The West Wing: Season 1
1999 4.4 stars 956 mins Television Rated: NR
Predicted Rating: 4.7
Aaron Sorkin's political drama "The West Wing" debuted on NBC in 1999 and quickly racked up awards, including nine Emmys in its first season. Widely considered one of the best-written and most innovative TV series of all time, the show has warmed the hearts of countless Americans with its depiction of a well-meaning Democrat administration. Season 1 introduces the White House cast of characters, headed by Martin Sheen as President Bartlet.
The Shawshank Redemption: Special Edition
1994 4.6 stars 142 mins Drama Rated: R
until 14-Jan-2011
Predicted Rating: 4.6
Framed in the 1940s for the double murder of his wife and her lover, upstanding banker Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) begins a new life at the Shawshank prison, where he puts his accounting skills to work for an amoral warden (Bob Gunton). During his long stretch in prison, Dufresne comes to be admired by the other inmates -- including an older prisoner named Red (Morgan Freeman) -- for his integrity and unquenchable sense of hope.
Frontline: The Warning
2009 4.0 stars 60 mins Documentary Rated: NR
until 01-Feb-2011
Predicted Rating: 4.5
A detailed look at the roots of America's worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, this "Frontline" documentary exposes why government officials refused to regulate emerging derivatives markets that later ruined global financial systems. Director Michael Kirk focuses special attention on the intriguing story of Brooksley Born, the head of a little-known regulatory agency who fought in vain for the increased oversight of derivatives sales.
Planet Earth: The Complete Collection
2007 4.6 stars 550 mins Documentary Rated: NR
Predicted Rating: 4.5
Narrated by David Attenborough, this Emmy-winning series transports nature lovers from the Himalayan Mountains to the depths of the ocean and everywhere in between, exploring the planet's most fascinating wildlife and challenging environments. Bioluminescent squid, vibrant birds of paradise and the nearly extinct Siberian Amur leopards are just a few of the captivating creatures featured in this collection of exquisitely shot episodes.
Casablanca
1942 4.2 stars 102 mins Classics Rated: PG
Predicted Rating: 4.5
In this Oscar-winning classic, American expat Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) plays host to gamblers, thieves and refugees at his Moroccan nightclub during World War II … but he never expected Isla (Ingrid Bergman) -- the woman who broke his heart -- to walk through that door. Isla hopes that with Rick's help, she and her fugitive husband (Paul Henreid) can escape to America. But the spark that brought the lovers together still burns brightly.
Like Stars on Earth
2007 4.3 stars 165 mins Foreign (Hindi) Rated: PG
Predicted Rating: 4.5
A chronic daydreamer, 8-year-old Ishaan (Darsheel Safary) finds his life take a turn for the worse when his parents, frustrated that he keeps getting into trouble, send him away to a boarding school in hopes he'll become more disciplined. But Ishaan's misery abates when the unconventional new art teacher, Ram Shankar Nikumbh (Aamir Khan), decides to try to help his imaginative young student discover his true identity in this charming Indian drama.
Rear Window
1954 4.2 stars 115 mins Classics Rated: PG
Predicted Rating: 4.4
As his broken leg heals, wheelchair-bound L.B. Jeffries (James Stewart) becomes absorbed with the parade of life across the courtyard: A dancer, a lonely woman, a composer and a bedridden woman and her husband become like creatures in his voyeuristic zoo. But when one of them disappears, Jeffries suspects foul play -- and suddenly he finds himself in the center of the action with nowhere to run.
American Experience: The Rockefellers
2000 3.8 stars 210 mins Documentary Rated: NR
Predicted Rating: 4.4
The name is synonymous with immense wealth. But with prosperity came a tarnished legacy. This edition of PBS's Emmy Award-winning documentary series chronicles four generations of Rockefellers. From the unethical business practices that built their huge oil empire to the struggle to reconcile the controversial profits with an unwavering philanthropic commitment, it's a fascinating look at one of America's most influential families.
Seabiscuit: America's Legendary Racehorse
2003 4.2 stars 51 mins Documentary Rated: NR
Predicted Rating: 4.4
It's the classic story of the underdog that made good; a stocky, short-legged David that slew a thoroughbred Goliath. Seabiscuit has gone down in American history as a racehorse legend. Indeed, the horse was a particular favorite bet of Depression-era laborers who loved a long shot and saw the horse as emblematic of themselves. This overview of Seabiscuit's career includes many of his famous races, as well as commentary from racing enthusiasts.
North by Northwest
1959 4.0 stars 136 mins Classics Rated: NR
Predicted Rating: 4.4
What if everyone around you was suddenly convinced that you were a spy? This classic from master director Alfred Hitchcock stars Cary Grant as an advertising executive who looks a little too much like someone else and is forced to go on the lam (helped along by Eva Marie Saint). Hitchcock's sure-handed comic drama pits Grant against a crop duster and lands him in a fight for his life on Mount Rushmore -- a true cliffhanger if ever there was one.
The Godfather
1972 4.5 stars 177 mins Classics Rated: R
Predicted Rating: 4.4
When organized crime family patriarch Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) barely survives an attempt on his life, his youngest son, Michael (Al Pacino), steps in to take care of the would-be killers, launching a campaign of bloody revenge. Francis Ford Coppola brings Mario Puzo's multigenerational crime saga to life in this Oscar-winning epic that also spawned Best Actor honors for Brando, who refused the prize for political reasons.
To Kill a Mockingbird
1962 4.2 stars 130 mins Classics Rated: NR
Predicted Rating: 4.4
Southern comforts abound in this big-screen adaptation of Harper Lee's novel as lawyer Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck, in an Oscar-winning role) defends an innocent black man (Brock Peters) against rape charges but ends up in a maelstrom of hate and prejudice. Meanwhile, with help from a friend (John Megna), Finch's children, Jem (Phillip Alford) and Scout (Mary Badham), set their sights on making contact with a reclusive neighbor (Robert Duvall).
