Well if you're an atheist, then the answer is simple. God is silent because He doesn't exist. To persist in asking that question turns into whining about the world- who exactly are you complaining to? Just move on. I love Bergman by the way, he's easily one of my favorites.

I know nothing about Bergman's personal beliefs, but it seems to me that the most persistent question in his films (The Seventh Seal included) is, Why is God silent? I'm not sure if that's a question an atheist asks.

I hear you on Bergman. His characters tend to be massively conflicted about God but not outright atheists. If memory serves, I think Winter Light is about a priest in the process of losing his faith.

I haven't seen Simon yet either. But my favorite film about this Godless world of ours is Crimes and Misdemeanors. Allen shows a few different sides of the argument but it's pretty clear where he stands. It's also really funny in a Woody Allen kind of way.

Matt, I think most Bunuel fans prefer the surreal films to the traditional narratives, no? I love Viridiana and Belle De Jour too. I didn't like Chambermaid though, and I haven't seen Nazarin yet.

This will probably come off as blasphemous but I never really liked Phantom. I love every other surrealist Bunuel film but Phantom always strikes me as a bit contrived. It seemed like Bunuel and Carriere calculated what would be the convention and then went for the exact opposite every time- it became almost…

Thirded, I can't wait to get my hands on this one. The Milky Way is one of my favorite pieces ever made about God and whatnot. And has there ever been a better title than The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie? I doubt it.

Awesome movie, but I'd say it's more about male friendship than love. The love aspects are more about falling out of love than falling in love, no?

I like how his films are high minded experiments with huge ambitions. Still, I'd have to admit that his films are set in a place far away from reality and he's often didactic as hell (though not in Waves). I can understand why more people hate him than love him.

With her I'd had the most honest relationship I've ever had with a woman. The only thing I lied about was my name. I told her I was Teddy Novack so she couldn't track me down if I got her pregnant.
Ah, Valentine's Day.

Breaking the Waves
This one is certainly unrealistic but in a decidedly non Hollywood way. The plot is absurd as porn, but the heart is beyond pure. Von Trier pulls a rabbit out of his Lars and proves that cynics everywhere still have a romantic heartbeat.

deep sadness and suffering
Give Seagal $50 million, hilarity ensues. Very surprising to see Michael Caine show up- he's usually so discerning in choosing roles.
Risking unnecessary silliness, I have a logistical question: How is it that the native chick has to translate Seagal's English in one scene and then in the…

TCM plays 'The Landlord' once in a while.
70's Ashby would make an all time box set.

The Landlord
Ashby's first film is just as great as any of his others. Somehow it hasn't been released on DVD yet- criminal.

Moses' Toeses
I just wasted 100 minutes on 'Singin' in the Rain'- please don't fall into the same trap. I'm no connoisseur of musicals but the only one I can remember enjoying is Von Trier's 'Dancer in the Dark'- that one is kick ass. Though I must admit that I like all my pleasures Bjorkified .