A movie isn't only good for me if it's action-packed and intriguing, it has to have an unpredictable ending and I have to be enchanted with it and learn from it. The movies I favor that fall into those parameters include......A Beautiful Mind; Last of the Mohicans; Life with Father; The Notebook; The Paper, Groundhog Day; The Pianist; and The Killing Fields. Among others, these will hold my attention over and over again. No doubt there are others I'll feel bad about that I didn't post here - clearly, many classics (Dr. Zhivago, Lawrence of Arabia, etc.), but those listed above are the best of the best, for me.

I tend to enjoy films that are thought provoking, or portray realistic life situations. Sure the action-hero genre is fun and comedies make me laugh, but for serious films I think directors can make all the difference. The films of Ron Howard, Clint Eastwood, Woody Allen are some of the directors who continue to turn out enjoyable films. There are lesser known directors too who are making a mark, such as Christopher Nolan. One of his early efforts was Memento (2000). It was a well crafted film about a man who could only remember what happened on any given day. The next he would forget everything. It is told out of sequence too, which makes it most intriguing to watch. You almost feel like the character. Everything ties together in the end, and it's a wow film moment. Nolan has gone on to direct a couple of the Batman films, including the Dark Night, and also recently the film Inception (2010), which was a fascinating premise, albeit more Science Fiction than reality. But I like the SF genre too, and it is especially rewarding when done thoughtfully and this emphasis is not sacrificed over special effects. There is a balance sometimes that leans toward visuals rather than story, which can ruin a good idea. Anyway, thought I would share some perspective here. It's always enjoyable to discuss film. It has a rich history and there are indeed many classics that are worth watching too as time honored film rich in story as well as cinematography. Film has always been more than a source of entertainment, but an art form as well.

Dear Mr. Spocklogic: Thank you for that recommendation. I am now watching Memento at your suggestion.

Diana

///////.............and realizing I've already seen it. Rats.

That's funny - Just like the guy in the film who repeats things. Life imitating art? It's always worth watching again - it's many layered.

I use to work in the film industry which turns you into a sort of movie critic, and therefore it's been hard for me to give credit to movies nowadays. Comedy is truly my forte, but I have to say that Bridesmaids was hilarious...

Favourite film has to be The Blues Brothers. It got me into so much good music and may be responsible for the revival of Blues that followed, not to mention the revival of Ray Ban Wayfarers. I've recently fulfilled an ambition and bought a pair.

I discovered, this week, an amazing movie for the mind. Mr. Nobody explores the multitude of outcomes from choices made and choices not maze. What if you could live all these outcomes.

Mr. Nobody is now up there with some other of my favourites: The Shawshank Redemption, Fight Club, Sherlock Holmes, Momento, Les Enfants du Marais, Zombieland (yup, love the movie)

I'm a film freak from way back. Some of my favorites are:

Lolita - Kubrick
8-1/2 - Fellini
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner - Richardson
Nosferatu - Herzog
The Thing from Another World - Nyby (Howard Hawks)
Pasqualino Settebellezze (aka Seven Beauties) - Wertmuller
Picnic - Logan
Alien - Scott
Some Came Running - Minnelli
Jackie Brown - Tarantino

And another hundred or so.

Just goes to show, great directors make great films, yes? The names make a mark on film in direction and have a way of showing up in the credits of great films.