Amelie from Montmartre
(2001) French, subtitles 
Director:  Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Screenwriter:  Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Guillaume Laurant
Principals:  Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz, Rufus, Lorella Cravotta
       

This is a film of wonder, humor & pathos.  Audrey Tautou is magnificent and remarkable.  Her wide, brilliant eyes show us the world in ways we never imagined.  This film is filled with unexpected moments, intriguing photography, and great creativity.  It is like a flower which blooms again and again.  Amelie looks for love in everything around her, even a phone booth.  Well, to find out if she finds it, you’ll have to see this film.  And, if you do, it could change your life.  This is a must-see film.
 

American Splendor
(2003) Documentary 
Director:  Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini
Screenwriter:  Harvey Pekar, Joyce Brabner
Principals:  Paul Giamatti, Hope Davis


This pseudo-documentary/biography is about Harvey Pekar who became famous for his autobiographical comic series, American Splendor.  Director Shari Springer Berman amalgamates fictional scenes played by actors, with interviews conducted with the real Pekar, his wife, etc., and cartoons based on the comic book.  Beyond the utterly amazing tapestry of images, the misanthropic Pekar, who continued to work as a file clerk at a V.A. Hospital in Cleveland even after garnering fame from the comic series and his off-the-cuff appearances on the David Letterman Show, is thoroughly fascinating as both character and person.
 

Amy’s O
(2002) Indie
Director/Screenwriter:  Julie Davis
Principals:  Julie Davis, Nick Chinlund

       
This American film written, directed and starring Julie Davis is loaded with fun and laughs.  Davis plays a best-selling author, famous for her book about why relationships are doomed to fail.  Of course, her world is turned upside down when she invalidates her own theory.  This film is self-indulgent but has enough comedic moments in its portrayal of her crisis to merit recommendation.

The Barbarian Invasion
(2003) French-Canadian, subtitles 
Director/Screenwriter:  Denys Arcand
Principals:  Remy Girard, Yves Jacques, Marie-Josee Croze
 
 
This is mature filmmaking at its core.  The film is filled with nuance and wry humor, witty dialogue and a story about family and death.  Denys Arcand wrote and directed this exquisitely detailed film.  The characters are fully developed and the satire is pointed without being acerbic.  Children will probably be bored with the repartee but serious filmgoers will have a feast.



The Basketball Diaries
(1995) Indie 
Director:  Scott Kalvert
Screenwriter:  Bryan Goluboff
Principals:  Leonardo DiCaprio, Lorraine Bracco, Bruno Kirby, Mark Wahlberg
  

This New York film tells the true life story of Jim Carroll who went from star basketball player on his Catholic high school team to homeless drug addict.  Its gripping story and passionate acting are somehow compromised by the film’s brilliant coloring.  It would have been far more effective shot in black and white.  Regardless, the best thing about this film is watching such stars as Michael Imperioli and Lorraine Bracco (The Sopranos), Bruno Kirby, Mark Wahlberg, and Leonardo DiCaprio early in their screen careers.  Their work in The Basketball Diaries clearly foretells future greatness.
 

The Battle of Algiers
(1965) Algerie/Italian, subtitles 
Director:  Gillo Pontecorvo; Screenwriter:  Gillo Pontecorvo, Franco Solinas
Principals:  Jean Martin, Yacef Saadi


This masterful, documentary-style production tells the story of the Algerian revolution from 1954-1962.  The images are gripping and powerful.  The street scenes depict a mass of people in flight and terror, yet, at the same time, capture the horrors endured by individuals.  After you see this film, you will never doubt the strength, will and resiliency of subject peoples.  Jean Martin and Yacef Saadi star and Gillo Pontecorvo directs with such skill that the entire film seems both real and breathtaking.  
 

