My Favorite Movies

From the outset you know you are watching something different than your run of the mill shock horror. An intelligent and super twisted spin on a revenge movie that keeps you hooked as you'll be desperate to find out why the main character was imprisoned for 15 years. A dense, dark, devastatingly sad story of incest, revenge and love. Bleak, yet hauntingly beautiful and powerfully acted, the story line never tires throughout the film and grips you from start to finish. The second in the vengeance trilogy and perhaps the most well known - fine as a stand alone. An extraordinary and original film.

In true Lock Stock style Vinnie Jones returns to the screen in this excellent film!! It has all the action of Lock Stock and the excellent one liners to go with it - listen veeeerry carefully to Brad Pitt who is superb in his roll as a Gypsy Prize fighter, you'll be hitting the rewind button to some of his lines I guarantee it - he was absolutely hiliarious. The same twists and turns as Lock Stock, but slicker and funnier than Ritchie's earlier film. Violent, foul mouthed and gritty. If you like British ganster flicks, this is amongst the best!

This is without a doubt one of my favourite films of all time. Brilliant performances from both Freeman and Pitt's portrayal of a rocky relationship of master and apprentice, as their very different lives become intertwinned as the film progresses. An emotional roller coaster of a film based on the 7 deadly sins with underlying theme of the love a man can share with a woman and the pain human beings can cause to one another. With a supporting role from Gywneth Paltrow as Pitt's wife, and a chilling performance from Kevin Spacey, not to mention a truly devastating finale, this film is definitely one for the collection.

A pshycological thriller/horror depicting the repeated sexual attack of a woman (Barbara Hershey) by an unseen supernatural attacker. Pretty dated nowadays, strong issues are tamed down compared with the 'full-on in your face' attitude of today. If made now it would be viewed as low budget, but considering its age, it's a classic! Quite scary when you consider it's based on true events. Admittedly it is loosely based in places the ending especially, but the fundamental issues are all there.

I Thought Russell Crowe was awesome in his moving portrayal of James Braddock, A true story about a down and out boxer who makes a magnificant comeback during the 1930s American depression to become World Champion. His portrayal was beautifully captured in his love for his game and his family. I wasn't convinced by Zellwegger's performance and still feel she was miscast in this one - none-the-less, decent as the loving wife but didn't have enough of a part to get her teeth into. The surprise for me was Craig Bierko as the great Max Baer who really stood out as the playboy brawler.



Even if you have no interest in boxing, the sheer honesty, love, pride and brilliant acting makes it wonderfully heart warming. This film is more than underrated and deserves so much more credit for its heart warming heroism depicted so beautifully.

Sold into slavery by her parents as a child, Sayuri (Ziyi Zhang, in a stunning performance) is resigned to a life of hardship and abuse. Raised amongst geishas, including the bitter Hatsumomo (a delectably vile Gong Li), Sayuri dreams of their educated and venerated lifestyle. When an unexpected benefactor (a scene-stealing Michelle Yeoh) comes looking for Sayuri, the frightened girl begins her long and arduous training to become a geisha. During this time, Sayuri rises to power, commanding the attention of every man she meets, enraging Hatsumomo further. Nevertheless, all the adoration in the land can't help satisfy Sayuri's love for the one person, The Chairman (Ken Watanabe), who was kind to her while she was a frightened little girl.


Based on the best-selling book of the same title, 'Memoirs of a Geisha' is quite simply, superb! Chinese actors playing Japanese characters is irrelevant. They do an excellent job and are perfectly cast. It has atmosphere and class which is sadly lacking in many films these days. Don't be put off by people who insist on comparing the book to the film. The film is an interpretation of the book, not an exact copy. Go and see it and make up your own mind. Meticulously produced and detailed, 'Geisha' is a feast for the eyes, but icy to the touch. I loved it!

The movie speaks for itself - absolutely brilliant!

This film works on the premise that what can go wrong, will go wrong, with hilarious consequences. The character's are all rich in ineptitude and their bungling attempt at burglary makes very amusing watching. This is a charming film that takes a while to build up momentum but once you arrive at the heist scene you'll be glad you stuck with it. The laughs pile in one after the other and the slow start builds a genuine attachment to a group of sweet and silly characters who see a quick fix way out of their situations.

Despite the fact that this film was ripped to shreds by the critics, I thought it was a little gem. Clooney is a solid director, with a quirky sense of humour. This is almost a Coen Brother's film in that it is slightly bizarre and darkly funny. Some bittersweet moments leaven the general mayhem, make it well worth viewing (as long as you don't expect any profound drama) and plenty of belly laugh moments. The disguise that George Clooney dons is hysterical. Great fun!

This is definitely a 'top ten of all time movie'. It's got everything a great film should have. Gripping from the first scene to the final credits. Truly a masterpiece.

A thoroughly enjoyable movie. If you don't know much about Ray Charles' life, you will by the end of this - enlightening and very entertaining. It traverses the range and styles of his music over a lifetime in the industry, mixed with flashbacks to his childhood. Beautifully set in it's time, the music is the original stuff and before you know it you are watching the story of Ray Charles starring Ray himself.

