Most Underrated Directors

After reading my list of overrated filmmakers, I was asked by a friend if I would make a list of the most underrated film directors. Though skepticism and negativity is as fun to read as it is to write, I feel I should give just as much credit to the positive. So here is my list of the 5 most underrated or under-appreciated directors:

5. Bobcat Goldthwait
In the eighties and nineties there was a sometimes grating but always darkly funny comedian by the name of Bobcat Goldthwait. With a gruff but high pitched voice and twitchy mannerisms, Goldthwait sometimes acted like a live action Tasmanian Devil. Fast-forward to today and Bobcat has managed to make a splash as a feature director. Taking taboo and sometimes tactless subjects and making them seem human and even sympathetic, Goldthwait makes the best mix humor and pathos this writer has seen in a while.

Filmography
Shakes the Clown (1991)
Sleeping Dogs Lie (2006)
World's Greatest Dad (2009)

4. Sofia Coppola
It's a man's world out there. Very few women make it as writers, directors, even actresses have it hard. Sofia Coppola has not only managed to make quality films for the past few years her 2003 romantic drama Lost in Translation was downright incredible. Though her next film Marie Antoinette didn't make as big a splash, Sofia Coppola's will inevitably rise to new heights as the new decade begins.

Filmography
The Virgin Suicides (1999)
Lost in Translation (2003)
Marie Antoinette (2006)

3. Alex Cox
Eccentric oddities abound in Alex Cox's films. Usually featuring outcasts and misfits as the main protagonists, Alex Cox has had a long but marginally successful career. Ironic and brimming with anger, movies like Repo Man and Sid & Nancy gives voice to those who live fast and die young and prove that you don't need a big budget to make timeless classics.

Filmography
Repo Man (1984)
Sid & Nancy (1986)
Straight to hell (1987)
Walker (1987)
Highway Patrolman (1991)
Death and the Compass (1992)
The Winner (1996)
Three Businessmen (1998)
Revengers Tragedy (2002)
Searchers 2.0 (2007)
Repo Chick (2009)

2. Guy Maddin
Guy Maddin is a director for only the die hard fans of cinema. Finding a niche recreating images from early films, Guy Maddin simultaneously pays homage and prods the genres of the 1920's and 30's. Anyone who thinks avant-garde is a fencing phrase should stay far away from Maddin movies, but for those willing to be weirded-out maybe you should dabble into the mind of the mad Manitoban.

Filmography
Tales From the Gimli Hospital (1988)
Archangel (1990)
Careful (1992)
Twilight of the Ice Nymphs (1997)
The Heart of the World (2000)
Dracula: Pages From a Virgin's Diary (2003)
The Saddest Music in the World (2004)
Cowards Bend the Knee (2004)
My Dad is 100 Years Old (2006)
Brand Upon the Brain! (2006)
My Winnipeg (2008)

1. Rian Johnson
With unique visual flair, pristine characters and undeniable storytelling abilities, Rian Johnson is probably one of the most unique new visionaries in film today. Within two movies, Johnson has captured the true heart of what cinema is all about; imagination, glamor and suspensions of reality. Stories so pure in heart and constructed with such care that one can just lose themselves in the magic. I have no doubt Rian Johnson will one day recieve the praise and attention he deserves, but until then I will anoint him: most underrated director ever.

Filmography
Brick (2005)
The Brothers Bloom (2008)

Most Overrated Directors Ever
Throughout the years it seem the average movie watcher tends to watch movies featuring their favorite actor or actress. Recently however there has been a resurgence of cinema-files who watch movies for who directs them. Many times this serves as a better barometer for whether or not the movie is going to be placed in the upper echelons of movie history or be banished to obscurity. Greats like Spielberg, Scorsese and Kubrick have all but mastered cinema while others, in my humble opinion should just quit while they're ahead. Listed below are not what I consider the worst directors ever, far from it. I simply feel these particular movie makers have reached a level of acclaim that seems undeserved.

5. Tim Burton: Tim Burton has been a household name for well over a decade wowing us with blends of the surreal and quirky to bring something unusual and original to almost every onscreen outing. That being said however, some of his movies simply aren't worth all the bruhaha. Take Sweeney Todd; a pedestrian musical on stage gets a Brechtian makeover complete with fake looking blood and quickly moving camera shots that look computer animated and try to compensate for scene changes. Remakes are also not his bag. Planet of the Apes was just terrible and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was near sacrilege. Still for every Mars Attacks! there's an well engineered Edward Scissorhands. Also I blame Tim Burton for Emo kids but that's a conversation for another day.

