Movies Blog

Audrey Hepburn --the best!!

2009-01-07T22:37:00Z

If you are an Audrey Hepburn fan you've probably already seen all of her movies. I have not only seen them all but committed many of the scripts to memory. Plots are usually typical romantic comedy which in the hands of less talented actors would fall flat. But when Audrey and her many wonderful leading men get together the screen just comes alive with magic. I challenge anyone to watch Breakfast at Tiffanys or Two For the Road without crying.

Through her acting career spanning 30 some-odd years, she has been paired with the likes of George Peppard, Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart, Albert Finney, James Garner, Gregory Peck, Fred Astaire, Mel Ferer, Sean Connery, and too many more to mention. Never has she been so beautiful, stylish, classy and versatile as in Two for the Road. This is a 60's movie with the full flavor of the fashions, mores of the day, and really clever dialogue. Sophisticated and exuding chemistry Hepburn and Finney play off each other with wonderful banter.

The Spirit of the Beehive

2008-12-31T01:07:00Z

Thanks to a recommendation by my friend, I watched a stunning film this weekend. Set in a Castilian village somewhere in early 1940's rural Spain, this movie has won international acclaim as a masterpiece - labeled one of the greatest Spanish films of the 1970's. On the surface, it is a coming of age story in which six-year-old Ana, played by Ana Torrent, tries to make sense of the world after seeing a young girl die in the classic 1931 film, Frankenstein. However, the movie is chock-full of symbolism and is also a commentary on life at the conclusion of the Spanish Civil War. The cinematic photography shot by Luis Cuadrado (who was going blind while the film was being made) is stark and breathtaking. Each scene seems to stay in your memory as a snapshot. As with many foreign films, the pace is hauntingly slow and the dialogue is sparse, adding to the intense feeling and emotion of the storyline. Isabel Telleria plays the innocent Ana's older sister Isabel, and has a menacing side to say the least. Together, these beautiful little girls bring this powerful story to life.

The Spirit of the Beehive (1973) was written and directed by Victor Erice and is one of only three movies he made over a 20 year period. The other two films, The South (1982) and The Quince Tree Sun (1992) are also highly regarded.

Treat yourself to The Spirit of the Beehive. It now ranks among my top ten favorite foreign films.

"The Squid and the Whale": absorbing family drama (not a science documentary)

2008-12-30T20:49:00Z

After seeing it mentioned on one or two best movie lists, I decided to check out this 2005 film although I wondered if I would enjoy its story about a 1980s Brooklyn couple's decision to divorce and the resulting damage to their two sons. I was swayed by the casting of Jeff Daniels and Laura Linney as the parents and they are indeed both excellent, Daniels being especially compelling as the increasingly bitter husband watching his wife's star rise while his falls. My reactions varied from reluctant sympathy for the dissolution of the couple's marriage; amusement at their almost comic diatribes and the husband's occasionally pompous comments; but mostly dismay at the parent's insensitivity to and manipulation of their sons, especially by the father who can barely stand being bested at table tennis by his younger son. The title is highly significant but probably not the best choice for attracting the attention of fans of dramatic films. The actors who play the sons are very good, and William Baldwin is also enjoyable in a smaller role as a laid-back tennis instructor. As a plus, I also found the soundtrack quite beguiling.

This is an often heart-rending but also funny family drama, well worth your time.

Two Weeks (2006)

2008-12-27T23:58:00Z

Two Weeks (2006) is about four grown siblings that return to their mother’s house to be with her while she is dying from ovarian cancer. There are wonderful poignant performances from all the characters, all of which are played by actors that always turn in credible performances but don’t have the star-power to make you remember their names. You will remember their faces.

The strongest performances are from Julianne Nicholson as Emily and Ben Chaplin as Keith, along with the usual excellent performance by Sally Field as the mother. Field is in an almost dual performance as a woman in the last days of dying and in video vignettes filmed by one son in the days before she becomes bedridden. The vignettes serve to punctuate the emotional impact of what the siblings are going through and give insight to the character of the mother. Listen carefully for gems of wisdom and observation from both the mother and Emily.

The film is touching, emotional, and funny. It is well written and directed by Steve Stockman and based on personal experience. Having recently lost three family members, two to ovarian cancer, I thought the film would be difficult to watch but I told myself I would just stop it and take it out of the DVD player. Rather that being difficult to watch or depressing, it was a cathartic experience for me and so obviously close to “real life” that I was laughing out loud.

