In other French re-interpretation news, Cocteau is a great one for that. In addition to La Belle et la Bête, he wrote Delannoy's L'Éternel retour, which is a re-telling of Tristan and Isolde with very, very pretty people. And, his Orphée is amazing. More people need to see it, if only for the killer performance of María Casares as Death.

I'd also check out Marcel Camus' Orfeu Negro, which sets the Orpheus tale in Rio during Carnival.

In actor news, Michael Phillips (film critic for the Chicago Tribune) has put together a list of The New Reliables, actors you can always count on to give a good performance, regardless of the quality of the script or direction.

I like his inclusion of Patricia Clarkson, Chwetel Ejiofor, Simon Pegg, JK Simmons, and Stanley Tucci.

And, his Orphée is amazing. More people need to see it, if only for the killer performance of María Casares as Death.

I saw that years ago - I had it on a videotape with some other films of his (Blood of a Poet was one of them). Unfortunately, the tape went missing. Criterion has those two plus The Testament of Orpheus in a set, but it's hella pricey. I should get that someday, though.

Chwetel Ejiofor

Yum.

Yes, after all your wonderful contributions, that is all I have to offer.

just fyi: it's Chiwetel

The Big Lebowski is The Big Sleep with pot, bowling, dream sequences, and nihilists.

I never thought of it before, Corwood, but you're right. Or, you know, close enough, if you're not into certainty. Damn, I love it. And Mom *so* didn't get it.

I think I would have not fallen asleep during My Own Private Idaho several times if I had know that it was about Prince Hal!

Oh Brother Where Art Thou equals The Odyssey - very loosely, but closer than some of the others mentioned.

Lauren Bacall is my hero: [link]