4. Michael Bay: How this shallow self-absorbed spendthrift of a human being managed to make movies for so long is beyond me. Every time I watch a Michael Bay film in theaters I feel like I had just been tricked. Entice me with flashy cars, explosions and one liners will you? Masters of the action packed like James Cameron and Michael Mann manage to blend special effects, character development and humor or lacking that seamless editing into their movies but Michael Bay seems to throw the spaghetti to the wall to see what sticks. "Are you impressed yet?" No not really.

3. M. Night Shymalans: The master of the third act plot twist manages to somehow convince his audience that his movies are interesting. I will admit, when The Sixth Sense came out I was as dumbstruck as anyone but the film just doesn't hold up to repeated viewings. Neither does Unbreakable which is the only other movie I believe pasts muster. Some compare Shymalan favorably to Hitchcock to those people I say, "what a twist!"

2. Wes Anderson: Pretensions abound in Wes Anderson movies as every character with lines does something cooky on screen to get attention. Fans of Anderson will point to the subtle humor, sympathetic characters and gentle cinematography as the labor of their love. There is nothing subtle about the humor, its just deadpan and bone dry which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but you can't fill 88+ minutes of screen time with just that. The characters aren't sympathetic, they're misanthropic and as for the cinematography...Anderson's movies look more like 70's porno than high art.

1. Quentin Tarantino: Every time I see a Tarantino film being advertised I get excited. In the trailers they look action packed, fun and very very bloody. As a movie buff I can appreciate his genre bending style, taking a host of opposing influences he seems to have just drawn out of a hat and mixing them together to see what happens. As I walk out of the theatre out 7 bucks and bloated from the popcorn, I feel a woebegone sense of dissatisfaction. Tarantino is the only director I know that can take a great idea and bore me to tears with it. Asinine segments of dialogue punctuated by flashes of violence isn't my idea of a good time. Take the highly lauded Inglorious Basterds as textbook Tarantino. After a 10 minute setup involving a British Lieutenant speaking with an unconvincingly serious Mike Myers, the Lieutenant and a fellow Basterd walk into a bar to rendezvous with their informer. Both the Lieutenant and 'Hugo' have been introduced and fleshed out with Hugo receiving his own cinematic aside. At the end of a lengthy scene filled with trite dialogue, there is a shootout where both are killed in a hail of gunfire. Two interesting characters, each with a solid back story are dispatched without so much as a goodbye. I like this storytelling tactic...sometimes, it keeps the audience guessing but a note to Mr. Tarantino, if you're going to kill off interesting characters be sure you have others to fall back on.

Top 25 Biographical Films

25. Talk To Me (2007)
Ralph Waldo "Petey" Greene Jr. was of little social importance through the first portions of his life. Working as a prison DJ during his sentence for minor crimes, Petey's luck changes when he has a chance run in with real radio producer Dewey Hughes. Offering a job to shut him up Petey eventually shakes up the entire DC area with his bawdy humor and outrageous antics. As the seriousness of the Civil rights sweeps the capital city, Petey bridges the gap between local celebrity to civil right icon. Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Don Cheadle as Petey this movie is part low key biography part civil rights morality play.

24. Man On the Moon (1999)
Jim Carrey stars as avant-garde comic Andy Kaufman in this uneven but lovable biopic. Those familiar with Kaufman no doubt remember him from the popular 70's sitcom Taxi but few have ever delved into his troubled life, tortured soul or dangerously funny comedy like director Milos Forman and writers Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski. From his rocky start in night club comedy to his sudden downfall and premature death, Andy Kaufman still immortalizes the soul of a comic who lives in his own world.

23. Monster (2003)
The true callous mind of a serial killer is revealed in Monster based on the life of Aileen Wuornos who killed seven men in Florida. Working as a prostitute to support her girlfriend and constant drug use, Aileen took out her frustrations on the men she slept with, many of them violent and unfeeling. Charlize Theron eventually took home the Oscar that year for her disturbing portrayal.

