THE BEST FILMS YOU MAY HAVE NEVER SEEN OR HEARD OF BUT THAT YOU MUST RENT/QUEUE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!

Well, my weekend has been hectic, hence I didn't even realize I forgot to post randomness yesterday! Oh well, I'll include a couple of things at the end. Now, on to what Sunday is all about:

Q- T Edition

Reds (1981)- Warren Beatty directed and stars in this film about real-life writer John Reed and his involvement with the Bolshevik Rebellion. Epic film about what it means to be American, the struggle for rights, and the rise of the Socialist party in Russia. Also starring Diane Keaton. Won Beatty a Best Director Oscar.

The Salton Sea (2002)- Val Kilmer is a meth head in LA with a scheme only other meth heads would love: Steal some famous shit. Hilarious movie with great performances by Kilmer, Vincent D'Onofrio, and Adam Goldberg especially.

Session 9 (2001)- One of my all time favorite movies!!! "Session 9" follows a demolition crew clearing out an abandoned asylum before it is torn down. Needless to say, creepy stuff happens! What's brilliant about this movie, is the very low-fi approach the director takes as well as the fine writing and acting. It will scary the bejesus out of you!

Sliding Doors (1998)- say what you will about Gwyneth Paltrow, but she has made some lovely small films. This one stars her as a London woman who's life splits apart after an accident- literally. We follow both threads to see what would have happened and are left wondering and hoping to discover what has happened. I really like this movie, and her accent doesn't bother me as much as I would have expected. A great light-hearted romp when your in the mood for a romantic comedy but don't want to feel stupider after watching.

The Sweet Hereafter (1997)- I love Atom Egoyan! You cannot go wrong with any of his films, but this, arguably one of his better known, is a great introduction to this brilliant Armenian-Canadian director. This story is simple: a bus full of students skids of the road one icy day. Who's at fault? The answer isn't so simple. Ian Holm is a genius and this movie introduced the world to Sarah Polley. A downer for sure, but well worth the trip.

The Thing Called Love (1993)- Samantha Mathis (where has she been?) and River Phoenix star in this dramady about life, dreams, and country music- but not in the way you might be thinking. In the hands of director Peter Bogdanovich, it is smart, funny, and easy to watch. I love a young Sandra Bullock as Linda Lou- the lost soul and daft friend of Mathis. Phoenix is of course riveting and the performance is saddened by his death shortly after. It's almost as if you can sense it in his eyes. Love!

Now for the Randomness:

I'll keep it in the same vein as Sunday posts are supposed to be and talk about the 2 films I saw this week: "District 9" and "Inglourious Basterds". I loved both movies and suggest you run, don't walk, to them as soon as possible. I won't get into them too much, there are plenty of stories and info out on them. "District 9" shows what creativity and ingenuity can do that no money in the world can (I'm looking at you James Cameron!)- entertain the masses and prove that sometimes (I'd hazard to guess most times) simple FX are the most effective.

As for "Inglourious Basterds"- if you don't like Tarantino films, you may like this one although I doubt it. It is a film he could never have made 10 years ago when he first started talking about it. He needed the experience of "Jackie Brown" and "Kill Bill I & II" to get his storytelling to the level it needed to be. I love everyone in it and anyone who says otherwise is simply wrong. I'm sorry, but you will never convince me otherwise. I can't wait to own it and see it again!

PS- Catchphrase is the greatest game ever invented. There is nothing better than sitting around outside, drinking Mojito's and yelling at the top of your lungs.