Bill Lenoir

Directed by

Stephen Frears

Staring

Glenn Close

John Malkovich

Release

December 21, 1988

This movie is on a short list of ones that I'll watch repeatedly, like a little kid with a Disney video. Set in pre-revolution, 18th Century France, the movie is based on a contemporaneous novel. The story of social intrigue and deceit could just as easily take place at any point in time since the beginning of history to today (Mean Girls, anyone?). I find it endlessly fascinating even though I am not the type to engage in such behavior. (I probably have more in common with Le Chevalier Danceny than I care to admit.)

What truly grabs my attention, though, is the period portrayed. This movie deserves the Oscars it won for Art Direction and Costume Design (in addition to the Screenplay, another well deserved award). The depiction of everyday life of the French nobility is captivating. From the opening scene with the main characters getting ready for their day to the faux good act of the Vicomte de Valmont in saving the peasant from the tax collector, you truly get a sense of the gap between rich and poor of that era. We seem to be heading in that direction today, hopefully we'll arrest it before we have our own 1789.

Directed & Written by

Oren Peli

Release

October 16, 2009

This low budget thriller with no CGI special effects scared the living crap out of me. Though superficially similar to the Blair Witch Project, the plot was more meaningful and the characters had depth. I was pulled into the story from the beginning and kept there throughout. So much so that I came to despise the boyfriend as a major asshole:

• How can you not live up to the spirit of a promise you made to someone you love? How can you try to weasel your way out semantically?
• When you're partner is crying, pleading for you to do something, no matter how irrational, either do it or get the fuck out.
• Beware the man who gets his honor (read, "Doesn't want anyone to question his manliness") caught up in an issue. It becomes all about him.

See, I'm telling you, Peli put together a masterful story. I'm still seething. Well, when I'm not jumping at noises the house makes. Doesn't help that we're in the middle of a blizzard.

Directed, Written & Staring

Fiona Gordon

Dominique Abel

Released

December 7, 2005

This is a fun, quirky film with great absurdist elements in it, not to mention an insightful look at modern day life. I love French movies set in "real" France. We get a peek into every day life and a seaside village that I'd love to live in.