Randyland

Video Rental Ideas

In case you, like me, occasionally find yourself at a loss in the video store, here are some ideas. The videos listed below have been recommended to me by my friends and family, and I write them on a card I carry with me.

I'll try to keep the list updated with which ones I've watched (most of these I have not seen), as well as new recommendations I receive.

  • Mighty Aphrodite (recommended by Marcia P. in CO)
  • A Simple Plan
    I've seen this one recently -- pretty entertaining, but not really my kind of movie with lots of stupid violence as a central theme.
  • Schindler's List
    Great movie, long but engaging and of course heart- and gut-wrenching.
  • Run Lola, Run (recommended by Steve M. in MN)
  • The Dinner Game (rec. by François Pichot, now in Ireland)
  • Beseiged (rec. by my mom (SF), who said it was very engaging all the way through)
  • The Perfect Storm (rec. based on the book, before the movie came out)
  • Any Given Sunday
  • Once Were Warriors (rec. by Tim W. and Laurie H. (SF), and Dan G. (HI) to them)
    Amazing film from New Zealand, the director's debut. Not a pleasant movie (domestic and sexual abuse), but believable and dramatic.
  • Buena Vista Social Club (rec. by Tim and Laurie)
  • Buckaroo Bonzai (rec. by Tim W.)
  • Breaker Morant (rec. by Tim and Laurie)
  • Withnail and I (rec. by Tim and Laurie)
  • Blast Off
  • The Committments
    Fun and musically entertaining movie out of Ireland, not altogether different from The Full Monty.
  • Primary Colors
  • Next Stop Wonderland
  • A New Leaf
  • The Green Mile
  • Cosi
  • Billy Elliot (rec. by Garry R.)
  • Six Degrees of Separation (rec. by Theresa)
  • Affliction
  • High Fidelity (rec. by Dan F. of NREL)
  • Being John Malkovich
  • Miller's Crossing
  • The Usual Suspects
    Violent, but fun shoot 'em up scenes. Kevin Spacey twists and turns in this movie.
  • Magnolia
  • Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
  • Three Kings
  • Ciderhouse Rules
  • Sixth Sense
    Watched this one on Phil P's DVD -- very cool movie, a little spooky but clever and fun.
  • Boogie Nights
  • The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover
  • Bedazzled (the original from ~ 1970) (rec. by Lee and Buzz Curtis)
  • Gods and Monsters (mentioned by Lee Curtis, who has not actually seen it)
  • The Hurricane (Denzel Washington) (recommended by The Man)