Me, Myself & Irene (2000)

The Farrelly Brothers' uproarious comedy about a Rhode Island state trooper with "Jekyll & Hyde" split personality disorder is criminally underrated and vulgar to the extreme. I remember watching this in theaters on opening day and people rolling in the aisles and that's what stays with me the most. Good times. Along with Dumb & Dumber, the Farrellys gift us one of Jim Carrey's funniest performances, and the subtle way he's able to "switch" from Charlie to Hank never fails to delight me. Like The Mask, it's extreme wish fulfillment, especially if you have a hair trigger and ever wanted to go off on people.

4 cocks up the ass out of 5

Chicago (2002)

It's necessary to step outside of your comfort zone from time to time, which accounts for my viewing of Chicago. I'm no stranger to musicals, but it was categorically the first time I've ever sat through the entirety of a film that featured Richard Gere. Happily, it wasn't the rags to riches story I feared it might be. In fact, it was far removed from any of the safe-route assumptions that I held in advance, so kudos to it for that.
Stage-struck dreamer Roxie (Zellweger) frequently uses her imagination to escape the reality she finds herself in, whereas Velma (Zeta-Jones) uses her established reputation to influence her own reality as best she can; in both cases it's the best acting from either lady that I've ever seen.
I've no urge to rewatch it but nor do I regret giving it my time. The songs are vibrant and timely, and the dialogue occasionally clever and sharp edged.

3 stocking fillers out of 5

Empire Records (1995)

A young adult comedy drama from an era when those words combined weren't something to outright avoid. It's about a group of misfits and miscreants that work at a record store and takes place over the course of one day. The store is a haven for them, offering a place where they can work out their problems, overseen by a fatherly store manager named Joe.
It gives the illusion that work is fun, which is the first hurdle you have to overcome to enjoy it. After about half an hour it settles into something that's more than the sum of its parts.
The Remix: Special Fan Edition adds 16 minutes of additional footage.

3 kinds of glue out of 5

Appaloosa (2008)

I love a good western. Appaloosa delivers. It’s not particularly innovative in the story department, two men are hired to protect a town from a violent antagonist, but the main characters are so wonderfully rich that you won’t mind. The friendship between Viggo Mortensen and Ed Harris is a beautiful thing. The bond between them is constantly reinforced as they share screen space much of the time. The cinematography is subtle but flawless. It’s piss-inducing funny at times, too.
Ed Harris adapted the story, directed, starred and even did a song for the end credits. It's his baby.

4 what's the word I'm looking for? out of 5