The Man Who Wasn't There

Set in the summer of 1949 in a small northern California town, this film noir from the Coen brothers stars Billy Bob Thornton as Ed Crane, a barber who's dissatisfied with his life. His wife Doris's (Frances McDormand) infidelity presents him with an opportunity for blackmail that he thinks will turn his life around ... but his scheme lays bare even darker secrets that eventually lead to murder.

My Promulgation: The Coen brothers are known for making some odd flicks, and this is certainly one. Billy Bob and Frances McDormand are both pretty good in this dark little oddball flick. Flick Flick....Can I use that word any more in two sentences....Fuck...Anyway worth the view.

Collateral

Max (Oscar nominee Jamie Foxx) takes a job as a taxi driver to make ends meet, hoping to one day run his own business. Twelve years later, he's still driving the same cab and is about to have his craziest day on the job yet when he discovers that Vincent (Tom Cruise), who's just paid Max a handsome sum to be driven around all night, is a hit man. Now, it's up to Max to save the life of Vincent's final hit … while keeping his own life intact.

My Promulgation: I think Jamie Foxx is a pretty good actor. Even though I think Tom Cruise is a typical Hollywood goofball (can you say Scientologist?) and most of his movies suck, this one was OK.

No Good Deed

In this film based on a Dashiell Hammett story, Samuel L. Jackson is Jack, a cop who, while chasing down a runaway, stumbles upon a mob robbing a bank and is abducted by the criminals. They keep Jack at a hideaway with only the ringleader's girlfriend, Erin (Milla Jovovich), to keep watch. Soon, the two begin to play on each other's weaknesses, trying to figure out who's manipulating whom, and later make a connection that trumps all others.

My Promulgation: I like Samuel Jackson, but I don't remember much about this flick…It gets two stars because I have a shitty memory. Sorry Sam.