Grey's Anatomy: Season 1
2005 4.2 stars 386 mins Television Rated: PG-13
Predicted Rating: 4.4
An overwhelming success with viewers and critics alike, this Emmy-nominated medical drama stars Ellen Pompeo (leading an ensemble cast) as Meredith Grey, a first-year surgical intern at Seattle Grace Hospital. Guided by a skillful team of dedicated doctors, Grey and her fellow interns struggle with life-and-death decisions, the pressures of a highly stressful career and the distractions of their personal lives.
Gladiator: Extended Edition
2000 4.5 stars 164 mins Action & Adventure Rated: NR
Predicted Rating: 4.4
Fans of Gladiator's original theatrical release will appreciate this extended version of the epic Ridley Scott film, packed with extra action footage and gripping dialogue. Featuring a strong supporting cast and an Oscar-winning performance from actor Russell Crowe as the dauntless Roman general Maximus, this big-budget Best Picture winner became an instant classic -- and helped elevate its leading man to icon status.
As It Is in Heaven
2005 3.9 stars 132 mins Foreign Rated: NR
until 02-Aug-2011
Predicted Rating: 4.4
This Oscar-nominated Swedish drama tells the story of Daniel Dareus (Michael Nyqvist), a small-town boy who escaped his tiny village to become a famous conductor. A tragic mishap sends him back home in search of a fresh start, and he ends up leading the local choir. Frida Hallgren, Helen Sjoholm and Lennart Jahkel co-star in writer-director Kay Pollak's (Children's Island, Love Me!) heartwarming tale.
Foyle's War: Set 1
2003 3.1 stars 400 mins Television Rated: NR
Predicted Rating: 4.4
In this popular British detective series, actor Michael Kitchen stars in the title role of Christopher Foyle, an English police inspector who fights local crimes in an environment riddled with war propaganda and social turmoil. The ongoing drama boasts a marriage of history and fictional mystery, and explores the effects of World War II on the rural villages of England's vulnerable southern coast.
Pride and Prejudice
1995 4.0 stars 310 mins Drama Rated: NR
Predicted Rating: 4.3
In this beautiful made-for-television adaptation of Jane Austen's much-loved novel, wealthy and proud aristocrat Fitzwilliam Darcy (Colin Firth) matches wits with witty but prejudiced Elizabeth Bennet (Jennifer Ehle), who believes him to be boorish and rude. To win Elizabeth's hand and heart, Darcy meddles in the love lives of each of her sisters. But just as Elizabeth begins to realize her true feelings for Darcy, she risks losing him forever.
The Fugitive
1993 4.1 stars 131 mins Action & Adventure Rated: PG-13
Predicted Rating: 4.3
Wrongly convicted of murdering his wife, Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford) escapes from custody after a ferocious train accident. But as he tries to find the real killer -- a mysterious one-armed man -- gung-ho U.S. Marshal Samuel Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones) is hot on Kimble's trail. Jones bagged an Oscar for his flinty performance in this classic action-thriller, which features one of the grizzliest train wrecks ever put on celluloid.
A Few Good Men
1992 4.0 stars 138 mins Drama Rated: R
Predicted Rating: 4.3
When cocky military lawyer Lt. Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise) and his co-counsel, Lt. Cmdr. JoAnne Galloway (Demi Moore), are assigned to a murder case, they uncover a hazing ritual that could implicate high-ranking officials such as shady Col. Nathan Jessep (Jack Nicholson). Director Rob Reiner's probing drama earned four Oscar nominations, and Nicholson's line, "You want the truth? You can't handle the truth!" became a 1990s catchphrase.
Nature: Condition Black
2001 3.6 stars 40 mins Television Rated: PG-13
Predicted Rating: 4.3
Surfers in the know are well aware of the legendary events that unfolded along Oahu's North Shore on Wednesday, January 28, 1998. That day, the waves rose like giants, ready to engulf anyone who dared face their wrath, as winds and weather patterns stoked the water to overwhelming proportions. But for a handful of supremely dedicated surfers, the waves beckoned to be tamed -- by nothing more than a surfboard and the power of the human will.
Frontline: Heat
2008 4.0 stars 120 mins Documentary Rated: NR
until 06-Jan-2011
Predicted Rating: 4.3
"Frontline" producer Martin Smith investigates the environmental impact of big business. For years, corporations fought against compliance. That all changed when investors, advocacy groups and governments pressured companies into responsibility. But going green isn't necessarily the norm in developing countries, as Smith reveals in his journey around the world to learn how businesses everywhere are dealing with the issue.
The Damned United
2008 3.5 stars 97 mins Drama Rated: R
Predicted Rating: 4.3
Arrogant Brian Clough (Michael Sheen) helms England's soccer champs Leeds United in 1974 alongside confidant and assistant manager Peter Taylor (Timothy Spall), but he manages to bungle the deal in a mere 44 days, winding up fired. Written for the screen by Peter Morgan (The Queen, Frost/Nixon) and based on David Peace's critically acclaimed novel, this fictionalized account of the notorious sports legend co-stars Jim Broadbent.
When We Left Earth
2008 4.3 stars 408 mins Documentary Rated: NR
Predicted Rating: 4.3
Follow the 20th century's space race all the way to the moon -- and beyond -- in this incredible, comprehensive six-part documentary series narrated by Gary Sinise. Chronicling America's space program from the early days of the Mercury project to the era of the space shuttle, the sensational series features eye-popping footage from a host of various missions, plus in-depth interviews with NASA astronauts and engineers.
The Sixth Sense
1999 4.3 stars 106 mins Thrillers Rated: PG-13
starting 12-Mar-2010
Predicted Rating: 4.3
When young Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment) inexplicably starts seeing dead people, he lands in the care of child psychologist Dr. Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis), who is determined to uncover the truth behind Cole's remarkable paranormal abilities. M. Night Shyamalan writes and directs this plot twist-filled chiller, which was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Olivia Williams and Toni Collette co-star.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
1969 4.1 stars 110 mins Classics Rated: PG
Predicted Rating: 4.3
Legendary outlaws Butch Cassidy (Paul Newman) and the Sundance Kid (Robert Redford) display their gifts for perfect comedic timing and charisma as they pull off heist after heist in this Academy Award-winning film from director George Roy Hill. To evade a relentless posse, the boys flee to Bolivia, thinking they'll find easier pickings there. But trouble finds the charming desperadoes wherever they go, prompting yet another run.
