When Robert Benigni (53 today) stole the show at the 1999 Oscar ceremony, nice old ladies discovered what the media-saturated among us already knew: That this barely articulate Italian spaz is truly charming in a more disarming, authentic manner than all the Meg Ryans in the world combined. The next day the video stores were robbed of old Benigni classics like "Down By Law," "The Monster," "Johnny Stecchino," "Night On Earth" and "The Son of the Pink Panther." What indie director was on the Benigni bandwagon before all of us, directing both "Night on Earth" and "Down By Law"?

John Sayles

John Cassavetes

Quentin Tarantino

Robert Rodriguez

Jim Jarmusch