I'm in. I'll just go down to the movie mine and pull a few rocks outta the wall to prepare. : )

I'll play! Put me down for, "Ball of Fire." :D

Two for your consideration: Nancy Savoca's DOGFIGHT, written by Bob Comfort, and A MIDNIGHT CLEAR, written and directed by Keith Gordon.

I've got a few movies I'd love to write about. And it'd give me a nice break from screenwriting and get back (albeit briefly) to exploring why movies rock. So yeah, I'm in. And if you've got the template, I'd have no problem touting a handful of films. I guess that means you can sign me up five times.

I'm in. If it's okay, I want to write about the foreign movie 'Wan Pipel' (1976), a Surinamese/Dutch classic movie.

I would be happy to contribute. Love and Death, The Third Man, Exorcist 3. I have a few...

Hi Scott, please count me in. I'd like to introduce a French film that I love "Joyeux Noel (2005)" (Merry Christmas).

Hi, great idea and a great excuse for re-watching an old favourite. I'd be happy to contribute with perhaps 1968 dark crime flick Pretty Poison, Melville's classic Le Samourai or Italian 'giallo' Deep Red ...

Okay, I'm liking what I'm seeing as these suggestions are very much in the groove of what I imagined: cult, foreign, old, largely forgotten. And we've got a good start in terms of volunteers. If we can get at least 20 folks to volunteer, I think we can pull this off. All I'm talking about is perhaps 1 page of text, I will take care of inserting photos, movie clips, perhaps even script excerpts if available online. I assume we're going to hit 20, maybe even 25, so I'll start working up a template which I'll post at some point this week. Then I'll post chronologically based on when I receive an email from you with your article content. Let's make this thing work so well, we do it every year. I'll even archive each post in a Hidden Gems forum. Thanks all!

Great idea, Scott! I'd love to write an entry on "Eve's Bayou", a powerful coming-of-age story that includes elements of the supernatural.

I'm in, if you're okay with me laying hands on hallowed celluloid, 'cuz when I hear anyone utter the words "hidden gem," one film pops immediately to mind, every time: LOCAL HERO.

I have two nominations. On the comedy side - The Missionary (1982). Michael Palin wrote and starred in this gentile satire. It's 1906, and Palin's Reverened Fortescue is recalled from Africa and dispatched to minister to the fallen women of London's East End. His hopelessly naive fiancee thinks fallen women are women who have hurt their knees. Fortescue's mission cannot succeed without the patronage of Lady Ames (Maggie Smith) who is determined to seduce the Reverend and murder her husband. Denholm Elliot plays a Bishop obsessed with sports, and Michael Hordern steals every scene he stumbles into as an absented-minded butler. Don't expect Python-level absurdity, but it is very funny and surprisingly touching. On the drama side - A Month in the Country (1987). Adapted from the novel of the same name by JL Carr. Colin Firth stars as Tom Birken, an art restorer still struggling with shell-shock from his service in WW1. Birken takes a job in the Northern countryside, uncovering a mural discovered on the wall of a small church. There he meets Captain Moon (Kenneth Branagh) another vet, with wounds that run deeper than Birkin's own, and Alice Keach (Natasha Richardson) the rector's lovely and unappreciated wife. Visually stunning and emotionally haunting, it's a story about loss and hope and healing the human spirit. It's all but impossible to find a copy of today, unfortunately. That I saw it twenty years ago and still remember it in great detail is a testament to how deeply effective it is.

Bird, Play Misty For Me, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Friends of Eddie Coyle, Klute, Life of Brian, The Name of the Rose, Zabriskie Point, The Long Good Friday, The Driver (Ryan O'Neal), Breaking In (w. Burt Reynolds)

I would love to! There are so many movies yet to be discovered or rediscovered. Even from stars we know today.But also from the cult genre.

Two suggestions from the comedy genre: 'Galaxy Quest' - Tim Allen, Sigourney and Alan Rickman save a naive alien species on a spoof of Star Trek and the whole Trekkie convention culture. The aliens have seen their 'historical documents' broadcasts and enlist the actors' help to defeat 'old lobster head' who threatens their species with extinction. And one Americans may not be so familiar with: 'Muriel's Wedding'. It's a spoof on Australia's obsession with Swedish pop group, Abba, which also takes aims at parental hypocrisy, airheaded mean girls, etc. Starred Toni Collette and Rachel Griffiths before they came to Hollywood's attention. It's on youtube in 10 parts, but if you're short on time, just watch parts 2 & 3 on their own and you'll catch some of the funniest dialogue. BTW, 'chook' is slang for a chicken, so you get that joke.