Roman Holiday
1953 4.1 stars 118 mins Classics Rated: NR
Predicted Rating: 4.3
Audrey Hepburn, the essence of 1950s chic, stars in an Oscar-winning performance as a cosseted European princess who goes AWOL in Rome and is soon taken under the wing of tabloid journalist Gregory Peck and his photographer sidekick, Eddie Albert. She thinks the boys don't suspect who she really is, but they're onto her -- and sense a sensational story if they can just keep Audrey's handlers from retrieving her too soon.
Forrest Gump
1994 4.3 stars 142 mins Drama Rated: PG-13
until 01-Jan-2011
Predicted Rating: 4.3
Winner of six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, director Robert Zemeckis's charming blend of comedy and drama stars Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump, a simpleminded man who finds himself in the middle of nearly every major event of the 1960s and '70s. Along the way, he makes friends, changes lives and searches for a soul mate. Hanks nabbed a Best Actor Oscar for his remarkable portrayal of the unsophisticated yet surprisingly wise Forrest.
Charade
1963 4.1 stars 113 mins Classics Rated: UR
until 15-Nov-2010
Predicted Rating: 4.3
Cary Grant stars as Peter, who may or may not be a flimflam man who aids the recently widowed Regina (Audrey Hepburn) in her mission to recover a fortune hidden by her late husband. But three sinister crooks (Walter Matthau, James Coburn and George Kennedy) -- who'll stop at nothing -- also covet the loot. A cast of legendary stars has chemistry to burn in director Stanley Donen's suave comedy with an Oscar-nominated score by Henry Mancini.
12 Angry Men
1957 4.1 stars 96 mins Classics Rated: NR
Predicted Rating: 4.3
Knowing full well that a guilty verdict means death, a jury of 12 men (including Jack Warden and Jack Klugman) must decide the fate of an 18-year-old boy accused of fatally stabbing his father. But only one juror (Henry Fonda) wants to take the time to coolly deliberate the case. Sidney Lumet (Network) made his directorial debut with this Oscar-nominated drama that illuminates all the petty impediments on the path to justice.
Raiders of the Lost Ark
1981 4.4 stars 115 mins Action & Adventure Rated: PG
Predicted Rating: 4.3
When Dr. Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) -- the tweed-suited professor who just happens to be a celebrated archaeologist -- is hired by the government to locate the legendary Ark of the Covenant, he finds himself up against the entire Nazi regime. Creative minds Steven Spielberg and George Lucas created a classic with this all-time favorite, which spawned a series of commercially successful sequels and a short-lived TV show.
The Hobart Shakespeareans
2004 4.0 stars 52 mins Documentary Rated: NR
Predicted Rating: 4.3
Mel Stuart's documentary follows Rafe Esquith, a passionate educator who inspires his students from Central Los Angeles to achieve the best that life has to offer. Mixing Shakespeare, Mark Twain and math, and touring his young charges around Washington, D.C., and college campuses, the elementary school teacher makes learning exciting, including having actors Ian McKellen and Michael York visit the class. For the finale, the kids stage a production of "Hamlet."
Singin' in the Rain
1952 4.1 stars 103 mins Classics Rated: G
Predicted Rating: 4.2
Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O'Connor combine their talents in one of the greatest big-screen musicals ever made, a two-time Oscar nominee that includes the songs "Good Morning," "Make 'Em Laugh" and the iconic title tune. When Hollywood attempts the transition from silent films to talkies, a matinee idol (Kelly) hopes to make the cut. But he's hampered by a silent-movie queen (Jean Hagen) with a voice like fingernails on a blackboard.
The Sound of Music
1965 4.1 stars 174 mins Classics Rated: G
Predicted Rating: 4.2
In Rodgers and Hammerstein's greatest collaboration, a feisty postulant named Maria (Julie Andrews) is sent to care for the unruly, motherless Von Trapp children. She soon tames them -- and finds herself falling for their stern father (Christopher Plummer). Oscar-winning director Robert Wise used stunning Austrian locations to transform the popular stage musical into a cinema classic in which the hills truly seemed to come alive.
Dial M for Murder
1954 4.1 stars 105 mins Classics Rated: PG
Predicted Rating: 4.2
Director Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece of double-cross and intrigue stars Ray Milland as former tennis champ Tony Wendice, who concocts a plan to kill his rich but unfaithful wife (Grace Kelly), who's embroiled in a liaison with a writer (Robert Cummings). When Tony's plans go awry, he improvises a second act of deceit, but the entire bloody affair turns out to be far messier than he expected. John Williams plays a sly Scotland Yard inspector.
Anne of Green Gables
1985 4.2 stars 194 mins Drama Rated: NR
Predicted Rating: 4.2
Director Kevin Sullivan brings L.M. Montgomery's classic children's novel to life. Megan Follows stars as Anne Shirley, the talkative, red-headed orphan sent by mistake to live with a spinster (Colleen Dewhurst) and her brother (Richard Farnsworth) on scenic Prince Edward Island, Canada. But Anne's warm-hearted enthusiasm and irrepressible imagination gradually win them over. Jonathan Crombie co-stars as Gilbert Blythe.
To Catch a Thief
1955 4.0 stars 106 mins Classics Rated: NR
Predicted Rating: 4.2
Suspected in a new series of gem heists in the luxury hotels of the French Riviera, reformed jewel thief John Robie (Cary Grant) sets out to clear himself -- and catch the real thief -- with the help of pampered heiress Frances Stevens (Grace Kelly). Robie's plan backfires, but Frances, who believes him guilty, proves her love by helping him escape, and the real criminal is exposed in a spine-tingling climax. Alfred Hitchcock directs.
Apollo 13
1995 4.1 stars 140 mins Drama Rated: PG
Predicted Rating: 4.2
Unlucky Apollo flight 13 was bound for the moon when technical troubles scuttled the mission and nearly doomed the crew. Director Ron Howard expertly chronicles the smallest details of this true-life story, turning a failed scientific journey into a thrilling saga of true heroism. As lead astronaut Jim Lovell, Tom Hanks utters the now-famous line, "Houston, we've got a problem."
