"Every 'Revolution' Needs A Leader"

Youth in Revolt (2009)
Directed by Miguel Arteta, rated R, 90 minutes

Youth in Revolt is an ambitious and chaotic comedy about a young outcast who creates an alter-ego to help get his sophisticated dream girl. The film has plenty of great character actors, like Steve Buscemi, Ray Liotta and Zach Galifianakis, but Michael Cera stands out, easily becoming the pitiful, awkward lead character, while also perfectly playing his insane, badass alter-ego. The writing has a potent mix of subtle and black humor, and the film has an offbeat atmosphere where everything feels a little strange. Youth in Revolt wouldn't work if the main character wasn't so damn likable and charming, and thanks to the hilarious dialogue and wonderfully manic storyline - it works flawlessly. You'll like it if: You like coming-of-age films, quirky humor, Michael Cera, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Good Girl or Broken Flowers.

"Where the hell is my elephant?"

The Protector (2005)
Directed by Prachya Pinkaew, rated R, 108 minutes

The Protector is an exhilarating, pulse-pounding Thai marital arts film about a young fighter who goes to Australia to hunt down the gangsters that stole his elephant. Tony Jaa isn't much of an actor, but he's an incredibly talented martial artist, doing all his own stunt without wires or CGI, and he's a lot of fun to watch. The story is simplistic, but it provides for plenty of jaw-dropping fight scenes, and the film has some exciting visuals, including an ambitious extended Steadicam sequence. The Protector is a ridiculously fun movie that gets more unbelievable and preposterously entertaining as it goes on - the best martial arts film in recent memory. You'll like it if: You like martial arts, lone wolf protagonists, Ong-Bak, District B13 or The Transporter.

"All the world's a stage..."

The Truman Show (1998)
Directed by Peter Weir, rated PG, 103 minutes

The Truman Show is a unique and inspired dramedy about an insurance salesman who finds out his entire life is being filmed for a TV show. Jim Carrey, in his first "serious" role, gives a low-key but charming performance, and Ed Harris is incredibly forceful and enigmatic as the show's director. The premise is undeniably intriguing, and while on its face its absurd, it has a strange edge of nightmarish believability, and thankfully the rest of the film is as well written and interesting as the idea. The Truman Show works as a clever satire of reality TV, but it's the wonderful, relatable characters and exhilarating, somewhat sci-fi story that make the film so memorable. You'll like it if: You like odd premises, dreamlike films, Jim Carrey, Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind, Stranger than Fiction or Gattaca.

"This sun dial is ten minutes slow."

It's a Gift (1934)
Directed by Norman Z. McLeod, not rated, 68 minutes

It's a Gift is an uproariously funny classic comedy about a henpecked man who decides to move his family out to California to grow oranges despite his family's objections. W.C. Fields delivers plenty of hilarious lines and he's easy to sympathize with as his wife is so absurdly shrewd, you can't help but hate her - she's seriously awful. The film's sight gags are impressively orchestrated and manage to gain momentum and hilarity the longer they go on. Other than it's odd structure, It's a Gift is a great comedy, filled with memorably funny jokes and a underlying feeling of anarchic glee. You'll like it if: You like old comedies, screwball comedies, W.C. Fields, Duck Soup, Sherlock Jr. or Borat.

A Graphic and Hellish Masterpiece

Come and See (1985)
Directed by Elem Klimov, not rated, 142 minutes

Come and See is an eerie, raw and harrowing Soviet war film that shows the horrors of war through the eyes of 13 year old boy who joins a group of partisans trying to survive the Nazi invasion. The incredible, sweeping visual style adds to the surreal and bizarre imagery, and the actual war scenes are realistic and impressive in scope. The film has innumerable disturbing and horrifying moments and seeing them reflected on the face of young Aleksey Kravchenko's expressive face is almost too much at times. Come and See is unlike any war film out there; its provocative and painful atmosphere is truly haunting, and it's horrors are impossible to forget. You'll like it if: You like Soviet cinema, disturbing films, war films, Apocalypse Now, The Ascent, Stalker or Cross of Iron.

"One big case. Zero clue."

The Mystery Team (2009)
Directed by Dan Eckman, rated R, 105 minutes

The Mystery Team is a hilarious and fun low budget comedy about a group of naive child detectives, now in high school, that never grew out of solving little mysteries, who take on a murder case to prove they're adults. Though the premise is funny, it could easily be a one-joke film, but the writers are clearly devoted to creating genuine characters and a surprisingly interesting mystery. The film is made by the Derrick Comedy Troupe whose odd humor translates well into film, and Donald Glover stands out as the childish and devoted leader. The Mystery Team accomplishes everything it sets out to do; it has an enthralling story, unexpectedly effective suspense (in a good childrens' horror movie way) and a lots of truly funny jokes. You'll like it if: You like quirky humor, parodies, Donald Glover, Observe and Report, Pineapple Express or Planet Terror.

"Some things can't be erased"

Tape (2001)
Directed by Richard Linklater, rated R, 86 minutes

Tape is a tense and claustrophobic drama about two old high school friends who, while hanging out in a seedy motel, discuss some painful memories from high school. The film is based on a play, which explains why it takes place all in one room, but it's never boring as the head games and shocking backstory provide plenty of compelling drama. Ethan Hawke has never been more convincing than his role here as a cunning loser, and its exciting but nerve-racking to watch him toy with is old friend. Tape is such an interesting film because you're never sure who to trust and who's being honest, and thanks to some stellar acting it's one charged drama. You'll like it if: You like dialogue driven films, dramas about friendship, films set in one location, Before Sunrise, Mysterious Skin or sex, lies, and a videotape.

"I'd like to apologize, but who to."

In Cold Blood (1967)
Directed by Richard Brooks, rated R, 134 minutes

In Cold Blood is an unsettling and unflinching true crime drama about what two drifters do after a botched robbery results in them murdering an entire rural family. Robert Blake and Scott Wilson are top notch as the killers, simply becoming their unsavory characters, and they're provided some stellar dialogue. The stark black and white cinematography and the fact that most of the film was shot in the real locations give the film a documentary feel, and provide a perfect atmosphere for the sad and disturbing plot. In Cold Blood is the epitome of the true crime genre, allowing a glimpse into the minds of two killers while enthralling you with the tragic story. You'll like it if: You like true crime, films about criminals, police procedurals, Capote, Badlands or Monster.

"I should have told her everything. She loved stories like that."

My Life as a Dog (1985)
Directed by Lasse Hallstrom, not rated, 101 minutes

My Life as a Dog is a heartwarming, though dark, Swedish dramedy about Ingemar, a boy who is sent to live with some relatives in an eccentric little town while his mom tries to overcome a serious illness. Anton Glanzelius delivers a wonderful child performance in the lead, and his character's loneliness and unfortunate circumstances are easy to relate to. The film is filled with odd and very funny characters, but it's the relationships that develop between them and Ingemar that make the story so compelling. My Life as a Dog's bittersweet and nostalgic atmosphere gives the film charm like few others, and it has the perfect mix of comedy and drama. You'll like it if: You like coming-of-age films, quirky comedies, child protagonists, Show Me Love, What's Eating Gilbert Grape or Cinema Paradiso.