Thanks, Laura. I needed that.

Most of the films we see at a festival feature unknown or even first-time actors. That's a good thing, usually. It can feel like we're watching real people when we aren't aware it's, say, Jerry Lewis, Oliver Platt or Leslie Caron.

But I just had the pleasure of watching all three of those fabulous actors together in "Funny Bones" (1995). The film also stars comedian/actor Lee Evans, whom most of you would recognize by face, if not by name. He played the obsessed pizza guy in "Something About Mary," and also starred in "Mouse Hunt."

So while I can appreciate a film that has pretty good actors, there really is nothing like a movie that has it all: great actors with presence, great writing and a director who knows what to do with it all.

The film was novelist Laura Lippman's pick as a guest host this year. She originally saw it 12 years ago knowing nothing about it except that it was a house favorite at Video Americain. That would be enough for me, too. Like Laura, I can't say enough about the store and the staff. Support it -- the owners have recently said they know that sooner or later, they won't be in business. They weren't whining, just being practical. I still don't want to believe it has to happen.

So, go rent "Funny Bones" if you missed it today. You know where to find it. And if they don't have it in, ask about the other house favorites -- there's a whole wall of shelves of them when you walk in, and staff such as Tyler Brown (left) and Antoinette Suiter are more than happy to discuss them with you.