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:Katia Lund, Fernando Meirelles Certificate:
Two features. Youth gangs took over the slums of Rio de Janiero during the 1960s and didn't relinquish their stronghold until the mid-1980s. Only a sucker wouldn't have turned to crime and this is exactly how naive teen Rocket (Alexandre Rodrigues) views himself in 'City Of God'. His attempts in ..read more »
Romanzo Criminale
on DVD
(2006) Starring:Anna Mouglalis, Kim Rossi-Stuart, Pierfrancesco Favino Director:Michele Placido Certificate:
A master criminal has his sights on conquering Rome's underworld in this exciting gangland saga, spanning more than 25 years of criminal activity in Italy. ROMANZO CRIMINALE follows Libano from hoodlum to kingpin, tracking his rise to power, and the struggles that arise within his gang of ruthless ..read more »
Night Watch
on DVD
(2004) Starring:Konstantin Khabensky, Vladimir Menshov, Valeri Zolotukhin Director:Timour Bekmambetov, Timur Bekmambetov Certificate:
Set in contemporary Moscow, Night Watch (Nochnoi Dozor) uncovers the other-world battle that upholds a 1000-year-old truce between the forces of Light and the forces of Darkness. For centuries, the undercover members of the Night Watch have policed the world's Dark Ones - the vampires, witches, ..read more »
Sympathy For Mr Vengeance
on DVD
(2002) Starring:Song Kang-ho, Hyun-Joon Shin, Bae Du-na Director:Chan-Wook Park Certificate:
A deaf-mute man, Ryu, works in a smelting factory and inhabits his own silent world, oblivious to the din both at work and in his downscale apartment building. He idolizes his sister, who urgently needs a kidney transplant, and when he's laid off and then tricked out of his savings by organ ..read more »
The second and best installment in Chan-Wook Park's revenge trilogy
OldBoy
on DVD
(2003) Starring:Kang Hye-jeong Director:Chan-Wook Park, Chan-wook Park Certificate:
A man is inexplicably kidnapped and imprisoned for 15 years and his wife is brutally murdered. On his release, he is given a wallet full of money and a mobile phone. A stranger calls and asks him to try and figure out why he was imprisoned. A girl appears and promises to help him solve the enigma ..read more »
Lady Vengeance
on DVD
(2005) Starring:Lee Young-Ae, Choi Min-Sik, Kim Si-Hu Director:Park Chan-Wook Certificate:
Another tale of revenge from the creator of OldBoy. Lee Guem-ja has been released from prison having served 13 years for the kidnapping and murder of a child. A seemingly unassuming prisoner, Guem-ja has in fact been plotting her revenge on the man who was responsible for her incarceration. With ..read more »
Glengarry Glen Ross
on DVD
(1992) Starring:Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Alec Baldwin Director:James Foley Certificate:
Glengarry Glen Ross tells the powerful story of the wheelings and dealings of a small Chicago real estate office, where the name of the game is to close the deal and stay on top. The film boasts an all-star cast, including: Al Pacino; Jack Lemmon; Alec Baldwin; Ed Harris; Alan Arkin; and Kevin ..read more »
Ridley Scott proves himself a master at whatever genre he puts his hand to...
Matchstick Men
on DVD
(2003) Starring:Nicolas Cage, Sam Rockwell, Alison Lohman Director:Ridley Scott Certificate:
Roy Waller (Nicolas Cage) is a conman and trickster who has had to overcome enormous problems with obsessive-compulsive disorder in order to stay on top of his game. His partner in crime, Frank Mercer (Sam Rockwell), helps him run a daily business conning housewives out of their money with ..read more »
An uncomfortable and original movie that plays on expectations
Hard Candy
on DVD
(2006) Starring:Ellen Page, Patrick Wilson, Sandra Oh Director:David Slade Certificate: Watch now: £2.49
Claustrophobic and brightly coloured, this tightly wound psychological thriller is constantly pulling the rug out from under the viewer, mostly due to the tense, explosive performances of its two main characters. The tale opens with a coffee shop rendezvous between 14-year-old Haley (the fantastic ..read more »
The Prestige
on DVD
(2006) Starring:Christian Bale, Piper Perabo, Scarlett Johansson Director:Christopher Nolan Certificate:
From acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan ("Memento," "Batman Begins"), comes a mysterious story of two magicians whose intense rivalry leads them on a life-long battle for supremacy with dangerous and deadly consequences.From the time that they first met as young magicians on the rise, Robert ..read more »