I just watched "Happiness," courtesy of Netflix, a good but VERY disturbing film. It does not leave you feeling warm and fuzzy. Written and directed by Todd Solondz, it's about one family's search for happiness, but believe me, they search in places that, hopefully, neither you nor I have ever gone. It's a controversial film, supposedly dropped by one distributor then picked up by another.

The acting is terrific. Phillip Seymour Hoffman, one of my all time favorite indy actors, stars along with a colorful and quite wonderful cast.

Happiness, Oh! I like that movie! All characters are weird, funny, and sometimes I felt sad...

I agree with you about Phillip Seymour Hoffman. He was conspicuous among other characters. Especially, he and Lara Flynn Boyle in elevator. They don't talk, nevertheless it cracked me up.

I just watched "Happiness," courtesy of Netflix, a good but VERY disturbing film.

I agree with all your statements. At times it's very hard to watch but even harder to shut it off. You just HAVE to know what's going to happen to this people.

Once again my Netflix cue is running low. Time for my irregular request for film suggestions. (Obviously they have to be available on DVD.)

FPW

Smilla's Sense of Snow
The Incredibles
Series 7
Dirty, Pretty Things
Carnivale, season 1 (Clancy Brown rules!)
I just saw an ad for something called Malevolence. It comes out 4/19 on DVD and it seems pretty interesting.

Smilla's Sense of Snow
The Incredibles
Series 7

The title of "Series 7" reminded me of "Session 9," which I recommend. Odd but interesting film, not the scariest one you'll ever see by a long shot, but I enjoyed it.

wrote a LONG reply which I managed to delete... so here is the shortened version:

Irish film - The Most Fertile Man in All Ireland low budget - shot in lighting/colors that feels very 60'70's ish - but very funny... gets a little slow in the middle/end, but still funny... tough to laugh at the IRA and the Ulster Unionists, too!

The Truth about Cats and Dogs great funny/romantic film. One of my favorites - but, of course, I am an animal person with several vets who can be counted on as very good friends...

Veronica Guerin Hollywood-Irish, and of course, hollywoodified, however, the film felt pretty accurate to me... depressing, however.

I'll second Sense & Sensibility and add the BBC version of Pride & Prejudice (with Colin Firth)... you have to be willing to sit through a long film for the second, however, as it was made as a mini-series...

Macbeth Kennth Branagh's version. I cried during this - Branagh's abilty to bring Shakespeare to life on screen in unparalleled! Of course, Much Ado About Nothing is wonderful as is whichever Richard he did. Then there is his mystery, title of which escapes me at the moment...

There is a wonderful animated film called something like Give Up Yer Aul' Sins - anyway, the dialogue is taken from actual Irish Catholic "working class" grade schoolers - tapes made in the 50's. The animation is very Irish. Wonderful!! Nominated for an Oscar in the short film category in 2002.

There is a couple of sites that list Irish films - Irish Film Board is one, and I can't find the other I had found earlier today...

Now, if your grandchildren like horses, I can recommend a few horsey movies...

Of course, Seabiscuit is for anyone!

My erased message said something like this:

While it is not an Irish film but rather a Scottish film, The Wicker Man, starring Christopher Lee, is a classic thriller.

Macbeth Kennth Branagh's version. I cried during this - Branagh's abilty to bring Shakespeare to life on screen in unparalleled! Of course, Much Ado About Nothing is wonderful as is whichever Richard he did. Then there is his mystery, title of which escapes me at the moment...

I think you meant Hamlet instead of Macbeth, and he did Henry V, not Richard. But I concur, you can't go wrong with Branagh doing Shakespeare.

As for the mystery, are you thinking of Dead Again? His reincarnation thriller with Emma Thompson? Loved that film.

Not sure if I mentioned it before, but Old Boy, a Korean thriller, is brilliant and well worth adding to any Netflix queue you've got going. Not for teh feint of heart, though.

Dave

I'll second Sense & Sensibility and add the BBC version of Pride & Prejudice (with Colin Firth)... you have to be willing to sit through a long film for the second, however, as it was made as a mini-series...

I'll second those and add Persuasion. (I watched Pride And Prejudice again last night. That's what turned me into a Colin Firth fan. )

Ken V.

I think you meant Hamlet instead of Macbeth, and he did Henry V, not Richard. But I concur, you can't go wrong with Branagh doing Shakespeare.

As for the mystery, are you thinking of Dead Again? His reincarnation thriller with Emma Thompson? Loved that film.

Not sure if I mentioned it before, but Old Boy, a Korean thriller, is brilliant and well worth adding to any Netflix queue you've got going. Not for teh feint of heart, though.

Dave

Right on both counts, Dave, and THANKS... I have been so brain dead lately.... Been thinking a lot about Kind Lear, and can't wait til Branagh does that one!

Dead Again is the title - wonderful film! I own it somewhere (in storage... on video... must buy the CD)

There was a movie version of Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle In Time made last year that was just released on DVD. I have not seen it to recommend it - but will in the next couple of weeks. Might be a good one, might not. Reviews were mixed!