The Producers (1968) - 5/5 - The brilliant opening sets the tone perfectly. A wonderfully absurd and hilarious movie.

This Happy Breed (1944) - 3/5 - Brief Encounter is one of my favorite films, but this earlier Lean/Coward film doesn't do much for me. The best part was the technicolor photography; it's great to see 1940's London in all its 'colorful' glory.

Seduced and Abandoned (1964) - 5/5 - One of those great films where you can't wait to see what happens next. Even better, it's usually funny and entertaining. I enjoyed it a lot more than Germi's more popular Divorce, Italian Style. I love these glimpses into the silliness of society, no matter how far removed I am from it.

Asphalt (1929) - 4/5 - One of the better expressionist films I've seen, with a good plot and characters, and of course, gorgeous camerawork.

Deconstructing Harry (1997) - 4/5 - I was really loving this film for the first half or so. It's very, very Bergman-esque, with the artist condemning himself for cannibalizing his own life for art's sake and taking himself to task for all his flaws. Then, it basically just becomes a ripoff of Wild Strawberries, which is pretty annoying.

The Whistler (1944) - 3/5 - Fairly entertaining B-movie. It has such a great setup and premise, but it doesn't really deliver. But, it is short and pretty taut throughout.

To Be or Not To Be (1942) - 4/5 - Carole Lombard was never better nor more lovely than here in her last role. I really liked the way that everybody in the theater has to utilize their acting talents to foil the Nazi plan. Also, it's kind of funny.

The House on Telegraph Hill (1951) - 4/5 - Top-notch noir from Robert Wise. San Fransisco in the 40's and 50's was really a great setting for film noir. The mystery aspect of the film is Hitchcockian and very well done.

La Promesse (1996) - 5/5 - I really love those Dardenne boys. I didn't think this was as good as L'Enfant, but it is excellent. I think their work is kind of reminiscent of Italian Neorealism, because it shows people struggling simply to survive. Usually they have to do something to compromise their own morality and wind up paying the price for it, in many ways. I love this movie.

The Story of Adele H. (1975) - 4/5 - In some ways, it's typical Truffaut. In other ways, it's way out there. The camerawork is gliding and elegant, fairly different from Small Change or the 400 Blows. And yet, this smooth camerawork is capturing such a troubled, quixotic woman. I really didn't expect the story to play out the way it did.

Shane (1953) - 5/5 - A consummate western, filled with great, memorable characters. It, along with High Noon and the Naked Spur, ushered in the age of the psychological western, and it's easy to see why. The only thing that bothered me was that damn kid. I swear, if I had to hear him say "Hey, Shane!" one more time...