Sheerly Avni gets it right with her 10 films that get women right. Her take on To Kill a Mockingbird zeroed in on one of the reasons I love that movie--besides daddy-crush Gregory Peck, of course--though I never thought about that reason. Article's from 2005, so no new movies. I'd love to see her do an update. 

I found the article googling inspiration for a character I'm trying to liven up. The protag is a male, but the female character is also a POV. She was so dull that I was thinking of eliminating her POV, then realized, doh, she'll still be dull. I think I've got a line on her now, and it plays in nicely with a plot twist. 

Loved it! It brought back fond memories of watching the original with my sister when we were kids. They even caught the classic closer shots: Spock stooped over his console, three-quarters closeup, looking over his shoulder at Kirk, Sulu and Chekov smirking at each other at their stations, Kirk at "the con" apparently staring at the screen, but really grinning smugly at the little interactions going on around him. Not to mention some cute surprises...

( Don't look back here unless you've seen the movie! )

Do you have a book or story or movie that you feel every human being should read or see? (with bows to unavoidable bias for english-language original or translation)

My story is Tolstoy's The Death of Ivan Illych. It is a book for the heart, on death and compassion, and what human life is really about. (full text here)

My movie is Iris. A man and a woman--both old, very messy, no longer brilliant--whose love for each other (and their friends) is reshaped and affirmed by profound change. True eternal love. I think I cried more tears while watching this than at any other movie. imdb