Hi Scott, A wonderful idea. Count me in for Beineix's 1981 film 'Diva', a haunting laid-back thriller as only the French know how, Bohringer at the summit of his art, and Wilhelmenia Fernandez sublime... who could ask for more?

I'm in Scott, and championing the Irish movie market by pushing the 2004 film "Adam and Paul" directed by Lenny Abrahmson (who's slated to direct the adaptation of the haunting novel "Room" by Emma Donohoe.) Adam and Paul is about two drug addicts roaming the streets of Dublin in search of their next fix. Sounds grim but it's extremely funny, touching and very sad.

Hey Scott, Awesome idea for a monthly series. I'd like to contribute with a post about either "Beautiful Girls" (1996) or "Fish Tank" (2009).

I'd love to take the mic and spout off about an Aussie flick from 1996 titled "Love Serenade." Just give the word sir...

This sounds cool, Scott. I'm also a fan of Alex Cox. Many of his scripts are on his webpage and he is now working on Bill, The Galactic Hero, based on the Harry Harrison novel.

Sounds like a really good series. I'm up for either "Hudson Hawk" or "Ice Pirates" - both of which fall neatly into the quirky but fun and now totally lost niche. Which is to say that I just walked around my office and for those that knew them (just the old timers like me), they were both "love it" or "hate it" films.

This sounds very cool! I'm always looking for movie ideas! I recently watched The Kings of Summer and am obsessed with this movie. Another two recent favorites are 1) Wild Target (British) and 2) The Kid (British https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lMtEpiONRI). I don't know how good at movie reviews or dissection I'd be, but I'd give it a go on one of those.

i love that movie!

I would write something about Jake Kasdan's 'Zero Effect'.

Me me me!! I just watched Me You and Everybody We Know. LOVED IT. Really inspired me to explore multiple protagonist not-so-easy plotline movies. I don't think Attack the Block got as much props as it should have as well. On the Indian/South Asian side, Monsoon Wedding is on my mind. With British movies - 'Death at a Funeral', 'Billy Elliot' - neither of those too underground but still worth lauding.

And Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (more mainstream Bollywood) - a classic simple Cyrano De Bergerac-type story.

Oh yes and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi - a classic Cyrano De Bergerac kinda story. Bollywood mainstream though.

I love Diva. Turned me on to opera. My gem would be Swedish film MY LIFE AS A DOG.

Mmmmmm....looks like you might have plenty of volunteers already but, for my offer I would be happy to talk about THE FOUNTAIN - Darren Aronofsky Although it is not his first film, and it is not that obscure, it pretty much tanked at the box office and is criticised for being obtuse and mystifying to the point of obfuscation. But it is an emotionally charged piece that works on many levels, even if you don't understand them all.(I didn't!) Or, failing that, it might be interesting to talk about QUINCY'S QUEST If I can find a copy to re-watch. Quincy is a doll in a store, planned for incineration on Christmas Eve (if I remember) and his quest is to get to the top of the store to Santa to save all the other toys. Not seen this since I was a kid, but loved it then and have many fond, but fading, memories. If I can source a copy to rewatch, could be an interesting comparison of my rose-tinted view before viewing and after viewing....

Sabina, I can STILL see the final image in Me You and Everybody We Know ... loved it!! Miranda July is very unique. Was working at a film festival during the time that came out, and we programmed it in -- John Hawkes came in for it, and he was a delight, so down-to-earth & cordial. Great film!

--Christmas in Connecticut, with Barbara Stanwyck --Miracle of Morgan's Creek, because Preston Sturges is always worth it --Foreign Affair, Billy Wilder. Ditto --The More the Merrier, a Jean Arthur classic --Buche de Noel, best funeral scene ever --Any of Eric Rohmer's Four Seasons

I'll post something on Friday with names of those who have volunteered along with a template. Thanks all! This should be a great series!

If I'm not too late... and it's not too 'famous' for a hidden gems list... In The Mood For Love by Wong Kar Wai More than a gem. It's simply incredible. Beautiful. Heartbreaking. Sumptuous filmmaking.