"Like Russell Crowe in that tobacco movie acting. I guess I am a snob on this."

I don't think you can consider yourself a snob if you don't know the movie "The Insider."

I'm one of The Masked Movie Snobs. I should know.

No worries El Bicho- I don't even wear a mask about my movie snobbery.

Though I admit, I haven't seen Sideways. I tend to get bored in "talky" films (Punch-Drunk Love), though I still appreciate many of them as pieces of fine filmmaking.

Can you tell I am a filmmaker if I can like a movie while not liking a movie?

However, did you see Eternal Sunshing of the Spotless Mind? I think if you replace Sideways you get my "trinity" of the past year.

Don't forget The Station Agent (though I'm not sure if technically that was last year or prior). It's pretty rockin'.

I did finally see "Sideways" better than I expected it to be. I will have to wait to see the rest.

thanks Lono, still haven't seen Napoleon, but have the other two: loved Sideways and liked Garden State okay. I would certainly not say "nothing happens" in Sideways, however - there is some rather lurid action

I would say a character-driven movie can have lots happen in it, but perhaps not of the explosions or murder or even "She wound up leaving for Paris afterall" kind of things going on.

There's lots going on in Sideways, which makes it a fascinating, funny, sad, and moving film to watch. Some character-driven films are dull as ass to watch, but then again the same is true of most "action" films.

Of these three, I've not yet seen Garden State -- it gets so many different reactions that I'm certainly curious to check it out.

I found Napoleon a nice film, funny and touching at times, but fairly minor league when compared to the brilliant, superior work being done in Sideways.

By any standard Al Pacino is a great actor. Also, by any standard he's a better actor than Gene Hackman. Similarly by any standard Michael Corleone, Ricky Roma, Shylock, Tony Montanta, Will Dormer and Roy Cohn are not merely "different" characters - they show tremendous range.

great stuff Lono. i almost had myself a movie trilogy of sorts tonight, except i only got through one. I had The Lost Weekend and Sideways ready to go, noticed the alcohol-theme, so figured i'd round it off with Withnail And I.

After Billy Wilder's epic, i went and took a bath instead.

Memories, man.

And regarding the movie snob comment up there in #1 or so... i'm guessing that was maybe a wee jest. it pains me to have to point these things out.

I'm trying to put together a trilogy with Swingers and Sideways and something else... it's gotta be a great buddy movie, and have great elements of drama and comedy in it. I was thinking Made, but that would be too easy and lean too far to the comedy end of the spectrum.

Any ideas?

lethal weapon?

Oh come on... nah... must we resort to that one... I guess the first one had a dramatic tilt, what with Gibson beating himself with stones and whips... oh, I mean putting a gun in his mouth of course.

I'd much rather have Tommy Boy, myself.

what about the last temptation of christ. dafoes jesus and kietel's Judas were buddies. and you have the comedy of Judas yackin with a bronx accent.

which i recently did an impression of, using the phrase;

"i'll beat yo ass, jesus", and now cannot imagine how it ISN'T in the film...

or Keeping The Faith! Stiller and norton grow up and end up fallin for the same lass. and its directed by Norton! and its great!

Yeah... The God Squad -- that was good stuff, had just the right light romantic comedy touch, didn't it? To bad She didn't star though is all I can say on your behalf, Duke.

Okay... next up for consideration:

Tango & Cash!

An oft-overlooked masterpiece buddy flick starring Sly Stallone and Kurt Russell... and a bad guy with a chin so enormous we used to call him Chin Guy.

Eric,

I'd have to say I love everything Vince Vaughn does. His roles are so dumb and comical and over the top... but not in a Caruso way. You really get the idea he is that big of a tool in real life. Whenever I see Vince Vaugn in a movie I immediately add it to my Netflix.

Lono - I agree, though his talents are not always used that well. The remake of Psycho was a disaster of course, though he did show great dramatic acting chops in Return to Paradise flick.

For comedy, he needs to be more than a tool... he needs to be a goofy, fun-loving tool. This is why Old School, Made, Swingers, and Dodge Ball work while films like Starsky & Hutch are DOA.