State of Play
2003 4.0 stars 303 mins Television Rated: NR
Predicted Rating: 4.2
Powerful politico Stephen Collins (David Morrissey) is embroiled in a scandal when his research assistant dies in a freak accident and his former campaign manager Cal McAffrey (John Simm), now a reporter, realizes the incident may be linked to the death of a drug dealer. As McAffrey digs deeper, he uncovers a dangerous connection between government and big business in this conspiracy thriller from the BBC. Kelly Macdonald and Bill Nighy co-star.
Breakfast with Scot
2007 3.7 stars 109 mins Drama Rated: PG-13
until 23-Feb-2011
Predicted Rating: 4.2
Eric (Thomas Cavanagh) and his lover, Sam (Ben Shenkman), are pushed into becoming temporary parents to an 11-year-old boy (Noah Bernett) with a fondness for gold chains, lace and the color pink while Eric's brother (Colin Cunningham) -- the boy's father -- is out of the country. Neither man ever saw himself as a father, but having such an undeniably colorful child around the house has a funny way of changing their minds.
The Great Escape
1963 4.2 stars 172 mins Classics Rated: NR
Predicted Rating: 4.2
Based on a true story and brimming with tension, this epic yarn centers on an audacious plan by Allied officers -- who've escaped their Nazi captors time and again -- to stage a massive breakout from an ostensibly escape-proof German prison camp. The star-studded ensemble cast includes Richard Attenborough, James Garner, Charles Bronson and Steve McQueen, whose climactic motorcycle sequence remains one of most memorable in cinema history.
Something the Lord Made
2004 4.1 stars 117 mins Drama Rated: NR
Predicted Rating: 4.2
This Emmy-winning HBO film based on a true story follows white surgeon Alfred Blalock (Alan Rickman) and his black assistant, Vivien Thomas (Mos Def), who teamed in the 1940s to develop a procedure to save children suffering from a heart defect. But Thomas's status as a second-class citizen prevented him from getting recognition, as Blalock took all the credit. Their relationship, while close, was complicated by the social realities of the time.
The Usual Suspects
1995 4.4 stars 106 mins Thrillers Rated: R
until 27-Mar-2010
Predicted Rating: 4.2
When five unacquainted scalawags are hauled into a police station to appear in a criminal lineup, they decide to pull off a heist together. The plan gets complicated, however, when they intermix with an underworld kingpin named Keyser Söze. Gabriel Byrne, Benicio Del Toro, Kevin Pollak, Stephen Baldwin and Oscar-winner Kevin Spacey star in this intricately plotted, critically acclaimed thriller that won another Oscar for Best Screenplay.
North & South
2004 4.2 stars 233 mins Drama Rated: NR
until 01-Apr-2010
Predicted Rating: 4.2
When her father uproots his family from their serene rural burg for an industrial mill town, parson's daughter Margaret Hale (Daniela Denby-Ashe) struggles to adapt to her harsh new surroundings in this BBC series based on Elizabeth Gaskell's novel. As her mother's health fails, Margaret throws herself into the fight for workers' rights and clashes with mill owner John Thornton (Richard Armitage). Sinead Cusack and Tim Pigott-Smith also star.
The Chorus
2004 4.0 stars 97 mins Foreign (French) Rated: PG-13
Predicted Rating: 4.2
In this gentle French drama from first-time director Christophe Barratier, music teacher Clement Mathieu (Gerard Jugnot) lands a job at a boys' boarding school populated by delinquents and orphans -- and run by a martinet headmaster (Francois Berleand). Sensing potential in the rambunctious ruffians, Mathieu forms a choir to rein in his charges through the transforming power of song, even at the probable cost of his career.
Cinema Paradiso
1988 4.2 stars 174 mins Foreign (Italian) Rated: R
Predicted Rating: 4.2
Giuseppe Tornatore's Oscar-winning film follows Salvatore, a Sicilian boy who is mesmerized by the movies shown at the local theater. He befriends projectionist Alfredo, who mentors him and ultimately tells him to leave home to pursue his dreams. Now a famous film director, Salvatore returns home for the first time 30 years later for Alfredo's funeral and is overcome with warm memories of his childhood even as the town has changed.
The Philadelphia Story
1940 4.0 stars 112 mins Classics Rated: NR
Predicted Rating: 4.2
Socialite Tracy Lord (Katharine Hepburn) prepares to remarry, but her ex (Cary Grant) and a tabloid reporter (Best Supporting Actor Oscar-winner James Stewart) have other ideas as they converge on her home for a fateful visit. The three stars form an incomparable trio in one of the most tantalizing screwball romances ever. And under the direction of George Cukor, this once-urbane Broadway comedy springs to life with precision and wit.
Crude
2009 3.6 stars 104 mins Documentary Rated: NR
until 23-Feb-2017
Predicted Rating: 4.2
Filmmaker Joe Berlinger's provocative documentary explores the ongoing battle waged by 30,000 indigenous Ecuadorans and their lawyers against Chevron for dumping billions of gallons of toxic oil waste into the Amazon. Berlinger examines the environmental catastrophe -- dubbed the "Amazon Chernobyl" -- from all sides, following the drama as it moves from the contamination site to the courtroom and beyond, even landing on the cover of Vanity Fair.
Karol: A Man Who Became Pope
2005 4.0 stars 186 mins Drama Rated: NR
Predicted Rating: 4.2
Polish actor Piotr Adamczyk portrays Karol Wojtyla -- aka Pope John Paul II -- in this two-part miniseries that aired just weeks after the pontiff's death in 2005. Filmed on location in Poland and the Vatican, this inspirational biopic follows Wojtyla from his early years as a university student who witnessed the Nazi invasion of Crakow in 1939 to his surprise election as one of the youngest popes on record some 40 years later.
The American President
1995 3.8 stars 115 mins Romance Rated: PG-13
Predicted Rating: 4.1
Widowed U.S. president Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas), one of the world's most powerful men, can have anything he wants -- and what he covets most is Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Bening), a Washington lobbyist. But Shepherd's attempts at courting her spark wild rumors and decimate his approval ratings in this romantic comedy. Rob Reiner directs, and Michael J. Fox and Martin Sheen co-star. The film was nominated for a Best Score Oscar.
