Rich Man’s 21–both a story about winning big and going for broke, but Tom Cruise is way more charismatic than Jim Sturgess (sorry Jim!). ★★★☆☆ Risky Business (as if you already didn’t know), is the 1983 dramedy that help jumpstart the career of one Thomas Cruise Mapother IV — better known as Tom Cruise. It’s […]

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Poor man’s Do The Right Thing: while American History X is definitely more shocking, I felt that Do The Right Thing does a better job of showing the motivations of the characters, even though I really don’t like Do The Right Thing. ★★★☆☆ American History X has been on my radar for a long, long […]

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Poor Man’s The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst. Soaked in Bleach is just missing that stunning bit of luck that turned the ending of The Jinx into a phenomenon ★★★★☆ The year was 2001. The place was suburban Washington. The more specific place was a middle school hallway during 2nd lunch period. […]

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Poor man’s The Graduate: Both movies are excellent, and as you’ll read, they have many similarities. However, The Graduate edges out Harold and Maude on account of being one of the best movies ever made. ★★★★☆ This week Josh assigned me a movie I’ve been avoiding since he suggested we watch it in 2009. I […]

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Poor Man’s American Psycho, If it’s older brother didn’t exist, this movie would have no shadow to stand in ★★★★☆ Jake Gyllenhaal, to me, is one of the most underrated actors we have working today. I know that’s a weird way to lead off a review, but I want to make sure that everyone reads […]

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Poor man’s Apocalypse Now: The tone felt very similar in both of these films, but unfortunately Enemy At The Gates doesn’t have anything to say. ★★☆☆☆ Ok, I asked for this movie. I begged, nay pleaded for a movie that would go down smooth. A movie that didn’t ask any deep existential questions, a fun […]

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Poor Man’s Ocean’s 11 – Oceans benefits from The Sting being in the public consciousness for decades, but the student has become the master ★★★☆☆ The Sting is one of the quintessential classic Hollywood con-man movies, featuring starring turns from Robert Redford (who you might remember as angry man on boat from my second review) […]

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Rich man’s The Big Chill: Both have similar backgrounds, college friends get together and realize that their lives never turned out as planned. I Melt With You is the gritty reboot of The Big Chill. ★★★★☆ In I Melt With You, Rob Lowe, Thomas Jane, Jeremy Piven, and Christian McKay star as four college friends […]

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Rich Man’s Humpday: a tale of bravado and bromance, but Swingers comes in the easier-to-swallow gel capsule ★★★☆☆ Swingers, as most of you probably already know, is Jon Favreau’s 1996 film debut. It stars Favreau and Vince Vaughn as two struggling entertainers (Favreau is a standup comedian, Vaughn is an actor) living in early 90s […]

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Poor man’s 500 Days of Summer: Both are romantic comedies with a twist, but I enjoy watching 500 Days more. ★★★★☆ This week Josh assigned me Chasing Amy. It’s the third movie in the View Askewniverse created by Kevin Smith. The film was released in 1997. I don’t know why, but Kevin Smith often leaves […]

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