22. Kinsey (2004)
The life and times of the founder of human sexuality research gets the starring treatment from Hollywood in Kinsey. Dr. Alfred Kinsey (Liam Neeson) becomes curious about the subject of sex when questioned by newlywed students and begins his research into human sexuality to the disgust of many of his peers. Criticized by moralists and and McCarthy era dissenters, Kinsey's research laid the groundwork for the sexual revolution of the 1960's.

21. Cry Freedom (1987)
Richard Attenborough directs his second of three biographical films this time focusing on the life and tragic death of South African anti-apartheid leader Steve Biko. Told from the perspective of British journalist Donald Woods (Kevin Kline) Biko's message of racial pride becomes a danger to the Afrikaan regime leading to his demise. Woods must then race against time to get the manuscript of his accounts published before the government shuts him down. A young Denzel Washington was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Steve Biko kick starting his fledgling career.

20. Raging Bull (1980)
Based on the life of Middleweight boxing champion Jake "Raging Bull" LaMotta, Martin Scorsese illustrates a tragic character who looses everything through his own volatility and at the end of the film looks for redemption with no avail. considered one of Scorsese's finest works and Robert DeNiro's finest performances, Raging Bull is hauntingly tragic and intense.

19. Mongol (2007)
Released in 2007 by Russian director Sergei Bodrov, Mongol aims to tell the legend of the rise of Genghis Khan. Not much is known about the great conqueror who once ruled most of the known world. This ends up working to the advantage of Bodrov who weaves an intricate tale of a young boy who raises above a tradition of anarchy and tribalism to be with the one he loves while gaining followers due to his compassion. Alluringly shot in Mongolia, China and Kazakhstan Mongol is chalked full of cinematic beauty.

18. Patton (1970)
Controversial figure General George S. Patton becomes the focus of Franklin J. Schaffner's uncompromising biopic. From the first monologue, performed amicably by George C. Scott as the titular WWII General, the audience is captured by a man truly enamored by the honors of war. Is Patton a bloodthirsty tyrant or a noble warrior out of step with the modern world; the film ultimately leave those questions to you.

17. Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Frank Abagnale Jr. was at one time the most infamous conman to grace the FBI conscience. Before he was 21 years old, Abagnale managed to forge 2.5 Million dollars worth of fake checks and managed to successfully impersonate a doctor, lawyer and Airline pilot. played deftly by Leonardo DiCaprio and costarring Tom Hanks as humorless FBI agent Carl Hanratty tasked with bringing him in, Catch Me If You Can is a fun film about breaking the rules, living the dream and living with the consequences.

16. Amadeus (1984)
The life of musical genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is recalled from the perspective of jealous contemporary Antonio Salieri. Convinced that Mozart's talent is divine though confused that God would choose such a vulgar man as his vessel, Salieri plots his vengeance against God and the good-humored composer. Starring Tom Hulce as Amadeus and F. Murray Abraham who won and Oscar as Salieri, Amadeus, like Mozart's concertos, transcends art, storytelling and the human heart.

15. American Splendor (2003)
Harvey Pekar has lived a life of seclusion working as a clerk at a VA hospital, but after a chance encounter with cartoonist Robert Crumb, Harvey decides to create his own semi-biographical comic series that becomes a cult phenomena. Starring Paul Giamatti as the young Harvey Pekar and Harvey Pekar who plays his older self, American Splendor is a odd but rewarding movie about a blue-collar schlub who becomes a celebrity.

14. The Pianist (2002)
The amazing story of pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman who ultimately became the only member of his family to survive WWII Warsaw. After the Nazi invasion of Poland, Wladyslaw and his family live their lives in the Jewish ghetto awaiting the worst. With the help of friends, family, strangers and his own talents, Szpilman escapes the concentration camps and lives to tell his tale of human survival in the face of evil.

13. Finding Neverland (2004)
A universal story of childhood innocence told from the perspective of J.M. Barrie, the author of Peter Pan. Inspired by the Davies family, a group of forlorn children growing up without a father, Barrie creates what would become his opus. Starring Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet and Dustin Hoffman, Finding Neverland is a drama that even the kids might enjoy.

12. The Elephant Man (1980)
Dr. Frederick Treves works as a surgeon in the prestigious London Hospital and discovers John Merrick a deformed man held captive and living as a side-show freak. Treves soon discovers that under John's deformities lies an intelligent mind and gentle soul. Starring John Hurt as John and Anthony Hopkins as the good doctor, The Elephant Man benefits from David Lynch's strong direction.

