Doctor Sleep (2019) directors cut 3 hours. It is a many years later follow-up to the "The Shining". A vicious gang of long living former human creatures perpetuate their longevity but finding and killing children who have magical "shine". So they're something like vampires. Anyway, a grown-up Danny and a tweener girl with with a very strong "shine" try to fight them off. The magical battle scenes and mental telepathy scenes are entertaining to watch as well as is the chief villain, the attractive alluring Rose the Hat. Some clever tactics are employed . I enjoyed it, but I warn that it is slow, especially the first hour. It could have been cut to two hours or else without losing much. You don't need the longer Director's cut unless you are a nerdy film buff. Grade B+.

The Gentlemen - The biggest problem is that the script isn't as smart and funny as Guy Ritchie clearly thinks it is. Heavy use of the c word does not witty dialogue make. Entertaining enough; if you've seen Lock Stock or Snatch, you know exactly what you're getting.

These are mostly excellent actors but I think Cruise is the only one on this list who can drive box office all by himself. DiCaprio is a great actor but he's not an action star. Norton may be the best actor out of all of these but his name above the title is not getting people in the seats.

Part of it is that Cruise is committed to blockbusters more than someone like Leo who chooses very varied roles.

Not that Tom hasn't been in some duds but you can say that about anyone on your list. But I don't think anyone is more bankable than Cruise and he's been doing it for what, 35+ years?

agreed, tom also produces all his own films, he's a tier unto himself, with leo pretty much a separate mini tier in between him and the rest of the a-listers

I didn't even realize he was still acting. I've barely heard his name in the last 20 years.

Why do you think someone has to be an "action star" to be a "movie star"? Not many of the old Hollywood movie stars were in action films (there weren't even many action films). You don't think DiCaprio can get financing and bring people in to see any movie he chooses? I bet if he wanted to try starring in an action movie, a studio would easily approve it. And Brad Pitt has been in some action movies.

I'm sure DiCaprio can get financing but I disagree that his name brings people to the theater. Certainly not to the extent Tom Cruise does.

And yes I agree you don't have to be in action movies to be a movie star (Tom Hanks at his peak, etc.). But in terms of bankability and box office, action franchises rule. Tom Cruise is at the top and it's not close imo.

I'd say peak Johnny Depp was probably the closest thing to Cruise in terms of star power, in that his presence and charisma was basically the reason for the success of a mega-blockbuster movie franchise. But before Pirates of the Caribbean, Depp was an offbeat actor who was not a huge box office draw. Cruise has been at the top of the A-list since the 80s.

a fantastic look into current David Cronenberg mindset going into his most modern work...

Top Gun: Maverick was quite enjoyable. Similar to how I feel about Cobra Kai, this thing turned out about as well as it possibly could have. Also,

Would probably have Smith lower.

Not sure JLaw can carry a movie alone - has she done it with anything other than Hunger Games?

Would probably have Matt Damon in the Clooney range.

Super fun conversation. Fwiw, I don't really care for Cruise, but he's a legit printing press at the box office. Gonna see Top Gun today.

Agree, he's miles ahead, with Cruise at #2. The Rock's star power is evident by the sheer volume of terrible movies he's done that have made money. Not even Cruise can make movies as bad as "Skyscraper" and "San Andreas" and draw.

Kind of agree with this, but your average movie goer doesn't turn up to a multiplex to "see the new Ryan Gosling". However, most people who like movies will watch anything with him in.

Smith is certainly lower, far too many turkeys over the last decade.

Also, why don't women draw? Agree Jlaw is not bankable. The only female star I can think of who would have made this list is Jen Aniston before she got old.

Julia Roberts up to 10 (?) years ago.

Its seems strange that he already made a movie called Crimes of the Future in 1970 . Its on the Criterion Channel.

it is indeed... Ive not seen that.

omfg how did i forget matt damon????

also think chris pratt is on the cusp but unsure if he's there or not

There are actors who will impel me to see their movies, but they are never the "stars". Gary Oldman comes to mind. Philip Seymour Hoffman when he was alive. I put Brad Pitt in this category. I think he has no desire to carry an entire movie.

kenneth branaugh, john turturro, gary oldman, vincent donofrio, jim cavisesel, guy who played littlefinger (fell in love with him in the wire), and a few others i can't think of right now

Nice list. There's a ton of these guys.

Also, I'll see anything with Joseph Gordon-Levitt. imo he can carry a movie, and this has been true since Brick, which he starred in at 23 or 24.

