12 Angry Men
One of the best legal dramas, ever.
Bumblebee
As a movie, it’s pretty fun. Compared to its franchise peers, it’s practically a work of art.
Dear Dictator
A tragic waste of Michael Caine’s talent.
Frankenstein
This horror classic does not hold up.
Red Dawn
An inventive idea squandered by a muddied execution and poor acting.
The Bad News Bears
This movie movie about misfit kids on a sports team launched a thousand imitators, most of which are more fun.
The Bodyguard
Great songs, solid premise, disappointing everything else.
Election
A dark, character-driven, political comedy that is short on worthwhile characters.
Traffic
This film pairs complex narrative structure with stylistically pronounced visuals to create one of the best movies about the drug war out there.
Taking of the Pelham One Two Three
A decent crime thriller that isn’t likely to blow any modern viewer away but is still a reasonably compelling few hours of entertainment
The General
Physical comedy aplenty compensates for this silent era film’s weaker story, goofy effects, and general lack of polish relative to modern filmmaking.
Fighting with My Family
An unironic plunge into professional wrestling that, while offering a unique perspective on its topic, is ultimately only an OK movie.