Totally original Yugoslavian film about war. love and deception. At times hilarious - the soundtrack too - you've got to watch it to understand.
Underground
on DVD
(1995) Starring:Miki Manojlovic, Mirjana Jokovic, Lazar Ristovski Director:Emir Kusturica Certificate:
An unpredictable black comedy with an epic scope, Emir Kusturica's highly acclaimed Underground takes a look at the modern history of Yugoslavia through the often absurd misadventures of two friends over several decades. The film begins in Belgrade in 1941, establishing the friendship between the ..read more »
John Simm in a really arresting piece about the coercion of Eastern European girls into the sex trade. This film made me join Amnesty International.
Sex Traffic
on DVD
(2006) Starring:Wendy Crewson, John Simm, Maria Popistasu Director:David Yates Certificate:
John Simm stars in this shocking television miniseries, inspired by and based on in-depth research into real-life events. Two sisters, Elena (Anamaria Marinca) and Vara (Maria Popistasu), believe they are leaving their home in Moldova for a better life in London when they take up job offers. In ..read more »
Superbly off-the-wall B-movie take-off by Tarantino. As one would expect it has a fantastic soundtrack with plenty of oldies you'll never have heard of!
Death Proof
on DVD
(2007) Starring:Kurt Russell, Rosario Dawson, Vanessa Ferlito Director:Quentin Tarantino Certificate:
Two separate pairs of voluptuous women are stalked at different times by a scarred stuntman who uses his "death proof" cars to execute his murderous plans.
I didn't expect to like this, but I did! Maggie Gyllenhaal is wonderful in this quirky comedy with Will Ferrell.
Stranger Than Fiction
on DVD
(2006) Starring:Will Ferrell, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman Director:Marc Forster Certificate:
An IRS auditor suddenly finds himself the subject of narration only he can hear: narration that begins to affect his entire life, from his work, to his love-interest, to his death.
Brilliant film about a very scary regime and McAvoy awash in the middle of it.
The Last King Of Scotland
on DVD
(2006) Starring:Forest Whitaker, Simon McBurney, Gillian Anderson Director:Kevin Macdonald Certificate:
It was supposed to be a wild adventure in a far-off country, but when a naive young doctor arrives in 1970's Uganda - hoping for fun, sun and to lend a helping hand - he finds himself instead on a shocking ride into the darkest realm on earth. Befriended by the charismatic new leader, Idi Amin, and ..read more »
Katie Holmes before she went weird. Wonderful dark comedy about one memorable Thanksgiving for a dysfunctional estranged family.
Pieces Of April
on DVD
(2003) Starring:Patricia Clarkson, Sean Hayes, Oliver Platt Director:Peter Hedges Certificate:
Downbeat comedy drama starring Katie Holmes as April, black sheep eldest daughter of a conservative suburban family. Knowing that her mother (Patricia Clarkson) is dying of cancer, she invites her family to a Thanksgiving dinner at the shabby New York apartment she shares with her boyfriend Bobby (..read more »
Brilliant dark comedy starring Jeff Daniels. The worrying thing is that this is based on a true story!
The Squid And The Whale
on DVD
(2005) Starring:Jesse Eisenberg, William Baldwin, Laura Linney Director:Noah Baumbach Certificate:
Noah Baumbach writes and directs this off-beat comedy drama, based on his own experiences as a young boy growing up in the 1980s and trying to deal with his parents' divorce. Bernard (Jeff Daniels) is the father of an eccentric Brooklyn family who claims to have been a great novelist in his youth, ..read more »
I know it's sacrilegious, but I prefer this to the original and it remains my favourite Kevin Smith flm. I was literally howling with laughter in this one!
Clerks 2
on DVD
(2006) Starring:Earthquake, Jason Mewes, Ethan Suplee Director:Kevin Smith Certificate:
Sequel to Kevin Smith's 1994 low-budget indie hit, 'Clerks'. Ten years ago, best friends Dante Hicks (Brian O'Halloran) and Randal Graves (Jeff Anderson) were New Jersey mini-mall clerks still slacking off together in their early twenties. A decade on, a calamity at Dante and Randall's shops sends ..read more »
Great film-noir with Billy-Bob Thornton, James Gandolfini and Scarlett Johansson. Excellent stuff!
The Man Who Wasn't There
on DVD
(2001) Starring:Scarlett Johansson, Tony Shalhoub, Michael Badalucco Director:Joel Coen Certificate:
Billy Bob Thornton plays mild-mannered barber Ed Crane in this take on the 1940s film noir from the Coen brothers. Ed suspects that his wife Doris (Frances McDormand) is having an affair with her boss, department store manager Dave Nirdlinger (James Gandolfini). So when he's offered the chance to ..read more »
... its sequel. I suggest you watch them in fairly quick succession - otherwise it can be confusing.
Day Watch
on DVD
(2006) Starring:Konstantin Khabensky, Mariya Poroshina, Vladimir Menshov Director:Timur Bekmambetov Certificate:
A man (Khabensky) who serves in the war between the forces of Light and Dark comes into possession of a device that can restore life to Moscow, which was nearly destroyed by an apocalyptic event.