Cake (2014)

Claire becomes fascinated by the suicide of a woman in her chronic pain support group while grappling with her own, very raw personal tragedy.

Quirky personal drama doesn't really show much depth, but Jennifer Aniston's excellent performance makes it watchable.

Manhunt: The Unabomber (2017)

An in-depth look at how an FBI profiler helped track down the terrorist Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber.

Suspenseful, beautifully made account of the Unabomber investigation, which, however, takes quite some liberties with the actual facts.

Man on a Ledge (2012)

As a police psychologist works to talk down an ex-con who is threatening to jump from a Manhattan hotel rooftop, the biggest diamond heist ever committed is in motion.

Nicely made and fairly entertaining thriller loses credibility with its far-fetched plot.

Maltin**: "There are clever moments, but the plot gets progressively more ridiculous and eventually loses steam; the depiction of dirty cops and a ruthless business tycoon are pretty shopworn."

Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

WWII American Army Medic Desmond T. Doss, who served during the Battle of Okinawa, refuses to kill people, and becomes the first man in American history to receive the Medal of Honor without firing a shot.

Both heartbreaking and very violent, if not a bit patriotic celebration of a man stay true to his conviction; very well staged and performed, the war scenes are quite horrific.

Avatar (2009)

A paraplegic marine dispatched to the moon Pandora on a unique mission becomes torn between following his orders and protecting the world he feels is his home.

Spellbinding ecological science fiction with great visuals and a simplistic message.

On renewed viewing: great to warch, but the White Saviour plot is still disconcerting.

Maltin***: "Innovative, futuristic fable, set in a rich computer-generated environment and populated with strikingly designed creatures...Thrilling at times, with a cornucopia of wonders to behold. Cameron's parable about imperialism too often resorts to B-movies cliches and goes on too all long, but the visual experience trumps most of its flaws."

Texas Killing Fields (2011)

In the Texas bayous, a local homicide detective teams up with a cop from New York City to investigate a series of unsolved murders.

Intense and well-cast crime thriller with emphasis on atmosphere and character than on the (predictable) plot.

Maltin**1/2: "Slick psycological thriller, "inspired by true events", has atmosphere to spare but is hampered by one too many plot inconsistencies and often unintelligible dialogue."

Wrath of the Titans (2012)

Perseus braves the treacherous underworld to rescue his father, Zeus, captured by his son, Ares, and brother Hades who unleash the ancient Titans upon the world.

Silly fantasy action film with a drifting plot; the effects and creatures, however, will entertain an adolescent audience.

Maltin**: "Ho-hum, grim-faced action film relies heavily on CGI effects but isn't supported by a decent script, so it's hrad to get involved. The result: a lot of sound and fury, signifying nothing."

Somersault (2004)

New experiences help a young runaway girl learn the differences between sex and love.

Subtle coming-of-age drama with a great leading performance and some insight in the vagaries of relationships.

Maltin***: "Raw, razor-sharp drama...Impressive debut feature for writer-director Shortland, with Cornish offering a vivied, award-caliber performance."