Red Rock West (1993)

What? Nicholas Cage? In a noir set in Texas? What? Dennis Hopper is there too, completely cowboy'd up? WHAT? I can't hear you over HOW MUCH THIS MOVIE HAS EVERYTHING. Back before the New Millennium you might recall that Cage had other modes besides crazy-dialed-to-11-on-the-crazy-meter (which, by the way, I don't mind), and he's at maybe a 3 or 4 in this, which makes him easy to like as the hapless guy who falls into Problems (a noir archetype?). Hopper, on the other hand, has always had his own personal setting on The Meter, and while he's not quite broadcasting at Blue Velvet frequency, he's still rocking pretty hard as "Lyle from Dallas," a character who is always dressed in the most awesome way possible and who is always having fun. Lara Flynn Boyle is also there, remember her from Twin Peaks? Jesus Christ, did David Lynch cast this movie?

It's ok if he did, because he didn't write or direct it. Whoever did though (John Dahl, who directed the forgettable "You Kill Me" and who has apparently directed at least 1 episode of every show worth watching on cable in the last 3 years) probably woke up one morning and thought "Damn, what if someone made a movie like Blood Simple, but with a better cast, and not so serious?" Maybe describing it as not as serious is inaccurate, because a lot of people are in trouble throughout the movie, but Dennis Hopper's mania keeps the movie fun in spite of the body count.

Reasons why this is worth your time:

• Nicholas Cage
• Dwight Yoakam cameo
• Car/Train race/chase
• Dennis Hopper screaming and screaming
• It is on Netflix Instant
  
• I have given you enough reasons!
  

The Youth of the Beast (1963)

Okay, awesome. The Youth of the Beast is a Yakuza movie from Seijun Suzuki who - according to imdb - has directed 50-some movies to date, and has one in the works right now. That's great, whatever, I haven't seen his other movies, but maybe I'll have to. This movie is also a Yakuza film, a genre I'm also not qualified to talk about as this was (maybe?) my first proper exposure to it. But, I am able to safely say that this movie is pretty rad. Here's why: 1) it's Japanese, 2) despite being Japanese it clocks in at only an hour and a half long, 3) the main character is pretty much of a badass (despite having hella chipmunk cheeks), and 4) it's from the 60's so everyone's dressed like Mad Men. No, seriously:



Anyway, listen: This movie is about an ex-cop who gets wind of an old partner's apparent suicide. He suspects foul play, so he does what any sensible person would: he beats the hell out of some Yakuza until they offer him a job. Once he's in, he can conduct his investigation. This movie's got shooting, double-double-crossing, suits, a car chase, comedy, everything. Ok!

7 out of 10.