It is an exceptional independent film that I would highly recommend. I am very glad I stumbled across it.

"Burn After Reading"

2008-12-26T23:28:00Z

I guess the ads tipped us off that this was not your run of the mill spy thriller, but let me assure you that nothing about this Coen Brothers movie is run of the mill. Following the dark "No Country for Old Men," the brothers have returned to the comic instincts so evident in "Fargo," "The Big Lebowski," "O Brother Where Art Thou" and other Coen classics.

As usual, the brothers had no trouble attracting some of our most outstanding actresses and actors for their ensemble cast. George Clooney plays an enthusiastic lady's man, Frances McDormand a 40-something fitness club employee determined to follow through on a five-part plastic surgery makeover plan, John Malkovich a sophisticated ex-spook with a "drinking problem," Tilda Swinton the spook's uptight and unhappy pediatrican wife, and Brad Pitt a stupid but likeable personal trainer.

All of their lives intertwine in unexpected and hilarious ways. I was so caught up in the slapstick that when things started to turn a bit dark, I was startled -- but quickly settled in for the rest of the ride.

"Burn After Reading" is in the running for the 2009 Golden Globe for Best Musical or Comedy, and McDormand is one of the finalists for best comic actress. But it's all the little pieces that make a Coen Brothers movie special -- the trip to the drab 100% concrete Russian embassy to sell "secret" data, the priceless posturings of Malcovich (who has the unfortunate name of Osborne Cox), the nonchalance of CIA superior J. K. Simmons, the moony attempts by fitness club manager Richard Jenkins to woo McDormand...let's just say that this is the sort of movie you can watch more than once.

DTV 101 (part 1): The "Digital TV Transition"; Converter boxes (coupon requests due by 12/31/08!)

2008-12-26T21:15:00Z

As stated at DTV2009.GOV, "At midnight on February 17, 2009, all full-power television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting in analog and switch to 100% digital broadcasting." Is this gibberish to you? Do you realize that some of your televisions may require a converter box beginning February 17? In this, the first in a series of blog posts about the digital TV (DTV) transition, we'll discuss what this transition "thing" is all about; why it's happening; what a converter box is and if you'll need to purchase one; and if so, how to apply for a government-subsidized coupon towards the purchase of a converter box. The last day to apply for these $40-off coupons is December 31.

What is the "Digital TV Transition"?

Many items we use everyday have already transitioned from analog to digital: cassettes to CDs, VHS to DVD, etc. Switching to the digital formats brought some great new features (CDs: track skipping, better sound quality; DVDs: chapter markers, greatly improved video & audio quality), but these transitions weren't without their share of headaches. This is very similar to what the transition to DTV is.

Besides some minor changes in 1953 with the advent of color television, our current analog television standard has remained relatively unchanged since 1941. Technology has evolved, and the old standard has become obsolete.

Currently, television stations are broadcasting both analog and low power digital. On February 17, 2009, stations will stop broadcasting analog and will broadcast digital at full power.

Remember when you bought your first CD? There was no way to play it in your old cassette player. The same held true with DVDs; you couldn't play them in your VCR. The same is true with digital TV; older televisions, which can only receive analog broadcasts, won't be able to "play" digital broadcasts without some add-on equipment.

Why the switch to digital???

There's a number of reasons:

New features & benefits: DTV provides better picture & sound, including high-definition video (when watching on a HDTV). It can also allow for interactivity, electronic programming guides, and toggle-able languages & subtitles (like on DVDs); no stations have yet implemented these kinds of features, but they are possibilities for the future.
Saves "space": While the sky seems limitless, there's only so much "space" available for television to be broadcast in. Analog broadcasts take up more "space" than digital ones. By switching to digital, more stations can be broadcast using less "space". (An oversimplification, but you should get the idea.)
Freeing up analog airwaves: Once the DTV transition is complete, the old analog airwaves will be free. Some will be turned over to local fire & police departments for emergency communication. Others will be auctioned off to companies providing "new wireless services". Uncle Sam has to pay for those $40 coupons somehow!
Stimulate the economy: More than ever, consumers are running out to purchase new TVs. Those who aren't may decide to upgrade to cable or satellite.

