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I saw the link on the main page and read "Sidney Lumet, 83..." before nearly having a heart attack. Thank God the rest spelled out a three-picture deal.

I had the exact same response, Joseph. This is much, much better news. I love that he's still out there swinging.

Me three. That was almost a terrible way to start the Holiday.

I was also momentarily shaken until reading the remainder of the headline. Speaking of Lumet, I was lucky enough to finally catch a screening of his latest in Dallas earlier today. My actual hometown isn't playing it yet, so Dallas' vastly superior cinematic variety is always a good enough reason to visit my wife's family.

Anyway, I'm thrilled to hear about Lumet's new deal, though my nature leads me to worry what the near future might hold for the man and/or his upcoming features.

I went on a major Lumet kick a few years ago, and I still haven't come close to seeing all of his output. The man's a legend, and I'm so happy to see him enjoying some late-in-life success.

Amen, brothers. What an incredible run he had in the 70s and 80s: ANDERSON, SERPICO, OFFENCE, ORIENT EXPRESS, DOG DAY, EQUUS, JUST TELL ME, PRINCE, VERDICT, DANIEL and the best film of either decade, NETWORK. Coincidentally, I just got back from DEVIL; one hell of a film, though it merits a personal mini-jeer for hiring the luminous Arija Bareikis and then giving her little more than a walk-on.

Good for him, good for him, we need to enjoy our artists, our genius', age is no reason for them being denied more, work, obviously Lumet still has it in him.

It's a pity that many filmmakers in their 80s never did complete some of their projects or keep shooting flicks (i.e. avid Lean's NOSTROMO comes to mind).

I can't believe the great Billy Wilder wasn't allowed to direct anything after 1981's BUDDY, BUDDY.

One film that I don't think was mentioned earlier is Running on Empty. Simple as it is, I've always loved that film and found it highly watchable. Certainly one of the best forgotten films of the 1980s. Similar to how I feel about Soderbergh's (still not on DVD) Depression-era piece, King of the Hill.

I'll assume Long Day's Journey and 12 Angry Men weren't mentioned by that other poster because they're so obvious, but I also saw Q & A for the first time a few months ago and admired it as well. I haven't seen most of his 1960s stuff though, including Fail-Safe (i know, i know).

Dog Day Afternoon is my favourite, but I've barely scratched the surface with Lumet, so...

Whie working on my master's thesis about '70s movies at Paramount, I recently completed a chapter devoted to Serpico. A great film. But I wish another '70s movie by Lumet -- The Offence -- would also get released on DVD. If you've never seen this film, trust me, you're in for a shock: Maybe Sean Connery's best film performance of all time.

True dat, Joe. I was at MGM/UA Classics in the late 80s, and when it was obvious that Connery was going to win the Oscar for UNTOUCHABLES, I took the four prints of OFFENCE we had and got them booked in four major rep houses the Friday after the Oscars. Did okay business, too. And I totally agree it's his Best. Performance. Ever.

D'oh! How could I have forgotten RUNNING ON EMPTY? A truly sublime film.

I didn't mention 12 ANGRY and LONG DAY'S because they predate the decades I cited. But that is not to denigrate them one whit.

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