Pretty Woman (1990)

R 119 min  -  Comedy | Romance  -   23 March 1990 (USA)
6.7

Director: Garry Marshall

Writer: J.F. Lawton

Stars: Richard Gere, Julia Roberts and Jason Alexander

Edward is a rich, ruthless businessman who specializes in taking over companies and then selling them off piece by piece. He travels to Los Angeles for a business trip and decides to hire a prostitute. They take a liking to each other and he offers her money if she'll stay with him for an entire week while he makes the "rich and famous" scene (since it doesn't do for a man of his stature to be alone at society parties and polo matches). Romantic comedy (and complications) ensue. Written by Afterburner

Notting Hill (1999)

PG_13 124 min  -  Comedy | Romance  -   28 May 1999 (USA)
6.9

Director: Roger Michell

Stars: Hugh Grant, Julia Roberts and Richard McCabe

Every man's dream comes true for William Thacker, an unsuccessful Notting Hill bookstore owner, when Anna Scott, the world's most beautiful woman and best-liked actress, enters his shop. A little later, he still can't believe it himself, William runs into her again - this time spilling orange juice over her. Anna accepts his offer to change in his nearby apartment, and thanks him with a kiss, which seems to surprise her even more than him. Eventually, Anna and William get to know each other better over the months, but being together with the world's most wanted woman is not easy - neither around your closest friends, nor in front of the all-devouring press. Written by Julian Reischl

Forrest Gump (1994)

PG_13 142 min  -  Drama | Romance  -   6 July 1994 (USA)
8.7

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Writers: Winston Groom (novel), Eric Roth (screenplay)

Stars: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright and Gary Sinise

Forrest, Forrest Gump is a simple man with a low IQ but good intentions. He is running through childhood with his best and only friend Jenny. His 'mama' teaches him the ways of life and leaves him to choose his destiny. Forrest joins the army for service in Vietnam, finding new friends called Dan and Bubba, he wins medals, creates a famous shrimp fishing fleet, inspires people to jog, starts a ping-pong craze, create the smiley, write bumper stickers and songs, donating to people and meeting the president several times. However this is all irrelevant to Forrest who can only think of his childhood sweetheart Jenny. Who has messed up her life. Although in the end all he wants to prove is that anyone can love anyone. Written by aliw135   

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

R 133 min  -  Drama  -   21 November 1975 (USA)
8.8

Director: Milos Forman

Writers: Lawrence Hauben (screenplay), Bo Goldman (screenplay), and 2 more credits »

Stars: Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher and Michael Berryman

 McMurphy has a criminal past and has once again gotten himself into trouble with the law. To escape labor duties in prison, McMurphy pleads insanity and is sent to a ward for the mentally unstable. Once here, McMurphy both endures and stands witness to the abuse and degradation of the oppressive Nurse Ratched, who gains superiority and power through the flaws of the other inmates. McMurphy and the other inmates band together to make a rebellious stance against the atrocious Nurse. Written by Jacob Oberfrank.

 

Schindler's List (1993)

R 195 min  -  Biography | Drama | History  -   15 December 1993 (USA)
8.9

Writers: Thomas Keneally (book), Steven Zaillian (screenplay)

Stars: Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes and Ben Kingsley

Oskar Schindler is a vainglorious and greedy German businessman who becomes unlikely humanitarian amid the barbaric Nazi reign when he feels compelled to turn his factory into a refuge for Jews. Based on the true story of Oskar Schindler who managed to save about 1100 Jews from being gassed at the Auschwitz concentration camp. A testament for the good in all of us. Written by Harald Mayr  

The Godfather: Part III (1990)

R 162 min  -  Crime | Drama |  -   25 December 1990 (USA)
7.6

Stars: Al Pacino, Diane Keaton and Andy Garcia

In the final instalment of the Godfather Trilogy, an aging Don Michael Corleone seeks to legitimize his crime family's interests and remove himself from the violent underworld but is kept back by the ambitions of the young. While he attempts to link the Corleone's finances with the Vatican, Michael must deal with the machinations of a hungrier gangster seeking to upset the existing Mafioso order and a young protoge's love affair with his daughter. Written by Keith Loh    

The Godfather: Part II (1974)

R 200 min  -  Crime | Drama  -   20 December 1974 (USA)
9.0

Writers: Francis Ford Coppola (screenplay), Mario Puzo (screenplay), and 1 more credit »

Stars: Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and Robert Duva

The continuing saga of the Corleone crime family tells the story of a young Vito Corleone growing up in Sicily and in 1910s New York; and follows Michael Corleone in the 1950s as he attempts to expand the family business into Las Vegas, Hollywood and Cuba. Written by Keith Loh <loh@sfu.ca>   

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

R 142 min  -  Crime | Drama  -   14 October 1994 (USA)
9.2

Director: Frank Darabont

Writers: Stephen King (short story "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption"), Frank Darabont (screenplay)

Stars: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman and Bob Gunton

 Andy Dufresne is a young and successful banker whose life changes drastically when he is convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his wife and her lover. Set in the 1940's, the film shows how Andy, with the help of his friend Red, the prison entrepreneur, turns out to be a most unconventional prisoner. Written by Martin Lewison <milst1@cislabs.pitt.edu>  

The Godfather (1972)

R 175 min  -  Crime | Drama  -   24 March 1972 (USA)
9.2

Director: Francis Ford Coppola :Writers: Mario Puzo (screenplay), Francis Ford Coppola (screenplay), and 1 more credit »

Stars: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino and James Caan

The story begins as "Don" Vito Corleone, the head of a New York Mafia "family", oversees his daughter's wedding. His beloved son Michael has just come home from the war, but does not intend to become part of his father's business. Through Michael's life the nature of the family business becomes clear. The business of the family is just like the head of the family, kind and benevolent to those who give respect, but given to ruthless violence whenever anything stands against the good of the family. Don Vito lives his life in the way of the old country, but times are changing and some don't want to follow the old ways and look out for community and "family". An up and coming rival of the Corleone family wants to start selling drugs in New York, and needs the Don's influence to further his plan. The clash of the Don's fading old world values and the new ways will demand a terrible price... Written by Charlie Ness