A list of films that I reckon you should watch if you get the chance - some of them you'll have heard of and seen already, some of them possibly not...
City of God
on DVD
(2002) Starring:Matheus Nachtergaele, Seu Jorge, Alexandre Rodrigues Director:Fernando Meirelles, Fernando Meirell, Katia Lund Certificate:
Cidade de Deus (City of God) is a housing project built in the 1960's that--in the early 80's--became one of the most dangerous places in Rio de Janeiro. The tale tells the stories of many characters whose lives sometimes intersect. However, all is seen through the eyes of a singular narrator: ..read more »
Romanzo Criminale
on DVD
(2006) Starring:Anna Mouglalis, Kim Rossi-Stuart, Pierfrancesco Favino Director:Michele Placido Certificate: Watch now: Included in all packages with LOVEFiLM Instant
Crime drama based on the novel by Giancarlo De Cataldo. Lebanese (Pierfrancesco Favino) is the cold-hearted leader of a juvenile delinquent trio that also includes undyingly loyal Freddo (Kim Rossi Stuart) and power-hungry Dandi (Claudio Santamaria). After kidnapping and casually murdering a baron (..read more »
Night Watch
on DVD
(2004) Starring:Galina Tyunina, Mariya Poroshina, Vladimir Menshov Director:Timour Bekmambetov, Timur Bekmambetov Certificate:
Fantasy thriller set in Moscow. Among normal humans live the 'Others' possessing various supernatural powers. They are divided up into the forces of light and the forces of the dark, who signed a truce several centuries ago to end a devastating battle. Ever since, the forces of light govern the day ..read more »
The first of Chan-Wook Park's revenge trilogy is quirky and original
Sympathy for Mr Vengeance
on DVD
(2002) Starring:Ji-Eun Lim, Song Kang-ho, Bae Du-na Director:Park Chan-Wook Certificate: Watch now: Unavailable
Dark thriller by Korean director Chan Wook Park. A deaf mute, Ryu (Shin Ha-Kyun) saves all his hard-earned money for his sister who requires a kidney transplant. He has the wrong blood type to be able to donate one of his kidneys, so he arranges a trade with a group of black-market organ dealers: ..read more »
The second and best installment in Chan-Wook Park's revenge trilogy
OldBoy
on DVD
(2003) Starring:Kang Hye-jeong Director:Park Chan-Wook, Chan-wook Park Certificate: Watch now: Unavailable
Dark, vibrant and twisted revenge thriller by Korean director Chan-Wook Park. Oh Dae-Su (Choi Min-Sik) has never taken his role as husband and father seriously and has just been released from police custody for drunk and disorderly behaviour on his own baby daughter's birthday. When he finds ..read more »
The conclusion to Chan-Wook Park's trilogy mixes beauty with an violent climax
Lady Vengeance
on DVD
(2005) Starring:Yeong-Ae Lee, Lee Young-Ae, Si-Hu Kim Director:Park Chan-Wook Certificate: Watch now: Unavailable
Violent revenge drama from director Chan-wook Park. Geum-ja Lee (Yeong-ae Lee) is a young woman who works for underworld crime boss Mr Baek (Min-sik Choi). Taking the fall for the abduction and murder of a child, Geum-ja is sent to prison at the age of 19. When she realises that she has been framed ..read more »
Glengarry Glen Ross
on DVD
(1992) Starring:Al Pacino, Jonathan Pryce, Alan Arkin Director:James Foley Certificate:
David Mamet's award-winning play about a group of desperate real estate agents comes to the big screen from director James Foley. In a role created specifically for the movie, Alec Baldwin appears as a sales motivator, informing the group of hard-luck salesmen that they must compete in a sales ..read more »
Ridley Scott proves himself a master at whatever genre he puts his hand to...
Matchstick Men
on DVD
(2003) Starring:Bruce Altman, Nicolas Cage, Alison Lohman Director:Ridley Scott Certificate: Watch now: Unavailable
Meet Roy and Frank, a couple of professional small-time con artists. What Roy, a veteran of the grift, and Frank, his ambitious protégé, are swindling these days are "water filtration systems," bargain-basement water filters bought by unsuspecting people who pay ten times their value in order to ..read more »
An uncomfortable and original movie that plays on expectations
Hard Candy
on DVD
(2006) Starring:Sandra Oh, Patrick Wilson, Ellen Page Director:David Slade Certificate: Watch now: Unavailable
Provocative thriller from director David Slade. For three weeks, 14-year-old Hayley Stark (Ellen Page) has been chatting on-line with 'Lensmaster319', a 32-year old fashion photographer, named Jeff (Patrick Wilson). The two agree to meet at a coffee shop called Nighthawks and they hit it off, ..read more »
An okay book made into a good film by director supremo Christopher Nolan
The Prestige
on DVD
(2006) Starring:Piper Perabo, Scarlett Johansson, Hugh Jackman Director:Christopher Nolan Certificate: Watch now: Unavailable
Thriller starring Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale. Rupert Angier (Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Bale) are London-based magicians of the highest order, both blessed with spectacular powers of deception and both cursed with unrelenting envy for one another's skills. When Alfred performs an awe-..read more »