Before Night Falls
(2000) Cuban, English 
Director:  Julian Schnabel
Screenwriter:  Cunningham O’Keefe
Principals:  Javier Bardem, Sean Penn, Johnny Depp


This film tells the story of gay poet/novelist, Reinaldo Arenas.  It successfully uses the film medium as biography.  The life of Arenas makes a fascinating story from his early education in a poor rural community, to revolutionary activist, to politically persecuted intellectual, to Marielle boat person, to New York émigré.  If you have trouble with homophobic themes, stay away.  Otherwise, exult in the great acting of Javier Bardem who captures every nuance and gesture effortlessly.  In addition, Sean Penn and Johnny Depp play minor roles with much panache. 


Before the Rain
(1995) Balkan, subtitles 
Director/Screenwriter:  Micho Manchevski
Principals:  Katrin Cartlidge, Rade Serbedzija

* unfortunately, Before the Rain is not available on DVD.  It can be purchased from Amazon on VHS and can be seen on The Sundance Channel.

This film is divided into three interconnected segments titled “words,” “faces” and “pictures.”  These segments act as modes of communication to illuminate the historic divisions and hatred felt between competing ethnic groups in Macedonia and the Balkan region.  This film is poetic and beautiful and sad and tough.  Director Micho Manchevski wields his camera like a painter with nuance and substance.  Actors Katrin Cartlidge and Rade Serbedzija play their roles with a glowing humanity.  But, it is the beauty of the country and its people in contrast to the senseless brutality of prejudice and 1,000 years of hatred which gives this film its power.
 

Billy Elliot
(2000) British 
Director:  Stephen Daldry
Screenwriter:  Lee Hall
Principals:  Jamie Bell, Julie Walters


Jamie Bell gives an endearing performance in the title role with terrific support by the superb Julie Walters.  This film is about a coal miner’s son who decides he wants to learn ballet.  His trials and tribulations give this film its heart and soul.  You will fall in love with Billy Elliot.  See this film with a child.



Blood Simple
(1984) Coen 
Director:  Joel Coen
Screenwriter:  Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Principals:  John Getz, Frances McDormand, Dan Heaya, M. Emmett Walsh


This first Coen Brothers film is quite simply their best, well, right near the top for sure. This murder mystery involves a bar owner who hires a private eye to spy on his wife who is having an affair with an employee.  The bizarre characters and odd plotlines that would become the Coen’s trademark can be traced to this film.  John Getz, Frances McDormand and Dan Hedaya give striking, blood curdling performances, but M. Emmett Walsh steals the show with his utterly slimy portrayal of a private eye.  The Coen's make filmmaking look easy with a great screenplay, creative direction, and innovative cinematography.


Bloody Angels
(2001) Norwegian, subtitles
Director:  Karin Julsrud
Screenwriter:  Finn Gjerdrum, Kjetil Indregard
Principals:  Reidar Sorensen, Jon Oigarden, Stig Henrick Hoff

*  ebay is the only marketplace now selling Bloody Angels.  The DVD cover links to the purchase page.

If you think vigilantes only existed in the American old west, think again.  This film is about vigilantism during a murder investigation in a small Norwegian town.  The detectives and the audience are kept in the dark until the very end.  On the surface, this film is just a European version of film noir.  But, beneath the surface, Bloody Angels seethes with prejudices, suspicion and murder.  Fine storytelling, luminous cinematography and crisp editing put this film squarely on The Movie Maven List.  


Boca a Boca (Mouth to Mouth)
 
(1995) Spanish, subtitles
Director:  Manuel Gomez Pereira; Screenwriter:  Juan Luis Iborra
Principals:  Javier Bardem, Aitana Sanchez-Gyon, Maria Barranco


This engaging, delicious, sexy farce stars the fantastic Latin actor, Javier Bardem.  He fills up the screen as few actors can with charisma, intelligence and machismo.  The witty, laugh intoxicating screenplay is about an unemployed actor who makes ends meet by working as a telephone sex operator.  This is madcap comedy and Bardem may even remind you of Cary Grant. 