What do I need to do?

If all of your TVs are connected to cable or satellite, you do not need to do anything. You will continue receiving broadcasts over cable/satellite as you always have.

For TVs that are NOT connected to cable or satellite and use an antenna:

If the television is a HDTV, you do not need to do anything. All HDTVs are ready to receive DTV.
If the television is a SDTV (not a HDTV), how old is it?
- Most SDTVs made within the last couple of years should be ready to receive DTV, but it will depend on the model. Check the instruction manual or the manufacturer's website to determine whether your TV is ready to receive DTV. Some commonly-used terms to look for are "Digital Ready/Capable", "DTV Ready/Capable", "HD Ready/Capable", & "ATSC". If you find that your TV IS ready to receive DTV, you don't need to do anything.
- Older SDTVs are not DTV capable.

If your TV is not DTV compatible, you can always replace it with a new TV or begin cable/satellite service. However, the most frugal option would be to purchase a converter box.

What is a converter box?

TVs that aren't able to receive DTV can be retrofitted with a converter box. Your antenna plugs into the converter box, and the box into your TV. This gadget converts the digital signal it receives from the antenna into an analog one, which it sends to your TV.

A couple of important points:

Once installed, you'll change channels through the converter box (NOT through the TV). So you'll need your TV's remote to power it on & adjust volume, but you'll use a 2nd remote (that comes with the converter box) to change channels. Those with remote-aphobia should look into universal/programmable remotes.
One converter box will convert ONE TV. If you have multiple TVs that are not DTV compatible, you'll need a converter box for each of them.

Applying for a converter box coupon

Converter boxes typically run $40-$70, not too cheap. Congress created the TV Converter Box Coupon Program, which allows US households to obtain up to two coupons, each worth $40, that can be used towards the purchase of a converter box. You must apply to receive these coupons, and the deadline to do so is Wednesday, December 31. You can apply online or by calling 1-888-DTV-2009.

After applying, you should receive the coupon within 2-3 weeks; they expire 90 days after being mailed. Any stores that sell electronics should have the converter boxes for sale and will accept these coupons.

Conclusion

Ain't technology fun?!? If you have any questions or comments, please post them in the comments section below! There's also a lot of good information at DTV2009.GOV.

I've had a HDTV for nearly 3 years now, receiving DTV. While I think DTV is great, and I'm glad that it will finally become mainstream, I cannot claim that it's problem-free. In a future post, I'll talk about my experiences, including reception woes & other issues. And since HDTVs are more popular than ever before, I'll be going over some HD basics in another post. It will be an interesting ride, and hopefully the world will not cease to exist this coming February!

"One Magic Christmas"

2008-12-23T01:03:00Z

Everyone has favorite Christmas DVDs.

My favorite comedies are "Scrooged" with Bill Murray (since all I had to do was look at Murray and I would start guffawing) and "Christmas Story" (since it is set in Hammond, which is where I grew up). My favorite dramas are "It's a Wonderful Life" (no explanation required) and "One Magic Christmas."

Released in 1985, "One Magic Christmas" stars Mary Steenbergen as an overworked, fretful mom who labors away as a grocery store clerk and Harry Dean Stanton as Gideon, a guardian angel. Mary's husband is laid off and she doesn't look forward to Christmas at all. In fact, she is an outright Scrooge.

Things get much worse before they get better. But a sequence of events lead her to once again believe in the Christmas message of hope and change.

Just a couple words of caution -- this is more a slice of reality than a magical little children's flick. Also, Mary's children willingly rendevous with Gideon on a trip to the North Pole, but he is after all an angel! (Don't know if times were safer then, or if we just thought they were).

"Dexter" and his dark roots

2008-12-19T15:54:00Z

I've been watching the hit Showtime series "Dexter" on DVD and have been tracing the genealogy of this "lovable" serial killer.

The "Dexter" series, based on a 2004 novel entitled "Darkly Dreaming Dexter" by Jeff Lindsay, does, I think, owe a debt of gratitude to the Ripley series of novels by Patricia Highsmith. To quote Wikipedia, "her recurring character Tom Ripley — an amoral, sexually ambiguous con artist and erstwhile murderer — was featured in a total of five novels, known to fans as the Ripliad, written between 1955 and 1991."

