|
5/5
|
93%
|
Days of Heaven (1978) |
"
Wholly divine."
—
Total Film
Posted Aug 26, 2011
|
|
5/5
|
99%
|
La Battaglia di Algeri (The Battle of Algiers) (1967) |
"
A riveting reconstruction of the struggle for independence in mid-50s Algiers, its pseudo-documentary style still feels as headline-fresh as its content."
—
BBC
Posted May 15, 2007
|
|
5/5
|
99%
|
La Battaglia di Algeri (The Battle of Algiers) (1967) |
"
Combine the lack of soapboxing with the bracing use of real locations, non-actors and Ennio Morricone's punchy score (arguably the only concession to melodrama) and you have a deserved place in the world cinema canon."
—
BBC
Posted Nov 18, 2003
|
|
4/5
|
84%
|
The Hunger Games (2012) |
"
Like its source, this is both credible science fiction and a teen tale that doesn't patronise or pander to its audience."
—
Total Film
Posted Mar 16, 2012
|
|
4/5
|
83%
|
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) |
"
Prepare to lose yourself - in every sense - in a labyrinth of double-agents, deception and damn fine acting from the year's best British line-up. Oldman at least deserves the Oscar nod he's been long denied."
—
Total Film
Posted Sep 7, 2011
|
|
4/5
|
92%
|
Ponyo (2009) |
"
Bar the climactic dip, another Ghibli charmer that finds story, subject matter and style in freewheeling harmony. You haven't seen the sea until you've seen it through Miyazaki's goggles."
—
Total Film
Posted Feb 16, 2010
|
|
4/5
|
88%
|
Inglourious Basterds (2009) |
"
This exploitation epic is a unique beast that molests history, wrong-foots expectations and royally entertains. The movies' coolest Basterd is back on his game."
—
Total Film
Posted Aug 21, 2009
|
|
4/5
|
89%
|
Red Cliff (Chi Bi) (2009) |
"
A sweeping, stirring breath-snatcher that finds the director on his finest form since Face/Off. Even half-cut, it's a whole lot of epic."
—
Total Film
Posted Jun 12, 2009
|
|
4/5
|
63%
|
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas) (2008) |
"
There are plausibility issues - no German accents; no guards noticing the kids' frequent chats - but Herman builds a tightening sense of dread that finds no release in the final, tragic twist. Expect a sleepless night."
—
Total Film
Posted Sep 12, 2008
|
|
4/5
|
88%
|
Metropolitan (1990) |
"
A witty, urbane portrait of Manhattan's debutante scene."
—
BBC
Posted Jul 18, 2008
|
|
4/5
|
96%
|
Ratatouille (2007) |
"
Novel in concept, exquisite in execution, another family feast from Pixar suitable for all palates. Not a studio chef d'oeuvre, perhaps, but still the richest of this year's animations. Don't miss the starter course, hilarious space short Lifted."
—
Total Film
Posted Oct 10, 2007
|
|
4/5
|
88%
|
Superbad (2007) |
"
The funniest film since, um, Knocked Up. What it lacks in novelty it makes up for with consistency. Supergood."
—
Total Film
Posted Sep 14, 2007
|
|
4/5
|
84%
|
Bridge to Terabithia (2007) |
"
Smart, sprightly and sensitive, this is like a junior-edition Heavenly Creatures , complete with ace chemistry and tragic twist."
—
Total Film
Posted May 4, 2007
|
|
4/5
|
84%
|
Bridge to Terabithia (2007) |
"
Why can't more kids' films be this grown up?"
—
BBC
Posted May 1, 2007
|
|
4/5
|
87%
|
Into Great Silence (2007) |
"
It sounds more like an endurance test than entertainment, yet this one-of-a-kind experience proves surprisingly immersive."
—
BBC
Posted Mar 1, 2007
|
|
4/5
|
98%
|
Grbavica: The Land of My Dreams (Esma's Secret - Grbavica) (2007) |
"
A convincing portrait of how ordinary people strive to get on with their lives in the wake of terrible conflict."
