Turner Classic Movies is not only a great TV station, but is also serves as an archivist.  Their moving year-end “Remembers” montages highlight not just the famous faces we lost, but the character actors, cinematographers, writers, and other cinematic artists who didn’t get publication-spanning obituaries at the time of their passing.  TCM has footage of all of almost all of the artists we lost in 2011 and they’ve once again woven a touching tribute.

In 2011, we lost some good ones including Pete Postlethwaite, Peter Falk, Cliff Robertson, Jane Russell, Elizabeth Taylor, Laura Ziskin, and Sidney Lumet.  As far as editing goes, I think the “TCM Remembers 2010″ video is better, but they’re both worth your time so I’ve included both after the jump.

Director Sidney Lumet died today of lymphoma at the age of 86.  Lumet began his career in the theater before transitioning into extensive work in the new medium of television throughout the 1950s.  Lumet directed his first film, 12 Angry Men, in 1957 — it ranks among cinema’s greatest feature debuts.  His filmography is littered with classics, including Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon, Network, and The Verdict.  Lumet ended his career on a high note in 2007 with Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead.

Watch a few of the iconic scenes Mr. Lumet directed after the jump.

It’s hard to believe that The Wiz actually exists.  It’s not that it’s too “out-there” an idea, or that anyone would have funded the production.  It’s just that we’re talking about a musical re-telling of The Wizard of Oz starring Michael Jackson, Richard Pryor (!!!),  and Nipsey Russell.  Does that sound likely to you?  Me, neither.  I’d always heard about The Wiz, but had never seen it.  You’re probably in the same boat, so is the recently-released Blu-ray worth a spot in your collection?  Depends.  Read on to learn why, folks…