TEN MOVIES TO WATCH THIS YEAR TO STIR YOUR CREATIVITY (EVEN IF YOU'VE ALREADY SEEN THEM)

1. The Social Network. Girl dumps boy. Boy decides to bust open a few algorithms to get back at girl. Boy brings down portions of the Harvard computer network, but the seed of an idea is planted - which eventually blossoms into Facebook. David Fincher's fascinating movie points to both the incredible nature of creativity and its alienating effects.

2. Apollo 13. Think that creativity is limited to the canvass or the camera? Or the earth? Think again. Based on true events, Ron Howard's tale of a space mission gone horribly wrong is a testament to human ingenuity and courage - and to a creative process that's literally out of this world.

3. Quills. Dark and disturbing (to say the least), Philip Kaufman re-imagines the Marquis de Sade's residency at the Charenton insane asylum. While not historically accurate, the film deftly explores human creativity within the confines of censorship, religion, sex, art, and mental illness.

4. Frida. Based on the life and surreal work of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, Julie Taymor's film is an exquisite (and eye-popping) adaptation of Hayden Herrera's book, Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo. 

5. Pollock. Directed by Ed Harris (who also plays the lead role), this film is a brilliant adaptation of the book, Jackson Pollock: An American Saga. Like The Social Network, the themes of creativity and alienation are intertwined, with a dash of self-destruction thrown in for good measure. A cautionary tale, to be sure, but one that expands the notion that creativity is not something that can be ignored.

6. This Is Spinal Tap. Rob Reiner's hilarious - and brilliant - mockumentary about a heavy metal rock band is not only a satirization about sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll, it's a slap in the face to rock documentaries that were being made at the time. To top it off, it's also a feel-good film about the creative process that will have your spirit soaring (when you're not laughing at loud, that is).

7. How To Draw A Bunny. A documentary focusing on Ray Edward Johnson, a seminal figure in the Pop Art movement. Directed by John W. Walters, the film explores Johnson's contributions to the art world, along with his eccentric nature.

8. Shine a Light. Martin Scorsese's documentary about the Rolling Stones when they performed at the Beacon Theater in 2006; Scorsese utilized digital cinematography for the first time in shooting the concert footage, and made use of archival footage of the band as well. Let Mick and the boys get your creative ya-ya's out.

9. Shall We Dance? Directed by Peter Chelsom (and a remake of a Japanese film entitled Shall We ダンス?, this fluffy - yet fun - movie gears you up to get your creative moves down.

10. All That Jazz. Directed and co-written by Bob Fosse, this film is a semi-autobiographical fantasy of the director's life (and death). Funny, heart-breaking, and ultimately a primer not only on Broadway and Hollywood, but on what makes a creative genius tick.