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The Driver

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Walter Hill's terrific 1978 thriller about a cop's obsessive pursuit of a seemingly uncatchable criminal clearly anticipates Michael Mann's Heat, for which it may have provided an unacknowledged template. It's a much leaner picture than Mann's portentous epic, however, but just as stylish and a lot more exciting, with a series of stunningly orchestrated car chases, a satisfyingly complicated plot and a couple of instances of eye-popping violence. Ryan O'Neal is surprisingly good as the ace getaway driver in a part Hill offered originally to Steve McQueen?but it's the demonic Bruce Dern who walks away with the acting honours as the uncompromising cop determined to bring him in.

Walter Hill’s terrific 1978 thriller about a cop’s obsessive pursuit of a seemingly uncatchable criminal clearly anticipates Michael Mann’s Heat, for which it may have provided an unacknowledged template. It’s a much leaner picture than Mann’s portentous epic, however, but just as stylish and a lot more exciting, with a series of stunningly orchestrated car chases, a satisfyingly complicated plot and a couple of instances of eye-popping violence. Ryan O’Neal is surprisingly good as the ace getaway driver in a part Hill offered originally to Steve McQueen?but it’s the demonic Bruce Dern who walks away with the acting honours as the uncompromising cop determined to bring him in.

Meet Me In St Louis

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Vincente Minnelli's heart-breaking, life-affirming 1944 musical. It's 1903, and as the World's Fair unfolds in their rosy little town, young Judy Garland's family face moving to the Big Apple. One of the great musicals; and as a movie about childhood, it's up there with The Night Of The Hunter and, as a lament for changing times, ranks alongside The Magnificent Ambersons and... The Wild Bunch. Kind of.

Vincente Minnelli’s heart-breaking, life-affirming 1944 musical. It’s 1903, and as the World’s Fair unfolds in their rosy little town, young Judy Garland’s family face moving to the Big Apple. One of the great musicals; and as a movie about childhood, it’s up there with The Night Of The Hunter and, as a lament for changing times, ranks alongside The Magnificent Ambersons and… The Wild Bunch. Kind of.

Death To Smoochy

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When kiddie TV host Rainbow Randolph (Robin Williams) is convicted of corruption, the network demands that his replacement be squeaky clean and beyond reproach. Enter Smoochy the Rhino (Ed Norton), who's so 'PC' it hurts. Can Smoochy learn to cope with the sleazy world of TV, or will Randolph kill him first? Despite a strong cast and Danny DeVito in the director's chair, this fails to spark.

When kiddie TV host Rainbow Randolph (Robin Williams) is convicted of corruption, the network demands that his replacement be squeaky clean and beyond reproach. Enter Smoochy the Rhino (Ed Norton), who’s so ‘PC’ it hurts. Can Smoochy learn to cope with the sleazy world of TV, or will Randolph kill him first? Despite a strong cast and Danny DeVito in the director’s chair, this fails to spark.

The Damned

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Luchino Visconti's kitsch allegorical melodrama is set in Germany in 1933 and describes the corruption of the wealthy Von Essenbeck family in the face of the Nazi menace. And so, within a few short scenes, they go from fireside home recitals to transvestitism, rape, murder, same-sex orgies, massacres and motherfucking (literally). Made in 1969, it's clearly very political. But that's no excuse.

Luchino Visconti’s kitsch allegorical melodrama is set in Germany in 1933 and describes the corruption of the wealthy Von Essenbeck family in the face of the Nazi menace. And so, within a few short scenes, they go from fireside home recitals to transvestitism, rape, murder, same-sex orgies, massacres and motherfucking (literally). Made in 1969, it’s clearly very political. But that’s no excuse.

A Mighty Wind

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Affectionate, often very funny Christopher Guest comedy that gently sends up the American folk scene that Dylan fiercely put paid to. It's no Spinal Tap and probably not as hilariously fresh as Best In Show, but Guest and his familiar repertory company?co-writer Eugene Levy, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Catherine O'Hara and Parker Posey among them?turn in typically irresistible performances.

Affectionate, often very funny Christopher Guest comedy that gently sends up the American folk scene that Dylan fiercely put paid to. It’s no Spinal Tap and probably not as hilariously fresh as Best In Show, but Guest and his familiar repertory company?co-writer Eugene Levy, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Catherine O’Hara and Parker Posey among them?turn in typically irresistible performances.

