1. The Shawshank Redemption
Year of Release: 1994
Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 4 stars
Language: English
Genre: Drama
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Frank Darabont
Actors: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton, William Sadler, Clancy Brown, Gil Bellows
Plot: A young banker named Andy, has his life changed rapidly when he is convicted of the murder of his wife and lover, and sentenced to life in prison. As the story unfolds, Andy shows that he is a not a typical prisoner. With the help of his friend Redd, Andy makes the most of his prison life. The film takes place in the 1940's.
2. Fight Club
Year of Release: 1999
Overall Rating: 3.3 out of 4 stars
Language: English
Genre: Drama/Crime
MPAA Rating: R
Director: David Fincher
Actors: Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, Helena Bonham Carter, Meat Loaf, Zach Grenier
Plot: An average thirty-something office worker gets so bored of his life he creates a local fighting club. The path of insanity and psychosis is inevitable.
3. Pulp Fiction
Year of Release: 1994
Overall Rating: 3.4 out of 4 stars
Language: English
Genre: Crime/Drama
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Actors: John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, Ving Rhames, Uma Thurman, Harvey Keitel
Plot: A story of four interweaving stories developing from hit men, boxers, ringleaders, and anyone else who is involved with a crime. Violence and crime are not far away.
4. Forrest Gump
Year of Release: 1994
Overall Rating: 3.3 out of 4 stars
Language: English
Genre: Drama/Comedy
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Actors: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright Penn, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson, Sally Field
Plot: A "slow" man explains to people he meets on a park bench his life story which seems to encounter historic events.
5. The Matrix
Year of Release: 1999
Overall Rating: 3.2 out of 4 stars
Language: English
Genre: Sci-Fi/Action
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski
Actors: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne, Joe Pantoliano, Hugo Weaving, Gloria Foster
Plot: A computer programmer, Neo, finds that things are not how they seem. His life will get turned upside down when Morphius gives him a choice to see the truth.
6. Schindler's List
Year of Release: 1993
Overall Rating: 3.4 out of 4 stars
Language: English
Genre: Drama/Biography
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Steven Spielberg
Actors: Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes, Caroline Goodall, Mark Ivanir, Embeth Davidtz
Plot: Schindler (played by Liam Neeson) tries to save the Jews by bringing as many as he can to an ammunitions plant that may not produce any ammunition.
7. Goodfellas
Year of Release: 1990
Overall Rating: 3.4 out of 4 stars
Language: English
Genre: Crime/Drama
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Martin Scorsese
Actors: Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco, Frank Sivero
Plot: A drug dealing gangster works his way up the chain of command while building close relationships with the leader. Based off a true story.
8. The Silence of the Lambs
Year of Release: 1991
Overall Rating: 3.4 out of 4 stars
Language: English
Genre: Thriller/Horror
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Jonathan Demme
Actors: Anthony Hopkins, Jodie Foster, Anthony Heald, Scott Glenn, Ted Levine, Franke Faison
Plot: An FBI agent uses the help of Dr. Hannibal Lector, a confined psychopathic killer, to profile a missing person's kidnapper and serial killer. As she comes closer to lector, she shows sign of nervousness. Will she still seek his help to complete the job?
9. Saving Private Ryan
Year of Release: 1998
Overall Rating: 3.3 out of 4 stars
Language: English
Genre: War/Drama
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Steven Spielberg
Actors: Tom Hanks, Barry Pepper, Adam Goldberg, Edward Burns, Matt Damon, Tom Sizemore
Plot: Once soldiers cross the line from the beach to land, they are assigned to find Private Ryan, who none of them know, nor do they know if he is alive, but they must follow the commanding officer.
10. Se7en
Year of Release: 1995
Overall Rating: 3.3 out of 4 stars
Language: English
Genre: Thriller/Crime
MPAA Rating: R
Director: David Fincher
Actors: Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Spacey, R. Lee Ermey, Daniel Zacapa
Plot: A retiring officer and his soon-to-be replacement track a serial killer
who is using the seven deadly sins as his guide.
