Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

A recently widowed man's son calls a radio talk-show in an attempt to find his father a partner.

Quite likable, old-fashioned romantic comedy, with the two leads well cast for the occasion, is so easy-going and unexcited (and predictable due to all the allusions to An Affair to Remember) the happy ending hardly makes any emotional impact.

Halliwell*: "Enjoyable romantic comedy, although its overall tone is excessively sweet."

Maltin***: "Sweet romantic comedy, with perfectly cast stars, though it's repeated allusions to the old tearjerker AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER make you wonder if the only way to generate old-fashioned romance in a '90s movie is to invoke a product of Hollywood's Golden Age."

In the Cut (2003)

A New York City writing professor has an affair with a police detective, who is investigating the murder of a beautiful young woman in her neighborhood.

Unusual serial killer mystery which gives more focus to the romance than the crime has a good cast, atmosphere and excellent moody photography, but a very uneven plot.

Halliwell*: "An often pedantic take on the serial killer genre, where even the women who don't end up dead are seen as victims of predatory men; Beebe's cinematography captures the seedy anxiety of its setting."

Maltin**1/2: "A daring look at a sexual relationship between two emotionally fragile people...Provocative and doggedly antiromantic, the storytelling is faulty and drawn out, but the atmosphere and performances are first-rate."

Top Gun (1986)

As students at the United States Navy's elite fighter weapons school compete to be best in the class, one daring young pilot learns a few things from a civilian instructor that are not taught in the classroom.

Reagan Era (and fascistoid) gung-ho as slick entertainment; only watchable, if your mind is turned off.

Halliwell (no star): "A feast of hardware and noisy music; not much story."

Maltin**1/2: "Contrived beyond belief, with dogfights that play like video games, and total lack of sexual chemistry between the two leads...but slickly calculated to please '80s audiences (and fans of ever-smiling Cruise). Edwards, as Cruise's sidekick, steals the show."

Proof of Life (2000)

A woman hires a professional negotiator to obtain the release of her engineer husband, who has been kidnapped by anti-government guerrillas in South America.

Fairly routine thriller that works as actioner, but hardly offers anything beyond that.

Halliwell (no star): "A movie that fails to make an audience care for the people involved, for all its attempts to update Casablanca with its repressed romance and world-weary airs."

Maltin**1/2: "Entertaining if all-too-familiar soap-opera/thriller..."