The Savages (2007)

Genius (2016)

A chronicle of Max Perkins's time as the book editor at Scribner and his relationship with Thomas Wolfe.

Muddled attempt of recreating a historical literary episode has some good period detail, but most figures are portrayed unsympathetically (especially Jude Law's Thomas Wolfe) and hardly manages to give an impression what the fuss is all about.

Sully (2016)

The story of Chesley Sullenberger, an American pilot who became a hero after landing his damaged plane on the Hudson River in order to save the flight's passengers and crew.

Nicely made drama bends the real events into a story, in which the hero is forced to vindicate himself confronted with bureaucratic antagonism.

Nocturnal Animals (2016)

A wealthy art gallery owner receives a draft of her ex-husband's new novel, a violent thriller she interprets as a veiled threat and a symbolic revenge tale.

Brilliant direction and cinematography and an excellent cast can't quite conceal the inconsistency of embedding a fictitious thriller within a romantic revenge tale and making it its trigger; the ending therefore is more powerful than the novel and would work even without all the contrivance.

The Other Man (2008)

 

 

The story of a husband who suspects his wife of adultery, and sets out to track down the other man in her life.

 

Well-played drama starts off as a tale of frantic jealousy, but with an artful twist turns into a sympathetic study of understanding and forgiveness.

Maltin**1/2: "Stars are in fine form, but the would-be film noir becomes a lukewarm soap opera."

Primal Fear (1996)

 

 

An altar boy is accused of murdering a priest, and hotshot lawyer tries to prove his innocence.

Effective crime-courtroom drama with a multi-playered plot with a malicious twist ending; Edward Norton outplays the rest of the (otherwise adeqaute) cast.

Halliwell (no star): "An implausible thriller with a twist at its end, but one that diminishes all that has gone before, so that an audience is more likely to feel cheated than surprised."

Maltin***: "Gere gives a solid performance in one of his very best roles...Newcomer Norton is also very impressive. Film loses some of its impact by going on too long and by following unrelated story tangents. Still, an intelligent, absorbing drama."