Stoner or not; Greetings, and thank you for stopping in ... now what flick can I help you with?

It may become obvious as you scroll on, you crazy diamond, that I don’t favor too well with the ‘dumb stoner’ movie. They will be posted, won’t denie you that, dude and dudess, they just won’t get high ratings from me. I’m burnt out with them. I say ‘No’ to the DS flick, or try to. And thank the green goddess there have been good movies recently that show the stoner in a better light. Hollywood .... uh, getting the picture! There has been plenty of examples in our society of smart stoners for them and their writers to draw from.

Duh. Wouldn’t have to venture very far from their parking lot. Or the set.

Easy Rider -1969

With cash from a cocaine sale, free wheelers Billy and Wyatt hop on their motorcycles and ride across America toward New Orleans. Along the way, they add boozy lawyer George to their trouble-finding, society-questioning entourage. Dennis Hopper writes, directs and stars in this landmark 1960s counterculture film. Peter Fonda co-writes and co-stars. Jack Nicholson earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his role as George.

The Harder They Come -1972

Impoverished Jamaican musician Ivan Martin (Jimmy Cliff) wants more out of life, so he makes the move to the capital city of Kingston. After learning that he's been working for a crooked record producer, Ivan turns to the streets and starts selling marijuana to get by, but he has to keep the cops in his pocket to prevent them from interfering with his business. Ivan's world changes drastically when his business gets raided and violence ensues.

What part of "F R E E ' don't you understand, dear follower?

What part of  "F R E E ' don't you understand, Oh, I said that already ....

One Trick Pony -1980

Paul Simon wrote and stars in this interesting film about an aging musician who struggles to regain his lost popularity. He frequently sparks up without a sign of complacency. Features the songs: "Late in the Evening," "Ace in the Hole"

Altered States -1980

Harvard scientist Eddie Jessup's (William Hurt) mind-altering experiments on himself, involving a hallucinatory drug and an isolation chamber, get out of control when his handiwork shuttles him back and forth on the evolutionary spectrum -- from human to ape-man. Equal parts sci-fi actioner, 1960s psychedelic trip and farce, the film was based on a Paddy Chayefsky novel and received Oscar nominations for music and sound. Blair Brown co-stars.

The Big Chill -1983

Never trust anyone over 30 … except this group of erstwhile buddies and former college radicals. After years apart, friends who've followed divergent paths reunite at the funeral of one of their own. Watch as the top-notch ensemble ( William Hurt, Kevin Kline, Glenn Close, JoBeth Williams, Mary Kay Place, Tom Berenger and Jeff Goldblum, reconnects and cavorts to an irresistible soundtrack of 1960s hits. 

Tales of the City -1993

Novelist Armistead Maupin's affectionate homage to late-1970s San Francisco follows the romantic struggles and identity crises of a cast of characters that includes Olympia Dukakis, Chloe Webb and Marcus D'Amico. The 6-hour miniseries (which caused controversy for its open pot use, nudity and direct depiction of homosexuality upon its initial airing on PBS) is hard not to 'Bogart.'

 Dazed and Confused -1993

Director Richard Linklater's follow-up to Slacker takes an autobiographical look at some Texas teens on their last day of school in 1976. Despite the school's stratified culture, Randall Floyd (Jason London) moves easily among stoners, jocks and geeks. A star athlete, Floyd wrestles with signing a "no drugs" pledge demanded by the football coach. Like American Graffiti, Dazed and Confused is rich in period detail.

The Big Labowski  -1998

Slacker Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski (Jeff Bridges) gets involved in a gargantuan mess of events when he's mistaken for another man named Lebowski, whose wife has been kidnapped and is being held for ransom. All the while, Dude's friend, Walter (John Goodman), stirs the pot. Brothers Joel and Ethan Coen write and direct this cult comedy classic that also stars Steve Buscemi, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore and John Turturro. 

Homegrown 1998

After their boss, Malcolm, gets killed, Jack (Billy Bob Thornton), Carter (Hank Azaria) and Harlan (Ryan Phillippe) decide to co-opt Malcolm's lush marijuana business and cash in on $5 million worth of pot. Unfortunately, the trio never bargained on how difficult -- and dangerous -- it is to sell so much ganja. Will their dreams go up in a puff of smoke?