I got hooked by the 2000 movie "The Talented Mr. Ripley" (starring the dream cast of Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Cate Blanchett and directed by the esteemed Anthony Minghella). I ended up reading all five installments of the Ripliad. "Ripley's Game," a pale but acceptable follow-up by a different director that starred John Malcovich, was released in 2002.

Now we have "Dexter." Both Tom Ripley and Dexter Morgan are sociopaths who operate out of the normal bounds of accepted behavior. Ripley, however, only kills to get ahead and to protect his secrets. One kill inevitably leads to another. Dexter is drawn to killing and enjoys it -- it is the only thing that makes him feel -- but is taught by his cop foster father to channel his urges into killing only serial killers.

So, you are probably telling yourself, why should I watch such a disturbing program as "Dexter"? Well it stars "Six Feet Under's" Michael C. Hall (as a blood spatter analyst), has a strong supporting cast, is set in scenic Miami, and is essentially a mystery suspense series. But I must warn you that a strong stomach is a necessity when Dexter gets down to business. It's not that we see much -- it's just the thought of it. If you prefer a more elegant killer, you might want to check out Ripley in book or video form.

"The Day the Earth Stood Still"

2008-12-17T22:04:00Z

I must have watched the 1951 Robert Wise sci-fi classic "The Day the Earth Stood Still" 10 times as a child. It was one of my all time favorite movies. So as soon as the first ad for the remake flashed on TV, I was hooked. Last weekend I forked over my $6 for the Sunday morning matinee and settled into sci-fi Paradise. My day turned out to involve a double feature -- the remake in the morning at the theater, followed by the original later that day at home.

Despite the critics' sneers, I found that the remake held its own. It was fast-paced, exciting, and visually breathtaking and, of course, starred Keanu Reeves (and Jennifer Connelly). I expected the original black and white version to look and seem woefully dated, but it too holds up even today.

I had joked ahead of time about Keanu being perfect for the role of an emotionless alien -- and he was. But when watching the original, I noticed that Michael Rennie as an alien was even more robotic than Keanu -- he never wavered from his threatening message about the earth's possible fate. Keanu the Alien actually showed some emotion as he began to like and understand the humans.

The original was based on a novella by sci-fi writer Harry Bates and was a reaction to the atomic bomb. The remake plays out against the crises of global warming and permanent war. Both, of course, feature an alien sent to warn Man of imminent destruction in the absence of profound lifestyle changes.

So grit your teeth, prepare to be preached to just a little, and watch the remake. By the way, one of the first structures to bite the dust is a football stadium.

"Chuck" is about a nerd that becomes a spy...essentially my life story

2008-12-15T17:50:00Z

In the television show Chuck, Charles "Chuck" Bartowski plays your typical 20-something computer-geek, stuck in a dead-end job at Buy More's Nerd Herd (a less-than-subtle parody of Best Buy's Geek Squad). He lives an uneventful life with his sister Ellie, until one day when he receives an email from his long-lost friend Bryce. Turns out Bryce is a rogue CIA agent, and his email contains an entire government database of top secret info, which embeds itself into Chuck's brain upon viewing.

Both the NSA and CIA want the intelligence returned to them and dispatch agents of their own - Major John Casey and Sarah Walker - to "retrieve" that data. When the original database is destroyed, Chuck has the only copy of that data, so he is forced to become a spy. Chuck's decision to keep his new-found occupation a secret from his family and friends, and to live his life as normally as possible, forces Casey and Walker to establish an uneasy alliance and secret identities (Walker poses as Chuck's girlfriend and takes a cover job at the local restaurant next to the Buy More while Casey gets a job at the Buy More), with the shared goal of protecting Chuck at all costs.

Seeing specific people/things causes Chuck to "flash", subliminally retrieving data about the person/object from the government database in his mind. Chuck uses this ability to help John & Sarah thwart evildoers and save the entire world from impending doom.

Sarah is an incredibly attractive female spy, and as they continue their "fake" relationship Chuck's feelings for her become real. There is lots of romantic tension, often mocked by smart-aleck comments by John (portrayed by Adam Baldwin, of Full Metal Jacket & Firefly/Serentity fame).

