I love St. Patrick's Day. It's so inclusive. By that I mean that though it's a bona fide religious holiday, you don't need to be particularly pious to enjoy it. Wishing everyone a safe and (reasonably) responsible holiday, I present my own candidates for the top drinking movies of all time.

The great writer/director/bon vivant wit Hal Kanter died on Sunday at the ripe old age of 92. And it got me to remembering, and I decided to share the thoughts with you.

Which Hollywood director actually made the most great movies? In the Alsace area of Germany, future director William Wyler was born. Here is a sampling of his best movies covering three full decades.

The Motion Picture Academy does an injustice, not only to the recipients but to their fans, by continuing its new policy of presenting honorary Oscars at a special function in November instead of the ceremony next February.

Get ready, folks, for the coming blur of forced reunions, work-related functions, and cacophonous Christmas parties.

For all of director Michael Mann's aesthetic sophistication, the film's spontaneity runs roughshod over a lot of true history.

One of the finest actors and leading men from Hollywood's Golden Age, William Powell was born towards the end of this month way back in 1892. It's unlikely most people under 30 would even recognize his name, which is sad, but also easily remedied.

As we head into Independence Day weekend, for those who'd like to move beyond the evergreen "Yankee Doodle Dandy", I want to suggest some classic titles that evoke our country's unique character.

While Hollywood continues to dominate the global film market, the most original, intelligent, and enduring movies today are being made outside this country.