Though he's not my favourite film critic, he's definitely one of the most versed with what's out there, as well as one of the most dependable and entertaining, so I never mind checking out books of his to see what he has to say. This book is no exception: I have always been curious as a cinephile if there are any 'hidden gems' that I don't yet know about--so books like this are a godsend to me. I hope you enjoy it too; hit 'Read Notes' for some stats and other interesting tidbits--and I hope to hear what YOU have to say, too! =)

So that you have a better idea what Maltin's going after in this read, here's his preface: 'As our media culture continues to evolve, with seismic changes affecting the journalistic landscape, a number of film critics have lost their jobs. Some people have questioned their relevance. After all, it's easy to find opinions about anything, including movies, on the Internet. But wait--as they say on those TV infomercials. Check out a movie ad, be it on the Internet, on television, or in a newspaper. What do you see? Review quotes. If critics are irrelevant, why do studios and distributors rely on them to promote their movies? The answer is simple--people want recommendations, preferably from someone they know and trust. Let's call that the human factor. Years ago, Blockbuster Video spent a lot of money developing a computer kiosk to help customers find their ideal video selections, only to discover that most people wanted a human being to help them, not a machine. Millions of renters approached the anonymous guy or gal behind the counter to ask, 'Is this movie any good?' A certain segment of the population prefers an informed opinion to that of the man on the street. And people who do put stock in critics tend to seek out someone they agree with most of the time. (If you don't agree with my opinions, why would you even peruse a book with my name on it?) I don't present myself as a sage or an oracle. I love movies, and I've spent a great many years watching, writing, and thinking about them. Like any critic, I see more bad films than good, but the best part of my job is leading people to worthwhile movies they might otherwise overlook. That's what inspired this book. My goal is simple: to introduce you to unfamiliar films and whet your appetite to see them. I define 'unfamiliar' as any movie that failed to find a large audience. While that includes some major studio releases, most of the selections in this volume are independent or foreign films, including documentaries. Many of them are offbeat; even if they had multimillion-dollar advertising campaigns behind them, chances are they wouldn't appeal to a mass audience. If you have a taste for this kind of entertainment, you may already know some of these titles. Other selections SHOULD have developed a following, in my opinion, but didn't. I hope to offer a sense of discovery even to experienced cinephiles. Because I want to reach as broad an audience as possible, I have resisted the temptation to stock the pond with movies from Hollywood's golden age. I love films from the silent era, and the 1930's and '40's, but that is a very particular pursuit, for another book. Instead, I've concentrated on films from the last 20 years and offered just a smattering of oldies. If you're not accustomed to viewing movies of the 1930's, you might experiment with 'Lady for a Day'. If you think Westerns are a collection of clichés, you might try 'Seven Men from Now'. If you think issues involving politics and media are strictly a product of our time, you might be surprised by 'State of the Union', which came out in the presidential election year of 1948. Otherwise, I've restricted most of my proselytizing to films of recent vintage. I like to think of myself as having eclectic taste, and a curiosity about all kinds of films. I don't think there is a common thread that runs through this list of titles, except perhaps for originality. It probably isn't coincidental that so many of them are the work of writer-directors who are passionate about telling their stories--as opposed to journeymen who are simply carrying out an assignment--or that a number come from first-time filmmakers whose enthusiasm permeates their work. My synopses are brief because I don't want to outline the entire plot--just enough to intrigue you. I am not a fan of so-called spoilers. I've also avoided movies that are hard to find, although every rule has its exceptions. I couldn't compile a list of unsung films and leave out such longtime favorites as 'Resurrection' (1980), 'Queen of Hearts' (1989), and 'King of the Hill' (1993). I live in hope that their owners will see the light and release them on DVD, or at least make them available for downloading. In the meantime, I encourage you to search the Web, check out eBay, fire up that dormant VHS machine, and/or purchase an all-region DVD player that can accommodate foreign-issue discs, which are easy to purchase online. As you peruse this book you will find references to the Telluride Film Festival, which has offered me unique moviegoing experiences for the past 30 years, and my weekly class at the University of Southern California, where I have the opportunity to interview filmmakers and see how their movies play to a young demographic. If I lean on these two sources, it's because they consistently inform my life as a critic and an observer of the current movie scene. A note about cast and credit information: I have strived to be consistent with my annual reference book, 'Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide'. For instance, I cite the year of a film's theatrical release in its home country, as opposed to some online sources that go by a film festival debut. My cast lists are selective, but I've tried to include any actor of note. I am grateful to all of my colleagues at DirecTV, where I introduce movies, and ReelzChannel, where I single out hidden gems every week on my show 'Secret's Out'. Writing scripts for those outlets has helped me to clarify my thoughts about many of the films I cite in this book...With that, I offer you a wide-ranging menu of movies for your edification and amusement. I don't present these as forsaken masterpieces: they're just good movies that I'm glad I saw. If you take my recommendations to heart, I hope you will feel the same way (July 2009)'

Sincerely,
William Wood Windsor, Ontario, Canada November 2019