Breakfast With Hunter

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Hunter S Thompson, that is. Wayne Ewing shot the bulk of this loose but extremely entertaining documentary during the pre-production for Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas. The author wavering between guru and asshole, and Johnny Depp getting into character by following Thompson around like a groovy little monkey, are good value. For fans of Dr Gonzo, a must-see. (Available exclusively through www.breakfastwithhunter.com)

Hunter S Thompson, that is. Wayne Ewing shot the bulk of this loose but extremely entertaining documentary during the pre-production for Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas. The author wavering between guru and asshole, and Johnny Depp getting into character by following Thompson around like a groovy little monkey, are good value. For fans of Dr Gonzo, a must-see. (Available exclusively through www.breakfastwithhunter.com)

The Wild Geese

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This 1978 throwback to the all-star men-on-a-mission genre of the late '60s delivers a cracking carbine-load of ripe boys' own adventure, mainly thanks to the quartet of scenery-munching hambones (Richard Burton, Roger Moore, Richard Harris, Hardy Kr...

This 1978 throwback to the all-star men-on-a-mission genre of the late ’60s delivers a cracking carbine-load of ripe boys’ own adventure, mainly thanks to the quartet of scenery-munching hambones (Richard Burton, Roger Moore, Richard Harris, Hardy Kr

Big Fish

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This one proves Tim Burton's an absolute master. Billy Crudup hears his dying dad (Albert Finney) recount his implausible life story. Ewan McGregor embodies the young Finney as these tall tales are realised with wow-factor wizardry: a giant, a war, a circus?it's Fellini with a colour box. The climax skilfully plays your scepticism off against your dreams, somehow allowing both to win. Small ponds of audience tears ensue.

This one proves Tim Burton’s an absolute master. Billy Crudup hears his dying dad (Albert Finney) recount his implausible life story. Ewan McGregor embodies the young Finney as these tall tales are realised with wow-factor wizardry: a giant, a war, a circus?it’s Fellini with a colour box. The climax skilfully plays your scepticism off against your dreams, somehow allowing both to win. Small ponds of audience tears ensue.

Waiting For Happiness

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The small transit town of Nouadhibou lies between the desert and the sea in the African state of Mauritania. Here, Mauritanian director Abderrahmane Sissako explores the tug between modernity and tradition, adopting an image-heavy poetic style to examine themes of migration and exile, centred around the character of Khatra, a young man caught between two cultures.

The small transit town of Nouadhibou lies between the desert and the sea in the African state of Mauritania. Here, Mauritanian director Abderrahmane Sissako explores the tug between modernity and tradition, adopting an image-heavy poetic style to examine themes of migration and exile, centred around the character of Khatra, a young man caught between two cultures.

Pure

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Ten-year-old Paul (Harry Eden) is at home in a world of pimps and pushers, bargain basement hookers and fly-blown market caf...

Ten-year-old Paul (Harry Eden) is at home in a world of pimps and pushers, bargain basement hookers and fly-blown market caf

Hairspray

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John Waters' first 'mainstream' film from 1988 was to be the last bow for underground star Divine, on epic form as the mother of the rebellious Tracy Turnblad (Ricki Lake, making her debut), who becomes a dance star on a teen TV show circa 1962 before transforming into a beatnik civil rights activist. Also featuring extraordinary cameos from Pia Zadora, Debbie Harry and Sonny Bono, this is an utter delight.

John Waters’ first ‘mainstream’ film from 1988 was to be the last bow for underground star Divine, on epic form as the mother of the rebellious Tracy Turnblad (Ricki Lake, making her debut), who becomes a dance star on a teen TV show circa 1962 before transforming into a beatnik civil rights activist. Also featuring extraordinary cameos from Pia Zadora, Debbie Harry and Sonny Bono, this is an utter delight.

Judgment At Nuremberg

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Stanley Kramer's star-studded 1961 version of the Nuremberg Trials sees Burt Lancaster as a German collaborator, Spencer Tracy as a US judge, and has cameos for practically everyone else: Marlene Dietrich, Richard Widmark, Montgomery Clift and Judy Garland. The latter two, emaciated and tattered, provide unintentionally ghoulish viewing, but the flick itself is a tad worthy.

Stanley Kramer’s star-studded 1961 version of the Nuremberg Trials sees Burt Lancaster as a German collaborator, Spencer Tracy as a US judge, and has cameos for practically everyone else: Marlene Dietrich, Richard Widmark, Montgomery Clift and Judy Garland. The latter two, emaciated and tattered, provide unintentionally ghoulish viewing, but the flick itself is a tad worthy.

The Shape Of Things

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Neil LaBute had gone off the boil, but this low-budget version of his own stage play (with the same cast, including Rachel Weisz and Paul Rudd, who'd acted in London and Broadway) is a quite brilliant examination of the evil women do, a kind of flipside to In The Company Of Men. It's also a clever debate about the interface between creativity and love or sex. Weisz relishes the chance to be acid on legs.

Neil LaBute had gone off the boil, but this low-budget version of his own stage play (with the same cast, including Rachel Weisz and Paul Rudd, who’d acted in London and Broadway) is a quite brilliant examination of the evil women do, a kind of flipside to In The Company Of Men. It’s also a clever debate about the interface between creativity and love or sex. Weisz relishes the chance to be acid on legs.