The Scarlet and the Black
1983 3.9 stars 156 mins Drama Rated: NR
Predicted Rating: 4.1
This riveting drama is based on the true-life story of Vatican priest Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty (Gregory Peck), who helped allied P.O.W.s escape from Nazi-occupied Rome. O'Flaherty challenged Nazi officers and his Vatican superiors to save the lives of Jews during World War II. With German soldiers controlling Rome, O'Flaherty made a determined effort to hide and shuttle to safety as many Jews from the city as possible.
Fiddler on the Roof
1971 4.1 stars 179 mins Classics Rated: G
Predicted Rating: 4.1
Filmed on location in Eastern Europe, this beloved musical based on Sholem Aleichem's stories was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won three. Director Norman Jewison chronicles the trials of Jewish peasant Tevye the milkman (Israeli actor Topol), humble father of three strong-willed daughters and husband to oft-objecting wife, Golde (Norma Crane), in pre-revolutionary Russia. Violinist Isaac Stern provides the haunting music of the fiddler.
The Greatest Game Ever Played
2005 4.0 stars 121 mins Drama Rated: PG
Predicted Rating: 4.1
With a pint-sized caddie (Josh Flitter) at his side, amateur golfer Francis Ouimet (Shia LaBeouf) shocked the world at the 1913 U.S. Open when he outplayed defending British champ Harry Vardon in what was dubbed "The Greatest Game Ever Played." But Ouimet's rise to the top wasn't easy, with a hard-nosed father (Elias Koteas) and a hard-knock life to overcome. Actor Bill Paxton helms this inspiring true-life story based on actual events.
The Forsyte Saga: Series 1
2002 4.0 stars 430 mins Television Rated: NR
Predicted Rating: 4.1
An epic television miniseries, this BBC production is a literary adaptation that follows the Victorian pride of the Forsyte family through the scandals and mistakes of the patriarch, Soames (Damian Lewis). His ways change when he sees his cherished daughter grow up to be a captivating young woman (Emma Griffiths Malin) who carries on the family pride. Based on James Galworthy's Nobel Prize-winning novel.
The Blue Planet: Tidal Seas/Coasts
2001 4.2 stars 100 mins Documentary Rated: NR
until 01-Apr-2010
Predicted Rating: 4.1
The Blue Planet: Seas of Life reveals the sea and its various communities at their most fearsome and alluring. Part 4 of this TV documentary series includes the following episodes: "Tidal Seas," detailing the effects of strong tides on sea creatures and landscapes; and "Coasts," a glimpse into the life of turtles, sea lions and other creatures that retreat to the coast during breeding season.
Patriot Games
1992 3.9 stars 116 mins Action & Adventure Rated: R
Predicted Rating: 4.1
CIA desk jockey Jack Ryan (Harrison Ford) plunges into the heart of international terrorism after spoiling an assassination attempt on a British royal family member. Ryan's heroics earn him noble gratitude -- and a death warrant from the Irish Republican Army. Director Phillip Noyce deftly juggles high-tech spy craft and high-tension thrills, and Sean Bean (Ronin) chills as Ryan's nemesis.
Ben-Hur: Collector's Edition
1959 4.1 stars 422 mins Classics Rated: NR
Predicted Rating: 4.1
Charlton Heston plays Judah Ben-Hur, a proud Jew who runs afoul of ambitious boyhood friend Messala (Stephen Boyd) in this 1959 epic that boasts an unforgettable chariot race and earned 11 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Heston) and Best Director (William Wyler). Condemned to life as a slave, Judah swears vengeance against Messala and escapes, later crossing paths with a gentle prophet named Jesus.
Friends: Season 1
1994 3.9 stars 580 mins Television Rated: NR
Predicted Rating: 4.1
The first season of this monstrously successful sitcom introduces us to hapless Ross (David Schwimmer), used-to-be-a-rich-girl Rachel (Jennifer Aniston), charmingly uptight Chandler (Matthew Perry), lovable dimwit Joey (Matt LeBlanc), free-spirited Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) and obsessive-compulsive Monica (Courteney Cox). This group of close-knit chums gave us an earful of catch phrases and proves friendship is the tie that binds ... and gags.
The Tunnel
2001 4.0 stars 167 mins Foreign (German) Rated: NR
Predicted Rating: 4.1
East German swimmer Harry Melchior's (Heino Ferch) defection entailed willpower and a forged passport. But to get his sister Lotte (Alexandra Maria Lara) and others out, he has to team up with a motley crew to dig a 145-yard tunnel to East Berlin and ferry everyone back to safety. Set in the 1960s, decades before the fall of the infamous Berlin Wall, this critically acclaimed drama chronicles one of the most daring escapes to freedom.
Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer
2002 3.8 stars 87 mins Documentary Rated: NR
Predicted Rating: 4.1
A candid inside look at the genius behind the hit Hollywood musicals Singin' in the Rain, On the Town and An American in Paris, Anatomy of a Dancer is a must-see for Gene Kelly fans. This video is packed with clips from his innovative performances and choreography (including rare footage of Kelly's "Pal Joey" role on Broadway) and interviews with fellow movie stars and family.
Lawrence of Arabia
1962 4.1 stars 227 mins Classics Rated: PG
Predicted Rating: 4.1
Director David Lean's Oscar-winning epic tells the true-life story of British warrior-poet T.E. Lawrence (Peter O'Toole), who helped unite warring Arab tribes so they could strike back against the Turks in World War I. Lushly filmed and expertly acted, this timeless classic underscores the clash between cultures -- and within one man -- that changed the tide of war. Alec Guinness and Anthony Quinn co-star.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
1939 4.0 stars 129 mins Classics Rated: NR
until 01-Dec-2010
Predicted Rating: 4.1
When idealistic junior senator Jefferson Smith (James Stewart) arrives in Washington, D.C., he's full of plans and dazzled by his surroundings -- qualities he retains despite widespread corruption among his cynical colleagues. Jean Arthur puts in a sharp performance as Smith's streetwise secretary, who helps him navigate his way through Congress, in this Academy Award-winning classic from director Frank Capra.
