Sidney Lumet was a giant in his field, a director who always sought to make intelligent films that had the ring of truth.

The term "class act" seems overused at a time when there are fewer examples of it around, but no more apt expression comes to mind. If anybody had the right to be, it was Sir Alec Guinness.

To paraphrase a famous quote: "Hilary -- I've seen you act, and I've seen Faye Dunaway act, and Miss Duff -- you're no Faye Dunaway." This truth is of course self-evident if you watch Faye in her prime.

When Hitchcock cast Grace Kelly in 1954's Dial M For Murder, he quickly knew he'd found his ideal female muse: an impossibly beautiful blonde who could convey ice on the surface while exuding fire underneath.

As seen through the revealing lens of timeless film, you can derive a measure of comfort and perspective amidst the seeming complexity of it all, because the pressures and vicissitudes of the work place go back a very long way.

As we head into the Independence Day weekend, I wanted to suggest some classic titles scattered over the decades that each in their way evoke our country's unique character.

Even as today's high school and college students are pushed harder in school, they cannot write an essay or use descriptive language nearly as fluently as their parents and grandparents could.

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.

John Wayne found True Grit towards the end of his career and now Clint Eastwood has done the same with an unforgettable performance in Gran Torino.