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French cinema is alive and well in the 21st century, as evidenced by these twelve titles, all made since the millennium. They are all…magnifique!

We movie fans all know there are times when only a mystery or thriller will do. These films draw us in from the start, and hold us fast till the finish. We are side-by-side with the protagonists as they solve a crime, or work to clear themselves, or attempt something we’d never want to risk ourselves.

You need not be a world traveler to appreciate the rich and exotic cultures to be found in Asia. No matter where you are, it’s always fascinating to examine the myriad ways East differs from West. 

When you think of France, what comes to mind? Great food and wine?  Absolument. Romance? Mais oui. Culture? Bien sur!

I’ve always appreciated how movies set on liners recreate a bygone era when travel could be calm and civilized. Other boat films may take us on-board a luxurious yacht, or show man pitted against the biggest and cruelest natural force on earth: the sea.

What makes a movie cool? Perhaps the better question might be: what is cool? To introduce our list of coolest movies, it seemed like a good idea to start by defining, well, coolness.

The cinema has given us many great gangster films, showcasing some of the nastiest, shiftiest, most venal criminals in the world. On paper, their deeds are rotten, maybe even murderous, putting innocent people at risk and defying the forces of law and order.  Yet very often, you still sympathize with these characters; you may even root for them. After all, usually their backs are up against the wall. You sense that poverty and dysfunction placed them on the wrong side of society. Born into the right circumstances, they coulda been contenders. You glimpse a trace of honor, even goodness in them. Whenever there’s talk of the greatest films ever made, gangster pictures always figure in. You know the usual suspects, but we’ve rounded up ten of varying ages that we think are... well, for the ages.