Days of Heaven (1978)

A hot-tempered farm laborer convinces the woman he loves to marry their rich but dying boss so that they can have a claim to his fortune.

From memory: The strikingly beautiful cinematography of this period movie is almost a character of its own as it underscores its achingly romantic story.

Halliwell****: "Visually a superb slice of period life, it has an emotional force that emerges slowly from the conjunction of the vast landscape and its reticent intruders, who have fled from the dark of the city to find no peace in the country."

Maltin***1/2: "Exquisite mood piece...its visual beauty almost overwhelms the story - which is second priority here."

Out of the Blue (1980)

A young girl whose father is an ex-convict and whose mother is a junkie finds it difficult to conform and tries to find comfort in a quirky combination of Elvis and the punk scene.

From memory: Dark, realistic drama with excellent performances, especially Linda Manz'; and using Neil Young's My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue) to great effect.

Halliwell (no star): "At least she can count herself fortunate that she didn't have to sit through this film."

Maltin**1/2: "Taut, low-key drama; could be retitled "Child of Easy Rider.""