Labyrinth, Dirty Pretty Things, Mister Lonely

Destin Cretton
Filmmaker, Short Term 12, Winner of the Sundance Short Film Award 2009

If you haven’t seen Labyrinth, you’re missing out on a chance to experience 101 minutes of David Bowie flirting with a young Jennifer Connelly and performing in some overly revealing tights. Get the Anniversary Edition because the behind-the-scenes documentary is splendid.

Here’s a shameless plug: Drakmar: A Vassal’s Journey is our HBO documentary about a 14-year-old boy in San Diego searching for his dad and fighting in a medieval reenactment group. It is now available on Netflix.com.

Labyrinth (Anniversary Edition) (England/USA) 1986, Sony Pictures
Drakmar: A Vassal's Journey (USA) 2007, Ryko

Michelle Steffes
Producer, Short Term 12, shortterm12.com

The DVD cover for The Orphanage is designed to make you think Guillermo del Toro directed this elegant yet terrifying Spanish film, but it was actually first-time feature director Juan Antonio Bayona. Beautifully acted and with a surprisingly emotional core, The Orphanage is for those who like a bit of heart in their horror.

Part mystery, part romance, part exploration of a social problem, Dirty Pretty Things will get under your skin if you let it. Written by the brilliant Steven Knight and with a terrific performance by Chiwetel Ejiofor, it makes looking past “the people you never see” harder to do.

The Orphanage (Spain) 2007, New Line
Dirty Pretty Things (England) 2002, Miramax

Brad Kester
Assistant director, Short Term 12

Harmony Korine’s Mister Lonely is about a Michael Jackson impersonator in Paris who moves into a castle with Marilyn Monroe and her commune of celebrity look-alikes. Delicately framed, funny, and with a rare sincerity. I can’t stop thinking about a moment when Michael encourages a retirement center to live forever.

I remember waiting to see The Weather Man on April Fool’s Day 2005, but then it didn’t actually play for another six months. Somehow this one flew under the radar. Director Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean) proves his savvy though, and Nicolas Cage reminds us he’s a really good actor. Plus big bonuses: Michael Caine and Hope Davis.

Mister Lonely (England/France/USA) 2007, IFC
The Weather Man (Widescreen Edition) (USA) 2005, Paramount