The Nice Guys (2016)

In 1970s Los Angeles, a mismatched pair of private eyes investigate a missing girl and the mysterious death of a porn star.

Entertaining, but superficial reimagination of a 70s buddy comedy thriller works well with period detail and Crowe and Gosling surprisingly are up to the task, but the plot is incoherent and not too interesting; Angourie Rice is the true star of the movie playing Gosling's astute daughter.

While She Was Out (2008)

A suburban housewife is forced to fend for herself when she becomes stranded in a desolate forest with four murderous thugs.

Mediocre thriller with an engrafted feminist overtone; lost me, when the thugs were characterized by listening to Joy Division...

Maltin**1/2: "Nicely done noirish thriller; less-is-more approach creates enough tension at the start and finish to make up for the see-it-coming middle. Basinger...is solid to the end."

Grudge Match (2013)

A pair of aging boxing rivals are coaxed out of retirement to fight one final bout -- 30 years after their last match.

Only mildly entertaining star vehicle with a lot of flat jokes; its attraction are the two stars, but one wishes they had got a better script.

Maltin**: "Watchable but awfully contrived vehicle for two aging but agile actors; they deserve better material than this connect-the-dots formula picture, a feeble follow-up to RAGING BULL and ROCKY."

The Burning Plain (2008)

A drama concerning a mother and daughter who try to form a bond after the young woman's difficult childhood.

Well-intentioned and well-cast drama about love, guilt and redemption with a complex, but somewhat overladen storyline.

Maltin**: "Piecing this story puzzle together is moderately intriguing but the characters' fates are discouragingly bleak. Somber, well-acted drama marks screenwriter Arriaga's directing debut, and follows his signature style of presenting seemingly disconnected stories that ultimately coalesce (21 GRAMS, BABEL, et. al.), but doesn't have the impact of his better scripts."

The Sentinel (2006)

A Secret Service agent is framed as the mole in an assassination attempt on the President.

Standard, but professionally made thriller with a good star cast, which manages to maintain suspense to the end.

Maltin**1/2: "Slick action-thriller is lively and entertaining until a crucial moment three-quarters of the way through, when it goes flat and credibility becomes a serious issue."

The Door in the Floor (2004)

A writer's young assistant becomes both pawn and catalyst in his boss's disintegrating household.

A marriage drama with some great performances, but a predictable plot.

On second view: still true, simply not that exciting.

Maltin***: "...moving, multi-layered drama. Despite superficial echoes of other stories, it has a feeling of its own...Bridges is at the top of his form."