Blazing Saddles (1974)

Mel Brooks maintains his hilarity even as he wades through some real issues.

Robin Hood: Men In Tights (1993)

Perfect in its stupidity.

The American (2010)

I appreciated the slow, Melvillean pacing, but nearly nothing else.

Blue Valentine (2010)

So real that it hurts.

Viridiana (1961)

Yet another near-perfect, religiously themed entry from Bunuel, one of my favorite directors.

How To Die In Oregon (2011)

One of the most powerful, jarring documentaries I've ever seen and a sure-fire way to cry in public.

Marat/Sade: The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat as Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton Under the Direction of the Marquis de Sade (1967)

A disturbing, irreverent, and nightmarish film about a play staged inside an insane asylum.

Lord of the Flies (1963)

The worst naked child acting I've ever seen.

The King's Speech (2010)

Way more entertaining than I had been expecting.

HERE (2011)

The beauty of the landscapes is matched only by the beauty of the camera-work that brought them to us.

Bellflower (2011)

The first half of the film, with its legitimate-sounding dialogue and relatable characters was much stronger than the second half that turned into a psychological, incomprehensible mess that didn't know how (or when) to end.

Pickpocket (1959)

The story is interesting and strong, but the awful acting makes this one of Robert Bresson's less important films.

Diary of a Country Priest (1951)

The protagonist is annoying and whiney, but the way Bresson pursues the topics of fear, death, sin and the search for love are beautiful and compelling.

127 Hours (2010)

Melodramatic cinematography, shameless product placement and blatant, unsuccessful attempts at character development make this as annoying as most Danny Boyle films.

Mouchette (1967)

One can't help but fall in love with the beautiful, defiant, desperate little Mouchette, and this love is what makes viewing this film so painful, and so unforgettable.

A Prophet (2010)

Cold and harsh, yet so beautifully shot.

Mother (2010)

Suspenseful and lively all the way through, with a creepy, shocking twist at the end.

Harlan County, U.S.A. (1976)

This film accomplished what a good doc should in showing me a whole different world and then educating me on my world through it.

Hoop Dreams (1994)

Way too long, but really well made throughout.

For All Mankind (1989)

A beautiful time capsule of some exciting events in human history.

Kimjongilia (2010)

Truly horrifying and shocking, but there's a great deal of filler inbetween the testimonials of the dozen escapees that, while mostly artful and beautiful, is blatant in its attempt to stretch the material to feature length.

La Haine (1995)

Live by the sword...

The Widower (1999)

The only worthwhile parts of this film about a man who keeps the corpse of his dead wife around the apartment are the surreal dreams he has of his own crucifixion, but even those seem random and lacking in real symbolism.

Terminal City Ricochet (1990)

All the attempted angst and humour written into this movie about corruption in government was made only worse by the poor delivery of its actors.

Samurai 7 (1994)

Based on Akira Kurosawa's break-through classic Seven Samurai (1954), this Sci Fi/Fantasy/Samurai mash-up is a more digestible, child-friendly version that doesn't quite measure up, but definitely entertains.

Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)

In a string of decent documentaries released in 2010, this one stands out as one of the most entertaining and perplexing of them.

When You're Strange (2010)

Grateful to have the info; wish it was presented better.

True Grit (2010)

Certainly not the best we've seen from the Brothers, but the fast-talking, lovable characters are enough to pull us through a less-than-suspenseful screenplay.

8: The Mormon Proposition (2010)

An important and infuriating topic, but as a film not a very strong, balanced or skillful representation of the data.

Restrepo (2010)

Films like this are important so that we're reminded how much crap is in the world and that we're the cause of most of it.

Blade Runner (1982)

Ridley Scott's early sci fi classic is so superb it makes you wonder why only half of his films are at all good.

The Third Man (1949)

A classic mystery story with excellent pacing and some of the best actors the screen has known.

Black Swan (2010)

Excellent cinematography, acting and a climax that literally made me cry it was so perfect. BEST FILM OF 2010.

City of God (2002)

An emotional and disturbing tale with some of the best cinematography I've ever seen.

A Life Less Ordinary (1997)

Here Danny Boyle directs a script that is sometimes too silly, sometimes too bumpy and always too unbeleivable.

This Film Is Not Yet Rated (2006)

Not the easiest movie to extract useful information from, but on an entertainment level akin to "Bowling For Columbine" or "Supersize Me".

Going Places (1974)

Bertrand Blier's rare blend of eroticism and character study isn't better represented anywhere than here.

Weeds: Season 5 (2009)

This season has twinges of sadness as each character diagnoses Nancy and why she sabotages everything normal in her life and loses the people she loves.

Back to the Future (1985)

Classic for a reason.