National Lampoon's Animal House

1978 Comedy Film

Director: John Landis

Writer: Harold Ramis, Douglas Kenney & Chris Miller

Cinematography: Charles Correll

Running time: 109 minutes

Country: United States

Tagline: Relive the best 7 years of your college education.

Cast:

John Belushi as John "Bluto" Blutarsky

Tim Matheson as Eric "Otter" Stratton

Peter Riegert as Donald "Boon" Schoenstein

Thomas Hulce as Lawrence "Pinto" Kroger

Stephen Furst as Kent "Flounder" Dorfman

Bruce McGill as Daniel Simpson Day, "D-Day"

James Widdoes as Robert Hoover

Douglas Kenney as "Stork"

James Daughton as Gregory "Greg" Marmalard

Mark Metcalf as Douglas C. Neidermeyer

Kevin Bacon as Chip Diller

John Vernon as Dean Vernon Wormer

Verna Bloom as Marion Wormer

Donald Sutherland as Professor Dave Jennings

Karen Allen as Katy

Sarah Holcomb as Clorette DePasto

DeWayne Jessie as Otis Day

Mary Louise Weller as Mandy Pepperidge

Martha Smith as Barbara Sue "Babs" Jansen

Cesare Danova as Mayor Carmine DePasto

Sean McCartin as "Lucky Boy"

Plot

At a 1962 College, Dean Vernon Wormer is determined to expel the entire Delta Tau Chi Fraternity, but those troublemakers have other plans for him.

Awards:

1. National Film Registry-National Film Preservation Board, USA
2. People's Choice Award-Favorite Non-Musical Motion Picture-People's Choice Awards, USA

Trivia

All of John Belushi's behavior in the cafeteria was improvised. He was not told to pile all the food on his tray and when he did director John Landis urged the camera operator to "stay with him." The infamous "zit scene" was also improvised. The reaction from the cast is genuine. 

Pictures

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5 star out of 5 stars

The Machinist

2004 Psychological Thriller Film

Director: Brad Anderson

Writer: Scott Kosar

Cinematography: Xavi Giménez

Running time: 102 minutes

Country: Spain

Tagline: How do you wake up from a nightmare, if you're not asleep?

Cast:

Christian Bale as Trevor Reznik

Jennifer Jason Leigh as Stevie

Aitana Sánchez-Gijón as Marie

John Sharian as Ivan

Michael Ironside as Miller

Lawrence Gilliard Jr. as Jackson

Reg E. Cathey as Jones

Plot

An industrial worker who hasn't slept in a year begins to doubt his own sanity.

Awards:

1. Barcelona Film Award-Best Actress-Aitana Sánchez-Gijón-Barcelona Film Awards
2. Barcelona Film Award-Best Cinematography-Xavi Giménez-Barcelona Film Awards
3. Barcelona Film Award-Best Film Editing-Luis de la Madrid-Barcelona Film Awards
4. Narcisse Award-Best Fantastic Feature Film-Brad Anderson-Neuchâtel International Fantasy Film Festival
5. Silver Méliès Award-Best European Fantastic Feature Film-Brad Anderson- Neuchâtel International Fantasy Film Festival
6. Sitges-Best Actor-Christian Bale-Sitges/Catalonian International Film Festival
7. Sitges-Best Cinematography-Xavi Giménez-Sitges/Catalonian International Film Festival

Trivia

The Machinist's writer, Scott Kossar, loves "Nine Inch Nails" and his original script had a quote from their lyrics on the first page. He always wanted the soundtrack to be written by NIN, but the director didn't want the movie to go in that direction. Nine Inch Nails' only official member is Trent Reznor, thus the name of Christian Bale's Character, Trevor Reznik. 

Pictures

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5 star out of 5 stars

The Ladykillers (2004)

2004 Black Comedy film

Director: Ethan Coen & Joel Coen

Writer: Ethan Coen & Joel Coen

Cinematography: Roger Deakins

Running time: 104 minutes

Country: United States

Tagline: The greatest criminal minds of all time have finally met their match.

Cast:

Tom Hanks as G.H. Dorr, Ph. D

Irma P. Hall as Marva Munson

Tzi Ma as "The General”

J. K. Simmons as Garth Pancake

Marlon Wayans as Gawain MacSam

Ryan Hurst as Lump Hudson

Diane Delano as Mountain Girl

George Wallace as Sheriff Wyner

Stephen Root as Mr. Gudge

Plot

An eccentric, if not charming Southern professor and his crew pose as a band in order to rob a casino, all under the nose of his unsuspecting landlord: a sharp old woman.

