Amis's novel about a slacker/drunk professor at a mediocre British university may be the funniest university novel ever written. Maybe the funniest book ever written, period.

Michael Winterbottom's postmodern look at the postpunk music scene in Manchester features the music of Joy Division, New Order, and the Happy Mondays, as well as an unforgettable starring performance by the brilliant comedian Steve Coogan.

Frontman Jarvis Cocker's band Pulp never achieved the stateside success that Britpop rivals Oasis and Blur had, but when you listen to their best CD, featuring such bulletproof songs as "Common People" and "Disco 2000," you have to ask yourself why.

Every time I see Billy Wilder's nightmarish take on Hollywood desperation, I thank my lucky stars that I got out of screenwriting.

You'll want to read Faust's unforgettable novelization of Snakes on a Plane before it is shortlisted for the 2006 National Book Award.