Jürgen proclaimed John Cameron Mitchell's sexually explicit Shortbus to be "a watershed that divides other movies with similar themes into before and after. It's that good." One of the best films of 2006, Shortbus comes out this week on DVD. We also recommend French star Eva Green in a small movie called Casino Royale (also starring Daniel Craig) and Maximilian Schell's personal documentary My Sister Maria.
1. Shortbus
John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig and the Angry Inch) is the first director to successfully integrate hardcore sex into a comedy of manners, set among the melancholy hipsters of post-9/11 New York City. Curiously, it's not the explicit sex that sticks in the mind but the selfless glow of the generous, joyful finale. This much anticipated DVD release also features commentary by the filmmaker, Gifted and Talented: The Making of Shortbus featurette, and How to Shoot Sex: A Docu-Primer.
2. My Sister Maria
Academy-Award-winning actor Maximilian Schell directs this intimate look at the life of his sister, actress Maria Schell. Though she had on-screen pairings with Gary Cooper, Marcello Mastroianni, Marlon Brando, and Oskar Werner, her life off the screen was filled with loneliness and sadness.