Awards:

1. Black Reel-Best Actress, Musical or Comedy-Irma P. Hall-Black Reel Awards
2. Jury Prize-Irma P. Hall- Cannes Film Festival
3. Evening Standard British Film Award-Best Technical/Artistic Achievement
   Roger Deakins-Evening Standard British Film Awards

Trivia

The portrait of Mrs. Marva Munson's dead husband Othar is stationed over the fireplace. Throughout the movie, Othar's visage in the portrait changes as the story unfolds. The portrait appears to have the same stoic expression at the approximate time stamps of 05:25, 33:20, and 01:07:22; however Othar's portrait is clearly disapproving when shown at the 01:14:35 mark. After Mrs. Munson's ultimatum to G.H. Dorr, Othar's portrait returns to its stoic visage at 01:15:15. At 01:27:58, when he fears for Mrs. Munson's safety, Othar's portrait's expression reflects his surprise. At 01:29:44, Othar's portrait appears satisfied and almost smiling. This was probably done in tribute to Preston Sturges' "Sullivan's Travels" in which the portrait of Mr. Kornheiser's expressions change. "Sullivan's Travels" was one of the inspirations for The Coens' "O, Brother Where Art Thou". 

Pictures

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5 star out of 5 stars

Kill Bill: Volume 2

2004 Action/Thriller Film

Director: Quentin Tarantino

Writer: Quentin Tarantino

Cinematography: Robert Richardson

Running time: 136 minutes

Country: United States

Tagline: Revenge is a dish best served cold.

Cast:

Uma Thurman as The Bride / Beatrix Kiddo

David Carradine as Bill

Lucy Liu as O-Ren Ishii

Vivica A. Fox as Vernita Green

Michael Madsen as Budd

Daryl Hannah as Elle Driver

Julie Dreyfus as Sofie Fatale

Sonny Chiba as Hattori Hanzo

Gordon Liu as Pai Mei

Bo Svenson as Reverend Harmony

Jeannie Epper as Mrs. Harmony

Chris Nelson as Tommy Plympton

Samuel L. Jackson as "Rufus"

Larry Bishop as Larry Gomez

Sid Haig as Jay

Michael Parks as Esteban Vihaio

Perla Haney-Jardine as B.B

Helen Kim as Karen

Plot

The murderous Bride continues her quest of vengeance against her former boss and lover Bill, the reclusive bouncer Budd, and the treacherous, one-eyed Elle.

Awards:

1. Saturn Award-Best Action/Adventure/Thriller Film- Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
2. Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actor-David Carradine- Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
3. Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actress-Daryl Hannah- Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
4. American Choreography Award-Outstanding Achievement in Choreography – Fight-Keith Adams, Sonny Chiba, Quentin Tarantino & Woo-ping Yuen-American Choreography Awards, USA
5. COFCA Award-Best Sound Design-Central Ohio Film Critics Association
6. MTV Movie Award-Best Fight-Daryl Hannah & Uma Thurman-MTV Movie Awards
7. Sant Jordi-Best Foreign Film-Quentin Tarantino-Sant Jordi Awards
8. Taurus Award-Best Fight-Monica Staggs & Zoe Bell-World Stunt Awards
9. Taurus Award-Best Overall Stunt by a Stunt Woman-Monica Staggs & Zoe Bell- World Stunt Awards

Trivia

Ricardo Montalban was cast to play Esteban. Unable to make an early read through of the script, his lines were read by Michael Parks, who impressed Tarantino so much that he recast Parks instead. 

Pictures

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5 star out of 5 stars

Kill Bill Volume 1

2003 Action/Thriller Film

Director: Quentin Tarantino

Writer: Quentin Tarantino

Cinematography: Robert Richardson

Running time: 111 minutes

Country: United States & Japan

Tagline: Here comes the bride

Cast:

Uma Thurman as The Bride

David Carradine as Bill

Lucy Liu as O-Ren Ishii

Vivica A. Fox as Vernita Green

Michael Madsen as Budd

Daryl Hannah as Elle Driver

Julie Dreyfus as Sofie Fatale

Sonny Chiba as Hattori Hanzo

Kenji Ohba as Shiro

Ambrosia Kelley as Nikki Green

Michael Parks as Earl McGraw

James Parks as Edgar McGraw

Michael Bowen as Buck

Gordon Liu as Johnny Mo

Jun Kunimura as Boss Tanaka

Chiaki Kuriyama as Gogo Yubari

Plot

The Bride wakes up after a long coma. The baby that she carried before entering the coma is gone. The only thing on her mind is to have revenge on the assassination team that betrayed her - a team she was once part of.

