I HEART THE HUCKABEES

GENRE:  Comedy/ Drama
MADE:  2004
CAST:  Jason Schwartzman, Jude Law, Naomi Watts, Dustin Hoffman, Lily Tomlin, Mark Wahlberg
DIRECTOR:  David O. Russell
WRITER:  David O. Russell, Jeff Baena

PLOT:  Bernard & Vivian are non-traditional therapist team specializing in existentialism, helping odd but colorful characters with their "life" problems by spying on their clients and assessing their crazy lives.

PARALLEL UNIVERSE:  The Royal Tenenbaums, Ghost World, Burn After Reading

SCORE:

BOOGIE NIGHTS

GENRE:  Drama
MADE:  1997
CAST:  Mark Wahlberg, Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds
DIRECTOR:  Paul Thomas Anderson
WRITER:  Paul Thomas Anderson

PLOT:  This is the story of Eddie Adam AKA Dirk Diggler's life in the pornography industry through the 70s and 80s.

PARALLEL UNIVERSE:  Blow, Magnolia, Casino

SCORE:

THE DEPARTED

GENRE:  Crime/ Drama/ Mystery
MADE:  2006
CAST:  Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson
DIRECTOR:  Martin Scorsese
WRITER:  William Monahan, Alan Mak, Felix Chong

PLOT:  Two men from opposites sides of the law go under cover, their targets: the police and the Irish mafia.  Things go down badly when they are made.

PARALLEL UNIVERSE:  Blood Diamond, Munich, Training Day

SCORE:

THE BASKETBALL DIARIES

GENRE:  Biographical/ Drama/ Crime
MADE:  1995
CAST:  Leonardo DiCaprio, Lorraine Bracco, Marilyn Sokol, Mark Wahlberg, Ernie Hudson
DIRECTOR:  Scott Kalvert
WRITER:  Jim Carroll, Bryan Goluboff

PLOT:  Based on the true story of Jim Caroroll.  A young teenager in New York with talent on the basketball court is faced with the harsh reality of his life spiraling out of control as he succumbs to drugs to escape the world he really lives in.

PARALLEL UNIVERSE:  Traffic, Trainspotting, Requiem For A Dream

SCORE: