The first full-length silent movie version of "The Wizard of Oz" was released one hundred years ago (1925), adapted from L. Frank Baum's 1900 children's novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." Producer-director-screenwriter Larry Semon did a fair job at the helm of the movie, casting himself [..]

"Love Actually" is a Christmas romantic comedy telling ten different stories with a large ensemble cast, well assembled by director-screenwriter Richard Curtis. He instilled the film with outstanding production values, good writing, and marvelous performances. The film has a distinctly English feel to it, and Curtis and most [..]

"Sarah's Oil" is a true story of Sarah Rector, a young African-American girl in 1910 Oklahoma who inherits land which contains large deposits of oil. Greedy oil barons and speculators try to seize the property. However, Sarah's good friend, wildcatter Bert Smith, helps her and [..]

"Selma" is the story of the 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, to secure voting rights for black Americans in the state and throughout the Deep South. Director Ava DuVernay ("Middle of Nowhere" 2012) put together a high quality dramatization of one of the key events of [..]

Cameron Diaz is a classic car restorer who unwittingly gets involved in international intrigue with Tom Cruise, a rogue secret agent on the run from his employers at the CIA in "Knight and Day." Director James Mangold ("Cop Land" 1997) and screenwriter Patrick O'Neill put together [..]

"Elevation" is a science fiction film about survivors of an attack on the Earth from giant insect-like creatures who cannot live about 8,000 feet. So they take refuge in the Rocky Mountains. When they run low on supplies, they must venture into the danger [..]

"The Friend" is a drama film about a writer whose friend bequests her with his Great Dane dog, with whom she has enormous problems . Directors-screenwriters Scott McGehee and David Seigel put together a sentimental tale which primarily appeals to dog lovers and the art house cinema crowd. [..]

A family from a small town attends the Iowa state fair with the father entering his boar in competition and his son and daughter getting involved in various activities, including romance, in the musical comedy "State Fair." Director Walter Lang ("Greenwich Village" 1944) put together the [..]

"Den of Thieves" is a crime drama about a Los Angeles County Sheriff who tries to stop a group of high-powered criminals from robbing the Federal Reserve building in L. A. Director-screenwriter Christian Gudegast does an excellent job of putting together an exciting action film with good production [..]

"State Fair" tells the story of a brother and sister who find romance and good clean fun at the Texas state fair, with their parents and others' involvements in the numerous activities. It is generally recognized that director Jose Ferrer erred in miscasting some of the major characters [..]