Pam and Don: Films You Might Have Missed. Quiz

Answer: Transsiberian

Woody Harrelson and Emily Mortimer star in this film that explores the terrain of Siberia in all its snowy desolate beauty. Harrelson and Mortimer are returning from a Christian mission and decide to take a train to Moscow to fly back home. Their misadventures include befriending a pair of drug dealers, an intimidating Russian policeman played by Ben Kingsley, and a deadly side trip.

"Transsiberian" was 2008 Spanish-German-British-Lithuanian thriller filmed in pieces in various part of Europe. It received little domestic release and grossed less than six million in theaters, although it received a 91% rating from "Rotten Tomatoes" website. It was released on DVD and cable channels.

Answer: Richard Linklater

The characters (played by Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy) meet in what really amounts to a one night stand in "Before Sunrise"(1995).

They meet again years later in "Before Sunset"(2004) as the Hawke character is on a book tour that he based on the brief encounter in "Before Sunrise"

"Before Midnight"(2013) picks the characters up nine years later as they explore their relationship.

"Rotten Tomatoes" ranked "Before Sunrise" 100%, "Before Sunset" 95%, and "Before Midnight" 98%

The conversation is more than just witty. It is sometimes bombastic, seemingly out of control, cruel and savage, but at its heart it is always based on love, mutual chemistry, deep respect and sharing.

Richard Linklater is also known for his films "Dazed and Confused"(1993) and "Waking Life"(2001) Ethan Hawke has been a collaborator and appears in most of his films.

Answer: The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)

Carl Theodor Dreyer's silent version of "Joan of Arc" was released in 1928 but suffered censorship by mostly religious organizations so that not much was left of the original. However, in 1981 at a mental institution is Oslo, Norway the original 1928 director's cut was found. It was re-released a few years later and was acclaimed by film critics as one of the greatest films of all time.

The film is based on existing transcripts of the actual trial of Joan. The camera focuses on her face through which Falconetti expresses passion, purity, agony, and spirituality. Dreyer would sometimes take numerous retakes while Falconetti was on her knees on concrete.

Falconetti never made another film after this and instead devoted herself to the stage. She fled to South America during World War Two. A long time sufferer of mental illness, she committed suicide in Brazil in 1946.

Answer: Kris Kristofferson

Chris Cooper as sheriff of Rio County investigates the finding of a skeleton that leads him into his father's history, a thwarted romance, and long buried secrets in the Texas community. Kris Kristofferson plays Charlie Wade, seen only in flashbacks, and is the true villain of the film. Much of the film is in flashbacks.

"Lone Star"(1996) received good reviews when released and an Oscar for John Sayles for his screenplay. However, it is a film that needs to be seen to be truly appreciated. "Lone Star" has a 93% Rotten Tomatoes rating.

Answer: cube

The film is "Cube". It is a Canadian movie released in 1997. The characters claim not to know why they are there but eventually the group of five betray themselves. They do deduce that the rumblings they hear are shifts in the alignment of the cells and that they could be mathematically calculated. They concentrate on how to escape through 'safe' cells.

This film left critics in a quandary. It was a love or hate situation. It was best summed up by one critic who said: "Shoddy acting and a semi-weak script can't hold this movie back. It's simply too good a premise and too well-directed to let minor hindrances derail its creepy premise."

Rotten Tomatoes rating was 62%.

Answer: Burn After Reading

Everybody wants something. John Malkovich wants to write an expose on the CIA for firing him; Tilda Swinton wants a divorce; George Clooney wants out of the country; Brad Pitt wants money; Richard Jenkins wants Frances McDormand; and Frances McDormand wants cosmetic surgery. The CIA wants them all to just go away. Some get what they want; some don't. To paraphrase the CIA summation: "It is a cluster screw-up"

For the most part the Coens wrote the script with these actors in mind. Brad Pitt said that "After reading the part, which they said was hand-written for myself, I was not sure if I should be flattered or insulted."

Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 78%.

Answer: Crumb

This film is a documentary of the personality of Robert Crumb, perhaps the most powerful artist to gain fame through underground comix. His drawings are crude and often highly sexual. We learn about Crumb through interviews with family members and friends. Some were considered too disturbed to provide accurate information. Director and producer Terry Zwigoff spent nine years on the project often living on less than $200 a month and suffering severe back pain.

"Crumb"(1994) revealed a serious problem in the Oscar documentary award system. Even though it had wide critical acclaim, it was not nominated for an award. It was found the voters were mainly representatives of documentary film distributors and only voted for films that they distributed. The voting procedure was changed.

Critic Gene Siskel named it as the best film of that year on his list. In 2008, "Entertainment Weekly" rated "Crumb" as one the best films of the last 25 years and perhaps the best documentary on the list.

Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 95%.

Answer: William Petersen

"Red Dragon" was first adapted in 1986 as "Manhunter". Producers felt that the novel's title was misleading.

The second adaptation was in 2002 starring Anthony Hopkins, but this time retaining the original title.

"Manhunter" still stands alone. William Petersen plays a federal agent with post-traumatic stress from the horrors of his job. Reluctantly, he accepts the assignment of finding a serial killer called 'the tooth fairy'. He walks through the murder house and experiences the terror that was played out there. Meanwhile, the tooth fairy begins to play a deadly game with a young blind woman. At the conclusion you will never be able to hear "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" without a flashback to "Manhunter".

For the record, Rotten Tomatoes gave "Manhunter" 94%, and "Red Dragon" 69%.

Answer: Ace

"Ace in the Hole" (1951) opened to both poor critical assessment and commercial failure. In an attempt to revive interest, the film was re-issued as "The Big Carnival". Billy Wilder was the screenwriter, producer, and director. It also did not help that Wilder was sued for plagiarism.

Douglas plays a down-and-out reporter who is trying resurrect his career. Assigned to cover another story, he discovers that the owner of the trading post has been trapped in an abandoned silver mine while searching for Indian relics. He convinces rescuers to drill from the top rather through the mine or the caves so as to stretch the days of the of the rescue. Meanwhile, Douglas has an affair with the trapped man's wife (Jan Sterling). Hucksters move in and create a carnival atmosphere.
The trapped man is found dead and revenge is executed on Douglas.

Rotten Tomatoes gave it an 88%.

Answer: Heartland

Torn has advertised for a housekeeper. Ferrell arrives in the stark Wyoming landscape, bringing her ten year old daughter with her, although that was not part of the bargain, nor is she the beauty that Torn expected. Through many trials they begin to have respect for each other and Torn falls in love with her.

The film is based on the autobiographical writings of Elinore Randall Stewart, Ferrell's name in the film. Rotten Tomatoes gives it a 85%.