American Experience: RFK
2004 3.9 stars 120 mins Documentary Rated: NR
Predicted Rating: 4.1
Robert Francis Kennedy could very well have been president if his tragic murder hadn't intervened. This probing, perceptive biography reassesses the remarkable and tragic life of the third Kennedy son, the boy Joe Sr. called the "runt." Featuring extensive interviews with family members, friends, journalists, Washington insiders and civil rights activists, the film chronicles the pivotal role RFK played in many of the major events of the 1960s.
Jean de Florette / Manon of the Spring
1986 4.2 stars 234 mins Foreign (French) Rated: NR
Predicted Rating: 4.1
Claude Berri directs this pair of award-winning French dramas. In Jean de Florette, two men (Yves Montand and Daniel Auteuil) scheme to acquire a neighboring farm by preventing a natural spring from flowing, a water source that the new owner, Jean (Gérard Depardieu), needs for his crops. In Manon of the Spring, Jean's grown daughter (Emmanuelle Beart) goes after the two men with a fierce vengeance worthy of her proud and courageous heritage.
Akeelah and the Bee
2006 3.8 stars 112 mins Children & Family Rated: PG
Predicted Rating: 4.1
With an aptitude for words, 11-year-old Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer) is determined to spell her way out of South Los Angeles, entering scores of local contests and eventually landing a chance to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. Despite discouragement from her mother (Angela Bassett), Akeelah gets support from her bookish tutor (Laurence Fishburne), her principal (Curtis Armstrong) and proud members of her community.
Wait Until Dark
1967 3.9 stars 108 mins Thrillers Rated: NR
Predicted Rating: 4.1
Audrey Hepburn was nominated for an Academy Award for her portrayal of Susy Hendrix, a blind woman terrorized by a criminal (Alan Arkin) who's after a stash of heroin that was planted in her apartment inside a doll without her knowledge. When the stalker isolates Hendrix in her apartment, she must find a way to defeat him in a thrilling, chilling battle of wits, relying on all of her senses -- save her sight -- to stay alive.
Sense and Sensibility
2008 4.2 stars 180 mins Drama Rated: NR
Predicted Rating: 4.1
Emmy Award-winning writer Andrew Davies (Pride and Prejudice) stylishly interprets Jane Austen's beloved novel for this acclaimed BBC production. Formerly privileged sisters Elinor and Marianne can avoid poverty by attracting suitable husbands -- but will they also find true love? Filmed on location in the English countryside, the lavish miniseries stars some of the U.K.'s greatest actors and takes a more sensual approach than other adaptations.
Bleak House
2005 4.0 stars 465 mins Drama Rated: NR
until 01-Apr-2010
Predicted Rating: 4.1
The wealthy and kind John Jarndyce (Denis Lawson) takes orphaned Esther Summerson (Anna Maxwell Martin) into his household, where she befriends two of his wards, Richard (Patrick Kennedy) and Ada (Carey Mulligan). Meanwhile, Lady Dedlock (Gillian Anderson) guards a secret about Esther's origins -- and her fate. Charles Dickens's suspenseful yarn of legal justice comes to life in this BBC miniseries penned by period-piece writer Andrew Davies.
Hotel Rwanda
2005 4.2 stars 122 mins Drama Rated: PG-13
Predicted Rating: 4.1
Amid the holocaust of internecine tribal fighting in Rwanda that sees the savage butchering of hundreds of thousands of men, women and children, one ordinary hotel manager (Oscar nominee Don Cheadle) musters the courage to save more than 1,000 helpless refugees. Sophie Okonedo, Nick Nolte and Joaquin Phoenix co-star in this powerful film -- often described as an African Schindler's List -- directed by Terry George.
Vertigo
1958 4.0 stars 129 mins Classics Rated: PG
until 31-May-2010
Predicted Rating: 4.1
One of Alfred Hitchcock's darkest and most compelling suspense films tells the story of police detective Scottie Ferguson (James Stewart), who has a crippling fear of heights -- and an all-consuming obsession with a married woman. When an old friend asks him to tail his wife (Kim Novak), Scottie is drawn into a vortex of deceit and murder. But that's only the beginning as a mesmerizing score draws Scottie to the film's haunting final shot.
Witness
1985 3.9 stars 112 mins Thrillers Rated: R
Predicted Rating: 4.1
In director Peter Weir's tense thriller, cop John Book (Harrison Ford) goes undercover in an Amish community to protect a boy who witnessed a murder. Once inside, the faux-Amish Block must adjust to major culture shock while cautiously romancing the child's mother (Kelly McGillis). Suspense and romance intermingle memorably in William Kelly's airtight script, a frequent model for budding screenwriters.
Frontline: Inside the Meltdown
2009 4.1 stars 60 mins Documentary Rated: NR
until 01-Aug-2010
Predicted Rating: 4.1
Shining a light on the economic meltdown that changed the mood of the 2008 presidential election, this edition of "Frontline" offers an inside look at what caused the crisis and who -- if anyone -- could have stopped it. Segments focus on the failures of Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers and AIG; the U.S. government bailout costing taxpayers $700 billion; and the roles of the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve in repairing the damage.
It Happened One Night
1934 4.0 stars 105 mins Classics Rated: NR
until 01-Jan-2011
Predicted Rating: 4.1
Runaway socialite Ellie Andrews (Claudette Colbert) is en route to the Big Apple to elope with a fortune-hunting flyboy. Along the way she meets a crusty newspaperman (Clark Gable), who's just been sacked and -- unbeknownst to Ellie -- plans to sell her story to get his job back. But a string of zany misadventures leads them to realize they're madly -- if reluctantly -- in love. It Happened One Night swept every major Academy Award.
Chariots of Fire
1981 3.7 stars 124 mins Drama Rated: PG
Predicted Rating: 4.1
Two very different runners -- hotshot Jewish Cambridge scholar Harold Abrahams (Ben Cross) and rigid Presbyterian missionary Eric Liddell (Ian Charleson) -- compete for the British team in the 1924 Olympics, facing intense pressure and complex personal tests of faith. Hugh Hudson directs this edifying 1981 Best Picture Oscar winner, which is based on a true story. Ian Holm co-stars as Abrahams's mentor, Sam Mussabini.
