This is a 1999 true story starring a young Jake Gyllenhaal, years before he became a household name. A film being based on a true story always gives it a bit of a boost for me, and this one has the added bonus of being genuinely different from most. The acting is solid but nothing crazy, and it’s good for a late-’90s film. It’s also an easy watch that moves along without asking too much. It’s a worthwhile, feel-good pick if you’re in the mood for something inspiring and roote

This is a 1997 horror/noir from David Lynch starring Bill Pullman and Patricia Arquette, and has great reviews. For me, it didn’t live up to them. The style leans so heavily into the artistic side that the movie never feels fluid; it plays more like a string of moods and images than a story moving forward. The music and the long pauses mid-sentence for emphasis felt over the top, and instead of building tension, they mostly pulled me out of it. Pullman and Arquette fully comm

This is a 2002 romance/drama starring Shane West and Mandy Moore, and it’s very much a product of its time. The acting fit the era, but watching it now, a lot of it comes across as cringey and cheesy. Even so, it definitely pulls on the heartstrings, and the emotional moments land harder than you’d expect. Overall, it’s a solid watch, but it really has to be for the right audience. I wouldn’t recommend it to many people, but it’s a memorable story. "Set in North Carolina, "A