DESPITE the existence of some art film houses in Metro Manila cineplexes, local movie buffs still miss out on quite a number of films that viewers in some other countries get to see.

This is because the local film distribution system is largely controlled by the majors, whose local agents have to decide whether a new movie's expected earnings will be worth the production company's while to show the film here at all.

In some other countries, small theaters cater to a limited but loyal clientele that makes limited runs of non-mainstream movies worthwhile. Here, the numbers have to fairly large to get distributors excited, hence the relatively few quality movies that do get screened.

Mainstream movies are generally produced by a major studio, are of a readily-identifiable film type, have big stars and production values, are made by a name director, and can spend a lot on promotions.

Conversely, films are regarded as non-mainstream when they are independently produced, have a small budget and no big stars, are "experimental" in nature, and are more challenging or more difficult to readily understand or empathize with.

Despite their limited accessibility, however, they should still be screened locally, even if only one theater, because they provide film buffs with a greater appreciation of the variety of cinematic inputs and approaches that are available in the world of film.

In addition, we should also get to see films that are non-Hollywood in predisposition and origin, movies from Europe and Asia, to make us truly global in our cinematic literacy.

Of the films released late last year, we still haven't had the pleasure of seeing:

"The Limey" by Steven Soderbergh. Terence Stamp is hell-bent on avenging the death of his daughter, while Peter Fonda plays a sinister record executive straight out of the Age of Aquarius.

"Superstar" by Bruce McCulloch. Molly Shannon plays a Catholic schoolgirl who's dying to go Hollywood.

"Being John Malkovich" by Spike Jonze. John Cusack stumbles onto a portal that transports him into the brain of the oddball film star.

"Happy, Texas" by Mark Illsley. Two criminals on the lam are mistaken for a gay couple who put on kiddie beauty contests.

"Lost Souls" by Janusz Kaminski. Winona Ryder and Ben Chaplin fight the spooky elements, conquer evil and try to save the day.

"Holy Smoke" by Jane Campion. Harvey Keitel portrays a deprogrammer who helps and falls in love with an Australian woman (Kate Winslet) who's been lured into an Indian cult.

"Joe the King" by Frank Whaley. A Sundance award-winning drama about a young boy who has to cope with an abusive father and basket-case mother, and lands in juvenile prison.

"Daddy and Them" by Billy Bob Thornton. A romantic comedy about relationships and family strife starring Laura Dern, Kelly Preston, Ben Affleck and Thornton himself.

"Simpatico" by Matthew Warchus. Jeff Bridges, Sharon Stone and Nick Nolte get ensnared in a love triangle and become tormented by the shady past they share.

"Sweet and Lowdown" by Woody Allen. Sean Penn stars as a jazz guitarist who swings with Uma Thurman and Samantha Morton.

The good news is that we'll finally be seeing "American Beauty" and "Magnolia." May other quality films follow suit, as soon as possible!

"Magnolia," directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, is the much-anticipated follow-up to Anderson's critically-acclaimed "Boogie Nights." "Magnolia" is set in modern-day San Fernando Valley and takes place over the course of 24 hours. It's about family relations and how they need to be mended--or broken, depending on your point of view.

Anderson is known for his penchant for complicated storylines, and "Magnolia" is no exception, with five different plotlines running through it.

A host of characters are played by estimable actors like Julianne Moore, William H. Macy, Philip Baker Hall, John C. Reilly, Jason Robards, Felicity Huffman--and Tom Cruise in a cameo role that ahs won him some awards.

As for "American Beauty," its triumph at this year's Academy Awards has made everyone eager to see it, but for some strange reason, its local screening has been held in abeyance, ticking not a few film buffs off.

It'll finally be shown soon, and let's hope that people will still be excited about seeing it. The suspense is killing--not us, but the film's chances to score a major hit on its Philippine run.

"American Beauty" is about a dysfunctional modern American family, with the career-driven wife having an affair, and the abysmally happy husband dreaming of possessing a ravishing teen beauty.