32 - Croupier

Clive Owen has shown a lot of potential in action, but in Croupier (which is actually an older film; pre-fame) we see him engaged in a character study. Following the thought process and story was engaging and Mike Hodges did a great job mixing narration and normal storytelling.

With all the insight into casinos and gambling, this would make a great companion to Rounders.

31 - Casa De Los Babys

The list of cast members was heavy: Maggie Gyllenhaal, Lili Taylor, Marcia Gay Harden, Darryl Hannah, mary Steenburgen, and you can't help but think that the scenes were probably extended to give everyone time to be in their element...and that may have worked against this film. The real heroes of this film, I have to admit, are everyone (and everything) meant to support it: the mexican cast, the location, scenes of Mexican life.

John Sayles told the story of Lone Star really well and maybe I was expecting the same approach. Still, this film exposes a lot of prejudiced views that are not always caught on film and is worth watching, if only to be witness to such realities.

30 - Morvern Callar

I remember seeing bits of this when it was running on cable and was always drawn to how it gives you this drunken feeling. Samantha Morton's eyes can be really terrifying. When she stares at you, you will do her bidding ;). The texture of the film reminds me of Breaking the Waves and, like Emily Watson, Samantha delivers this continuously spaced out personality that may appear lost but is resilient and able to survive.

29 - Crimson Rivers 2: Angels of the Apocalypse

Why, of course I had to see the sequel :). The structure of the story is patterned after the original...two cops working on separate cases and then crossing somewhere in the middle. The Nazi past is again the source of the mystery. This movie features Christopher Lee! I was impressed to see him speak german and french...but I also was hoping he'd give his signature dracula scare :).

28 - Crimson Rivers

Ever since Leon, I've always considered anything Jean Reno does as gold...even when he played those bit parts in Mission Impossible, Godzilla, and Ronin. In Crimson Rivers, he plays the lead role and this time I watch him in his natural stage: a french movie.

The story, a murder mystery tied to a long running nazi conspiracy, was really interesting. It's a curious, though sad, echo from human history that still stains us to this day. Vincent Cassel plays the cocky cop...and put up against the stubborn cop (Reno), becomes a tame protege.