CFB's Top 40 Films of 1998 (2011)

The Thin Red Line (1998)The Big Lebowski (1998)Happiness (1998)Saving Private Ryan (1998)Run Lola Run (1998)The Truman Show (1998)Gods and Monsters (1998)Festen (1998)Dark City (1998)A Simple Plan (1998)American History X (1998)Shakespeare in Love (1998)Show Me Love (1998)Pleasantville (1998)Pi (1998)Central Station (1998)Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)The Opposite of Sex (1998)Elizabeth (1998)Flowers of Shanghai (1998)The Last Days of Disco...

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CFB's Top 25 Obscure Films of 1998 (2011)

Cabaret Balkan (1998)Christmas in August (1998)The Power of Kangwon Province (1998)42: Forty Two Up (1998)Mr. Zhao (1998)Khrustalyov, My Car! (1998)Of Freaks and Men (1998)The Terrorist (1998)The Farm: Angola, USA (1998)The Last Days (1998)Confession (1998)Those Who Love Me Can Take the Train (1998)Barrio (1998)Dr. Akagi (1998)Flammes (1998)Secret Défense (1998)Flatworld (1998)Talking Heads 2 (1998)Billy’s Balloon (1998)Ruskin (1998)The Quarry (1998)Hollywoodism:...

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Fawlty Towers: Series 2 (1979)

Essential ViewingUKTelevision SeriesDirector: Bob SpiersWriters: Connie Booth, John CleeseCast: John Cleese, Prunella Scales, Andrew Sachs, Connie Booth, Ballard Berkeley, Brian HallThough Cleese’s performance is slightly less manic and physical than in the first series, and his character a tad more sympathetic, this second series is, if anything, even funnier, smarter, and more memorable than its hilarious predecessor.1. Communication ProblemsWhen...

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Fawlty Towers: Series 1 (1975)

Essential ViewingUKTelevision SeriesDirector: John Howard DaviesWriters: Connie Booth, John CleeseComposer: Dennis WilsonCast: John Cleese, Prunella Scales, Andrew Sachs, Connie Booth, Ballard BerkeleyA bigoted, elitist hotel owner – prone to fawning over nobility and treating with disdain the common man – manages to find himself in farcical situation after farcical situation, in this hilarious, brilliantly written first series, which benefits greatly...

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Northern Exposure: Season 2 (1991)

RecommendedUSATelevision SeriesCreators: Joshua Brand, John FalseyCast: Rob Morrow, Janine Turner, Barry Corbin, Darren E. Burrows, John Cullum, Cynthia Geary, Elaine Miles, Peg PhillipsThe second season of Northern Exposure, following the misadventure of a Jewish New York doctor marooned in the rural no-man’s-land of Cicely, Alaska, is a consistently entertaining work with no real weak episodes and at least one classic – Episode 2: The Big Kiss1....

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Northern Exposure: Season 1 (1990)

RecommendedUSATelevision SeriesCreators: Joshua Brand, John FalseyCast: Rob Morrow, Janine Turner, Barry Corbin, Darren E. Burrows, John Cullum, Cynthia Geary, Elaine Miles, Peg PhillipsA newly qualified doctor from New York struggles to adapt to life in rural Alaska, in this decidedly gentle and relatively straightforward though never less than thoroughly entertaining first season of a series that would go on to much greater things.1. PilotJewish...

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Couples Retreat (2009)

Not RecommendedUSAFeature FilmDirector: Peter BillingsleyWriters: Jon Favreau, Dana Fox, Vince VaughnCinematographer: Eric EdwardsComposer: A.R. RahmanCast: Vince Vaughn, Malin Akerman, Jason Bateman, Kristen Bell, Jon Favreau, Kristin Davis, Faizon Love, Kali Hawk, Jean Reno, Peter SerafinowiczAn intense, uptight married couple, considering divorce, convinces three other couples to accompany them on a retreat to an idyllic island, promising sun,...

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Grown Ups (2010)

Not RecommendedUSAFeature FilmDirector: Dennis DuganWriters: Adam Sandler, Fred WolfCinematographer: Theo van de SandeComposer: Rupert Gregson-WilliamsCast: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, Rob Schneider, Salma Hayek, Maria Bello, Maya Rudolph, Joyce Van Patten, Ebony Jo-AnnWhen their championship winning junior high school basketball coach dies, five old friends and their families decide – as well as attending his funeral – to...