Bon Voyage
(2003) French, subtitles 
Director:  Jean-Paul Rappenau, Patrick Modiano
Principals:  Gerard Depardieu, Isabelle Adjani, Virginie Ledoyenne


Jean-Paul Rappenau directed this non-stop, zany romantic comedy starring Isabelle Adjani, Gerard Depardieu & Virginie Ledoyenne.  The cast plays their roles over the top, which works perfectly with the material at hand.  The screenplay is so witty and well constructed that one can’t help laughing out loud for almost two hours.  This film is beaucoup clever in the way it spins its humorous story amidst the chaos of the German defeat and occupation of France during World War II.


Born Romantic
 
(2000) British 
Director/Screenwriter:  David Kane
Principals:  Craig Ferguson, Jane Horrocks, Adrian Lester, Olivia Williams


This film is funny, witty and, need I say, romantic.  It takes place at a dance club in London where salsa music flows like sangria.  Romantic twists and turns keep the audience engaged and the characterizations are dead on.  In addition, the production design and cinematography are first-rate.  This is a perfect date movie.



Bowling for Columbine
(2002) Indie
Director/Screenwriter:  Michael Moore
Principals:  Michael Moore, Charlton Heston


This Michael Moore film asks the question: why is America such a violent country?  In his search for an answer, Moore interviews victims from the Columbine massacre, NRA president Charlton Heston, Marilyn Manson, and Matt Stone among others.  Moore finds that guns alone are not the problem; in fact the fear that developed by those in power and spread throughout our culture is the real problem. Moore found a way to bring his ‘little guy’ message to the masses with this film in a way Roger & Me was not able to.  Bowling for Columbine is more opinion piece than documentary, but the questions it raises are hard and real. 
 

Bread and Roses
(2000) Hispanic, English 
Director:  Ken Loach
Screenwriter:  Paul Laverty
Principals:  Pilar Padilla, Adrien Brody


This film tells the story of Mexican janitors trying to form a union at an L.A. office building.  It deals with the plight of the workers and their struggle for self-respect and a better life.  Pilar Padilla and Adrien Brody give spirited performances in a film filled with love and vitality.  




Bread and Tulips
(2000) Italian, subtitles 
Director:  Silvio Soldini; Screenwriter:  Doriana Leondeff
Principals:  Licia Maglietta, Bruno Ganz


This film is filled with romance, humor, and the colors and vitality of Venice.  The story is about a housewife who finds love in a florist shop, a holistic masseuse who longs for the perfect mate, a private detective who is really a plumber, and a suicidal waiter who longs for his past life singing aboard a cruise ship.  These stories connect in one woman’s search for love.  The acting is superb.  Another great date film.

 
Bug
(2002) Indie 
Director:  Phil Hay, Matt Manfredi
Screenwriter:  Matt Manfredi
Principals:  Brian Cox, Jamie Kennedy

Although not nearly as accomplished in film craft as the French film, Happenstance, which also deals with cause and effect, Bug, which opens with a little boy squashing one, is still great fun and very interesting to watch.  In real life, it is sometimes impossible to see how little things are interrelated.  Bug takes every action and distills it in such a way that we see what caused it and how it is connected to the next event.  With few recognizable actors, the large cast pulls off a complicated screenplay with ease.  It is the screenplay and direction which will both hold your attention and delight you with its intricate web.


Burnt By The Sun
(1994) Russian, subtitles 
Director:  Nikita Mikhalkov
Screenwriter:  Nikita Mikhalkov, Rustam Ibragimbekov
Principals:  Oleg Menshikov, Nikita Mikhalkov


This is a difficult film but worth the effort.  The acting, cinematography and screenplay are mesmerizing in the way that they capture the interpersonal relationships of the characters.  It is a film based on the true story of people whose lives were irreversibly affected by events in the Soviet Union under Stalin.  This is a film with the type of heart and sinew rarely found in today’s Hollywood.