Awards:

1. Saturn Award- Best Action/Adventure/Thriller Film- Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
2. Saturn Award- Best Actress Uma Thurman- Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
3. COFCA Award- Best Score RZA- Central Ohio Film Critics Association
4. Empire Award- Best Actress Uma Thurman- Empire Awards, UK
5. Empire Award-Best Director-Quentin Tarantino- Empire Awards, UK
6. Sierra Award- Best Editing- Sally Menke- Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards
7. MTV Movie Award- Best Female Performance- Uma Thurman- MTV Movie Awards
8. MTV Movie Award- Best Fight- Uma Thurman & Chiaki Kuriyama- MTV Movie Awards
9. MTV Movie Award- Best Villain- Lucy Liu- MTV Movie Awards
10. SDFCS Award- Best Editing - Sally Menke- San Diego Film Critics Society Awards
11. Sant Jordi- Best Foreign Film- Sant Jordi Awards
12. Audience Award- Best Feature Film- Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival

Trivia

The original trailer for this film, although featuring no actual bloodshed, raised the ire of the MPAA with the sight of The Bride's blood-stained clothes. As such it became the first to be subjected to the MPAA's new "no blood" policy for trailers, in which all sight of the bodily fluid, must be alternately colored or removed entirely. This is why the trailers for this film (and similarly for every film released in the US thereafter) feature The Bride's clothes covered in blackish-brown stains where the blood would be. 

Pictures

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5 star out of 5 stars

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back

2001 Comedy Film

Director: Kevin Smith

Writer: Kevin Smith

Cinematography: Jamie Anderson

Running time: 105 minutes

Country: United States

Tagline: Scooping the Money!

Cast:

Jason Mewes as Jay

Kevin Smith as Silent Bob

Shannon Elizabeth as Justice

Will Ferrell as Federal Wildlife Marshal Willenholly

Eliza Dushku as Sissy

Ali Larter as Chrissy

Jennifer Schwalbach as Missy

Ben Affleck as Himself / Holden McNeil

Matt Damon as Himself / Will Hunting (uncredited)

Chris Rock as Chaka Luther King

Brian O'Halloran as Dante Hicks

Jeff Anderson as Randal Graves

Jamie Kennedy as Chaka's production assistant

Jason Lee as Brodie Bruce / Banky Edwards

Wes Craven as Himself

Mark Hamill as Himself (Cock-Knocker) / voice of Scooby-Doo

Gus Van Sant as Himself

Diedrich Bader as Miramax Security Guard Gordon

Alanis Morissette as God (dubbed "That Woman" in the end credits)

Seann William Scott as Brent

George Carlin as a hitchhiker

Carrie Fisher as a nun

Judd Nelson as a sheriff

Jon Stewart as Reg Hartner

Shannen Doherty as Herself

Tracy Morgan as Pumpkin Escobar

Jason Biggs as Himself

James Van Der Beek as Himself

Scott William Winters as Himself / Clark

Malcolm Ingram as grumpy, leaning extra (uncredited)

Plot

The comic 'Bluntman and Chronic' is based on real-life stoners Jay and Silent Bob, so when they get no profit from a big-screen adaptation they set out to wreck the movie.

Awards: None

Trivia

Kevin Smith gave Eliza Dushku the nickname "Duck Shoot" during production after accidentally mispronouncing her last name. 

Pictures

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5 star out of 5 stars

Idle Hands

1999 Horror Comedy Film

Director: Rodman Flender

Writer: Terri Hughes & Ron Milbauer

Cinematography: Christopher Baffa

Running time: 92 minutes

Country: United States

Tagline: The touching story of a boy and his right hand.

Cast:

Devon Sawa - Anton Tobias

Seth Green - Mick

Elden Henson - Pnub

Jessica Alba - Molly

Vivica A. Fox - Debi LeCure

Christopher Hart - The Hand

Jack Noseworthy - Randy

Katie Wright - Tanya

Sean Whalen - Officer McMacy

Nicholas Sadler - Officer Ruck

Fred Willard - Mr. Tobias, Anton's father

Connie Ray - Mrs. Tobias, Anton's mother

Steve Van Wormer - Curtis

Kelly Monaco - Tiffany

Timothy Stack - Principal Tidwell

The Offspring - Band

Dexter Holland - Himself

Tom Delonge - Burger Jungle employee

Plot

Lazy Anton's right hand becomes possessed with murderous intent.

Awards: None

Trivia

The film, in which the main character kills his parents and his two best friends (albeit not intentionally), was delayed in its release because of the Columbine massacre. 

Pictures

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5 star out of 5 stars