This show is brilliant, tied with The Office as my favorite current TV show. The cast is excellent, with real chemistry. The plots, while far-fetched, are extremely well-thought out, always resulting in hilarity and the unexpected. And the emotion evoked by the tension between Chuck & Sarah (not helped by Ellie's constant "I'm so happy you finally found a girlfriend" remarks), his belief that Sarah is way out of his nerd-league, the experiences with his ex-girlfriend (who re-appears in season 2), and his quest for more (a normal life and better job, for starters) creates endearing, genuine characters.

Season 1 was released on DVD & Blu-ray a couple months ago, and season 2 (which is even better than season 1) is currently airing on Monday nights at 7pm on NBC. It's a show you really need to watch in order, so check out the season 1 DVDs, catch up on the previous season 2 episodes at NBC.com, and watch the latest episode every Monday night!

More Information

EVPL Catalog: Check on the availability of Chuck: The Complete First Season on DVD at EVPL libraries.
NBC.com: Official website of Chuck. Find out more about the show, and watch full episodes from season 2!
Amazon: Buy Chuck: The Complete First Season on DVD or Blu-ray using these links, and the Public Library Friends will receive a portion of your purchase!

"Mongol: the Rise of Genghis Khan"

2008-12-13T18:16:00Z

This is the best movie I have seen in a while! I watched it twice in the same day.

I will state right up front that this is a "foreign movie." Made by award-winning Russian filmmaker Sergei Bodrov and filmed in China, Russia and Kazahkstan, it has subtitles. But don't let this put you off. (Start using subtitles on every film and you won't even notice them on foreign films.)

The "Mongol" website at http://www.mongolmovie.com/ (click on About the DVD) gives lots of great information about the history of the production, director, cast selection, filming locations, etc. So go there for more detail.

The movie is based on scholarly research so should be a fairly accurate depiction. JUST WATCH IT -- your image of Genghis Khan will never be the same!

And Then I Found ...Then She Found Me

2008-12-10T19:35:00Z

Think you're having a bad day? Helen Hunt's April has just been abandoned by her husband, Matthew Broderick, her adoptive mother dies, and she is approached by a stranger who informs her that her birth mother, Bette Midler, a famous talk show hostess wants to meet her. And that's just the first 10 minutes of the movie. For most of the movie a make-up less Helen displays a perpetually downtrodden expression. And then there's "be still my heart!!!", Colin Firth. He is so adorable and is depicted as a cuddly single father. Well ---that's enough for me. I might even be able to forgive him for Mamma Mia which I've still never seen. Bette doesn't exactly eat the scenery but she's definitely a presence. Matthew Broderick conveys just the right amount of "total jerk-ness". By the way. Helen Hunt produced and directed this screenplay based on a novel by Elinor Lipman.

All the acting is excellent. Then She Found Me is totally a chick flick but not bad. ---I'd give it a 7 for storyline and a 10+ just for having Colin Firth in it. "Hey I calls 'em like I sees 'em!"

Doomsday, wrathful robots, other cheerfulness in "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles"

2008-12-05T15:38:00Z

Being a self-proclaimed sci-fi geek, I love the Terminator movies. With three theatrical movies, and a fourth coming in 2009 (Terminator Salvation, starring Christian Bale!), Fox decided to capitalize on the series' success with a spin-off television series. Season 1 of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles began airing in January of 2008, and was recently released on DVD & Blu-ray.

Explaining the TV show requires a bit of backstory from the movies, so here goes...

The Terminator (1984) - In 1997, a computer system called Skynet becomes self-aware, unleashes a nuclear apocalypse on humanity, and builds an army of robots to destroy the few surviving humans that have formed a resistance. The leader of this resistance is John Connor, and under his command they are able to keep humanity alive.

In 2029, Skynet decides to send an indestructible Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) back in time, to the year 1984, to kill John's mother, Sarah. If they kill Sarah, John will never be born, thus never organizing the resistance. Upon learning of Skynet's plan, the resistance sends one of their own to the year 1984, to protect Sarah from the Terminator. Fortunately, Sarah stays alive and the Terminator is destroyed.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) - It's now 1993. Sarah Connor is in a mental institution for "delusions". John Connor is a rebellious youth, living with foster parents. Skynet decides to send a more advanced Terminator to kill John. Future-John (in 2029) has reprogrammed a T-100 (Arnold) and sent him to 1993 to protect young-John. They bust Sarah out of the institution and destroy Cyberdyne, a company creating robotic endoskeletons (used in the future for the robot armies). This successfully delays the nuclear apocalypse.