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The Walking Dead: Season 1 (2010)

Highly RecommendedUSATelevision SeriesDeveloper: Frank DarabontCast: Andrew Lincoln, Jon Bernthal, Sarah Wayne Callies, Laurie Holden, Jeffrey DeMunn, Steven Yeun, Chandler Riggs, Norman Reedus, Emma Bell, IronE Singleton, Melissa Suzanne McBride, Jeryl PrescottAdapted from Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard’s comic books, Frank Darabont’s visceral and gory yet affecting and perceptive series, following the trials and tribulations of...

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Blow Out (1981)

RecommendedUSAFeature FilmWriter/Director: Brian De PalmaCinematographer: Vilmos ZsigmondComposer: Pino DonaggioCast: John Travolta, Nancy Allen, John Lithgow, Dennis FranzA film soundman for trashy exploitation flicks, out in a remote spot one night recording new sounds for his latest project, manages to capture the fatal car crash of a presidential candidate on tape, as well as rescuing his comely young companion, and becomes convinced, as film...

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The Trip (2010)

RecommendedUKFeature FilmDirector: Michael WinterbottomWriters: Steve Coogan, Rob BrydonCinematographer: Ben SmithardCast: Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon, Claire Keelan, Marta Barrio, Margo Stilley, Rebecca JohnsonEdited down from the excellent mini-series of the same title for an international release, Winterbottom, Coogan, and Brydon’s warm, witty, and affecting concoction – a tale of friendship, one-upmanship, middle-age regrets, and fragile entertainers’...

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Blotto (1930)

Not RecommendedUSAShort FilmDirector: James ParrottWriter: H.M. WalkerCinematographer: George StevensCast: Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Anita Garvin, Tiny SandfordStanley, forbidden by his wife to go out on the town with his great pal Oliver, hatches a plan (involving a fake telegram and a stolen bottle of booze) to remedy his situation – unfortunately for him, his better half is onto him from the start and sets out to teach him a lesson, in this...

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Our Wife (1931)

RecommendedUSAShort FilmDirector: James W. HorneWriter: H.M. WalkerCinematographer: Jack StevensCast: Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Babe London, James Finlayson, Ben Turpin, Charley Rogers, Blanche PaysonWith Mr. Finlayson ecstatic at the prospect of his daughter’s marriage right up until the point at which he sees a photograph of her intended, Mr. Hardy, Ollie, with the aid (read: hindrance) of his best pal Stan, is forced to change his plans and arrange...

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Our Relations (1936)

RecommendedUSAFeature FilmDirector: Harry LachmanWriters: Jack Jevne, Charles Rogers, Felix Adler, Richard Connell, W.W. JacobsCinematographer: Rudolph MatéComposer: Leroy ShieldCast: Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Alan Hale, Sidney Toler, Daphne Pollard, Betty Healy, James Finlayson, Iris Adrian, Lona Andre, Ralf Harolde, Noel Madison, Arthur HousmanStan and Ollie, happily married pillars of the local community, find their reputations plummeting for...

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Saps at Sea (1940)

RecommendedUSAShort Feature FilmDirector: Gordon DouglasWriters: Felix Adler, Harry Langdon, Gil Pratt, Charles RogersCinematographer: Art LloydComposer: Marvin HatleyCast: Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Richard Cramer, James FinlaysonAfter suffering a nervous breakdown brought on by his job testing horns (and exacerbated by a cockeyed plumber and a decidedly stupid best friend), Ollie, along with said chum, Stan, set off to recuperate (under doctor’s...

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You're Darn Tootin' (1928)

RecommendedUSAShort FilmDirector: Edgar KennedyWriter: H.M. WalkerCinematographer: Floyd JackmanCast: Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Otto Lederer, Agnes Steele14 weeks behind on their board, and just sacked from their musical orchestra, Stan and Ollie suddenly find themselves kicked out onto the street, where they attempt to put their tuneful “talents” to use busking for change – but run-ins with a police officer, a drunk, and a sewer worker ensure that...

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Below Zero (1930)

RecommendedUSAShort FilmDirector: James ParrottWriter: H.M. WalkerCinematographer: George StevensCast: Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Frank Holliday, Blanche PaysonIn this hugely entertaining, plot-packed Laurel and Hardy short, Street musicians Stan and Ollie find business tough going outside of the Deaf & Dumb Institute, and even harder going farther down the street where people can actually hear them, but a lost wallet, filled to the brim with...

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