New Staff Picks

We just put out a new batch of Scarecrow Staff Picks for your suggested viewing pleasure. Every so often each Crow staffer picks five titles he or she enjoys and we put them out in the hopes you might like them too. We'll begin with selections and words from our colleague Matt:

Superman (1978)

The original special-effects packed comic book movie. This is an analog epic, a paradigm-setting classic that manages to completely nail the giddy sincerity of the character, played so memorably by Christopher Reeve.

Hudson Hawk (1991)

This is a legendary 90’s disasterpiece starring Bruce Willis as a wisecracking cat burglar. Studio interference, star egos and a massively inflated budget made this a total mess, but the fact that every single bit of dialogue or character interplay is intended to be a joke makes it deliriously fascinating.

Legend (1985)

Ridley Scott’s follow up to Alien and Blade Runner is every bit the visual experience you’d expect; too bad about a bland script and a woefully miscast Tom Cruise. Still, the sets and makeup effects are second to none.

Rapt  (2009)

Slow burn French thriller about a kidnapped industrialist. Instead of hurtling into full melodrama, Rapt remains dispassionate and calculating while we watch its characters scuttle about like bugs, each trying to spin the situation to their advantage.

Red White & Blue  (2010)

One of the most effective and unpleasant (in a good way) exploitation films I’ve seen in years. Skip the trailer, don’t read any reviews. Just know that you’ll have to watch certain parts of this through your fingers while you cover your eyes.

Here are the rest of our Staff Picks:

Anissa

Damages: Season 1 (2007)
Electric Edwardians: The Lost Films of Mitchell and Kenyon  (early 1900s)
Place Vendome (1998)
Smiley's People (1982)
Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy (1979)

Bryan T.

Black Book (2007)
Merantau (2009)
Mr. Stitch (1995)
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974)
UFC Classics 1 (1994)

Bryan W.

Barfly (1987)
Blade Runner (1982)
Predator (1987)
Rapture (1991)
Robocop (1987)

Elicia

Eliminators (1986)
Island Claws (1980)
Project: Metalbeast (1994)
Reform School Girls (1986)
Woodchipper Massacre (1988)

Jason

Army of Shadows (1969)
Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
Head-On (2004)
Night Moves (1975)
War at Home (1979)

Jen

 L'Avventura (1960)
Defending Your Life (1991)
Sherlock: Season 1 (2010)
Thundarr the Barbarian: Complete Series (1980)
Two in the Wave (2010)

Jensen

 The China Syndrome (1979)
Homicide (1991)
The Stuff  (1985)
Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
Wake in Fright (1974)

Joel

Brain Donors (1992)
Lincoln (1992)
Manson (1973)
Seven Days in May (1963)
St. Valentine's Day Massacre (1967)

Kevin C.

Before Sunrise (1995)
Before Sunset (2004)
Modern Romance (1981)
Perfect Getaway (2009)
Shoah (1985)

Kevin S.

Harvey Toons: Complete Collection (various, collection from 2006)
John From Cincinnati (2006)
Million Dollar Legs (1932)
Jerzy Skolimowski: 4 Films (1964)
Tom, Dick and Harry (1941)

Kirsten

Gymnast (2007)
Jump London (2005)
My Beautiful Laundrette (1985)
Sinful Life (1989)
Strings (2004)

Marc

 Art & Copy (2009)
Conan the Barbarian (1982)
Forbidden Games (1952)
Legend of the Bat (1978)
Le Million (1931)

Megan

Easy A (2010)
Fish Tank (2009)
Network (1975)
Plan B (2010)
Winnebago Man (2009)

Paige

 The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension (1984)
Akira (1987)
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Season 4 (2008)
Kings of Pastry (2009)
Superbad (2007)

Rhias

About Schmidt (2002)
Forbidden Hollywood Collection: Volume 2 (various, collection from 2008)
Madam Satan (1930)
The Scarlet Pimpernel (1934)
Secrets of The Dead: Airmen and the Headhunters (2009)

Ryan

Cass (2008)
Croupier (1999)
Dead Man's Shoes (2004)
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (2004)
Scum (1979)

Shawn

Android (1982)
Bigfoot & Wildboy: Volume 1 (1977)
Bigfoot & Wildboy: Volume 2 (1977)
I Come in Peace (1990)
Monsters (2010)

Spenser

99 River Street (1953)
Bastard Swordsman (1983)
Plunder of the Sun (1953)
Warriors Two (1978)
Yellow Sky (1949)

Travis

Crimson Tide (1995)
June 17, 1994: ESPN 30 for 30 series (2010)
Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals (2010)
Two Escobars: ESPN 30 for 30 series (2009)
UCLA Dynasty (2008)

You'll find the Staff Picks on the island shelves in our New Release section