11. A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Russell Crowe stars as John Nash, a brilliant but socially inept mathematician suffering from schizophrenia. The film ultimately won Best Picture at the Academy Awards but not without much controvercy. Many believed the screenplay was a big departure from the truth completely excluding Nash's extramarital affairs. Still Ron Howard's sure hand makes A Beautiful Mind a beautiful movie about a brilliant man overcoming adversity.

10. The World's Fastest Indian (2005)
A simple movie as far as plot goes, The World's Fastest Indian is about an overly friendly New Zealander Burt Munro who, journeys to the salt flats of Utah to test drive his 1920 motorcycle to beat the land speed record. Along the way he meets a brier patch of odd characters who help him achieve his dream. Anthony Hopkins plays the zealous Munro with exuberance to spare.

9. Malcolm X (1992)
Controversial film director Spike Lee attempts to recount the life of equally controversial civil rights leader Malcolm X. Denzel Washington deftly plays X with aplomb and fairly accurately portrays his early life as a Harlem hooligan, his later life as a polarizing public figure and ultimately his life as an imperfect man looking for redemption.

8. Schindler's List (1993)
Spielberg soars at the helm of this biopic set in WWII Germany. Neither an amoral Nazi or a moralist dissenter, Oskar Schindler proves himself both as a German entrepreneur to the Reich and a savior to a group of Jewish families who work at his factory. Liam Neeson takes the acting challenge of a lifetime making one of cinema histories most heartfelt speeches at the end of the movie. Definably on the shortlist for one of the best films ever made and required watching for anyone with a pulse.

7. Rudy (1994)
A straightforward story of triumph and overcoming adversity, Rudy is a must see for sports aficionados. Born of a working-class background and lacking the grades, funds or physicality to achieve his dream of joining the Notre Dame's famed Fighting Irish football team, Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger nevertheless gives it the old college try to the behest of his family and friends. What Rudy lacks in strength and stature he more than makes up for in heart in this truly beautiful movie about holding on to your dreams, no matter what.

6. Quills (2000)
Doug Wright's captivating play of the same name gets a much needed adaptation with the help of Geoffrey Rush, Kate Winslet and Joaquin Phoenix. After the French Revolution, the infamous Marquis de Sade is sequestered to the confines of an insane asylum run by the genteel Abbe du Coulmier. But after the Marquis manages to publish his prurient works, the humorless Dr. Royer-Collard (played by Michael Caine) is brought in to put a stop to it. Witty, dark and sexually palpable, Quills is a must-see.

5. Shakespeare in Love (1998)
Though bringing the word biography to its logical limit, Shakespeare in Love nevertheless conjures a stirring love story inspired by the life of the most famous playwright of the English language. Suffering from a bad case of writers block, young William Shakespeare unknowingly auditions young Viola (played by Gwyneth Paltrow in drag) for a part in his newest play. Eventually the two become entangled in a steamy love affair that inspires Shakespeare to write his most famous love story.

4. Good Morning Vietnam (1987)
Robin Williams gives arguably his best performance ever in this epic comedy that takes place during the Vietnam War. Adrian Cronauer is a talented disc jockey who is assigned to Ho Chi Minh City to provide quality radio entertainment to war weary troops. To his superiors dismay Cronauer boosts morale with his off-kilter humor and (gasp) rock music. Fulled with both humor and tribulation, Good Morning Vietnam is truly one of the exceptional movies that has everything.

3. Gandhi (1982)
Epic in magnitude and breathtakingly beautiful, Gandhi is the amazingly true story of pacifist revolutionary leader Mahatma Gandhi. This movie follows his early life as a lawyer and activist in South Africa to his revolutionary fight for Indian independence. His pacifism and will to maintain peace secured his place in world history and the film Gandhi is a comprehensive tale of the man behind the legend.

2. The People Vs. Larry Flynt (1996)
Though men like Schindler and Gandhi gave us hope, people like Larry Flynt are simply more interesting. Becoming a self-made night club owner, Larry Flynt envisioned an empire he would eventually gain as a revolutionary pornographer. Owner and proprietor of Hustler magazine, Larry Flynt became highly vilified by "decent" Americans evoking the wrath of televangelist Jerry Falwell. But behind Flynt's malicious glee laid the heart of a truly tortured soul.

