Ghost World (2001)

Based on Daniel Clowes' 1997 comic of the same name, GW explores how best friends Enid and Rebecca cope with their first summer after high-school graduation. Enid, wonderfully characterised by Thora Birch, is the more cynical of the two but also the most interesting. Feeling slightly lost and alienated from her generation, and even her best friend, who seems to be turning into the thing that they both hate, the floundering Enid finds a peculiar kind of solace in time spent with Seymour (Steve Buscemi), a 40+ year-old record collector whose life revolves around rare 78 RPM vinyls.
The pace is like that of a lazy summer, but it works in the film's favour, giving it the feeling of an indie movie that knows how best to express itself.

4 specific skins out of 5

Bad Santa (2003)

The perfect antidote to the holidays. Unabashedly vulgar, a crude, drunk, self-hating, sex-addicted, lowlife conman disguises himself as a department store Santa in order to gain access to the safe on Christmas. A wrench is thrown into his plans when he unexpectedly finds himself mixed up with a idealistic fat kid who believes he's the real deal. It's the role Billy Bob Thornton was born to play. Manages to be touching without ever hinging on sentimentality, if that makes any sense. I blame it on Chopin's Nocturne #2.

4 blows to the nuts out of 5