Beetlejuice is a wildly outrageous film made by the great Tim Burton. This is a film that demands multiple viewings to be fully appreciated. Beetlejuice was initially supposed to be a horror movie, but the performances by Michael Keaton as the unhinged bio-exorcist, the unfortunate dead couple, Adam and Barbara, and the whacky trio that […]
Beetlejuice (1988)

Film Title
BeetlejuiceSynopsis
A New England couple is dismayed to find death more complicated and chaotic than life.
Director
Tim BurtonCast
Alec Baldwin
Geena Davis
Michael Keaton
Winona Ryder
Jeffrey Jones
Catherine O'Hara
Glenn Shadix
Sylvia Sydney
The Mask (1994)

Film Title
The MaskSynopsis
A supernatural mask turns a bank clerk into a bizarre Super Hero
Director
Chuck RussellCast
Jim Carrey
Cameron Diaz
Peter Riegert
Peter Greene
Amy Yasbeck
Richard Jeni
It is over-stating the obvious that actor Jim Carrey is an acquired taste. He has a legion of fans that adore him and probably an equal number that find him as annoying as Forrest Gump. Love him or hate him, it cannot be denied that Jim Carrey has some serious, unique talent. Carrey has starred […]
The Wire: HBO- 2002-2008

Film Title
The WireSynopsis
The Baltimore drug scene, where the chance of young black men living past 25 is slim
Director
David SimonCast
Dominic West
Lance Reddick
Sonja Sohn
Wendell Pierce
Idris Elba
Michael Kenneth Williams
Seth Gilliam
Jamie Hector
Felicia Pearson
I recently re-watched most of this great series that ran for 5 seasons on HBO. This series is one of the most stark and brutal shows ever presented on television. It spotlights the drug scene in Baltimore, Maryland. Here is my comprehensive review and the plot summary. “N*gg*r “Bitch” “Faggot” “Ho” “Dog” “Yo” “It’s all […]
Reacher (2022)

Film Title
ReacherSynopsis
Reacher rolls into a small Georgia town and immediately finds trouble. Big trouble.
Director
Nick SantoraCast
Alan Richson
Willa Fitzgerald
Malcomb Goodwin
Bruce McGill
Chris Webster
Hugh Thompson
Martin Roach
Willie C. Carpenter
Reacher is an action series available from Prime Video and is based on books by Lee Child. I watched and am reviewing the first 8 episodes of Season One, which aired on Prime Video Feb. 04 2022. Reacher stars a bulked up, jacked up and totally bad-assed Alan Richtson. He is huge. Bigger than Dolph […]
The Verdict

Film Title
The VerdictSynopsis
A nearly washed-up alcoholic attorney has one last shot at greatness
Director
Sidney LumetCast
Paul Newman
Charlotte Rampling
Jack Warden
James Mason
Milo O'Shea
Edward Binns
Roxanne Hart
I know that in my reviews I often need to rescue myself from the perils of redundancy. Nevertheless, I will state it again; Paul Newman is and was a superstar, a Top-5 actor of all time. A quick search reveals the ugly reality that most list-makers do not share this opinion. None of this is […]
Blazing Saddles (1974)

Film Title
Blazing SaddlesSynopsis
Women are stampeded and cattle raped in this Mel Brooks masterpiece
Director
Mel BrooksCast
Cleavon LIttle
Slim Pickens
Met Brooks
Harvey Korman
Madeline Kahn
Gene Wilder
Alex Karras
David Huddleston
John Hillerman
Liam Dunn
George Furth
Dom DeLuise
Count Basie
There has been a lot written about some of the outrageous comedies of the past, movies that could not possibly be made today. Movies like Animal House, Life Of Brian, Porky’s, Airplane and all those Blaxploitation movies that Dave Franklin has reviewed at Ruthless. We, as movie lovers, are truly not worthy of movies that […]
The Tender Bar

Film Title
The Tender BarSynopsis
A coming of age story based on the best-selling book by J.R. Moehringer
Director
George ClooneyCast
Ben Affleck
Tye Sheridan
Daniel Ranieri
Lily Rabe
Christopher Lloyd
Max Martini
Briana Middleton
Rhenzy Felix
The Tender Bar is a movie that is based on the blockbuster best-seller by J.R. Moehringer, published in 2005. This book contains the memoirs of J.R. and his experiences growing up with a struggling single mom, while chasing an elusive father, known only to him as a voice in the radio. This great best-seller is […]
The Outlaw Josey Wales

Film Title
The Outlaw Josey WalesSynopsis
Josey Wales joins a Confederate guerrilla unit for revenge of the murder of his family. The ensuing bloodshed leaves him as an outlaw on the run.
Director
Clint EastwoodCast
Clint Eastwood
Sondra Locke
John Vernon
Chief Dan George
Bill McKinney
Geraldine Keams
Paula Trueman
Will Sampson
The Outlaw Josey Wales is not just another Clint Eastwood revenge movie, but a unique Western that focuses on the continuing violence, hate and treachery following the American Civil War. Josey Wales is minding his own business as a sod-buster when a bevy of Yankee Redlegs unexpectedly show up to torch his spread and kill […]
Christmas Twister (2012)

Film Title
Christmas TwisterSynopsis
The worst tornado movie ever made
Director
Peter SullivanCast
Casper Van Dien
Victoria Pratt
Richard Burgi
Dmitri Schuyler-Linch
Madelyn Deutch
Unless I am struck down with a Paul to Damascus type inspiration, this will be my last Christmas movie review of the season. It is just as well because the pickings this year are almost non-existent. I refuse to watch and review Home Sweet Home Alone, that is just not going to happen. Ditto for […]
A Merry Friggin’ Christmas (2014)

Film Title
A Merry Friggin' ChristmasSynopsis
Boyd Mitchler’s family is forced to spend Christmas with his curmudgeon father and family. He forgets the Christmas presents, but what should have been forgotten is this entire movie.
Director
Tristram ShapeeroCast
Robin Williams
Candice Bergen
Joel McHale
Lauren Graham
Oliver Platt
Gene Jones
I’ve been reviewing Christmas movies for Ruthless since 2006, with just a couple of reviews at first, but then reviewing them in earnest since 2013. I knew that this day would eventually come. The well has run dry for any Christmas movie that is remotely watchable. Oh, it has been fun to mock the really […]