Better than the first - As usual donkey stole the show, lol

Petty thief Sue Tinder is enlisted by a conman in an elaborate scam to defraud a wealthy heiress of her inheritance. But Sue's plans are turned upside down when she unexpectedly falls in love with the heiress. Beautiful, atmospheric and outstanding in everyway, the plot twists and turns like a mangled wheel on the cobbled streets of London, churning up all the debris and scum, creating a flawless timeless piece of film. The actors shine brightly and the script is well paced and full of surprises. Costumes and sets are spot on and provocative, so much so, you can sense the smell, the stench and villainy, as if the film came with its own scratch'n'sniff card. A tightly plotted tale of lust, lies, lesbianism, deception and intrigue. An absolute joy, and a must see!

I loved this movie, good old fashioned disney tale. lots of laughs

Not for the fainthearted.

Denzel at his excellent best, very heart warming in parts and violent in others. A must-see for action and thriller fans.

Deliciously quotable black comedy from Guy Ritchie. This is one of those rare films worth watching again and again for having a vivid script and colourful characters. In a film where there really aren't any good guys, just varying degrees of bad guys this made refereshing viewing when it came out and hasn't dated a day.

Decent answer to Pulp Fiction, wittier, funnier and not so bloody. Really worth seeing for the dialogue, action, characters and soundtrack. If you like this the chances are you'll like Snatch. Pure Class.

Enough adult gags to keep the grown ups happy.

Wow... I knew nothing about this film, and hadn't heard of the book - but it draws you in right from the beginning, with a narrated tale about a young orphan born in France 300 years ago who turns out to have an uncanny ability with his nose. This orphan survives the school of hard knocks and grimy tanneries, but accidentally develops an ability for killing people, and puts it to good use in a quest to preserve 'beauty', namely the scent of beautiful women, forever, after they die.

Totally unexpectedly, a great film... thought I had a good sense of smell till I saw this guy. Arthouse meets pyscho thriller. This film travels so quietly and carefully along the narrator's path that you're beguiled by the story it's so believable, beautiful, painful, shocking and bemusing ...... left me speechless.

This is a beautifully shot film. The sepia tones, slight flicker, and darker edges to the screen give a period feel to the film. One could almost believe that it was shot at the time of the events portrayed. Excellent acting, storyline and direction. A definite must see.

The whole comcept of the Matrix is awsome

Every element of this film is testament to Hitchcock's genius. Watching films of this calibre made in 1948 can make you completely baffled by the bigger/better 'blockbuster' mentality which occurs in so much film making today.

Whodunnit is revealed in the first scene. The 'just-for-the-hell-of-it' pair of homosexual, playboy murderers throw a dinner party for the victim's friends and relations, and for the teacher who inspired them to carry out the crime. A gripping watch, especially once Jimmie Stewart is on-set. Not only is the film shot in real time and on one set, but it is also uses only one camera shot without cuts! This means one take for the entire film, and yet Hitchcock still crafts an excellent film around this technical trick. Highly recommended to anyone interested in people as well as anyone intersted in film technique, this film really makes a change from todays rapid fire cutting. A masterpiece and a gem.

(USA Title: Young Scarface)



This black and white film has the reputation for giving David Attenborough his first big break. He turns in a fantastic performance as Pinkie, the 17 year old gang leader. He manages to capture the naivety and paranoia of the character perfectly, as well as the cruelty and sense of disconnection that he has. Excellent cinematography and camera work create Brighton's shadowy side and tattered interiors of 'seen better days' boarding houses and pubs add to the 'dead end,' oppressive atmosphere.



Yes it's dated but it's a quality period piece which has clearly improved with age. Like fine wine... savour it because films like this are rare, and have paved the way for more recent classics such as The Godfather and Goodfellas. Best of all though... it's 100% British. Kudos to the filmmakers for keeping the dark sinister tone that underlies the story. All in all Brighton Rock is a fantastic adaptation, and compelling viewing!

Kathy Bates is at her best and creates a persona the viewer loves to hate. James Caan was brilliant as the suffering writer trying to find a way out of what seems to be a hopeless situation. Brilliant film, so rarely do they make them this good anymore. The hobbling scene will haunt me forever (omg). Would recommend everyone sees this film.

Will Smith's character as a broken man, depressed, suicidal after losing the love of his life in a car crash in which he was driving, is completely believeable. Consumed with grief, guilt and dispair so intolerable he completely shuts down and gives up on life. He wants to end his life, but before doing so, he goes on a quest to find and change the lives of 7 strangers so he can repent for his sins. Yes there are some rather large leaps of faith in this film, but anyone who has had brushes with death will identify with this film. I thought Smith was extremely convincing in his role of redemption. Rosario Dawson and Woody Harrelson were outstanding in their roles. Beautifully written a film with many layers, evolves as a mystery and climax with an ending that will blow you away. Superb.

Probably Mickey Rourke's best film of recent times, the movie itself is a cold hard look into the life of an aged wrestler on the verge of retirment looking for his last shot at the big time, as well as trying to rebuild his relationship with his estranged daughter and seeking the love of a close friend who happens to be a stripper.

