France/Italy, 2001

Cert: 15

103 minutes

Dir: François Ozon

Starring Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Huppert, Emmanuelle Béart

A spoof Agatha Christie-style ‘Who dun it?,’ a showcase for eight of France ’s leading ladies, past and present, and…..no men! (Almost!). A thoroughly entertaining pastiche.

Australia/UK, 2002

Cert: PG

93 minutes

Dir: Philip Noyce.  

Starring Evelyn Sampi, Tianna Sansbury, Laura Monaghan

Between 1930 and 1970 mixed-race Aborigines were taken away from their parents and sent to resettlement camps.  This multi-award winning film, based on a true story, is not only “a passionate work, it also features stunning landscape photography and compelling performances” (Telegraph).

Fr/It/Belg/UK/Slov/Switz, 2001

Cert: 15

97 minutes

Dir: Danis Tanovic.  

Starring Branko Djuric, René Bitorajac, Filip Sovagovic.

This is a superb satire on the Balkan conflict as two Bosnians and a Serb are stranded together in a trench between the front lines – and one of the Bosnians is lying wounded on top of a bomb!  Terrific tension.  Last year’s Best Foreign Language Film Oscar-winner.

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Argentina , 2000

Cert: 15

113 minutes

Dir: Fabian Bielinsky.  

Starring Ricardo Darin, Gaston Pauls, Leticia Brédice.

Highly entertaining and superbly photographed ‘scam’ about two petty con-men who bite off more than they can chew as they try to sell a set of valuable forged stamps, The Nine Queens.

Canada/Germ/USA., 2002    

Cert: 15

120 minutes

Dir: Michael Moore.

An Oscar-winning documentary about gun culture in America . On 20th April, 1999 , thirteen people were shot dead by two pupils at Columbine High School in Colorado .  Director Michael Moore wittily and trenchantly explores the prevalence of gun ownership and gun crime in America and Canada .  “an out and out masterpiece” (Sunday Express).

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USA/Germany, 2002  

Cert: 15

100 minutes

Dir: Philip Noyce.  

Starring Michael Caine, Brendan Fraser, Do Thi Hai Yen.

Our second film from director Philip Noyce is based on the Graham Greene novel and set in 1952 Saigon as America starts to involve itself in events leading to the Vietnam war.  A mix of political intrigue and bitter-sweet love story…and Caine in magnificent form.

USA/Germany, 2002   Spain , 2002

Cert: 15

112 minutes

Dir: Pedro Almodovar.  

Starring Javier Camara, Dario Grandinetti, Leonor Watling, Rosario Flores.

Almodovar’s latest multi-award winning film, and regarded by many as the best film of 2002, tells of two men obsessed by and in love with two comatose hospital-bound women.  Stunningly original – this is a film not to be missed.

USA , 2002

Cert: 15

125 minutes

Dir: Alexander Payne.  

Starring Jack Nicholson, Hope Davis, Kathy Bates.

Nicholson is a retired actuary facing up to the lonely years ahead of him following his wife’s death.  However, as he treks across the Midwest to deter his daughter from marrying a dense waterbed salesman there develops a film that is funny, perceptive and entertaining.

USA/Germany, 2002

Cert: 12A

113 minutes

Dir: Rob Marshall.  

Starring Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere.

Multi-award winning film, including Best Picture Oscar, of Bob Fosse’s 1975 stage musical, “ Chicago ” is a vibrant, hard-edged story of two murderous cabaret artistes, Roxie and Velma.  Excellent performances, superbly filmed, and great choreography

USA, 1937 

Cert: U

65 minutes

Dir: James Horne.  

Starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.

The plot – who needs a plot in a Laurel & Hardy picture?  “Not only one of their most perfect films, it ranks with the best screen comedy anywhere.”

Brazil/Germ/France, 2002     18

Cert: 18

125 minutes

Dir: Fernando Meirelles.

Using an amateur, largely teenage cast drawn from the shanty towns of Rio de Janeiro , Meirelles’ hugely acclaimed movie creates a picture of stunningly realised organised crime and gang warfare.  The release of the film in Brazil led to action finally being taken to clean up Rio .  Fast, furious, and utterly convincing, but be warned – it is a tough, uncompromising film.

UK/Fr/Germ/India, 2001

Cert: 12 

86 minutes

Dir: Asif Kapadia.  Starring Irfan Khan, Puru Chhibber, Sheikh Annuddin.

Lafcadia is the head of a small band of warriors in the employ of a tyrannical lord.  A mystical encounter leads him to reject his violent life, but at devastating personal cost.  BAFTA Best British Film winner and Best First Feature.

Fr/UK/Germ/Japan, 2002

Cert: 12A                                                                            

90 minutes

Dir: Patrice Leconte.  

Starring Jean Rochefort, Johnny Hallyday, Edith Scob.

An ageing gangster, about to rob the local bank, arrives in a sleepy provincial town and meets a timid retired teacher.  Despite being chalk and cheese the two men warm to each other…..Two superb central performances by Rochefort and Hallyday dominate the film.

Germany/Australia, 2001                                                   

Cert: 15                        

121 minutes

Dir: Ray Lawrence.  

Starring Anthony Lapaglia, Geoffrey Rush, Barbara Hershey.

A moody Australian romantic drama about trust – or the lack of it.  Part thriller, based on the disappearance of one of the characters, part psychological drama, “Lantana” won seven Australian ‘Oscars’.

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