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) - Forget about this one. Has no correlation with this TV show.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles takes place in 1997. Sarah & John have been on the run for four years, pursued by the FBI for charges of terrorism. While at school one day, John discovers that his substitute teacher is a Terminator sent back in time to kill him. And guess what?

The resistance has sent a female Terminator named Cameron, played by Summer Glau (best-known for her role in Firefly & Serenity), to protect him. Cameron transports Sarah & John to the year 2007, as that is now the year that Skynet takes over. Agent Ellison of the FBI picks up the case, after it remained stagnant for the previous 10 years.

Sarah, John, & Cameron are on a mission to discover what Skynet is and to destroy it. Turns out that an advanced chess computer, that has garnered military interest, is the prime suspect. As Agent Ellison investigates Sarah's record, including visiting her former psychiatrist from the mental institution, he slowly begins to realize that she wasn't lying. The final episode features an epic battle, to Johnny Cash's "When the Man Comes Around" (one of his last songs, containing many references to the Book of Revelations), which literally gave me goosebumps.

While a bit cheesy at times, as most TV shows are, I found the acting and plot to be top-notch. It was also fascinating to see concepts, never fully explained in the movies, fleshed out. Fans of the Terminator films, good sci-fi, and thought-provoking storylines should definitely check it out!

More Information

EVPL Catalog: Check availability of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles at EVPL libraries.
Amazon.com: Buy Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles on DVD or Blu-ray using this link, and the Public Library Friends will receive a portion of your purchase.
Internet Movie Database: Find out more about the show at IMDB.
Fox.com: View the official website of the TV show.

"Air Guitar Nation" cranks the make-believe volume up to 11

2008-11-28T17:58:00Z

How many times has this happened to you...you're listening to music and an epic guitar solo comes on. What do you do?!? You bust out the air guitar, showing onlookers the musical virtuoso you are.

Apparently, air guitar is bigger than I realized. Since 1996, Oulu, Finland has been the home of the Air Guitar World Championships. Essentially the Olympics of air guitar, contestants from all around the world compete to bring this coveted trophy back to their home country. Competitions consist of two rounds: in the first, contestants perform a song of their choosing. The second round is a song picked by the judges, not revealed until the competition, that contestants have to improv. Contestants are judged based on their "airness" and pure rock-ness.

Sadly, the US did not participate on this world stage until 2003. It was then that Americans realized what a travesty this was and the US Air Guitar Championships were founded. After a series of regional competitions, the best performers go to Finland to represent the US.

Air Guitar Nation is a documentary (more along the lines of This is Spinal Tap than a traditional documentary) about the founding of the US Air Guitar Championships, the first competitions in the US, and the journey to the 2003 World Championships (including an air guitar training camp!) in Finland. You'll meet many of the zany US performers, including C. Diddy and Björn Türoque, whose fierce rivalry becomes a central focus of the film.

Air Guitar Nation is extremely entertaining, hilarious, and very well made. How does the US fare in their first outing in the World Championships? Watch the movie and find out for yourself!

Movie Trailer

(Please visit the site to view this media)

More Information

EVPL Catalog: Check availability of Air Guitar Nation at EVPL libraries.
Amazon.com: Buy the movie using this link, and the Public Library Friends will receive a portion of your purchase!
AirGuitarNation.com: Official website of the movie.
AirGuitarUSA.com: Official website of the US Air Guitar Championships.
AirGuitarWorldChampionships.com: Official website of the Air Guitar World Championships.

A Life in Movies

2008-11-26T19:52:00Z

Although it appears less frequently than the companion "A Life in Books" feature (see Books Blog), Newsweek's "A Life in Movies" is an enjoyable glimpse into the cinematic likes and dislikes of well-known American and international film directors. The format is very similar to that used for the books: it asks directors to name and comment on "My Five Most Important Movies"; "A Classic Film You Haven't Seen"; "A Film You Recently Revisited With Disappointment" and "A Film You Hope Parents Will Show Kids". Featured filmmakers have included the Mexican writer/director/producer Guillermo Del Toro ("Pan's Labyrinth"); British director Danny Boyle ("Millions", "Trainspotting"); and the American documentary filmmaker Errol Morris ("Gates Of Heaven", "Standard Operating Procedure", The Thin Blue Line").