mike Nichols’s savvy Clintonian satire brilliantly lampoons the opportunistic, cynical dynamics of electoral American politics. Travolta is wry and ...

Inspired by a true story, Lumet's dense crime drama is criminally underrated. The director already knew the terrain of bent NYPD cops, having directed "Serpico" nearly a decade earlier. Thus his direction feels ...

Sophisticated, hand-drawn animation and an epic storyline about the conflict between ecology and the industrial ambitions of mankind turn Miyazaki's film into a marvelously potent parable. This unusually thoughtful and ...

Delightful musical comedy gives us a rare glimpse of Baker's powerful allure and talent, and projects a knowing, sophisticated light-heartedness reminiscent of director Ernst Lubitsch. On-location Tunisian scenery ...

This Academy Award–nominated expose of a lost chapter of World War II details the extent to which the Nazis used false propaganda to hide their evil work. In this case, to achieve their twisted ends, they counted on one ...

Based (believe it or not) on a Leo Tolstoy short story, this Academy Award-nominee for Best Foreign Language Film has a deceptively simple premise that, thanks to the deft touch of director Sergei Bodrov and understated ...

This collaboration between French master Resnais ("Last Year at Marienbad") and British playwright Alan Ayckbourn is subtle but affecting, graced by fabulous performances from the ensemble cast. Addressing longing and ...

This tense, tightly controlled drama about fission at the heart of a nuclear family deals in caustic resentment and colorful verbal abuse, feeling at times close to a thriller. Huppert is a gifted actress who’s ...