Release Date: 26 August 1994
Rated R

Cast:

Woody Harrelson as Mickey Knox
Juliette Lewis as Mallory Knox
Tom Sizemore as Det. Jack Scagnetti
Rodney Dangerfield as Ed Wilson, Mallory’s Dad
Everett Quinton as Deputy Warden Wurlitzer
Jared Harris as London Boy
Pruitt Taylor Vince as Deputy Warden Kavanaugh
Edie McClurg as Mallory’s Mom
Russell Means as Old Indian

Two victims of traumatized childhoods become lovers and psychopathic serial murderers irresponsibly glorified by the mass media.

Natural Born Killers is a 1994 crime film directed by Oliver Stone about a pair of mass murderers and the media coverage given to them. It stars Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis, along with Rodney Dangerfield, Robert Downey, Jr., Tom Sizemore, and Tommy Lee Jones.

The film is based on a screenplay by Quentin Tarantino that was heavily revised by Stone with writer Dave Veloz and associate producer Richard Rutowski. Notorious for its violent content, the film was named the 8th most controversial movie of all time by Entertainment Weekly

Trivia:

Michael Madsen was initially considered for the role of Mickey, but Warner Bros wanted somebody less intimidating, and with a softer persona, as they felt this might alleviate the brutality of the character somewhat.

During filming, director Oliver Stone would play African tribal music at full blast on the set, as a way of keeping a frantic mood.

The color green is used to indicate the sickness in Mickey’s mind and shows up prominently several times during the film: the key lime pie at the diner, the green neon at the drugstore, the green room in the prison.

This was Quentin Tarantino’s second feature length screenplay (his first was True Romance (1993)). The script was rewritten by director Oliver Stone, producer Richard Rutowski and screenwriter David Veloz prior to and during production. The finished film bears little resemblance to Tarintino’s original script.

According to director Oliver Stone, actor Rodney Dangerfield didn’t understand the film during shooting and didn’t understand what Stone was trying to do by shooting such a dark subject as a father molesting his daughter in the style of a 1950’s sitcom. As such, he found it very difficult to perform his part. Stone was delighted however when the film came out and Dangerfield’s performance was hailed as one of the movie’s strongest points.

Awards:

MTV Movie Awards
Best Kiss Juliette Lewis, Woody Harrelson nominated
Best On-Screen Duo Juliette Lewis, Woody Harrelson nominated

Golden Globe Awards
Best Director – Motion Picture nominated

If you like this movie, you'll also like:

1. Little Children
2. No Country for Old Men
3. Zombieland

Cast:

Divine as Divine / Babs Johnson
David Lochary as Raymond Marble
Mary Vivian Pearce as Cotton
Mink Stole as Connie Marble
Danny Mills as Crackers
Edith Massey as Edie
Channing Wilroy as Channing
Cookie Mueller as Cookie
Paul Swift as The Egg Man

Notorious Baltimore criminal and underground figure Divine goes up against Connie & Raymond Marble, a sleazy married couple who make a passionate attempt to humiliate her and seize her tabloid-given title as “The Filthiest Person Alive”.

Trivia:

Filming only took place on weekends; John Waters raised money during the week.

The dog feces in the infamous final scene are real. According to director John Waters, the dog was fed steak for three days beforehand.

According to director John Waters, the film’s budget was so tight, that he could not afford “A” and “B” reels. The work print was in effect the master copy.

During filming, Divine was arrested for stealing, and in his defense said that he was a method actor playing a criminal.

John Waters has stated that the only scene in the film he regrets is the ‘felatio’ scene, which was awkward to film because the two cast members were friends. He also feels it is the most ‘dated’ part of the film; Deep Throat (1972) had just been released and this scene was Waters’ critique on the rise of ‘porno chic.’

A chicken actually died while filming the sex scene in the shed between Crackers and Cookie. One of the deleted scenes that was restored in 1997 actually involved cooking the dead chicken for dinner.

If you like this movie, you'll also like:

1. An American Werewolf In London: Full Moon Edition
2. Suspiria
3. Dark City Director’s Cut

Cast:

Kate Winslet as Sarah Pierce
Patrick Wilson as Brad Adamson
Jennifer Connelly as Kathy Adamson
Gregg Edelman as Richard Pierce
Sadie Goldstein as Lucy Pierce
Ty Simpkins as Aaron Adamson

Based on the critically acclaimed novel by Tom Perrotta, Little Children follows the family life of young, unfulfilled suburbanites, Sarah (Winslet) and Brad (Wilson), whose relatively mundane and protected lives intersect on the playgrounds, town pools and streets of their small community. When a brief encounter at a neighborhood park leads them down a fateful path, their lives, and the lives of their children, take a surprising and potentially perilous turn.