This isn't a troll, but I also like Nick Cage. The guy likes to work. I've thoroughly enjoyed his movies, some of which were seat-squirmingly awful.

What got me thinking about him was Turturro/Big Lebowski/Raising Arizona; so throw all those guys in the mix: Goodman, Bridges, Macy - and all the Coen Bros. gang.

Election (2005) Directed by Johnnie To

MahJong: Kids, us adults gotta talk!

Photography: A+
Music: A+

Tom Hanks: Played by Simon Yam!

Lok, You’ve been elected: Thank you, Uncle Mochi!

Screw Big D!: I lost his money on a soccer game.

“Boss, sober up.”
“I am sober.”
“Is it day or night now?”
-Jimmy

(Jimmy is an important character. I have no idea who he is. Played by Louis Koo. We’ll see more of him in the sequel.)

Corncob pipe: check!

The Dragonhead Baton: Is over 100 years old!

Long Gun; Sonny; Big D; Jet; Four-eyes; Whistle; Fish-Head; Big-Head; Sparky; Double-Dog; Dead-Dog; East; Corky; Long-Hair; Dinosaur. All gangster movies should be careful to provide their characters with colorful names: This one does!

I’m going by the rules: Watch out!

The baton: Is in China!

Dragonhead Baton: My predecessor was a messy guy! We had to clean the baton with insecticide!

I said don’t cause trouble: Saves the day!

Police: All we ask for is a balance of power; Peace and prosperity!

The last time we met you were a gangster: Now you are a police captain!

You are on: Special Watch!

Gang fight Fu: There is nothing comic or balletic about it. Brutal.

Why do you think I had Whistle killed?: To protect our business!

Times have changed -- Business is everything now: Crooks need to learn to use their brains!

“I want him dead.”: Now we have a blanket party. Double Dump!

There is only: One chairman!

About an election and the transition of power. And about playing by the rules. I have no idea how Election stayed off my radar for so many years. Made in 2005, probably the most relevant movie since 2017.

A very compact movie:

2/3 The Maltese Falcon (at least the It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World parts) (except this time they find it and it’s The Dragonhead Baton).

⅙ a big Kung Fu ceremony worthy of Kane or RZA.

⅙ Gruesome murder by the nice guy/Tom Hanks guy. Only the monkeys are witnesses.

“Every great cause begins as a movement, becomes a business, and turns into a racket.” -Eric Hoffer
In Election a racket begins as a movement, becomes a business, and turns into a racket.

Not really a Hong Kong genre film. Something else. Maybe Johnnie To’s masterpiece; I don’t know enough to say.

Trigger Warning: Motorcycle-on-car paint-bomb violence.

Trigger Warning: Car-on-motorcycle paint-bomb violence.

If there’s any chance you haven’t already seen this: check it out.

Love Election. The Triad Trilogy is so good.

Trilogy? What i is the 3rd one? After #2, I'm surprised Mainland China didn't come in and liquidate Mr To.

My bad, it’s just the two. For some reason I was thinking Triad Underworld was connected, but it just came out around the same time.

Both Election movies are great, though. I also like Johnnie To’s Exiled, Vengeance, and Drug War.

People aren't going to see a Chris Pratt film, they're going for Marvel or dinosaurs.

Cruise and maybe The Rock are kinda unique in this franchise dominated era because they themselves are the draw.

Thanks. Just watched this for free on Kanopy with Eng subs of course. Surprisingly good and very busy film. A stubborn, tough-minded gangster, mean Big D (as shown by the famous porcelain spoon eating scene), battles it out with the mild-mannered, Lok, for the two-year term chairmanship of a 50,000 member Triad gangster clan in Hong Kong. (Not sure if it is the same one that backed Tom Dwan in Macao, lol) Anyway they have a traditional election by the elders which should end it but the the loser rejects the results. A black sculpted baton that represents Triad power must be retrieved from a secret location in China. It must be transported to Hong Kong by the winner's men on roads to finish the promotion. The election loser's men try to get it by force. "Don't talk to me until you have the baton!" The baton is passed from person to person and always guarded by the carrier's life. When it is passed to a lone motorcycle driver we get the most exciting transport sequence. There is much more fun with lots of interesting supporting characters like the Whistler, Uncle, Four Eyes, Jimmy, Long Hair and others. As an added treat, the final key brutal scenes of the movie has many wild monkeys!