Waking Life (2001)

Dreams. What are they? An escape from reality or reality itself? Waking Life follows the dream(s) of one man and his attempt to find and discern the absolute difference between waking life and the dreamworld. While trying to figure out a way to wake up, he runs into many people on his way; some of which offer one sentence asides on life, others delving deeply into existential questions and life's mysteries. We become the main character. It becomes our dream and our questions being asked and answered. Can we control our dreams? What are they telling us about life? About death? About ourselves and where we come from and where we are going? The film does not answer all these for us. Instead, it inspires us to ask the questions and find the answers ourselves.

Director: Richard Linklater
Writer: Richard Linklater
Stars: Ethan Hawke, Trevor Jack Brooks and Lorelei Linklater
More info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0243017/

The Secret of Kells (2010)

Young Brendan lives in a remote medieval outpost under siege from barbarian raids. But a new life of adventure beckons when a celebrated master illuminator arrives from foreign lands carrying an ancient but unfinished book, brimming with secret wisdom and powers. To help complete the magical book, Brendan has to overcome his deepest fears on a dangerous quest that takes him into the enchanted forest where mythical creatures hide. It is here that he meets the fairy Aisling, a mysterious young wolf-girl, who helps him along the way. But with the barbarians closing in, will Brendan's determination and artistic vision illuminate the darkness and show that enlightenment is the best fortification against evil?

Directors: Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey
Writers: Tomm Moore (story) and Fabrice Ziolkowski (screenplay)
Stars: Evan McGuire, Brendan Gleeson and Mick Lally
More info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0485601/

Altered (2006)

Fifteen years ago, five men were abducted by aliens. Only four returned. Now, these same four men have managed to capture one of the creatures who killed their friend and ruined their lives. It's time for payback but payback swings both ways.

Director: Eduardo Sánchez
Writers: Jamie Nash (screenplay) and Jamie Nash (story)
Stars: Misty Rosas, Paul McCarthy-Boyington and Brad William Henke
More info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0457275/

Spiral (2007)

A reclusive telemarketer has only one semblance of a friend: His telecommuter boss. But the telemarketer's social circle seems to improve greatly when a whimsical co-worker enters his life. Only, as he begins to sketch his new friend's portrait, disturbing "voices" from the phone man's past threaten to lead him into a network of destruction.

Directors: Adam Green and Joel Moore
Writers: Jeremy Danial Boreing and Joel Moore
Stars: Joel Moore, Amber Tamblyn and Zachary Levi
More info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0491162/

The Disappearance of Alice Creed (2010)

Two criminals, Vic and Danny, kidnap Alice Creed. They fastidiously set-up an apartment building and handcuff Alice to the bed, all in a careful attempt to make sure that she won't escape and they won't get caught. But what do Vic and Danny really want with Alice? And is Alice cunning enough to foil their plans and escape?

Director: J Blakeson
Writer: J Blakeson
Stars: Gemma Arterton, Eddie Marsan and Martin Compston
More info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1379177/

Cracks (2009)

The story follows a clique of six girls whose dynamic is thrown off kilter by the arrival of a beautiful new Spanish student Fiamma. The hazy summer days by the lake provide the perfect setting for Fiamma's wild and intriguing tales of her travels in India with her father. Miss G is captivated but it's not long before ripples appear on the surface and the cracks beneath emerge in the relationship between teacher and pupil.

Director: Jordan Scott
Writers: Ben Court and Caroline Ip
Stars: Eva Green, Juno Temple and María Valverde
More info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1183665/

Adam (2009)

Soon after moving in, Beth, a brainy, beautiful writer damaged from a past relationship encounters Adam, the handsome, but odd, fellow in the downstairs apartment whose awkwardness is perplexing. Beth and Adam's ultimate connection leads to a tricky relationship that exemplifies something universal: truly reaching another person means bravely stretching into uncomfortable territory and the resulting shake-up can be liberating.

Director: Max Mayer
Writer: Max Mayer
Stars: Hugh Dancy, Rose Byrne and Peter Gallagher
More info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1185836/

Mr. Brooks (2007)

Earl Brooks is a highly respected businessman and was recently named Portland's Man of the Year. He hides a terrible secret however: he is a serial killer known as the Thumbprint Killer. He has been attending AA meetings and has kept his addiction to killing under control for two years now, but his alter ego, Marshall, has re-appeared and is pushing him to kill again. When he does kill a couple while they are making love, he is seen and photographed by someone who also has his own death and murder fetish. In a parallel story, the police detective investigating the murder is having problems of her own. She is going through a messy divorce and a violent criminal who had vowed revenge some years before has escaped from prison and is after her.

Director: Bruce A. Evans
Writers: Bruce A. Evans and Raynold Gideon
Stars: Kevin Costner, Demi Moore and William Hurt
More info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780571/

Venus (2006)

Maurice and Ian are successful but aging actors, close friends whose conversation revolves around theatrical shop talk and the infirmities of septuagenarianism. Ian in particular is fearful that death is right around the corner, so he agrees to let his niece's daughter Jessie move in to his flat to care for him. Jessie, a provincial girl in her early twenties, turns out to be a nightmare for Ian, a hard-drinking, rude, and dismissive twerp. But Maurice sees something else in the girl, a potential for humanity which blossoms under his kindness and gentle guidance. Something else blossoms, for Maurice, as well: romantic love for a girl fifty years younger.

Director: Roger Michell
Writer: Hanif Kureishi
Stars: Peter O'Toole, Jodie Whittaker and Leslie Phillips
More info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0489327/

TiMER (2010)

When implanted in a person's wrist, a TiMER counts down to the day the wearer finds true love. But Oona O'Leary faces the rare dilemma of a blank TiMER. Her soul mate - whoever and wherever he is - has yet to have a TiMER implanted. Staring down the barrel of thirty and tired of waiting for her would-be life partner to get off the dime, Oona breaks her own rules and falls for Mikey, a charming and inappropriately young supermarket clerk with a countdown of four months.

Director: Jac Schaeffer
Writer: Jac Schaeffer
Stars: Emma Caulfield, Michelle Borth and John Patrick Amedori
More info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1179794/