In response to British atrocities, a war hero reluctantly joins in the American Revolution. [ The Patriot credits: Dir: Roland Emmerich/ Mel Gibson, Heath Ledger, Joely Richardson/ 164min/ Action-Adventure/ American Revolution] “A rare cinematic salute to the kind of sacrifice that went into winning the American Revolution." This is primarily a film about family loyalty … [Read more...]
Mercury Rising (1998)
When an autistic child inadvertently cracks the U.S. government’s ultra-secret communications code, the National Security Agency (NSA) tries to protect the viability of the code—by killing the child. [ Mercury Rising credits: Dir: Harold Becker/ Bruce Willis, Alec Baldwin, Simon Lynch/ 108min/ Action-Adventure, Drama/ Individualism] “Libertarians especially will appreciate … [Read more...]
Antz (1998)
An individualist ant saves his colony. [ Antz credits: Dir: Eric Darnell, Tim Johnson/ (voices of) Woody Allen, Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman/ 87 min/ Animated, Action-Adventure/ Individualism] “The film is pervaded with a self-consciously individualist tone." Ants are collectivist by nature. Throughout their lives, they work and die for the colony, mindlessly sacrificing … [Read more...]
Escape From L.A. (1996)
A resourceful enemy of the state is given a choice: help the government retrieve a stolen high-tech weapon—or die. [ Escape from L.A. credits: Dir: John Carpenter/ Kurt Russell, Stacy Keach, Steve Buscemi/ 101 min/ SciFi-Fantasy, Action-Adventure/ Government Enforced Morality] “Escape From L.A. is primarily an action film, but there’s also a lot of comedy here, as Los … [Read more...]
The Journey of August King (1995)
A lonely farmer helps a slave-girl escape her master. [ The Journey of August King credits: Dir: John Duigan/ Jason Patric, Thandie Newton, Larry Drake/ 92 min/ Action-Adventure/ Anti-Slavery] “There are lessons here that libertarians will appreciate: doing what’s right is more important than obedience to the law; freedom is more important to human happiness than security; … [Read more...]
Race to Freedom: The Underground Railroad (1994)
Slaves escape to freedom in Canada with the help of abolitionists. [ Race to Freedom: The Underground Railroad credits: Dir: Don McBrearty/ Janet Bailey, Michael Riley, Ron White/ 90 min/ Action-Adventure/ Canada/ Anti-Slavery] “Race to Freedom: The Underground Railroad isn’t just an abolitionist-as-hero movie. The main point here is that much of the operation of the … [Read more...]
The Fortress (1992)
A young couple is sent to prison for violating a law that forbids having more than one child, and must outwit a high-tech incarceration system to escape. [ The Fortress credits: Dir: Stuart Gordon/ Christopher Lambert, Kurtwood Smith, Loryn Locklin/ 95 min/ SciFi-Fantasy, Action-Adventure / Reproductive Liberty] “The film makes the ultrapowerful state toward which we are … [Read more...]
Europa Europa (1991)
Nazi officials unknowingly promote a young Jewish man to the highest ranks of the Hitler Youth. Based on a true story. [ Europa, Europa credits: Dir: Agnieszka Holland/ Marco Hofschneider, Rene Hofschneider, Julie Delpy/ 115 min/ Action-Adventure, Biography, Foreign Language/ France, Germany/ In German with English subtitles/ Democide, Government as Bigot] “This bizarre … [Read more...]
Flashback (1990)
A young FBI agent gains sympathy for a former 1960s antiwar protester he must transport for trial. [ Flashback credits: Dir: Franco Amurri/ Dennis Hopper, Kiefer Sutherland, Carol Kane/ 108 min/ Abuse of power, Anti-draft] “This story of an aging radical from the 1960s awakening a young FBI agent to his true (heretofore repressed) self is one that libertarians will … [Read more...]
The Killing Fields (1984)
ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEE: BEST PICTURE A New York Times correspondent and his Cambodian guide brave the dangers of war and socialist atrocity to report the truth, and to protect each other. Based on a true story. [ The Killing Fields credits: Dir: Roland Joffe/ Sam Waterston, Dr. Haing S. Ngor, John Malkovich/ 141 min/ Action-Adventure/ Democide, Escape from Socialism, Free Press … [Read more...]