—
BBC
Posted Feb 17, 2007
|
|
4/5
|
70%
|
The Science of Sleep (2006) |
"
Credit should be shared with the leads; together they're silly, giddy, irrepressibly inventive - a lot like the film itself."
—
BBC
Posted Feb 13, 2007
|
|
4/5
|
50%
|
For Your Consideration (2006) |
"
In the running for the 'Best Rethink Of An Established Formula' award, so we'd like to thank the director and his cast for keeping the chortles coming."
—
Total Film
Posted Feb 9, 2007
|
|
4/5
|
76%
|
Black Book (Zwartboek) (2007) |
"
A layer of mainstream gloss takes the edge off the horrors, but the man behind Robocop marches through with a steely assurance that rarely allows you to snatch a breath."
—
BBC
Posted Jan 16, 2007
|
|
4/5
|
87%
|
The Last King of Scotland (2006) |
"
Hard to believe that an actor previously renowned for his gentleness could play such a monster, but the transformation is seamless."
—
BBC
Posted Jan 12, 2007
|
|
4/5
|
68%
|
London to Brighton (2008) |
"
Maybe the ending's a bit excessive, but it's hard to overstate the excitement of seeing fresh British talent break through with such energy."
—
BBC
Posted Nov 30, 2006
|
|
4/5
|
63%
|
Severance (2006) |
"
mixing comedy with horror's never an easy business, but time and again Severance cuts it."
—
BBC
Posted Sep 16, 2006
|
|
4/5
|
89%
|
Rocky Road to Dublin (1968) |
"
This is a tough but tender snapshot whose sociological and artistic merits have stood the test of time."
—
BBC
Posted Aug 15, 2006
|
|
4/5
|
92%
|
Dave Chappelle's Block Party (2006) |
"
Yes, there's a little preachiness here, but it doesn't puncture the party mood. Or stop Chappelle telling dirty jokes about prostitutes, for that matter. Thanks to him this isn't just a musical feast, but a rib-busting comedy too."
—
BBC
Posted Jul 1, 2006
|
|
4/5
|
87%
|
Tell Them Who You Are (2005) |
"
With dad calling junior's filmmaking skills into question at every turn, this is a fascinating blend of fact and friction."
—
BBC
Posted May 30, 2006
|
|
4/5
|
56%
|
The King (2006) |
"
Hail to The King, a quietly shocking slice of Southern Gothic from British director James Marsh."
—
BBC
Posted May 23, 2006
|
|
4/5
|
72%
|
Syriana (2005) |
"
You'll come away exhausted, but also exhilarated."
—
BBC
Posted Feb 21, 2006
|
|
4/5
|
88%
|
Cache (Hidden) (2005) |
"
Soon as this quietly terrifying film starts, the unease starts to fester."
—
BBC
Posted Jan 24, 2006
|
|
4/5
|
84%
|
Mad Hot Ballroom (2005) |
"
It's a tale of tears, triumph and tread-upon toes; it may wear you out, but it'll put a spring in your step too."
—
BBC
Posted Dec 6, 2005
|
|
4/5
|
75%
|
Factotum (2006) |
"
An intoxicating comedy based on the writings of cult author Charles Bukowski."
—
BBC
Posted Dec 6, 2005
|
|
4/5
|
87%
|
Sophie Scholl: The Final Days (2006) |
"
The film's claustrophobic intensity and emotional punch certainly deserve to be cheered."
—
BBC
Posted Oct 25, 2005
|
|
4/5
|
98%
|
Murderball (2005) |
"
One of 2005's very best documentaries."
—
BBC
Posted Oct 25, 2005
|
|
4/5
|
88%
|
Broken Flowers (2005) |
"
Moving, mirthful and minimalist, Broken Flowers is a bittersweet treat from indie great Jim Jarmusch."
—
BBC
Posted Oct 15, 2005
|
|
4/5
|
87%
|
A History of Violence (2005) |
"
This may look like a mainstream gig for Cronenberg, but it's his most challenging -- and enjoyable -- work in years."