I will always remember this film as more than a masterpiece. I would best remember it as a new, creative and artistic film that brings a bright and clever future to its genre both drama and sport. An excellent example of Rourke's talent, I think everyone sells him too short at times. But he did extremely well in this one, no doubt about it., it was his movie.

The Black Book is quite a difficult film to review. After the bleak, harrowing realism of Schindler's List, and films like The Pianist, it's slightly disorientating to see a story about the Nazi occupation of Europe (and the treatment of the jews) that sets out to be so... well, entertaining.

This story of a beautiful jewish girl who escapes the massacre of her family by the Germans only to fall in love with one of their high ranking SS Officers is told with passion and pace. Clarice Houten is extremely charismatic and endearing as the central character, a jew who has to survive in occupied Holland towards the end of the war - but she seems just a little too upbeat, sassy, confident and optimistic most of the time, given the traumatic events she encounters.

Complicated and exciting plot with many rapid turns and surprises, breaks the mould with few holds barred and a sometimes a little graphic. The intensity of war and the Jewish plight is conveyed with passion, compassion and reality from both sides of the fence. My only gripe would be that everybody in this film looked so healthy... but then, I suppose asking actors to starve themselves would be an idea too far.

The fact this film was not even nominated for the best foreign language film at the 2007 Oscars is a travesty.

The taboo, relationship between a female teacher (Sheba) and an underaged schoolboy, (the teacher herself having been the much younger pupil of her now much older husband!) is discovered by fellow teacher Barbara. This is used to Barbara's benefit in winning Sheba over as the only friend in her solitary desperate life. A dark disturbing friendship that is based on betrayal, blackmail and deceit in her attempt to offer love, closeness and tenderness. Fantastic film, Judi Dench never fails to deliver. Cate fantastic too. A must see film!

This film is why the Asian film industry make some of the best films in the world. Not really a horror in the traditional sense, it doesn't scare you its not that kind of film, its more of a study of what women go through to please men, so if you want something different give it a try. The dumpling preparation scenes are beautiful to watch until you realise the content of the final ingredient. This original quirky and darkly entertaining film really held my attention - visually interesting and sometimes erotic and humourous - it ultimately shocked and dealt with deeper issues of ageing and attraction.

The Last King of Scotland is a faustian tale of a reckless young man's decline into a moral hell as he falls under the seductive sway of a charismatic leader - the brutal Ugandan dictator Idi Amin Dada (Forest Whitaker). In the first of a series of increasingly impulsive acts, Nicholas Garrigan (James McAvoy), a naïve young doctor just out of medical school, spins a globe and randomly chooses a post in a remote medical clinic in Uganda. This impetuous decision to go to Kampala, is an attempt to escape the career plans suggested by his domineering father, fatefully coincides with the political coup that leads to Idi Amin Dada's ascendancy to power.

Before he falls under the thrall of this champion seducer, we witness Garrigan embarking on a series of ill thought out seductions of his own. First, he delays his arrival at the clinic with a sexual liaison with a woman he meets on the bus, and then briefly after starting work there he impetuously kisses the missionary doctor?s wife (Gillian Anderson). Characteristically it is this recklessness that brings Garrigan to the attention of Amin and ultimately, which leads to his fall. This catastrophic flaw forms part of the films dramatic structure as Whitaker and McAvoy masterfully play off one another other in a mutual process of seduction and duplicity.

Forest Whittaker is simply stunning in his role and totally deserved the oscar, and cutie-pie James McAvoy was very impressive as the young Scottish doctor.

A great movie that pits youth, exurberance and naivety against the malevolant web of a fascinating, mad and evil ruler.

Directed, produced and starring Mel Gibson, 'Braveheart' is truly worthy of it's cinematic praise. Based on the real life warrior/soldier, William Wallace to the backdrop of The war between England and Scotland in 13th Century Britain and a poem by Henry the minstrel. Although not entirely accurate (e.g. Robert the Bruce did not betray William Wallce), his film is fantastic in more ways than one, definitely worth the watch - full of drama and intensity.

Anyone who hasn't yet seen this film should watch it, but not if they are sensitive to bad language. The characters are brilliant and so is the music most of which you will have heard before but not like this. Set in the nitty gritty of Dublins inner city Jimmy Rabbitte has a vision to bring soul music to Dublin... he places ads in local paper to try and find band members.

The story is simple, but endearing - as are the foul-mouthed characters themselves. There are moments of sadness, but also hilarity. Pure joy to watch, full of life, fun and of course brilliant music performed with raw enthusiasm not often witnessed. There is some violence and a lot of swearing but this in no way spoils this truly wonderful film which leaves you feeling entertained and uplifted.

A thrilling Irish story that highlights passion, hope and missed opportunity. An absolute classic not to be missed.

Back to the streets and with a stellar cast, Martin Scorsese proves once again that he's the master of urban storytelling.

In my opinion this is the best film of its genre and I cant remember the last time I came out of a cinema wanting to go right back in and watch the movie a second time. A Masterpiece.

Great idea to shoot this in black'n'white which gave it that all important comic book feel - loved it!