The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

Directed by Wes Anderson

Essentially an homage to golden-age Hollywood rise-and-fall epics like Magnificent Ambersons but with a large dose of whimsy. The movie is packed with stylistic ideas that at the time no one had really seen put together in this way.  The writing, like that of his peers Noah Baumbach and Whit Stillman, seems most influenced by the light comedic air of 60s french film.  The retro style, very fresh and inventive at the time, is what Wes Anderson has come to be known for.  This is the original vision where it all first really came together.  And it stands as probably his best film to this day.

It actually manages to deal with some real human themes that ring very true.  The characters all yearn for some idealized past time in their past when everything seemed right.  But they learn that as much as you may want to, the past is gone, you can't go back to it.  In a way, Wes Anderson's idealized 60s/70s style mirrors the character's trip into nostalgia.  He is taking us along on his own nostalgia trip.  But like the Tenenbaum family have to eventually move on from rumination on the past, he acknowledges the past while moving on to something new.

The Fearless Vampire Killers (1967)

Directed by Roman Polanski

Very sort of broad european quality to the humor but nonetheless a fairly great horror/comedy about an absent minded vampire hunter, Professor Abronsius, and his young assistant.  Directed and co-starring Roman Polanski and featuring his future wife Sharon Tate.  Beautifully shot film.  They really created a fantastic character with Professor Abronsius, you will wish there were more vampire movies with him.  How great would it be if Polanski made a sequel to this movie today.

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

Directed by Wes Anderson

This was essentially a return for Wes Anderson to the Life Aquatic style ensemble piece.  Like Life Aquatic, it's a bit all over the place with various plot threads until it ends up at a something that draws this age of adventure to a close.  Comparisons will naturally be drawn to the ensemble style of Grand Hotel (1932), the train miniatures (and similar hotel antics) of The Lady Vanishes (1938), and the uniforms from the Prisoner of Zenda (1937).  However, you may be surprised to learn it's all supposed to be based on the real life of author Stefan Zweig.

Scrooged (1988)

Directed by Richard Donner

Clearly the idea behind this movie was an attempt to give the big budget effects laden Ghostbusters treatment to the classic A Christmas Carol story.  The problem is, it just doesn't work at all.  The Christmas ghosts are all more scary than funny and Murray's feeble jokes fall flat making his role as a jerk TV executive particularly unlikable.

Mark of The Vampire (1935)

Directed by Tod Browning

By my estimation, one of only four times Bela Lugosi would play a vampire was in this very silly spooks-and-scares comedy.  It's a remake of a lost silent film called London After Midnight that starred Lon Chaney.  All around fairly entertaining.  Also I have to say, the bat prop they use in this movie is incredibly well done. It looks better than any of the ones used in the Dracula movies

The Great Dictator (1939)

Directed by Charlie Chaplin

It escaped no one that the infamous leader of Germany had a very similar appearance to one of the most popular entertainers of the day.  So what was Chaplin's reaction?  To make fun of him mercilessly of course.  Chaplin later said if he had known the true horrors of the Nazi regime he wouldn't have treated the subject as lightly as he did.  However, you have to give him a lot of credit for being one of the few voices openly criticizing the Nazis at this time.  It is a brilliantly made movie with some hilarious moments.  Some scenes are now more moving than intended knowing the ultimate fate of the Jews.

Being There (1979)

Directed by Hal Ashby

Fairly ridiculous movie about a simple minded man who is mistaken for brilliant and wise by some wealthy people. Shirley McLaine and Peter Sellers are great but the film drags out it's rather unconvincing scenario way beyond the point of believability.  It's supposed to have some poignant conclusion but it doesn't exactly work.