—
BBC
Posted Sep 27, 2005
|
|
4/5
|
81%
|
Private (2005) |
"
Private's vision of domestic dread is more raw and real than anything Hollywood fantasy can offer."
—
BBC
Posted May 10, 2005
|
|
4/5
|
90%
|
Head-On (Gegen die Wand) (2005) |
"
Raw, impassioned and provocative."
—
BBC
Posted Feb 22, 2005
|
|
4/5
|
81%
|
Kontroll (2005) |
"
A movie made with the kind of vision and assurance you don't often get in a debut."
—
BBC
Posted Oct 6, 2004
|
|
4/5
|
67%
|
Deep Blue (2005) |
"
Taking us from God's-eye-views of the sparkling surface to the darkest depths, this ocean odyssey conveys a riveting sense of nature's infinite variety."
—
BBC
Posted Jun 8, 2004
|
|
|
81%
|
A Prairie Home Companion (2006) |
"
It's a warm and dignified end to a sometimes erratic but often enthralling career."
—
BBC
Posted Jan 9, 2007
|
|
|
100%
|
The Ipcress File (1965) |
"
Caine in his bespectacled prime..."
—
BBC
Posted Jan 10, 2006
|
|
|
90%
|
The Take (2004) |
"
Rousing as it is, you can't help feeling at times that the filmmakers have reduced a complex situation to a black and white."
—
BBC
Posted May 21, 2005
|
|
3/5
|
84%
|
Contagion (2011) |
"
A level-headed take on a topic that's often an excuse for madness and melodrama."
—
Total Film
Posted Oct 19, 2011
|
|
3/5
|
75%
|
The Adventures of Tintin (2011) |
"
Like the 3D, an adventure that's serviceable but doesn't reach out and grab you as often as you'd expect. Frenetic to a fault, it'll divert the under-10s; older viewers may feel there's not enough lift in the quiff."
—
Total Film
Posted Oct 13, 2011
|
|
3/5
|
85%
|
Tucker & Dale vs Evil (2011) |
"
Genre staples and stereotypes are slain only for convention to wreak revenge; but it'd sure be sweet to follow the loveable lugs on another misadventure."
—
Total Film
Posted Sep 14, 2011
|
|
3/5
|
44%
|
Cowboys & Aliens (2011) |
"
Solid bordering on stolid. It's Favreau in control again after Avengers advert Iron Man 2 - but given the possibilities, a mild, mild west. More horsing around and another set-piece or two might've helped."
—
Total Film
Posted Jul 29, 2011
|
|
3/5
|
79%
|
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) |
"
The final piece of the Avengers jigsaw falls efficiently into place: decent acting, decent action, a few too many "we're all heroes inside" platitudes."
—
Total Film
Posted Jul 21, 2011
|
|
3/5
|
78%
|
Chalet Girl (2011) |
"
It's steered to success - just - by Jones, a natural, likeable everygirl who will make you care, possibly against your will, about a story as old as the Alps."
—
Total Film
Posted Mar 7, 2011
|
|
3/5
|
53%
|
Knight & Day (2010) |
"
Diminishing returns eventually topple it, but not before Cruise has cemented one of his most relaxed and likeable performances in some time."
—
Total Film
Posted Aug 12, 2010
|
|
3/5
|
56%
|
It's Complicated (2009) |
"
Not too sickly-sweet, but not sour either - still, Meyers' sex-with-the-ex comedy is an entertaining poke in the eye for Hollywood ageism."
—
Total Film
Posted Jan 8, 2010
|
|
3/5
|
34%
|
G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra (2009) |
"
Sommers bucks the bad buzz with a throwaway blast of solid, stupid fun. You laugh at it rather than with it, but a sequel would be worth it just for more of Gordon-Levitt's one-eyed dramatics."
—
Total Film
Posted Aug 7, 2009
|
85%
79%
7%
