Sound familiar? Don't worry. I'm here to help. Some of you out there, okay... not many but a few anyway, have been asking for some recommendations on what to rent at your local video store. Well, seeing as I rent a few movies every week, I thought I'd share some of the better ones.

Crumb

One of the most intriguing documentaries I have ever seen. Robert Crumb, of twisted cartoon fame, allows a few months of his life to be captured on a film directed by Terry Zwigoff. This film gives you a look inside the mind of a real artist... one who is a tortured soul for sure, but who could not have done anything else with his life except what he has. He has put himself mind body and spirit (as cliche as it sounds) into his work. If I could muster up just a tenth of the artistic passion for my acting as this guy has for his drawing, I'd be bigger than DeNiro, Brando and Pacino combined... okay, maybe that's an exaggeration and it slights the passion of the three amigos, but you get my point.

American Buffalo

It goes without saying that I'm a huge David Mamet fan, and if you want to see one of his plays done just about to perfection (I have a few very very slight adjustments that I'd make if I was directing), then this version with Dustin Hoffman and Dennis Franz is the gold standard. Both actors are dead on in capturing the characters and the tone of this seedy tale.

The Spanish Prisoner

But of course, another David Mamet film. This time we have comedian-actor extrordinairre Steve Martin heading up the cast. Plot twists and suspense abound in this film based somewhat on Mamet's short play The Water Engine.

Memento

What we have here is a genuine plot twisting thriller classic which will keep you on the edge of your living room couch for every minute of this bee-yute. Guy Pierce (yeah, the LA Confidential Guy) does a great job as Leonard Shelby, a man with no short term memory trying to track down his wife's killer. This movie is plot driven and boy is it ever. Ain't no way you'll see this ending coming.