10th & Wolf (2006)

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Based on a true story

”We all grow up looking for somebody to believe in. For me, it was my father. He was my hero. The day after my twelfth birthday, I found out my father killed people for a living.”
An FBI agent (Brian Dennehy) offers Tommy (James Marsden) an out from the Army where he may face court martial if Tommy will return home to Philadelphia and help take down the mob boss who was responsible for Tommy fleeing to the Army in the first place. If he took the offer, he’d also be saving the necks of his brother Vincent (Brad Renfro) and cousin Joey (Giovanni Ribisi).

Also appearing are Leslie Ann Warren, Val Kilmer, Dennis Hopper, Leo Rossi.

Directed by Robert Moresco.

Run time: 1 hour, 54 minutes

Rated R for strong brutal violence, pervasive language, some drug content and sexuality/nudity.

My personal rating: C+

Indian Runner (1991)

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The Tale of Two Brothers
Joe (David Morse) and Frank (Viggo Mortensen) Roberts couldn't be two more unlikely brothers. When Frank gets out of prison once again, cop Joe and his wife Maria (Valeria Golino) invite him to come live with them for a while until he can get on track with his life. Along with Frank comes his girlfriend Dorothy (Patricia Arquette).

But Frank's antisocial, violent nature only intensifies when he sees Joe's basic joy with life and ability to find happiness in even small ways.

Also appearing are Charles Bronson and Sandy Dennis as the boys' parents and Dennis Hopper as the neighborhood bar owner.

Based on Bruce Springsteen's song "Highway Patrolman." Written and directed by Sean Penn.

Run time: 2 hours, 7 minutes

Rated R for violence, language, and some drug use.

My personal rating: B-

Elegy (2008)

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"You ought to stop worrying about growing old. Worry about growing up."
Professor and cultural critic David Kepesh (Ben Kingsley)swiftly becomes enchanted with a recent student -- the beautiful and very sweet young Cuban woman Consuela (Penelope Cruz). He hadn't thought this kind of love possible for a man of his age who had worked hard toward his own personal independence, but there he is. And Consuela responds just as he hoped.

While his friend and colleague, Pulitzer winning poet George O'Hearn (Dennis Hopper) gives Kepesh much advice and many cautions, Kepesh moves toward obsession and possessiveness with the young woman and even stalks her.

Also appearing are Patricia Clarkson as Kepesh's girlfriend; Deborah Harry as O'Hearn's wife; and Peter Sarsgaard as Kepesh's estranged thirty-something son.

Based on a novel by Philip Roth. Directed by Isabel Coixet.

Run time: 1 hour, 53 minutes

Rated R for sexuality, nudity and language.

My personal rating: B

Sleepwalking (2008)

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"You have to face the past before you can let it go."
Joleen (Charlize Theron) loves her 12-year-old daughter Tara (AnnaSophia Robb) and wants to be a good mother, but she doesn't really know how. And she's a wild child still trying to cope with abuse issues from her own childhood.

One day Joleen and Tara show up at the apartment of her brother James (Nick Stahl). James takes them in and tries to help them on his limited income and when Joleen eventually ups and leaves, James is fearful that Tara will be taken away from him, so they hit the road in his old car.

With nowhere else to go, they end up at the farm of James and Joleen's abusive father (Dennis Hopper) and James must decide whether to stay there or spare Tara this tension.

Matthew St. Patrick is the detective who has worried about and tried to help Joleem. Woody Harrelson plays Randall, Joleen's latest boyfriend.

Directed by Bill Maher.

Run Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes

Rated R for language and a scene of violence.

My personal rating: B-