American Beauty -1999

Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey) is struggling to endure marriage to uber-realtor Carolyn (Annette Bening), an unfulfilling career and a sullen teenage daughter (Thora Birch). Deep into a midlife crisis, Lester becomes infatuated with a friend (Mena Suvari) of his daughter. Soon, he's quit his job and is working at a fast-food joint in this dazzling blend of social satire and domestic tragedy from director Sam Mendes that scooped up five Oscars.

Saving Grace -2000

Newly widowed Grace (Brenda Blethyn) finds herself in financial ruin when she discovers that her dearly departed husband has left her deep in debt from his failed get-rich-quick schemes. With the help of her gardener, Matt (Craig Ferguson) Grace turns her green thumb to growing ganja, and soon, everyone in her small English town is getting high on more than life. Director Nigel Col's comedy won the Sundance Film Festival's Audience Award.

Children of Men -2006

Alfonso Cuaron directs this film version of P.D. James's classic dystopian novel (and Oscar nominee for Best Adapted Screenplay), a futuristic drama set in a world in which humans have lost the ability to reproduce and subsequently face certain extinction. Things change when a single woman mysteriously becomes pregnant, prompting a conflicted government bureaucrat (Clive Owen) and his ex-wife (Julianne Moore) to join forces to protect her. Michael Cain co-stars. And his scene, only a few minutes long, is the reason this movie is posted here. "Strawberry Cough."  Sorry, I couldn't find the segment on YouTube.

Super High Me -2007

Determined to find out the true effects of marijuana on the human body, stand-up comedian and former Stoner of the Year Doug Benson documents his experience avoiding pot for 30 days and then consuming massive amounts of the drug for 30 days. More than just an amusing story of one man's quest to get superhigh, this documentary also examines the hotly contested debate over medical marijuana use.

Pineapple Express  -2008

After witnessing an underworld murder involving a corrupt cop (Rosie Perez) and a drug kingpin (Gary Cole), straitlaced pothead Dale Denton (Seth Rogan) must go on the run with his dealer (James Franco) in a Golden Globe-nominated role) to escape the wrath of the vengeance-minded criminals. Acclaimed indie auteur David Gordon Green directs the stoner road comedy, penned by Rogen and his Superbad co-writer, Evan Goldberg.

Surfer, Dude  -2008

Laid-back Steve Addington (Matthew Mc Conaughey) lives his dream life as he tours the globe, catching the best waves in every hemisphere. But when he returns to Malibu, things change: The good waves have disappeared, and to his great dismay, they don't return all summer! Soon, Steve begins to question his existence, searching for meaning in his life with no waves to ride. Woody Harrelson and Willie Nelson co-star, naturly, in this comic romp.

Humboldt County -2008

After his father (Peter Bogdanovich) fails him, med student Peter Hadley (Jeremy Strong) spends a night drowning his sorrows and awakens in a tiny community on Northern California's Lost Coast, where his hosts, Jack (Brad Dourif) and Rosie (Frances Conroy), live off the grid and raise marijuana. Peter's totally out of his element in this town of counterculture horticulturists, which may be just the reality check he needs. Fairuza Balk.

Adventureland  -2008

Unable to afford the European vacation he'd dreamed of, recent college grad James Brennan (Jesse Eisenberg) reluctantly takes a gig at a local amusement park, only to learn that the dead-end job is, in fact, excellent preparation for the real world. Writer-director Greg Mottola's semi-autobiographical comedy-drama, filmed in Pittsburgh's Kennywood Park, also stars Ryan Reynolds and Kristen Stewart. 

Jackie Brown -1997

Director Quentin Tarentino added his deft touch to nicely placed wry humor, combined that with an all-star cast (including Samuel L. Jackson, Pam Grier and Robert De Niro) and delivered the action-crime caper Jackie Brown. Jackie is a flight attendant who smuggles cash on the side. When busted and pressured to help with an investigation, she plans to play the opposing forces against each other and walk away with the dough.

Fast Times at Ridgemont High  -1982

In his early twenties, before he became a director, journalist Cameron Crowe went undercover as a high school student and came back with the full scoop on sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll in the early 1980s. The result was Fast Times at Ridgemont High, which captures some truly memorable and hilarious characters amidst a group of Southern California students carousing and vying for love. The all-star cast includes Sean Penn as stoner Jeff Spicoli.

                                                                                       Stoner Flix Review 2