1. Ed Wood (1994)
There is a poetic justice in bestowing best biography status to a movie about the worst director ever. Edward D. Wood Jr. played with confidence by Johnny Depp is a struggling director for stage and screen who lives to see his shoddy work presented to the masses. Displaying a permanently shiny disposition Ed crosses paths with his hero, Dracula himself Bela Lugosi played by Martin Landau who won an Oscar for his role. Hard up for cash and addicted to drugs, Bela begins to make appearances in Wood's films along with a regular cast of renegade misfits. Directed by Tim Burton, Ed Wood is funny, sad and incredibly weird but a marvelous biography that is a must see for anyone who loves movies.

List: Top 10 James Bond Movies

10. License to a Kill (1989)
James Bond gets a darker edge in this 1989 update featuring Timothy Dalton in the title role. CIA Agent Felix Leiter (David Henison) and his newlywed-ed wife are tortured at the hands of drug lords and James Bond works outside of MI6 to avenge them. Though much different from the rest of the series (22 films and counting), License to Kill still has all the exotic locals and beautiful female leads as the other films.

9. You Only Live Twice (1967)
This movie nearly has everything a James Bond movie needs. Picturesque locations, pulse pounding action, macabre humor and a larger than life villain. When both American and Russian spacecrafts disappear the Cold War heats up and James Bond (Sean Connery) is brought in to investigate. Traveling to Japan on the heals of a UFO the plot thickens when it is revealed that Ernst Bloefeld (Donald Pleasance) is manipulating the two superpowers to the brink of war; in his secret lair inside a dormant volcano of course.

8. GoldenEye (1995)
James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) must stop the GoldenEye computer key that operates a powerful satellite weapons system from getting into the wrong hands. Featuring Brosnan as the martini sipping playboy, GoldenEye is the perfect mix of thrills and kills featuring over the top performances by Sean Bean, Famke Janssen and Alan Cumming.

7. The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
Famous international assassin Scaramanga seeks to make 007 (Roger Moore) his next victim. Though a little campy at times (Featuring the henchman Nick Nack), The Man with the Golden Gun still manages to entertain in only the way Roger Moore could.

6. Casino Royale (2006)
After failing to keep his distance from a mark, James Bond's investigation into a terrorist cell leads to a high-stakes card game which fronts as a payment to illusive arms dealer Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelson). Introducing Daniel Craig as the famed 007, this film brought back some of the sophisticated atmosphere lacking in the dismal Brosnan movies. Despite moments of ennui Casino Royale more than makes up for it with state of the art special effects and breathtaking stunts.

5. Thunderball (1965)
When a classified bomber holding two nuclear warheads is taken by SPECTRE it is up to James Bond to save the day. With all the things necessary for a James Bond film, what sets it apart are the seductive female leads Claudine Auger, Martine Beswick and Luciana Paluzzi. Not to mention the shark tank, oh the shark tank!

4. From Russia with Love (1963)
From Russia with Love is accredited by many as the first "real" James Bond movie. Second in the 22 part series, From Russia with Love was the first to feature SPECTRE as a major plot point and the first to use the now famous stylized intros complete with the camera through the barrel of a gun. Though the film has a relatively low-key plot as 007 tries to get a hold of Soviet cipher, From Russia with Love makes the list for raising the bar from the subdued Dr. No and cleared the way for all to follow.

3. The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
When nuclear submarines start to disappear from both sides of the iron curtain, its is up to James Bond (Roger Moore) and Russian super spy Anya Amasova (Barbara Bach) to reveal shipping millionaire Karl Stromberg's dastardly plan. James and the lovely Anya however must first settle a score or two before saving the world. One of the few James Bond movies that works on an emotional scale as well as sheer spectacle, The Spy Who Loved Me is definitely Roger Moore's best.

2. Goldfinger (1964)
If From Russia with Love raised the bar then Goldfinger is the golden standard. Goldfinger peeled away the levels of intrigue from the earlier installments and replaced them with the over the top theatrics and special effects we all know in love. Auric Goldfinger and his organization plan to steal the gold from Fort Knox placing the world's economy into chaos. James Bond (Sean Connery) must once again save the world from certain doom.