October Sky
1999 3.9 stars 108 mins Drama Rated: PG
Predicted Rating: 4.1
As the Soviet satellite Sputnik streaks across the heavens in October 1957, it's a source of inspiration for 17-year-old Homer Hickam (Jake Gyllenhaal), who refuses to follow in his father's footsteps laboring in West Virginia's coal mines. Hickam would rather reach for the stars -- literally. Drafting a few friends, he sets about crafting a rocket to compete for a science-fair scholarship -- and a chance to change his seemingly immutable future.
You've Got Mail
1998 3.5 stars 119 mins Comedy Rated: PG
Predicted Rating: 4.1
In this valentine to modern romance, book superstore magnate Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) and independent book shop owner Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) fall in love in the anonymity of the Internet -- both blissfully unaware that he's trying to put her out of business. Soon, however, director Nora Ephron's Golden Globe-nominated romantic comedy puts romance on the ropes -- and forces two people to make tough decisions about life, love and livelihood.
Gandhi
1982 3.9 stars 190 mins Drama Rated: PG
Predicted Rating: 4.1
This awe-inspiring biopic about Mahatma Gandhi (Ben Kingsley) -- the diminutive lawyer who stood up against British rule in India and became an international symbol of nonviolence and understanding -- brilliantly underscores the difference one person can make. Epic and unforgettable, the film swept the 1983 Oscars, winning eight awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Kingsley), Best Screenplay and Best Director (Richard Attenborough).
American Dreams
2002 3.9 stars 1113 mins Television Rated: NR
Predicted Rating: 4.0
The Pryors are a middle-class Philadelphia family with four children -- recent enlistee J.J. (Will Estes), American Bandstand dancer Meg (Brittany Snow), know-it-all Patty (Sarah Ramos) and Polio-stricken Will (Ethan Dampf) -- and parents Jack (Tom Verica) and Helen (Gail O'Grady), who struggle to keep their family together through the changing times of the 1960s. The show features music stars of today in cameos as American Bandstand performers.
Gloomy Sunday
1999 3.9 stars 114 mins Foreign (German) Rated: NR
until 19-Jan-2011
Predicted Rating: 4.0
A romantic melodrama set in 1930s Budapest, Gloomy Sunday centers on a love triangle with tragic consequences. Restaurant owner Laszlo hires pianist András to play in his restaurant. Both men fall in love with the beautiful waitress Ilona, who inspires András to write his only composition. The resulting song, "Gloomy Sunday," is at first loved by the public … but soon, its melancholic melody appears to trigger a chain of suicides.
Sneakers
1992 3.8 stars 126 mins Thrillers Rated: PG-13
until 31-Aug-2010
Predicted Rating: 4.0
When shadowy U.S. intelligence agents blackmail a reformed computer hacker (Robert Redford) and his eccentric team of security experts into stealing a code-breaking "black box" from a Soviet-funded genius, they uncover a bigger conspiracy. Now, he and his "sneakers" (Sidney Poitier, Dan Aykroyd, River Phoenix and David Strathairn) must save themselves and the world economy by retrieving the box back from their blackmailers.
The Circus
1928 3.9 stars 68 mins Classics Rated: G
Predicted Rating: 4.0
Charlie Chaplin once again dons the tattered threads of his iconic alter ego in this underrated effort. Desperate to elude the police who have mistaken him for a notorious pickpocket, the bumbling vagabond joins the ranks of a traveling circus. While posing as a big top performer, the Tramp falls head over heels for an equestrienne (Merna Kennedy) who just so happens to be the daughter of the circus's no-nonsense ringmaster (Al Ernest Garcia).
Mark Twain
2000 4.1 stars 220 mins Documentary Rated: NR
until 01-May-2010
Predicted Rating: 4.0
Explore the life, work and history of celebrated writer and humorist Mark Twain with this fascinating documentary that draws from a massive amount of material, including thousands of archival photographs. Nearly 20 well-known writers and scholars discuss Twain, shedding light on his extraordinary life and enduring legacy. This exhaustive profile from master documentarian Ken Burns took almost three years to complete.
The World's Fastest Indian
2005 4.0 stars 126 mins Drama Rated: PG-13
until 01-Jun-2011
Predicted Rating: 4.0
This fact-based drama stars Anthony Hopkins as quirky New Zealander Burt Munro, a 67-year-old grandfather who flies across Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats and blazes into the record books at 183.586 mph on his customized Indian Scout motorcycle. Set in 1967, the film is the second pairing of Hopkins and writer-director Roger Donaldson; the duo also collaborated on the seafaring epic The Bounty (1984).
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
1982 4.1 stars 121 mins Children & Family Rated: PG
Predicted Rating: 4.0
Steven Spielberg's 1982 smash hit tells the heartwarming story of the special bond 10-year-old Elliot (Henry Thomas) forges with an alien he names E.T. The adventures they share as Elliot tries to hide his new friend and E.T. tries to get back to his planet ("E.T. phone home!") provide plenty of action, laughter and tears. Dee Wallace, Peter Coyote and a young Drew Barrymore co-star.
The Man from Snowy River
1982 3.9 stars 102 mins Drama Rated: PG
until 21-Mar-2011
Predicted Rating: 4.0
After his father's death, young cowboy Jim Craig (Tom Burlinson) tries to earn money so he can keep his father's farm going. He gets a job breaking wild horses and falls in love with the feisty daughter (Sigrid Thornton) of his wealthy boss. Can he prove his mettle to keep his job and prove his worth as a man to keep his girl? Kirk Douglas co-stars in this family-friendly Australian Western based on Banjo Paterson's famous poem of the same name.
Hopscotch
1980 3.7 stars 106 mins Comedy Rated: R
until 07-Jul-2010
Predicted Rating: 4.0
Miles Kendig (Walter Matthau) knows too much. One of the CIA's top international operatives, he's suddenly relegated to a desk job in an agency power play. Unwilling to go quietly, Kendig, aided by a Viennese widow (Glenda Jackson), begins writing a memoir that exposes the darkest secrets of every major intelligence agency in the world. The CIA wants Kendig dead, but he refuses to cooperate -- he's having too much fun.
