2 Days in the Valley

2 Days in the Valley (1996) starring Danny Aiello, James Spader, Eric Stoltz, Greg Cruttwell, Jeff Daniels, Terry Hatcher, Charlize Theron. Tangled crime comedy throws together a variety of lesser-known actors who would later become famous. The cops are incompetent and the crooks are incompetent, so it all makes for a dark comedy of errors, with lots of blood. For a low-budget movie, it's surprisingly entertaining. (Subtitles in English are offered on the disc, as well as closed captions.)Grade: B+

Silver Streak

Silver Streak (1976) starring Gene Wilder, Jill Clayburgh, Richard Pryor. On a transcontinental train trip (from L.A. to Chicago), George Caldwell (Wilder) witnesses a murder; but he can't get anyone to believe him. Various shenanigans ensue, but the movie really comes alive about halfway through, when Grover (Pryor) pops up and joins the cast. This was the first film to team Wilder and Pryor, who went on to make four movies together. The segment where Grover tries to teach Caldwell to act "black" is a minor classic, and there's a funny running gag about Caldwell repeatedly getting thrown off the train in the middle of nowhere. The supporting cast features a lot of familiar faces. The ending is spectacular. Subtitles are available, as well as closed captions. Grade: B+

Leaves of Grass (DVD)

Leaves of Grass (2010) starring Edward Norton, Richard Dreyfuss, Susan Sarandon, Keri Russell, Melanie Lynskey, Maggie Siff, Tim Blake Nelson, Ty Burrell, Josh Pais. Philosophy professor Bill (Norton) hears that his twin, pot-growing brother Brady (also played by Norton) has been murdered. This is soon revealed to be a cruel ploy by Brady to get Bill to come home to Oklahoma and bail him out of trouble. Bill hates every moment in Oklahoma -- until he smokes some of Brady's weed and meets Janet (Russell). From there, things get incredibly complicated. For a comedy, this film features a lot of (movie) violence. Still, except for one atonal performance by an actor, it's great fun to watch. The subtitles are adequate. Grade: B+

Duplicity (DVD)

Duplicity (2008) starring Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Tom Wilkinson, Paul Giamatti. Roberts and Owen play Claire and Ray, a pair of spies on opposite sides in an industrial espionage caper. Wilkinson and Giamatti are great as rival CEOs who hate each other. Though they are working against each other, Claire and Ray are romantically involved -- and they are secretly working together to raise $40 million so that they can get away and be together. Or at least that's what they tell each other. As befits such a movie, there's a Big Twist towards the end, and I must admit I didn't see it coming. Unfortunately, it doesn't lead to a Happy Ending, and I also admit I felt a little let down. But Roberts and Owen are fun to watch, and they are good together. The film also has excellent subtitles -- even including the lyrics to the closing song over the credits. Grade: B

Snatch (DVD)

Snatch (2000) starring Benicio Del Toro, Dennis Farina, Vinnie Jones, Brad Pitt, Rade Serbedzija, Jason Statham, Alan Ford, Mike Reid, Jason Flemyng, Stephen Graham. Director Guy Ritchie juggles several interlocking plots involving a stolen 84-carat diamond and everybody's desire to possess it. Set in London, the movie has many characters, all speaking different dialects of English. Luckily, the subtitles are excellent. Grade: B

Fargo (DVD)

Fargo (1996) starring Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi. McDormand won an Oscar for her portrayal of a rural Minnesota sheriff who unravels crimes while pregnant. Macy plays a car salesman at the end of his rope who hatches a plot to have his wife kidnapped. Needless to say, nothing about the plot goes smoothly. This is one of the best films I have seen, ever. It kept me interested and absorbed from start to finish. There are several moments of violence, however, which might turn some viewers off. Grade: A