Saltzman Sees...Bad Boys (1995)

Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer Presents...Bad Boys (1995)

Saltzman Sees...Basic (2003)

Basic won my Best Supporting Actress (Connie Nielsen) and Best Screenplay (James Vanderbilt) for 2003.

Saltzman Sees...Spiderman (2002)

Spiderman won my Best Supporting Actress (Kirsten Dunst) in 2002.

Saltzman Sees...Adaptation (2002)

Adaptation won my Best Actress (Meryl Streep) and was nominated for Best Director (Spike Jonze), Best Actor (Nicolas Cage), Best Supporting Actor (Chris Cooper) and Best Screenplay (Charlie Kaufman, Donald Kaufman and Susan Orlean) in 2002.

Saltzman Sees...Erin Brockovich (2000)

Erin Brockovich won my Best Actress (Julia Roberts) and was nominated for my Best Director (Steven Soderbergh) and Best Screenplay (Susannah Grant) in 2000.



Saltzman Sees...In the Line of Fire (1993)

In the Line of Fire won my Best Supporting Actor (John Malkovich) and was nominated for Best Director (Wolfgang Peterson) and Best Supporting Actress (Rene Russo) in 1993.

Saltzman Sees...Awakenings (1990)

Awakenings won my Best Actor (Robert DeNiro), and was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director (Penny Marshall) and Best Screenplay (Steven Zaillian)

Saltzman Sees...Bull Durham (1988)

Bull Durham won my Best Actress (Susan Sarandon) for 1988.

Saltzman Sees...A Few Good Men (1992)

A Few Good Men included my Best Director (Rob Reiner), and was nominated for Best Actor (Tom Cruise) and Best Supporting Actor (Jack Nicholson)

Saltzman Sees...Boyz N The Hood (1991)

Boyz N The Hood  is John Singleton's portrayal of social problems in inner-city Los Angeles takes the form of a tale of three friends growing up together 'in the 'hood.' Half-brothers Doughboy and Ricky Baker are foils for each other's personality, presenting very different approaches to the tough lives they face. Ricky is the 'All-American' athlete, looking to win a football scholarship to USC and seeks salvation through sports, while 'Dough' succumbs to the violence, alcohol, and crime surrounding him in his environment, but maintains a strong sense of pride and code of honor. Between these two is their friend Tre, who is lucky to have a father, 'Furious' Styles, to teach him to have the strength of character to do what is right and to always take responsibility for his actions.

Singleton was my Best Director of 1991.

Saltzman Sees...Radio (2003)

Radio was my Best Picture and Best Actor (Cuba Gooding Jr.)

Saltzman Sees...Snatch (2000)

Snatch was my Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay (Guy Ritchie), & 

Best Supporting Actor (Brad Pitt)

Saltzman Sees...Stanger than Fiction (2006)

Everybody knows that your life is a story. But what if a story was your life? Harold Crick is your average IRS agent: monotonous, boring, and repetitive. But one day this all changes when Harold begins to hear an author inside his head narrating his life. The narrator it is extraordinarily accurate, and Harold recognizes the voice as an esteemed author he saw on TV. But when the narration reveals that he is going to die, Harold must find the author of the story, and ultimately his life, to convince her to change the ending of the story before it is too late.


Will Ferrell is terrific, and he is supported by two legends of the silver screen: Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman.  Ferrell and Maggie Gyllenhaal have a tremendous chemistry on screen that is odd considering they play opposites initially in the story.  It is a beautiful story and a unique look at one's mortality and one's purpose in life.  


It barely earned the money it took to make the movie, as it only grossed $40 million at the box office despite costing $38 million to make. It is in my Top Ten list for the year, and certainly deserving of the Most Underrated Movie of 2006.

 Emma Thompson won my Best Actress of 2006.

Will and Maggie fall in love

Saltzman Sees...Groundhog Day (1993)

Saltzman Sees Presents...The Funniest Movie of 1993: Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day won my Best Screenplay (Harold Ramis and Danny Rubin) and was nominated for Best Director (Harold Ramis), Best Actor (Bill Murray) and Best Actress (Andie MacDowell) in 1993.

Bill Murray makes Stephen Tobolowsky's day

Saltzman Sees...Moneyball (2011)

 [Nominated for 7 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay - Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin and Stan Chervin, Best Actor - Brad Pitt and Best Supporting Actor - Jonah Hill, as well as Film Editing and Sound Mixing by the Academy of Arts]


Saltzman Sees... Moneyball is the story of the have-nots and their struggle to compete.  It is the story of Billy Beane, who is trying to find a way to win a rigged game.  His ideas for how to adapt are met with resistance from everyone, including people in his organization.  Ultimately it is a story that says if you believe in something strong enough, it just might work.

Brad Pitt gives a strong performance as Beane, but it certainly is not along the lines of Tyler Durdin in Fight Club or Mickey in Snatch. Brad Pitt's best scene might be his most toned down moment.  When he explains to Jonah Hill's character "Peter Brand" why he decides to stay in Oakland rather than move to Boston, it explains all you ever need to know about Billy Beane.  Pitt's portrayal makes the movie, considering the movie's apex is a 20 game win streak they almost forget to mention.  Hill is also strong as the soft spoken and brilliant "Brand" who is deliberately loosely based on Paul DiPodesta.  This isn't the best baseball movie ever (Field of Dreams, Bull Durham or The Natural) or even the best true story about baseball (The Rookie, Bang the Drum Slowly, A League of Their Own or Eight Men Out) but it was captivating and it was true to the American Pastime.