During a 1997 interview with the Associated Press, comedian George Carlin discussed his ideal obituary, life regrets, accomplishments, and his impact of fellow artists.

In the world of stand-up, the holy trinity is comprised of three people.  The first is Lenny Bruce, the second is Richard Pryor.

The third has re-joined his triumvirate in laughter heaven.  George Carlin (God knows you were one of the absolute best) is gone.  Bless you sir.

Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt) is born an old man and ages in reverse until he becomes a baby and then finally vanishes from the earth. At age 50, he falls in love with a 30-year-old woman (Cate Blanchett), and must come to terms with the relationship as they literally grow in opposite directions

David Fincher (dir)
Brad Pitt
Cate Blanchett
Tilda Swinton
Julia Ormond
Elle Fanning
Elias Koteas

Chris Carter (dir.)
David Duchovny
Gillian Anderson
Amanda Peet
Billy Connolly
Alvin Joiner

What an incredibly depressing time these past two months have been for movie lovers.  Sydney Pollack, Stan Winston, and now dance legend Cyd Charisse has left us.

Secondary to my love of movies is my love of dance, and Cyd Charisse gave us that immortal scene as a gangster's girl to Gene Kelly's starstruck out-of-towner in the greatest of musicals, Singin' In The Rain. 

I don't think I've ever been as conflicted in choosing whether to recommend a film.  My close friends know how much I admired Ang Lee's Hulk (2003).  I called it, "the most introspective of the Marvel superhero movies that have come out so far."  And it still is.  Yet this latest version, directed by The Transporter's Louis Leterrier, makes up for its lack of insight with its blistering action.  So how should I judge a film that succeeds in what it sets out to do, but is wanting when compared to its predecessor?

The man who created some of the most frightening cinematic creatures of the last 30 years is gone.  Stan Winston, winner of 4 Academy Awards, gave life to the Terminator, the Alien Queen, the Predator, and the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park, and is proof that some of cinemas biggest stars, aren't always in front or behind the camera.  Filmdom is a less wondrous place without him.

There are certain moments in history when America has proven itself to the world: Neil Armstrong setting foot on the Moon; or the US Men's Hockey team beating the Soviet Union in the 1980 Olympics. One such moment, however, never got the recognition it deserved: In 1976, a small American winery bested the exalted French wines of the time and sent the wine industry into a tizzy - putting California wines on the map for good. Based on a true story, Bottle Shock chronicles the events leading up to the famous 'Judgment of Paris' tastings, told through the lives of father and son, Jim and Bo Barrett. A former real estate attorney, Jim (Bill Pullman) sacrificed everything to realize his dream of creating the perfect hand-crafted chardonnay. His business, however, is struggling, and he's not only trying to overcome differences with his slacker son (Chris Pine), but is also fighting off the creditors. Meanwhile in Paris, unwitting British wine shop owner Steven Spurrier (Alan Rickman) hopes to revive his own failing business by sponsoring a competition which will pit the traditional French powerhouse against the California upstarts. Little did Steven and Jim realize that they were both on course to change the history of wine forever.

Randall Miller (dir.)
Alan Rickman
Bill Pullman
Chris Pine
Rachael Taylor
Freddy Rodriguez

In the fast-paced race-against-time-thriller "Eagle Eye" Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan are two strangers who become the pawns of a mysterious woman they have never met, but who seems to know their every move. Realizing they are being used to further her diabolical plot, they must work together to outwit the woman before she has them killed.

D.J. Caruso (dir.)
Shia LaBeouf
Michelle Monaghan
Rosario Dawson
Michael Chiklis
Anthony Mackie

Luis Mirasol Jr. would have been 73 if he were still around.  He passed away a year before I graduated.  How I wished he could have held his grandaughter, my dearest Cate, who is now a little more than a year old.  I can't help but think of him fondly and longingly today.  Especially today.  Words fail me when I try to think about how much he meant to me; to my family.  Along with mom, they were the best parents in the world.  How blessed I am to have had them both in my life.

I miss those mahjong days, those Othello lessons, seeing him play Scrabble with ma, and dancing playfully to elicit laughs.  I long for those dirty jokes, those phantom farts, his devotion to Joe Montana's 49ers, and weekends with him watching NBA games, Tennis Grand Slam matches, and yes Sumo Wrestling on NHK (Takanohana was our favorite).  What I'll miss most was his quiet, calming, reassuring, and authoritative presence, the kind that makes you know that everything will be right as rain as long as he's around.  The greatest man I ever met, was indeed the first.

Award-winning Russian filmmaker Sergei Bodrov (PRISONER OF THE MOUNTAINS) illuminates the life and legend of Genghis Khan in his stunning historical epic, MONGOL. Based on leading scholarly accounts and written by Bodrov and Arif Aliyev, MONGOL delves into the dramatic and harrowing early years of the ruler who was born as Temudgin in 1162. As it follows Temudgin from his perilous childhood to the battle that sealed his destiny, the film paints a multidimensional portrait of the future conqueror, revealing him not as the evil brute of hoary stereotype, but as an inspiring, fearless and visionary leader. MONGOL shows us the making of an extraordinary man, and the foundation on which so much of his greatness rested: his relationship with his wife, Borte, his lifelong love and most trusted advisor.

Sergei Bodrov (dir.)
Tadanobu Asano
Khulan Chuluun
Honglei Sun

When Roger Ebert, who has been reviewing films for 40 years, says that The Fall is, "one of the most astonishing films I have ever seen.", then you know you have to put this on your must see list (plot follows).

Los Angeles, circa 1920's, a little immigrant girl (Catinca Untaru) finds herself in a hospital recovering from a fall. She strikes up a friendship with a bedridden man (Lee Pace) who captivates her with a whimsical story that removes her far from the hospital doldrums into the exotic landscapes of her imagination. Making sure he keeps the girl interested in the story he interweaves her family and people she likes from the hospital into his tale.

Tarsem Singh (dir.)
Lee Pace
Catinca Untaru
Justine Waddell
Julian Bleach
Leo Bill

A disk containing the memoirs of a CIA agent ends up in the hands of two unscrupulous gym employees who attempt to sell it.

Joel and Ethan Coen (dir)
John Malkovich
George Clooney
Frances McDormand
Brad Pitt
Tilda Swinton
Richard Jenkins
David Rasche