The Outsiders (1983)

 

The rivalry between two gangs, the poor Greasers and the rich Socs, only heats up when one gang member kills a member of the other.

From memory: Odd, not quite satisfying melodrama about troubled teenagers (with a remarkable cast of some young up-and-coming stars) does a good job conveying juvenile life and behaviour, but the artificiality of the settings are quite off-putting.

Halliwell (no star): "Oddball youth melodrama, a curious choice for a director with big successes behind him."

Maltin**1/2: "Florid, highly stylized...Ambitious film evokes GWTW and '50s melodramas..., but never quite connects, despite powerful moments." 

Uncommon Valor (1983)

Ten years after his son went M.I.A. in Vietnam, a U.S. Marine retired Colonel assembles a private rescue team to find Americans held in P.O.W. camps in Laos.

Run-of-the-mill war action drama wears its patriotism on its sleeve, the star cast do waht they can for the occasion.

Halliwell (no star): "Slam-bang action piece with the customary patriotic and personal sentiment."

Maltin**1/2: "Formula action film...Solid performances make this watchable."

Powder Blue (2009)

Four Los Angelenos, a mortician, an ex-con, a suicidal ex-priest, and a stripper, are brought together on Christmas Eve by a mixture of circumstances.

Ambitious, multi-layered drama has atmosphere and is watchable for some good performances, but otherwise unnerves with its pretensions.

Forever Lulu (2000)

A schizophrenic romantic tracks down her college sweetheart to help her find their son she gave up for adoption sixteen years ago to the dismay of his new wife.

The stars enliven, but can't save this overly sentimental drama.

Halliwell (no star): "Gruesome sentimental hokum, which a glum-seeming Swayze and a frantic Griffith fail to enliven."

Keeping Mum (2005)

A pastor preoccupied with writing the perfect sermon fails to realize that his wife is having an affair and his children are up to no good.

Likable and old-fashioned, but otherwise unremarkable British black comedy; the cast is quite adequate for the occasion.

Maltin***: "Small but delightfully realized fun, sparked by a sterling cast."

Donnie Darko (2001)

A troubled teenager is plagued by visions of a large bunny rabbit that manipulates him to commit a series of crimes, after narrowly escaping a bizarre accident.

Highly idiosyncratic and fascinating drama about adolescent otherness with a fantastic twist; at times quite reminiscent of David Lynch's work.

Halliwell***: "An engaging, darkly comic look at growing up in suburbia; lurid and deliberately confusing in its circular narrative, it is also bracingly original."

Maltin**: "Writer-director Kelly has ambitious and interesting ideas, but the film builds to an unsatisfying conclusion."