The Longest Day

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This stunningly realised 1962 restaging of D-Day is the last great war epic. The stars include John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Robert Ryan, Rod Steiger, Sean Connery and a wounded Richard Burton, but the greatest stretches come on the inclement grey Normandy beaches, where General Robert Mitchum tries to lead his beleaguered men up the dunes, and get his cigar to light.

This stunningly realised 1962 restaging of D-Day is the last great war epic. The stars include John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Robert Ryan, Rod Steiger, Sean Connery and a wounded Richard Burton, but the greatest stretches come on the inclement grey Normandy beaches, where General Robert Mitchum tries to lead his beleaguered men up the dunes, and get his cigar to light.

To Kill A King

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Slow-moving account of the events leading up to the execution of King Charles I (Rupert Everett) and its aftermath, focusing on the stormy friendship of rebel leaders Oliver Cromwell (Tim Roth) and General Thomas Fairfax (Dougray Scott). Despite lavish period detail, a good supporting cast and an excellent performance from Everett, the leaden and historically dubious script renders this duller than the driest of documentaries.

Slow-moving account of the events leading up to the execution of King Charles I (Rupert Everett) and its aftermath, focusing on the stormy friendship of rebel leaders Oliver Cromwell (Tim Roth) and General Thomas Fairfax (Dougray Scott). Despite lavish period detail, a good supporting cast and an excellent performance from Everett, the leaden and historically dubious script renders this duller than the driest of documentaries.

The Hired Hand

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Classic 'revisionist' western from '71, Peter Fonda's directorial debut is bookended by two acts of fumbling, clumsy yet brutally violent gunplay, but is otherwise concerned with the delicately evolving relationships between two wandering cowboys (Fonda and Warren Oates) and Fonda's once abandoned wife (Verna Bloom). The photography from Vilmos Zsigmond (McCabe & Mrs Miller) is worth the price of the DVD in itself.

Classic ‘revisionist’ western from ’71, Peter Fonda’s directorial debut is bookended by two acts of fumbling, clumsy yet brutally violent gunplay, but is otherwise concerned with the delicately evolving relationships between two wandering cowboys (Fonda and Warren Oates) and Fonda’s once abandoned wife (Verna Bloom). The photography from Vilmos Zsigmond (McCabe & Mrs Miller) is worth the price of the DVD in itself.

Mystic River

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In Clint Eastwood's self-consciously stately film of Dennis Lehane's cracking thriller, Sean Penn, Tim Robbins and Kevin Bacon are former childhood friends, estranged by trauma, thrown into adult conflict by tragedy following the murder of Penn's teenage daughter. The novel is raw, seething, but Eastwood's stern, sober direction makes the film a bit of a slog, worthy but oddly unengaging, stripped of tension and the true sense of place Lehane brought to the book.

In Clint Eastwood’s self-consciously stately film of Dennis Lehane’s cracking thriller, Sean Penn, Tim Robbins and Kevin Bacon are former childhood friends, estranged by trauma, thrown into adult conflict by tragedy following the murder of Penn’s teenage daughter. The novel is raw, seething, but Eastwood’s stern, sober direction makes the film a bit of a slog, worthy but oddly unengaging, stripped of tension and the true sense of place Lehane brought to the book.

Cinema 16: European Short Films

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A stimulating and intriguing set of classic shorts from the directing Premier League. Early work from Godard, Von Trier, Moodysson, Kieslowski, Moretti and Leconte sits with maverick inspiration alongside Brits like Peter Mullan and one Chris Morris (the BAFTA-winning "My Wrongs"). Three hours plus in total, but each nugget boasts such energy that it flies by. Small is beautiful.

A stimulating and intriguing set of classic shorts from the directing Premier League. Early work from Godard, Von Trier, Moodysson, Kieslowski, Moretti and Leconte sits with maverick inspiration alongside Brits like Peter Mullan and one Chris Morris (the BAFTA-winning “My Wrongs”). Three hours plus in total, but each nugget boasts such energy that it flies by. Small is beautiful.

Betty Blue: Director’s Cut

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In the late eighties that poster adorned every young man's wall, and not just because the French subtitle looked chic. However, those who sneer at Jean-Jacques Beineix's film (here available on DVD only through HMV shops), putting its charm down simply to B...

In the late eighties that poster adorned every young man’s wall, and not just because the French subtitle looked chic. However, those who sneer at Jean-Jacques Beineix’s film (here available on DVD only through HMV shops), putting its charm down simply to B

The Life Of O-Haru

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A single indiscretion with a besotted servant (a young Toshir...

A single indiscretion with a besotted servant (a young Toshir

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