Director Ritt, recently off the blacklist, directs the first of his many socially conscious films that would eventually include “Sounder” and “Norma Rae”. Poitier’s grounded, sympathetic portrayal of Tommy brought him ...

To watch a Maddin film is to enter a strange netherworld where film’s usual narrative conventions do not apply. He evokes silent films with his black and white, jerky images, photomontages and inter-titles, but at the ...

Everyone knows how this ends, but that doesn’t lessen the enjoyment of watching this tight political thriller unfold. Spacey carries off the central role with gusto, bringing first-time scripter Danny Strong’s clever ...

Pontecorvo’s Oscar-nominated film provides a vivid and harrowing account of the Algerians’ struggle against colonialism. Shot in a cinema-verité style, the film uses predominantly non-professional actors, which only ...

Writer/director Greenaway’s first feature film reflects his painterly eye and extravagant sense of fun. He stages his scenes like paintings, with specific reference to Caravaggio and other baroque masters, his camera ...

With Brian Selznick’s 2007 illustrated children’s novel “The Invention of Hugo Cabret” as his inspiration, director Scorsese delivers a master-class in storytelling and technological innovation. As his 3D camera swoops ...

Kalatozov’s collaboration with cinematographer Sergei Urusevsky produced several classics, not least among them this deep and stunning work. Pioneers of handheld camerawork, here they contrast extreme close-ups with ...

Hollywood biopics about real stars are notoriously difficult to pull off, but in this case director Curtis gets it right, using the real Clark’s memoirs to delve into the enduring Marilyn mystique. The period recreation ...

Director Kim’s action-packed historical epic was the top grossing Korean film of 2011, thanks to its breathless intensity and breathtaking photography. At heart it’s a simple story of pursuit and revenge, but Kim ...

Seven time Oscar nominee Mike Leigh excels in creating portraits of working class people. Following in the British tradition of kitchen sink realism, his distinctive filmmaking style yields grimly authentic characters ...

A self-identified Communist, director Ford certainly used his films to express pro-Socialist sentiments, but this gripping drama is much more than mere propaganda. Made in 1947 with the horrors of World War II still ...

Director Soderbergh famously wrote this screenplay in just 8 days and made the film for under two million dollars. It went on the win numerous prizes, including the Palme d’Or at Cannes, and make $25 million, thereby ...

Considered France’s answer to John Cassavetes, director Pialat favored naturalistic acting, improvisation and finding “the truth of the moment”. Thus watching this dysfunctional family drama is inevitably unnerving, as ...

Lean kicks off his storied career behind the camera with this sublime quartet of films that blend the epic and the intimate with impeccable ease. “In Which We Serve” presages the vast canvases of his work in the ‘50s ...

This cool, nervy noir from Danish director Winding Refn netted him the best director Award at Cannes, and after some promising features done in his native country, put him squarely in Hollywood’s headlights. “Drive” is ...

“Senna” is indeed one incredible ride, albeit one that ends tragically. Using new audio interviews with many of the main characters in his life, (Senna’s sister, reporters, doctors, F-1 pros), we get a multi-faceted ...

Almodovar has always been a master of playful genre transgression. Here he blends classic horror with the bright colors and pronounced acting style of Spanish telenovelas, resulting in chilling suspense with elements of ...

After a thirty year career, Oldman received his first Oscar nomination for his role as taciturn “company man” Smiley, a role originated by no less a light than Alec Guinness. Oldman’s restrained, intelligent performance ...

Fleischer directs this harrowing true story with straightforward efficiency and clinical detachment; much of the courtroom dialogue is taken from actual documents. London is depicted as a drab, grimy place where the ...

Prolific writer/director Allen risks a measure of self-deconstruction with every neurotic, semi-autobiographical character he plays, but here he gives his story (and his alter-go) some extra coarseness and bite, which ...