1. On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
Featuring George Lazenby as 007 (for the first and last time) On Her Majesty's Secret Service gives you everything you want from a James Bond film and more. Tracking down Bloefeld to his secret hideout in the Alps (thanks to Tracy played by Diana Rigg), James Bond uncovers his plot to once again blackmail the world. Does it have death defying stunts? yes; state of the art special effects? yes; over the top villains and beautiful women? of course; but what sets this movie apart is Bond actually falls in love!

Bottom 3:
3. Die Another Day (2002)
Though most of Pierce Brosnan's movies fail to win much adoration, this one takes the cake. James Bond makes an escape in an invisible car, destroys a mansion in a "friendly" fencing match and escapes from a satellite laser by...surfing on and ice flow. Finally a cameo by Madonna sinks it for me.

2. Moonraker (1979)
James Bond in space! Moonraker raises the camp levels as Roger Moore returns as James Bond to investigates a mid-air robbery of a space shuttle. Richard Kiel also returns as SPECTRE goon Jaws who falls from an airplane, breaks gondola cables with his teeth, and in the end sees the error of his ways. Yikes.

1. Diamonds are Forever (1971)
Considered the best James Bond ever, Sean Connery falls from grace, phoning it in to catch the illustrious Bloefeld in this mess of a movie. Featuring two very annoying gay henchmen wielding groan inspiring puns this movie has the peculiarity of a Las Vegas hooker. What else could you possibly add to make it any more disappointing you ask? How about if it co-stared Jimmy Dean.

List: Top 10 James Bond Movies

Review: Sleeper

Year: 1973

Genre: Sci-Fi Comedy

Stars: Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, John Beck, Mary Gregory & Don Keefer

Director: Woody Allen

Overview: After being frozen for 200 years Miles Monroe (Allen) is awakened to find a dystopian future run by an oppressive dictator. The scientists (Gregory and Keefer) who thawed him are part of an underground movement that wants to use him to infiltrate "The Aries Project" a top secret government operation that has been kept under wraps. After eluding authorities Miles disguises himself as a robot and becomes a butler for socialite Luna Schlosser (Keaton). After being discovered Miles take Luna hostage and both go out to contact the underground and uncover the truth behind The Aries Project.

Writing: Being penned by Woody Allen one can assume the script will at least have a few clever lines. Two years before his mainstream success with Annie Hall, Sleeper still remains Allen's most accessible comedy. Though there are a few slapstick moments and broad humor, the script is far from the disposable scatological messes that come out of Lorne Michael's workshop. Loosely based on H.G. Wells and George Orwell's dystopian manuscripts, Sleeper has all the sophistication of classic sci-fi but told in a much lighter tone than the average Jules Verne novel.

Directing: Definitely shot during the 70's Sleeper suffers from the softer lenses and "groovy" style of the time. The future in this movie isn't displayed with the gray and dreary tints of say Minority Report or I Robot nor the sheer awe of Back to the Future Part II, instead it looks just like what passed as contemporary at the time. The only addition are the bizarre machines that, though may be interesting to fathom are never given their due. Take the orgazmatron which does exactly what you'd expect. People enter and exit a moment later with a goofy smile on their face which is met with mixed results depending on the person. That being said there are still some very absurdest glee in this movie including giant fruit and livestock to a robot confessional. This movie brings wackiness to its logical limit.

Acting: Like the Bing Crosby/Bob Hope "Road" movies, this film is essentially a two person show. Sure there are other actors in the film but only Allen and Keaton really matter. What surprises me about this movie is how un-verbose Allen's character is in comparison to his other roles. Famous for playing insecure semi-intellectuals expelling quasi-psychological babel, Woody seems to not have honed in his talents instead focusing on broader humor with some very funny results. Though I appreciate Allen's later roles and films, sometimes a goofy face can have more comedic effect than self-deprecation. Keaton likewise does a commendable job as a socialite who is unwittingly kidnapped by madcap Allen but unlike her stronger role in Annie Hall, she is stuck playing the straight man to Allen's schtick.

Bankability: Though there are many priceless moments in this flick, Sleeper does suffer from the mid-plot doldrums. A few scenes during the second act seem unnecessary and only serve as an attempt to make Miles more three-dimensional (Not a good idea in a scatological comedy). In its defense however the humor is not as worn as Woody Allen's Bananas or a dismal as Curse of the Jade Scorpion.

