Crimson Tide (1995)

Things are looking up.

K-19: The Widowmaker, even with Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson at the helm, was a disappointing view.

Crimson Tide is a much more solid effort, thanks in large part to a stronger one-two punch with Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington starring.

Russian nationals spark a major crisis when a civil war starts in the Soviet Union. Some of the communist country's nuclear weapons are seized in the uprising. There are fears the American west coast, or Washington, could be obliterated.

American submarine Alabama is tapped to head to the trouble zone and, if necessary, launch its arsenal of nuclear weapons.

Capt. Frank Ramsey (Gene Hackman) is the last skipper to have seen actual combat action. He chews through commanding officers with regularity. Lieut. Cmdr. Ron Hunter (Denzel Washington) is next in line.

Ramsey commands by barking orders. "We're here to preserve democracy, not practise it," he tells Hunter. The new CO is more personable with the crew, while still demanding results. Ramsey is disdainful of Hunter's record, noting "the closest he's been to battle is a policy seminar."

The situation in Russia worsens. The sub gets orders to release its weapons, but not all the message is received. Ramsey wants to follow through. Hunter urges caution, noting if the order is misinterpreted mankind is doomed. Ramsey's not impressed: "We don't have time to f--- around."

Hunter wants to take control of the sub to prevent Ramsey from firing the missiles. He has his backers. Ramsey is determined to act on the order he received. The skipper has his supporters.

Frantic radio repairs are done while the clock ticks down to when Russian nationals can launch their missiles.

Crimson Tide has a great cast with support work from not-quite-known talents such as Viggo Mortensen and James Gandolfini. The back-and-forth between the two camps of crew members gets a little silly.

Watch for the cast, some solid tension and a nice cameo from Jason Robards.

Next sub drama to watch: Das Boot.

RATING: 7.5/10

FUN FACTS: Viggo Mortensen's first film role was Peter Weir's Witness.

George Dzundza, who appears as Chief of the Boat, appeared in The Deer Hunter.

Didn't recognize him, but that's Rick Schroder as Lieut. Paul Hellerman and, in his film debut, Ryan Phillippe as Seaman Grattam.

The Conversation (1974)

Harry Caul makes a good living by not asking questions about what his clients want.

Based in San Francisco, Caul (Gene Hackman) is a surveillance expert, revered by others in the business for the quality of his work and the equipment he creates to do his job.

Trouble is, Caul has a conscience that is starting to interfere with his work. He's already bothered by an earlier assignment that resulted in two people being murdered.

A job to record a conversation between a young couple in a public square causes him to cross a line and get involved with what he hears.

Caul is convinced something will happen to Mark and Ann (Frederic Forrest and Cindy Williams) if he doesn't intervene.

The stress he's facing on the job isn't helped by what's happening in his personal life.

His girlfriend, Amy (Teri Garr) is frustrated by how she little she knows about Harry's life. She appears to be a bit of a ditz, but Amy notices how Harry likes to watch her.

Another big name in the surveillance world, Bernie Moran (Allen Garfield), is eager to join forces with Harry, get access to the tools he has conjured up, while also reminding him of that earlier incident that led to lives being lost.

Harry makes a point - as Amy notes - of not letting others know about his personal life. Birthday wishes from other tenants, and signs colleagues and foes are watching him causes his life to start falling apart.

Director Francis Ford Coppola made The Conversation between the first and second Godfather films. This drama from 1974 features a much smaller world and cast of characters. Hackman stands out in a film that can be uncomfortable to watch. Harry is on the edge and The Conversation's final moments are disturbing to see.

Harrison Ford makes an early screen appearance as Martin Stett, a right-hand man to the director of, well I think it's a business. His name doesn't appear in the credits, but this veteran of other Coppola films including Apocalypse Now should be identifiable.

See this film - and give a listen to Coppola's commentary.

RATING: 9/10

The Conversation was nominated for three Academy Awards - best picture, screenplay and sound.

Elizabeth MacRae was Lou-Ann Poovie, girlfriend of Gomer Pyle, USMC.

The Conversation marks the film debut of Mark Wheeler.

Mississippi Burning (1988)

I miss you, Gene Hackman.

He earned an Oscar nomination for best actor for his work in this fine 1988 feature from director Alan Parker (The Road to Wellville, The Commitments). This drama, inspired by real events in the southern United States in the 1960s, was part of a solid string of films Hackman made in the late 1980s (The Package, Bat 21, Class Action). Hackman, who turns 83 in 2013, hasn't made a film since 2004. Gene, please don't let Welcome to Mooseport be your final screen appearance. You deserve better.

His is one of several performances that make Mississippi Burning a powerful film. He's FBI Agent Rupert Anderson, sent with Agent Alan Ward (Willem Dafoe) to find three civil rights workers who are missing in Jessop County. Viewers know the trio is dead, killed in the film's opening minutes. Anderson and Ward suspect as much, but have to find their bodies.

The investigators have two very different ways of approaching their work. While Ward is by the book - he'll show up and start asking questions, Anderson plays the angles. He'll drop by for a talk, friendly or not. The veteran agent will use charm, from a bouquet of flowers to noting one's looks, to help a potential source of information feel at ease. Anderson has a nasty edge too, if needed.

Mrs. Pell (Frances McDormand) is one potential source Anderson wants to tap. Her husband, Clinton Pell (Brad Dourif), is a deputy with Jessop County police. He's also a member of the Ku Klux Klan. Part of his alibi rests on his wife. Anderson and Ward see a weak link in his story. But can they get his better half, a woman who detests the racism in her community, to talk?

Here's McDormand several years after her debut in Blood Simple and more than a decade before Fargo brought her wide attention. Her character is stuck in a marriage with a man she no longer loves, afraid to speak up in a community of whites that largely supports segregation. Stephen Tobolowsky shines in his few scenes as Clayton Townley, a high ranking member of the KKK who warns his followers about the communist forces from the northern United States who want to integrate blacks with whites. He's scary good. Tobolowsky makes an impression, just like he did several years later as Ned, the insurance salesman, in Groundhog Day.

The friction between Anderson and Ward is standard issue for such crime films. Ward is keen to bring in as many bodies as needed to find the activists. Anderson warns him a greater federal presence will only fan the flames between blacks and whites in Mississippi. Dafoe occasionally laments how blacks are treated. He's the weak link in a movie with many standout performances from supporting players such as R. Lee Emery, a really creepy Michael Rooker and Gailard Sartain.

This film is set in 1964, not even 50 years ago. It's sad to know such things as separate water fountains, seating areas and brutal beatings were all too common just several decades ago. Mississippi Burning helps viewers remember.


RATING: 8/10

FUN FACTS: Mississippi Burning was nominated for seven Oscars, but won just one for cinematography.

R. Lee Emery is the voice of Sarge in the Toy Story films.