Trivia:

In the book Patrick Wilson’s character is called Todd. It was changed to Brad, probably because the writer and director of the film is Todd Field.

When the shot pans over Sarah’s books, they include John Updike’s “Couples” also about married couples in adulterous affairs in the suburbs.

In the novel, the character Ronnie bears very little physical resemblance to Jackie Earle Haley, being an overweight, balding chain-smoker who wears glasses. The novel makes the character even less likable and is a little clearer on whether he actually was involved in the little girl’s disappearance.

Awards:

Academy Awards
Best Actor in a Supporting Role Jackie Earle Haley nominated
Best Actress in a Leading Role Kate Winslet nominated
Best Screenplay – Adapted Todd Field and Tom Perrotta nominated

Golden Globe Awards
Best Actress in a Leading Role – Drama Kate Winslet nominated
Best Film – Drama nominated
Best Screenplay Todd Field and Tom Perrotta nominated

If you like this movie, you'll also like:

1. Natural Born Killers
2. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
3. Amelie – Le fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain

Cast:

Javier Bardem as Reinaldo Arenas
Olivier Martinez as Lazaro Gomez Carilles
Andrea Di Stefano as Pepe Malas
Santiago Magill as Tomas Diego
John Ortiz as Juann Abreu
Héctor Babenco as Virgilio Pinera
Manuel González as Jose Lezama Lima
Francisco Gattorno as Jorge Camacho
Marisol Padilla Sánchez as Margarita Camacho
Johnny Depp as Bon Bon & Lt. Victor
Michael Wincott as Herberto Zorilla Ochoa
Sean Penn as Cuco Sanchez

Before Night Falls is based on the autobiography of the same name by Cuban poet and novelist Reinaldo Arenas. Arenas, who was openly gay, was born in Oriente in 1943 and raised by his single mother and grandparents who soon moved the entire family to Holguín. After moving to Havana in the sixties to continue his studies, Reinaldo started exploring his sexuality and ambitions. After finishing second in a writing contest, Arenas gets offered the chance to publish his first work. Through his work and friendships with other openly gay men (such as Pepe Malas and Tomas Diego), Arenas managed to find himself.

However, the political climate in Cuba continued to become increasingly dangerous and in the early seventies Arenas is arrested for sexually assaulting minors (a crime he was not guilty of) and publishing abroad without official consent. In the next decade Arenas keeps going in and out of prison, attempting to leave the country several times but failing each time.

In 1980, Arenas is finally able to leave Cuba for the US where he starts a new life with his close friend and lover Lazaro Gomez Carilles. However, after a few years, Arenas finds out he is suffering from AIDS. After spending several years in sickness he eventually dies in 1990 with help from Lazaro.

Trivia:

Set in Cuba, the film was made entirely in Mexico, with Mexico City doubling as Havana. Julian Schnabel said the crew was so pleasant to work with that, if he was making a film in the arctic, he would use a Mexican crew.

Almost every scene, according to Guillermo Rosas, was photographed with a chocolate-colored filter on the camera lens. The contributed a great deal to distinctive colors and textures in the film, especially the skin tones, and the vibrancy in green hues.

The director’s wife plays Javier Bardem’s mother. All of Schnabel’s children have bit roles as well.

Awards:

2000: Venice International Film Festival: Silver Lion – Jury’s special award: Julian Schnabel
2000: Venice International Film Festival: Coppa Volpi (Best Actor): Javier Bardem
2000: National Board of Review Award for Best Actor:Best Actor: Javier Bardem
2000: National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
2000: National Board of Review Awards: Freedom of Expression
2000: Political Film Society Award for Exposé
2000: Independent Spirit Awards: Best Actor: Javier Bardem

If you like this movie, you'll also like:

1. Night at the Museum
2. No Country for Old Men
3. Night of the Living Dead (1968) – 30th Anniversary Edition

Cast:

Jean Reno as Léon
Gary Oldman as Stansfield
Natalie Portman as Mathilda
Danny Aiello as Tony
Peter Appel as Malky

Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman and Danny Aiello star in LÉON THE PROFESSIONAL, a go-for-broke thriller about a professional assassin whose work becomes dangerously personal. Calling himself a “cleaner,” the mysterious Léon is New York’s top hit man. When his next-door neighbors are murdered, Léon becomes the unwilling guardian of the family’s sole sur vivor – 12-year-old Mathilda. But Mathilda doesn’t just want protection; she wants revenge. Training her in the deadly tricks of his trade, Léon helps her track the psychotic agent who murdered her family. From the electrifying opening to the fatal finale, LÉON THE PROFESSIONAL is a nonstop crescendo of action, suspense and surprises. Experience the uncut version, with 24 minutes of footage not included in the original U.S. theatrical version.