ALL-Factor: Does it make you chuckle, yes absolutely. But the characters are unsympathetic and occasionally dull, the set design and cinematography have faded with time and unlike most classic science fiction, nothing stays with you after the credits roll.

Conclusion: Sleeper is a must see for Woody Allen fans. Filled with amusing one liners and hilarious sight gags Sleeper is a clear testament to Allen's comedy skills. That being said, the average viewer might find this film a little lackluster at times. Ultimately it is worth taking a look at for those looking for something to watch on a Saturday night.

List: Top 10 Movies You Watched in School

Few things unite us like movies do. Though we all have different experiences and live vastly different lives, at least we can all sit down and talk about the stories and memories we have collectively shared through the videos we've watched. No where is this more realized then in grade school. So without further ado I countdown the top 10 movies you watched during school.

10: 1776 (U.S. History)
Based off of the broadway musical of the same name, (which is itself based on the Continental Congress's debates on independence) 1776 brings the founding fathers to life. Starring William Daniels, Howard Da Silva and Ken Howard this show stopper may seem a little dated at times, but for anyone who wanted to see Boy Meets World's Mr. Feeny sing this flick is a real treat.

9: Much Ado About Nothing (Drama)

Kenneth Branagh continues his Elizabethan binge with this Shakespearian comedy. Featuring an all star cast, it's Emma Thompson and Branagh himself who shine brightest, though Denzel Washington deserves special mention as Don Pedro. Also featured is Keanu Reeves who, though tries his best to speak in verse, falls flat on his face. At least he does much better than the cast members of Romeo+Juliet

8: The Little Mermaid (French, Spanish...any language really)

Classic Disney at is classiest, The Little Mermaid has become a timeless tale of following your dreams and falling in love. Oddly enough it seems that almost all language classes have a DVD of this movie somewhere and dubbing them in various tongues doesn't take away its effect (though the songs may sound a little silly in German).

7: Gladiator (World History)

"Are you not entertained?" is the montra of this action packed sword-and-sandal epic. Though riddled with historical inaccuracies Gladiator still packs and emotional punch and manages to reconstruct ancient Rome in all its magnificence. Starring Russell Crowe as General Maximus and Joaquin Phoenix as the venemous Caesar Commodus Gladiator eventually won best picture on Oscar night and deservedly so.

6: A Beautiful Mind (Psychology)
Another Russell Crowe flick, A Beautiful Mind is a pretty accurate depiction of mathematician John Nash's complex life. Convinced he has been recruited to help decode KGB codes John eventually becomes the victim of his own machinations. Also winning best picture just a year later, A Beautiful Mind is truly a beautiful movie.

5: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (Government)
Frank Capra at his finest, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is worthwhile view of politics through the eyes of an idealistic Senator appointed to fill a vacancy and is met with corruption and cynicism. Used by the political machine and foiled by the media, Jefferson Smith takes is stand and never backs down from his convictions. This movie is socially important if for no other reason then to explain what a filibuster is.

4: Kundun (Comparative Religions)
A biographical look at the Dalai Lama through the mature eyes of Martin Scorsese Kundun is as visually impressive as it is soulfully told. Starring mostly Tibetan actors this movie is told in a series of episodes and follows a chronological story structure. Though slow to some, those with patience will be rewarded.

3: The Land Before Time (Elementary School)

I'm not sure what little kids watch in class nowadays but The Land Before Time was for its time a beautifully crafted little film with worthwhile characters, a straightforward plot, great animation for its time and surprisingly adult themes that ensure its longevity. Every little boy at one point went through a dinosaur phase, and this film coincided with mine.

2: To Kill a Mockingbird (English)

Out of all the films based on high school required reading To Kill a Mockingbird is both a literary masterpiece and a cinematic triumph. Gregory Peck cements his status as one of the greatest actors of all time with his closing argument at Tom Robinson's trial. Mary Badham also is quite impressive as Scout and Robert Duvall makes his screen debut as Boo Radley giving great presence despite not saying a word.

1: Life is Beautiful (Humanities)

Set in fascist Italy, Life is Beautiful stars Roberto Benigni as charismatic Jewish man Guido who, with the help of his humor falls in love, marries and has a son with the woman of his dreams. When Guido and his family are transported to the concentration camps he uses his sense of humor and love of life to keep them alive. Without a doubt the most beautiful love story I have ever seen and one of the best movies of all time.