#196. Dial M for Murder

"Mind you, even I didn't guess that at once...extraordinary."

After the discovery of his wife's infidelity, an ex-pro tennis player carries out a well-thought out, "perfect" plan to murder her.

The first time I tried to watch this, I got through about 25 minutes, and decided to quit because I just couldn't get into it. The second time around, I was determined to give the movie my undivided attention, and was able to concentrate the whole time, though I found it difficult in some scenes. That's probably my biggest complaint about this film: having to give deliberate concentration. My favorite movies are the ones that I don't even have to try to pay attention to; they demand it. This is not one of those for me. Thankfully, the film got much more interesting and suspenseful after its slow beginning.

I found this movie quite similar to another that I've watched from the Top 250, Rope. They were both directed by Alfred Hitchock, and both plots were essentially centered around the idea of a "perfect murder". I enjoyed the theme of mystery that Dial M for Murder brought; it kept me thinking, and I never expected the ending. I also enjoyed the personalities of the characters. Ray Milland portrays a confident, intelligent criminal, and Grace Kelly the beautiful, doe-eyed damsel. The inspector is also quite interesting, with his perceptive observations ultimately tying the entire plot together.

Though this film had some great aspects that I can appreciate, I was expecting to be more entertained. My immediate rating is a 6.9/10.

Characters: 7/10

Acting: 6.6/10

Storyline: 6.8/10

Entertainment Value: 6.8/10

Immediate Rating: 6.9/10

Total Score: 34.1/50

#197. Good Will Hunting

"Real loss is only possible when you love something more than you love yourself."

When a janitor from South Boston displays his uncanny mathematical ability on a school chalkboard, an MIT professor pairs him up with a psychologist in hopes of unlocking his motivation to succeed.

I've always wanted to see this movie, and I'm so glad that I finally got the chance to. There are some great actors involved in this, and the fact that Ben Affleck and Robin Williams both wrote, directed, and acted in this movie is really cool. Robin Williams and Matt Damon are also beyond fantastic together in their roles, and their therapy sessions tactfully touch on some of the most important issues in any person's life.

It doesn't even matter that there's not some deep, hard-to-grasp message behind this film; its plot held my interest throughout and its lessons stand the test of time. There's also just something so heart-warming about 90's movies. It may be the uplifting instrumental music, or that they remind me of my childhood, or maybe even the cliche but endearing storylines. Nonetheless, they never fail to make me feel good about life again, and this one was no exception. My immediate rating is a 7.8/10.

Characters: 7.7/10

Acting: 7.9/10

Storyline: 7.8/10

Entertainment Value: 8.2/10

Immediate Rating: 7.8/10

Total Score: 39.4/50