Trivia:

Natalie Portman was originally turned down by Todd M. Thaler (the casting director) due to being too young, but she returned to the auditions and performed the scene where Mathilda laments the loss of her brother. Luc Besson was so impressed with the depth of emotion she summoned during the audition that he gave her the role.

The original script had more scenes with “awkward sexual tension” between Mathilda and Léon. These scenes were later cut out for the American release dubbed “The Professional”, but were included in the 1996 European release, as well as in the deleted scenes of the special edition DVD. They were reintegrated back into the film for the ‘International Cut’, which is now available on DVD.

This is Natalie Portman’s motion picture debut. She was 11 when she was cast.

Léon Gaumont was a French inventor developing cinematographic techniques in the late 19th century alongside with the Lumière brothers. Gaumont is the name of the production company that made this film.

If you like this movie, you'll also like:

1. The Other Boleyn Girl
2. The Last House on the Left
3. Brothers

Director: Larry Charles
Writers: Sacha Baron Cohen
Anthony Hines
Peter Baynham
Dan Mazer

Release Date: 3 November 2006
Rated R(USA) 14A(CANADA)

Cast:

Sacha Baron Cohen as Borat
Ken Davitian as Azamat
Luenell as Luenell

Sacha Baron Cohen’s ingeniously funny Borat is now on Blu-ray, with even more extras from Borat’s hilarious journey across the “US and A!” With a camera crew in tow and armed with a jar of gypsy tears “for protection,” Kazakhstan’s fourth most famous celebrity travels to America to make a documentary. As he zigzags across the country, lovably naive Borat confronts real people in real situations – with hilariouys consequences!

Trivia:

When Sacha Baron Cohen speaks Kazakh it is mostly Hebrew disguised by a heavy fake Eastern European accent. The Hebrew is quite understandable and contains many in-jokes. Baron Cohen admitted this in a rare “out of character” radio interview on National Public Radio in the USA.

The police were called on Sacha Baron Cohen 91 times during the production of this film.

Original director Todd Phillips left the production after shooting the rodeo/”Star Spangled Banner” scene, citing “creative differences”.

The character of Borat originated as a sketch on the British TV show “Da Ali G Show” (2000).

Johnny Depp, George Clooney and Steve Martin, all of whom are huge fans of Sacha Baron Cohen, contacted him about having a cameo in the movie. But Baron Cohen refused because it would have ruined some of the gags if they knew what was going on.

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1. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
2. Madagascar
3. Fast Food Nation

Cast:

Josie Lawrence as Lottie Wilkins
Miranda Richardson asRose Arbuthnot
Alfred Molina as Mellersh Wilkins
Neville Phillips as Vicar
Jim Broadbent as Frederick Arbuthnot
Michael Kitchen as George Briggs
Joan Plowright as Mrs. Fisher
Polly Walker as Caroline Dester
Stephen Beckett as Jonathan
Matthew Radford as Patrick
Davide Manuli as Beppo
Vittorio Duse as Domenico
Adriana Facchetti as Francesca
Anna Longhi as Costanza

Two proper Englishwomen, determined to get away from their drab lives and inattentive husbands, find paradise in the serene countryside of the Italian Riviera in this enchanting adventure starring Josie Lawrence and Miranda Richardson (HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE). When the pair rent a magnificent villa for a month, they share expenses with two unlikely companions — an austere widow and a bored socialite. At first, personalities clash, but the hideaway holds a special magic that soon sparks friendships and reminds the women of ways to live and love that have long eluded them. Stellar performances and breathtaking scenery make the Academy Award(R)-nominated ENCHANTED APRIL (1992: Best Supporting Actress, Joan Plowright; Best Costume Design, Sheena Napier; Best Adapted Screenplay, Peter Barnes) a captivating delight for everyone who’s ever dreamed of taking the perfect holiday!

Trivia:
Made for British TV in 1991, but well-produced to be released in theaters in the United States in 1992.

After filming wrapped, the cast and crew later remarked upon a number of supernatural experiences while filming on location in Italy. ‘Alfred Molina’ reportedly felt an ice-cold hand grasp the back of his neck on a night-shoot, while ‘Miranda Richardson’ felt her knee-high dress being aggressively yanked to the floor while waiting to film in an old castle. There were also several instances of crew-members having to leave the set after suddenly feeling unwell.

