Robert Bresson
I don't often recommend movies for other people to watch but a lot of Robert Bresson's catalogue is being made available on DVD and if you are reading this you might be smart enough to appreciate them. I'd suggest watching "Diary of a Country Priest" first. It's based on 1937 novel by Georges Bernanos. Then I'd recommend Bressons's classic "Pickpocket". This DVD is helpful because one of the added features has Paul Schrader break down the cinema of Bresson. It helps explain why watching a Robert Bresson film alters one's consciousness while watching a film starring Paulie Shore does not.