Dennis Hopper (1936-2010)

Dennis Hopper directed Easy Rider and often lived like the film’s drug-dealing hippie bikers, earning two exiles from Hollywood. But he returned to do sobering work — most famously as a photographer in Apocalypse Now and a psychopath in Blue Velvet.
imdb.com | Time | The New York Times | The Washington Post
Clips | “Easy Rider” | “Apocalypse Now” | “Blue Velvet”
Interviews | Charlie Rose | Bob Costas | David Letterman

MacGruber (2010)

The “Saturday Night Live” sketch isn’t funny, but it is mercifully short, and the hero dies. The movie is 99 minutes, and sadly, Will Forte’s bumbling version of 1980s television icon “MacGyver” lives — for corny sexual innuendo and misguided machismo.

d: Jorma Taccone | imdb.com | trailer | Coffee shop

Solitary Man (2010)

Michael Douglas plays another version of disgraced businessman Gordon Gekko, just as greedy but more hapless — 60 years old, chasing college girls, pitied by his family. It’s a good performance, but there’s nothing likeable about it. “Wonder Boys” is better.

d: Brian Koppelman, David Levien | imdb.com | trailer | I could stay.

Best Worst Movie (2010)

Michael Paul Stephenson directs this happy, sad documentary about “Troll 2” — the worst movie ever made — and its bizarre cult following. Stephenson, the kid in 1990 movie, visits the rest of the cast, including the really good-natured George Hardy.

d: Michael Paul Stephenson | imdb.com | trailer | ... born an actor

Iron Man 2 (2010)

The “Iron Man” sequel is a disjointed, entertaining mess — the sort of summer fun “The Dark Knight” could never have. Robert Downey Jr.’s smartass charm wears well, and he is supported by Mickey Rourke (a Russian villain) and Sam Rockwell (a clueless rival).

d: Jon Favreau | imdb.com | trailer | Plane jump
New assistant | Grab a quote | Suitcase suit | Ivan Vanko