If you like this movie, you'll also like:

1. Let The Right One In / Låt den rätte komma in
2. Stealing Beauty
3. Casablanca

Cast:

Russell Crowe as Maximus
Joaquin Phoenix as Commodus
Connie Nielsen as Lucilla
Oliver Reed as Proximo
Richard Harris as Marcus Aurelius
Derek Jacobi as Gracchus
Djimon Hounsou as Juba
David Schofield as Falco
John Shrapnel as Gaius
Tomas Arana as Quintus
Ralf Moeller as Hagen
Spencer Treat Clark as Lucius
David Hemmings as Cassius
Tommy Flanagan as Cicero
Sven-Ole Thorsen as Tiger

A hero will rise. The general who became a slave. The slave that became a gladiator. The gladiator who defied an empire. After another mighty victory on the battlefield, the great Roman General Maximus (Russell Crowe) is requested by the dying Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) to assume his mantle of power. Jealous of Maximus’ favor, the original heir to the throne, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) orders his execution–and that of his family. Barely escaping death, Maximus is forced into slavery and trained as a gladiator in the arena where his fame grows into the great hero in the empire. When he comes to Rome, the Gladiator is intent on avenging the murder of his family.

Quotes:

[Maximus looks at images of his wife and son]
Juba: Can they hear you?
Maximus: Who?
Juba: Your family. In the afterlife.
Maximus: Oh yes.
Juba: What do you say to them?
Maximus: To my son – I tell him I will see him again soon. To keep his heels down while riding his horse. To my wife… that is not your business.

——————-

Lucilla: Today I saw a slave become more powerful than the Emperor of Rome.

——————-

Maximus: At my signal, unleash hell.

——————-

Maximus: What we do in life echoes in eternity.

——————-

Maximus: I am required to kill, so I kill. That is enough.
Proximo: That’s enough for the provinces, but not enough for Rome.

If you like this movie, you'll also like:

1. Band of Brothers (TV miniseries)
2. 300

Cast:

David Naughton as David Kessler
Jenny Agutter as Nurse Alex Price
Griffin Dunne as Jack Goodman
John Woodvine as Dr. J. S. Hirsch
Lila Kaye as Barmaid
Joe Belcher as Truck Driver
David Schofield as Dart Player
Brian Glover as Chess Player
Rik Mayall as 2nd Chess Player
Sean Baker as 2nd Dart Player
Paddy Ryan as First Werewolf
Anne-Marie Davies as Nurse Susan Gallagher
Frank Oz as Mr. Collins / Miss Piggy
Don McKillop as Inspector Villiers
Paul Kember as Sergeant McManus

Deluxe edition includes two revealing NEW documentaries: Beware the Moon (with filmmaker Paul Davis), and I Walked with a Werewolf (with make-up effects artist Rick Baker)

2 american Backpackers are touring around europe and have arrived in a desolate part of the UK . Before long they are warned by the Locals of The Slaughtered Lamb to avoid the moors at night. Shortly afterwards they are attcked my a mysterious beast which kills one of them and wounds the other. the beast is subsequenlty killed by the locals and then the fun really begins. After coming round in Hospital David meets Nurse Price and begins to have disturbing dreams . He is visited by his now dead friend Jack who tells him that they were attacked by a Werewolf and that David will soon become one himself. Shortly after leaving hospital and Moving in with Nurse price a Series of grisly Murders takes place . And David realises that his dead best friend maybe right .

Trivia:

The location filming of the front of Alex’s flat and surroundings was filmed on or around Lupus Street in Pimlico, London (’Lupus’ is the Latin for ‘wolf’).

David Naughton was reportedly cast because John Landis had seen him in a television commercial for Dr. Pepper.

Director Cameo: [John Landis] appears briefly near the end of the film. He is the bearded man who gets hit by a car and thrown through the plate glass window in Piccadilly Circus.

Because of this film, makeup and industry technological contributions became recognized by the Academy Awards in 1981. Makeup artist Rick Baker was the first to receive an Oscar in the new category. William Tuttle was the first makeup effects artist to receive an Oscar (being an honorary one) for his work on 7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964).

If you like this movie, you'll also like:

1. The Twilight Saga: New Moon
2. Edward Scissorhands
3. American History X

Cast:

Audrey Tautou as Amelie
Arthus De Penguern as Hipolito
Mathieu Kassovitz as Nino Quicampoix
Rufus as Raphael Poulain
Yolande Moreau as Madeleine Poulain
Urbain Cancelier as Collignon
Dominique Pinon as Joseph
Maurice Benichou as Bretodeau
Isabelle Nanty as Georgette
Claire Maurier as Suzanne
Serge Merlin as Raymond Dufayel
Jamel Debbouze as Lucien

Nominated for five Academy Awards® in 2001 including Best Original Screenplay — Guillaume Laurant and Jean-Pierre Jeunet, this magical comedy earned overwhelming acclaim nationwide!

A painfully shy waitress working at a tiny Paris cafe, Amélie makes a surprising discovery and sees her life drastically changed for the better. From then on, Amélie dedicates herself to helping others find happiness … in the most delightfully unexpected ways! But will she have the courage to do for herself what she has done for others?

If you like this movie, you'll also like:

1. Four Christmases
2. Let The Right One In / Låt den rätte komma in
3. Little Miss Sunshine