I'll tell you a relatively recent Nicholson film I liked. "As Good As It Gets" is a movie where Nicholson plays a rather cynical curmudgeon with a bit of heart that he desperately tries to keep hidden under wraps. But it shows anyway, just through the cracks, just enough that you can tell. It's a part that I think was made for Nicholson.

Another recent film that I thought was worth seeing was "Something's Gotta Give." Another made-for-Nicholson film, in this one, he's an aging Playboy that's always gone for younger women. When he meets the mother of his latest girlfriend (Diane Keaton), everything changes.

I have not cared much about seeing any Nicholson films per se
since the first Batman. Or any Robt DeNiro films at all. I made an _extreme_ exception for Wag The Dog... see Mamet above.

Those are goods ones, but don't forget "Oleanna"... a play made
into a film and all done by Mamet. Oleanna is the closest
thing done to a stage play as a dialog that I've seen in a
long time. Also not to forget "A Life In The Theatre" w/Jack
Lemmon and Matthew Broderick. I managed to see that as a stage
play and film both.

Go you Huskies.

But I don't think American films have to be dumbed down
for European audiences, though I know that's not what you
are saying. Look at "Amelie" for example. And I just viewed
"Monsoon Wedding" last night. It's a shame that rental
places feat the loss of vaulable shelf space for additional
copies of Scooby Doo to stock more foreign films of good
quality.

Which remionds me: anybody see "Hero" with Jett Li?