Rendition is a thinking person's movie as you said. It shows how the policies of a nation can affect the people who carry them out. Another reason why it didn't do well is because Americans are loath to look at themselves in the mirror and admit blindly following their leaders isn't a good thing. It came out just before Americans woke up and started disagreeing with the war.

Regret to Inform was a fabulous documentary. I would recommend it to everyone. Another movie (based on actual events) I highly recommend is Rosenstrasse. It's based on the true story of Aryan women who stood up against Nazis as their Jewish husbands were disappeared into the Rosenstrasse detention facility. It is German with subtitles so it's not for everyone.

Waitress left me empty. I expected much more and it really wasn't all that original.

Taxi To The Dark Side is being released on DVD tomorrow.  It's probably the most important documentary on the issue of U.S. torture and murder in Iraq.

Not meaning to off-topic, last Thur. I and a relative had time to kill, she suggested we go see a movie. I responded that there is nothing playing worth the price of the ticket. Does Hollywood go through a cycle of soon-forgotten films to make a quick buck? Most movies seem to be cranked out with some formula of gratuitous sex, violence, special effects and story line that doesn't say anything, or have a redeemable quality of entertainment.

catpaw~ I think it is in the eye of the beholder~ remember there are many types of film goers. Most seem to want a good two hours of chase,blow up and repeat~ as Eddie Izzard opined there are much better for snack bar profits.There are those that want to go escape to a safer world,those who want to be entertained,those who want a thinking film~ and all shades in between.Thankfully that describes my movie tastes...lol.

You have to search out small films,perhaps some foreign films ,that is why DVD is your friend,these are often that "something" worth watching.

There are several movies playing in Bakersfield worth seeing that don't have sex, violence or special effects and with a story line.

But then, it all depends on what you're looking for.

Sorry, Kirk Cameron's new religious movie isn't here yet.

TSM~ it maybe more of a "chick flic" or that I am a cook or that "weirdness" score I got...but I loved Waitress.

If you like the cooking aspect, you should see "Big Night".

I can't believe anyone who was looking to go to the movies this weekend would pass up "Miracle at St. Anna".

Last "chick flic" I got shangied into watching was "Monster In Law." That had me laughing out loud. And, no, it did not change my prespective on the world view, it was a good escape. I guess "eye of the beholder" is a tough definition to nail down.

That is all i am saying~ each person has their own "wants" in a film...I think i am way forgiving of most films,because i am in awe of the process.But there are sure some that stink to high heaven!

I never get to go to the movies anymore.  Sigh.  I don't even get to watch rented movies much because most adult movies are too much for the kids, so my husband and I have to watch them when the kids are asleep.  That means staying up until 11:00 or so, and we're usually too tired to do that.  The whole world has passed us by in the last few years and we didn't even know it.  My hisband was watching some comedy last night (I think it was on Fox) about a family with a talking baby and a dog that was dating this woman--it was the weirdest thing we've ever seen.  And raunchy!  We were cracking UP, though.  Good thing the kids were in bed, though--I would have had some 'splaining to do every 2 minutes.

One day my husband and I will get our lives (and our TV) back.  Until then, it's all Spongebob, all the time. 

 Until then, it's all Spongebob, all the time

The Bob gets one hour per day in my home. No more. The Mighty Bee I could have on all day with or w/o the kids.

The Mighty Bee IS cute, but Spongebob is snarky, and snark beats cute anyday.

Plus, we get our daily dose of PBS--Sesame Street, Word World, Mr Rodgers, etc.  Either way, if it ain't animated, it ain't on our TV.  SIGH!!!

Cat~ I know how you feel!~ except TV was Kelsey's favorite thing in the entire world! So Thank God he got over his Barney stage. He watched PBS dawn till dusk and Nickelodeon on weekends~but he could not make it up past 8pm or so,too much stimulation.If he did I paid for it the next day with one grouchy boy!

When he got around 13 he fell in love with Jerry Lewis( the only time I was worried about his mental state!) but he got over that quick enough when he discovered Mandy Moore~ some "two year" old huh? ROFLOL Soon enough you'll have all the time you need to catch up.Enjoy today!

I don't know when I'll ever be able to see the films you recommend, Sage. As usual, you peaked my interest in them and as ususal, I feel that "left behind" feeling about not having seen what you've enjoyed.

Nonetheless, I can't resist commenting. Catpaw asked, "Does Hollywood go through a cycle of soon-forgotten films to make a quick buck?". So I'd like to render my take on that question for what it's worth.

My two years immersion into screenwriting gives me a sense of an answer to Catpaw's question and I think the answer is, "Yes".  There is a cycle and you find two "seasons" in movies in which Hollywood has separate focal points.  #1 is the summer market in which entertainment that appeals to that all important demographic - the 15 year-old male - is aimed.  These kids are the ones who lead the word-of-mouth campaign about what's hot and what's not.  They make or break Hollywood's bottom line so the films you see in the May-August time frame are designed to bring home the bacon.  What is typical of them is that they are HIGH on on-screen action and LOW on dialogue.  The action tells the story.  Contrast that with films that debut in November and December. These latter films are where the the money is spend of STORIES of excellent quality and they are the ones that garner critical acclaim.  It's unusual for a summer film these days to grab critical attention beyond technical or artistic achievement or innovation.  The best *story* films, the films that tend to appeal to adults, then, are the ones that come out in the last quarter of the year.

IMHO.  :-)

 As an example of the above, the trailers for "Milk" are in theaters now. It is a film that is HEAVY on social message. It is a multi-layered thematic story with the kind of complexity that adult like (yet, in the case of Milk, will spark endless debate). People will ask if it is indeed a work of art.  Well, in my opinion, the answer to that question is dependent upon how well the story is told on film.  The big gripe among Hollywood producers is that they get 20,000 movie scripts every year that are FILLED with logical holes in the main story. Themes are introduced that become dead ends and make the viewer wonder what significance the theme had.  In the best of films, everything in it, and I mean EVERYTHING, it there for a purpose. If you take a film like Pulp Fiction and test it on viewers, some may and some may not like it.  But what CRITICS like about it is that it is PERFECT in it's exposition of the story. There's no dangling scene that is not resolved in some way, no character that enters that is not purposeful and who is not properly dismissed form the story.  Pulp Fiction is considered a critical miracle because the story was so well presented, it didn't even have to be shown in chronological order in order to be understood.  It was THAT power, along with some inspired action on the part of Samuel L. Jackson and Travolta that put PF into the all-time critical Hall of Fame. It is up there with Casablanca as the high bar in story telling.

The STORY matters to adults. They demand more complexity.

I think if writers,directors had more say~ sans the "suits" ~ it would help a bunch .

I forgot to add Michal Clayton to that list~ Geroge Clooney,Tilda Swinton and the remarkable Tom Wilkerson.A non-typical legal thriller.

I forgot to add Michal Clayton to that list~ Geroge Clooney,Tilda Swinton and the remarkable Tom Wilkerson

I liked this one a lot more than I thought I would. I added it to my collection.

Tilda Swinton had a small role, but stole the show.

I first saw Tilda Swinton in "Orlando"~ she has been a favorite of mine ever since.