Directed by Alan Parker (Mississippi Burning, Fame, Evita, The Life of David Gale)

Written by Oliver Stone (his first big script, also won him an academy award for Best Adapted Screenplay)

Starring Brad Davis, John Hurt, Randy Quaid

Synopsis: “Story of a man who is caught smuggling drugs out of Turkey and thrown into prison.”

INCREDIBLE. This movie is an intense, amazing, visceral experience. There were times when I was watching it that my heart was literally pounding. I’d heard that it was a good movie, but every time I considered watching it I felt like it was going to be a slow, sad story of a man unjustly held in a Turkish prison, like Brokedown Palace, which is a movie that I always found to be too frustrating and depressing to be that good (aside from the very intense Claire Danes-“I didn’t do it!” scene). This movie is NOT Brokedown Palace.

Amazing performances across the board. I watched this two days ago, and I can’t get it out of my head. That’s how good this was. I stopped rating on a number based scale a few months ago, but…

10