That's interesting what you say about the professor.

A good friend of mine turned down academia after becoming disillusioned of it's tribal/in-out group/club-ness, yet still wished she had accepted at other times. That's one of the frustrating things about life, you only get one and every door entered is a multitude of doors closed.

Mr. Nobody a work of art. I don't want to ruin it for anyone, you just gotta see it! then watch it again. It was on Netflix last time I checked (which was a while back)

Monty Python and the Holy Grail This never stops being funny. I'm not sure what it is, but it gets me everytime.

Shawshank Redemption/Les Intouchables/Up Beautiful stories of beautiful friendships.

I also would like to second and third the Back to the Future movies and Galaxy Quest.