The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

A gunslinging scammersduo works together to find a fortune of gold before a thirth gets to it.

Further Summary:

During the American Civil War, the gunfighter Blondie (The Good) and the wanted Mexican outlaw Tuco (The Ugly) signed a deal: Blondie turns in Tuco to a sheriff for a high reward only to save him at the last moment and to flee away. This plan has worked several times successfully. When on the road they hear from the dying officer Bill Carson about a stolen box with $ 200,000 in gold coins. Along the way, Blondie and Tuco meet the ruthless bounty hunter Angel Eyes (The Bad), who also has his eyes on the box..

Qualities: must see classic spaghetti western, Clint Eastwood

NOTE: to fully appreciate this movie, you absolutely have to watch it on a big screen, this is not one to view on your ipod on the train

Identity

Ten strangers end up at a a desolated motel after a big storm and realize they're being murdered one by one.

Further Summary:

A storm forces ten travelers to seek shelter in a strange motel. Soon they realize that there is a murderer among them. While the storm rages, and more and more deaths occur, one thing is clear: it was no coincidence that the passengers landed at the motel ...

Qualities: surprisingly good thriller that nicely captures what's going on in the head of the murderer, an entertaining movie to watch when you want something light

Good Will Hunting

A young rebellious genius is forced to go see a psychologist.

Further Summary:

Will Hunting is working as a janitor at a university and spend his days  fighting people on the street and breaking the law. One day, one of the professors notices that Will has an exceptional talent for mathematics and wants to use his talent. He, however, quickly  discovers that Will has some problems with himself and his environment. The only people who can help him are Sean McGuire, a psychologist who has admiration for the young genius and tries to understand him, and Skylar, a medical student who is in love with Will. Will they succeed to pull Will out of his isolation?

Qualities: the dialogues between Will and Sean make some very strong scenes

American History X

A boy follows his big brother into Neo-Nazism.

Further Summary:

Like most teenagers Danny Vinyard is influenced by his older brother, but in his case his brother Derek is a skinhead. When Danny writes an enthusiastic report about Hitler's 'Mein Kampf',  the school principal makes him choose: either write an essay about Derek or be kicked out of school. Derek's hatred of other races stems from the murder of his father. Derek joins a gang and ends up in jail for murder. Once free, Derek has changed. He wants to confront some people, including his own brother ...

Qualities: In my opinion this movie shows both sides of racism, not just the glorified leftish view like most racism related movies tend to do , Edward Norton

Requiem for a Dream

Four individuals are confronted with the downside of drug addiction.

Further Summary:

The widow Sara Goldfarb is told that she was selected to join a game show. Since they no longer fit into her favorite dress, she starts taking with diet pills, to which she quickly becomes addicted. Meanwhile, the failed attempts of her cocain addicted son Harry, his girlfriend and a friend to make it into the drug scene slowly slide the main characters further and further away in a downward spiral of drug addiction, crime and prostitution.

Qualities: Darren Aronofsky succeeds greatly in showing the dark downside of drugabuse, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly

NOTE: this movie doesn't only deal with drugs, it deals with the phenomenon 'addiction'. While watching, try to notice the many subtle suggestions made towards other addictions than drug addiction. (f.e.: what are the 2 doctors who are helping Sara, talking about?)

the Usual Suspects

A lineup of criminals gets killed. The only survivor explains what happened.

Further Summary:

After an explosion in a port, eyewitness Verbal Kint explain the police how it all went down. Through flashbacks we see how five criminals were brought together in a lineup. They later decide to commit a robbery together. The man behind the scenes who seems to control everything, is the unknown Keyser Söze..

Qualities: Plot twist, Kevin Spacey

Shutter Island

Two men investigate the disappearance of a murderess who escaped a hospital for the criminally insane on a enclosed island.

Further Summary:

1954. The U.S. Marshalls Chuck Aule and his new partner Teddy Daniels go on a search for a murderess who escaped from Ashecliffe Hospital on Shutter Island, an island off the coast of Massachusetts. It is assumed that she is still hidden. A web of intrigue and deception will soon provide the necessary trouble. For exemple: the local doctors don't grand Daniels access to the archives of the hospital, which could provide him with the much needed information. To make matters worse, a sudden hurricane disconnect them from the mainland. Several patients make use of this confusion to escape from the clinic..

Qualities: Intriguing plot, Leonardo Di Caprio at his best

Unknown

A man awakes from a car accident and only to discover someone took over his identity.

Further Summary:

Berlin, Dr. Martin Harris awakes from a car accident in Berlin only to discover that his wife no longer recognizes him and another man took over his identity. He's ignored by the disbelieving local authorities and hunted down by mysterious assassins. With the help of a local taxidriver he starts his hunt for the truth, unsure of his mental condition and identity ..

Qualities: An entertaining blockbuster for a lighter movienight