Titanic: The Complete Story
1994 4.0 stars Documentary Rated: NR
Predicted Rating: 4.0
On April 14, 1912, during the last leg of her maiden voyage, The Titanic -- known as the "ship of dreams" -- struck an iceberg and sank; more than 1500 lives were lost. In this award-winning documentary, the most complete chronicle of the Titanic disaster ever created, rarely seen newsreel footage and filmed testimonials of survivors and historians take you on an incomparable voyage into one of history's most unforgettable tragedies.
My Cousin Vinny
1992 3.8 stars 120 mins Comedy Rated: R
until 16-May-2010
Predicted Rating: 4.0
When teenage buddies Billy (Ralph Macchio) and Stan (Mitchell Whitfield) are falsely accused of croaking a convenience-store clerk in a backwoods Southern town, Billy calls on his Noo Yawk cousin Vinny (Joe Pesci), a fast-talking personal injury lawyer who's never tried a case. Vinny's crass demeanor lands him in hot water with the judge, but the lippy Brooklyn barrister has a few tricks up his sleeve. Oscar winner Marisa Tomei plays his gal pal.
Double Indemnity
1944 4.1 stars 108 mins Classics Rated: NR
starting 01-Dec-2012
Predicted Rating: 4.0
Smitten insurance man Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray) plots the perfect murder with femme fatale client Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck): staging her husband's "accidental" death to collect double indemnity on his life insurance and absconding with the loot. But before their scheme can pay off, the lethal duo must first get past a crafty claims investigator (Edward G. Robinson) who senses something isn't kosher.
Dances with Wolves
1990 4.0 stars 236 mins Drama Rated: PG-13
Predicted Rating: 4.0
Wounded Civil War soldier John Dunbar (Kevin Costner) tries to commit suicide -- and becomes a hero instead. As a reward, he's assigned to his dream post, a remote junction on the Western frontier, and soon makes unlikely friends with the local Sioux tribe. This special edition of Costner's Oscar-winning directorial debut features an extended cut of the film, an audio commentary from Costner, a behind-the-scenes featurette and more.
The Right Stuff
1983 4.0 stars 193 mins Drama Rated: PG
until 19-Jan-2011
Predicted Rating: 4.0
Director Philip Kaufman and a stellar cast -- including Sam Shepard, Scott Glenn and Ed Harris -- chronicle NASA's early transition from breaking the sound barrier in 1947 to the expeditions of the Mercury astronauts in the 1960s. Richly variegated and surprisingly funny, this film adaptation of a novel by Tom Wolfe brilliantly depicts the personal, political and technological achievements it took for America to get ahead in the space race.
Patton
1970 3.9 stars 171 mins Classics Rated: PG
until 11-Sep-2010
Predicted Rating: 4.0
Gen. George S. Patton (George C. Scott) earned the nickname "Blood and Guts" for his determination on the battlefield. This epic-scale production follows the commander as he guides his troops across Africa and Europe, illuminating a man whose life was defined by war. Director Franklin J. Schaffner's multiple Oscar winner is a character study masquerading as a World War II film, with astonishing combat scenes and reflection on Patton's inner life.
In the Heat of the Night
1967 4.0 stars 110 mins Classics Rated: NR
Predicted Rating: 4.0
Philadelphia detective Virgil Tibbs (Sidney Poitier) helps a redneck Southern sheriff (Rod Steiger) solve a murder in this fascinating study in racism that still strikes a resonant chord today. Steiger won a Best Actor Oscar for his performance as the put-upon sheriff who comes to respect Tibbs's professionalism and ability. Norman Jewison directs this dramatic tale with a feeling for the cultural and social atmosphere of the time.
Black Book
2006 3.8 stars 146 mins Foreign (Dutch) Rated: R
Predicted Rating: 4.0
Based on true events, this epic drama from writer-director Paul Verhoeven stars Carice van Houten as Rachel Stein, a beautiful Jewish woman who averts Nazi capture, then assumes a new Aryan identity and joins the Dutch resistance movement. A local leader persuades her to seduce a Nazi commander and take down the enemy from within. But leading a double life takes its toll -- especially when both sides turn against her.
Galápagos
2007 4.1 stars 150 mins Documentary Rated: NR
Predicted Rating: 4.0
Explore the fascinating world that inspired Darwin's theory of evolution with this visually stunning documentary from the BBC, narrated by Tilda Swinton. Created by volcanoes and located about 600 miles west of Ecuador, the isolated Galápagos Islands form an environment that supports a diversity of life not found anywhere else on earth. Learn about the history of the area, the amazing creatures that live there and Darwin's experiences on the islands.
As Time Goes By: Series 1 and 2
1992 4.0 stars 376 mins Television Rated: UR
until 01-Apr-2010
Predicted Rating: 4.0
This endearing British television series captured sentimental minds and hearts around the world as former lovers Lionel (Geoffrey Palmer) and Jean (Judi Dench) reunite forty years after their first romance. But their new relationship has its own drama, as Jean's daughter's matchmaking games, Lionel's burgeoning writing career and Jean's trepidations about love in life's later years risk interfering with happily ever after.
Anatomy of a Murder
1959 3.9 stars 160 mins Classics Rated: NR
Predicted Rating: 4.0
Nominated for seven Oscars, this legal thriller profiles the attempts of country lawyer Paul Biegler (James Stewart) to exonerate Frederick Manion (Ben Gazzara), who's charged with a local barkeep's murder but claims the victim raped his wife (Lee Remick). Employing a temporary insanity defense, Biegler tries to outmaneuver slick celebrity prosecutor Claude Dancer (George C. Scott) but discovers there's more to the case than meets the eye.
Miss Potter
2006 3.9 stars 93 mins Drama Rated: PG
Predicted Rating: 4.0
Blending lush animation sequences with live-action drama, director Chris Noonan constructs this unconventional biopic about the personal life of beloved children's author and illustrator Beatrix Potter (Renée Zellweger). The film traces Potter's romance with a young editor (Ewan McGregor) as well as her enduring contributions to literature, including the timeless bunny story The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Emily Watson co-stars.