Bad Lieutenant (1992)

★★★★
Characteristic of an Abel Ferrera film, Bad Lieutenant is a gritty, dark crime story featuring a cop who has completely succumbed to his demons. He prowls the streets looking for ways to indulge his terrible habits, whether it's hard drugs, gambling or sexual harassment. As far as he's concerned, he has nowhere to go but down. Any chance he might have had to save himself is gone. When the opportunity presents itself, he will steal from crime scenes to fuel his descent even further. With his mind in a constant state of disarray, the cop can barely hold himself together as he pivots between his latest investigation and visiting his associates to obtain the only thing that matters to him anymore. His family is a distant reminder of how things used to be for him, while his position as a lieutenant puts him in position to manipulate everyone for his personal gain. He hasn't been happy for years.

Forces of Nature (1999)

★½
Forces of Nature is a Planes, Trains and Automobiles retread, and not a very good one. The plot features two dissimilar characters stuck together on a road trip using a variety of conveyances to get to their destination. In what could have been resolved in a matter of minutes turns into an endless parade of mishaps. That's unfortunate, because Ben Affleck's performance is really good. He takes a weak script and salvages the story somewhat, but eventually he falls victim to the decisions made by writer Marc Lawrence and director Bronwen Hughes. Sandra Bullock, on the other hand, gives what is quite possibly the most irritating performance of her career.

Top Gun (1986)

★★★
Tony Scott’s testosterone-fueled U.S. Navy recruiting film Top Gun promises to deliver the goods and does so with resounding glee. It’s as reckless as its main character, veering between exciting aerial dogfight scenes and characters who don’t really grow but react. It’s an early indicator that Tom Cruise could carry an action movie, something he would do well into his 50s with no sign of losing his step. It takes a risk by not featuring a traditional antagonist, despite its cold war themes, and instead internalizes the challenges for the hero to overcome. This works to a point. Watching the movie is the equivalent of downing a box of energy drinks, because once the adrenalin rush wears off all that’s left is the memory of what took place in the skies and that iconic soundtrack. Everything in between is largely filler.

Party Girl (1995)

★★★
There’s an iconic photograph of Audrey Hepburn’s Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany’s in the middle of a party. She stands still and smiles gleefully at the camera while revelers party on. The photo highlights the character’s position as the center of attention amidst the merrymaking. It is very likely that Holly didn’t know everyone around her. She was part of a scene, and she enjoyed it and thrived in it. It was a lifestyle. I thought about that photo as I watched Party Girl, featuring Parker Posey as a free spirit who throws raves and charges a fee so that she can pay the rent. Parker Posey—the Queen of the Indies who adorned video store shelves with a steady supply of movies throughout the ‘90s. By the end of the decade, she had starred in dozens of movies, most of which played at art houses, where she made her mark.

Father Stu (2022)

★★★
I applaud Mark Wahlberg’s determination to make films that he could show his kids. If this new direction in his career provides personal and spiritual fulfillment, then I hope the best for him, and I look forward to seeing what he has in store for us. I wish he didn’t regret his involvement in Boogie Nights (1997). It’s a masterpiece of writing and acting, with a soundtrack loaded with many iconic ‘70s and ‘80s hits, all incorporated seamlessly into the action. It helped solidify his position as a dependable leading man, one that was integral in shedding his Marky Mark persona. In making Father Stu, he invested millions of his own money into its production, much like Mel Gibson had done years earlier for his own faith-based film, The Passion of the Christ. (Getting Gibson to co-star was a smart decision.) It tells the story of Father Stuart Long, a former boxer who became a priest after a near death experience. Wahlberg has played gritty characters before, but this time he gets to bring one to redemption, displaying his range as an actor in the process. It’s a remarkable job.