tree of life

The story centers around a family with three boys in the 1950s. The eldest son witnesses the loss of innocence.

human palanet

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0795176/

Oscars 2010

82nd Annual Academy Awards® Winners to be announced on Sunday, March 7th. Also: Golden Globes | BAFTAs | Critics Awards Grid | Independent Spirit Awards | Critics Choice Awards | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Directors Guild Awards | Writers Guild Awards | Directors Guild Awards | Producers Guild Awards Best Motion Picture of the Year Nominees: Avatar (2009): James Cameron, Jon Landau The Blind Side (2009): Nominees to be determined District 9 (2009): Peter Jackson, Carolynne Cunningham An Education (2009): Finola Dwyer, Amanda Posey The Hurt Locker (2008): Nominees to be determined Inglourious Basterds (2009): Lawrence Bender Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009): Lee Daniels, Sarah Siegel-Magness, Gary Magness A Serious Man (2009): Joel Coen, Ethan Coen Up (2009): Jonas Rivera Up in the Air (2009/I): Daniel Dubiecki, Ivan Reitman, Jason Reitman Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role Nominees: Jeff Bridges for Crazy Heart (2009) George Clooney for Up in the Air (2009/I) Colin Firth for A Single Man (2009) Morgan Freeman for Invictus (2009) Jeremy Renner for The Hurt Locker (2008) Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role Nominees: Sandra Bullock for The Blind Side (2009) Helen Mirren for The Last Station (2009) Carey Mulligan for An Education (2009) Gabourey Sidibe for Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009) Meryl Streep for Julie & Julia (2009) Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role Nominees: Matt Damon for Invictus (2009) Woody Harrelson for The Messenger (2009/I) Christopher Plummer for The Last Station (2009) Stanley Tucci for The Lovely Bones (2009) Christoph Waltz for Inglourious Basterds (2009) Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role Nominees: Penélope Cruz for Nine (2009) Vera Farmiga for Up in the Air (2009/I) Maggie Gyllenhaal for Crazy Heart (2009) Anna Kendrick for Up in the Air (2009/I) Mo’Nique for Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009) Best Achievement in Directing Nominees: Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker (2008) James Cameron for Avatar (2009) Lee Daniels for Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009) Jason Reitman for Up in the Air (2009/I) Quentin Tarantino for Inglourious Basterds (2009) Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen Nominees: The Hurt Locker (2008): Mark Boal Inglourious Basterds (2009): Quentin Tarantino The Messenger (2009/I): Alessandro Camon, Oren Moverman A Serious Man (2009): Joel Coen, Ethan Coen Up (2009): Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Thomas McCarthy Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published Nominees: District 9 (2009): Neill Blomkamp, Terri Tatchell An Education (2009): Nick Hornby In the Loop (2009): Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009): Geoffrey Fletcher Up in the Air (2009/I): Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner Best Achievement in Cinematography Nominees: Avatar (2009): Mauro Fiore Das weisse Band – Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte (2009): Christian Berger Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009): Bruno Delbonnel The Hurt Locker (2008): Barry Ackroyd Inglourious Basterds (2009): Robert Richardson Best Achievement in Editing Nominees: Avatar (2009): Stephen E. Rivkin, John Refoua, James Cameron District 9 (2009): Julian Clarke The Hurt Locker (2008): Bob Murawski, Chris Innis Inglourious Basterds (2009): Sally Menke Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009): Joe Klotz Best Achievement in Art Direction Nominees: Avatar (2009): Rick Carter, Robert Stromberg, Kim Sinclair The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009): David Warren, Anastasia Masaro, Caroline Smith Nine (2009): John Myhre, Gordon Sim Sherlock Holmes (2009): Sarah Greenwood, Katie Spencer The Young Victoria (2009): Patrice Vermette, Maggie Gray Best Achievement in Costume Design Nominees: Bright Star (2009): Janet Patterson Coco avant Chanel (2009): Catherine Leterrier The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009): Monique Prudhomme Nine (2009): Colleen Atwood The Young Victoria (2009): Sandy Powell Best Achievement in Makeup Nominees: Il divo (2008): Aldo Signoretti, Vittorio Sodano Star Trek (2009): Barney Burman, Mindy Hall, Joel Harlow The Young Victoria (2009): John Henry Gordon, Jenny Shircore Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score Nominees: Avatar (2009): James Horner Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009): Alexandre Desplat The Hurt Locker (2008): Marco Beltrami, Buck Sanders Sherlock Holmes (2009): Hans Zimmer Up (2009): Michael Giacchino Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song Nominees: Crazy Heart (2009): T-Bone Burnett, Ryan Bingham(“The Weary Kind”) Faubourg 36 (2008): Reinhardt Wagner, Frank Thomas(“Loin de Paname”) Nine (2009): Maury Yeston(“Take It All”) The Princess and the Frog (2009): Randy Newman(“Almost There”) The Princess and the Frog (2009): Randy Newman(“Down in New Orleans”) Best Achievement in Sound Mixing Nominees: Avatar (2009): Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson, Tony Johnson The Hurt Locker (2008): Paul N.J. Ottosson, Ray Beckett Inglourious Basterds (2009): Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti, Mark Ulano Star Trek (2009): Anna Behlmer, Andy Nelson, Peter J. Devlin Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009): Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers, Geoffrey Patterson Best Achievement in Sound Editing Nominees: Avatar (2009): Christopher Boyes, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle The Hurt Locker (2008): Paul N.J. Ottosson Inglourious Basterds (2009): Wylie Stateman Star Trek (2009): Mark P. Stoeckinger, Alan Rankin Up (2009): Michael Silvers, Tom Myers Best Achievement in Visual Effects Nominees: Avatar (2009): Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham, Andy Jones District 9 (2009): Dan Kaufman, Peter Muyzers, Robert Habros, Matt Aitken Star Trek (2009): Roger Guyett, Russell Earl, Paul Kavanagh, Burt Dalton Best Animated Feature Film of the Year Nominees: Coraline (2009): Henry Selick Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009): Wes Anderson The Princess and the Frog (2009): John Musker, Ron Clements The Secret of Kells (2009): Tomm Moore Up (2009): Pete Docter Best Foreign Language Film of the Year Nominees: Ajami (2009)(Israel) Das weisse Band – Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte (2009)(Germany) El secreto de sus ojos (2009)(Argentina) Un prophète (2009)(France) La teta asustada (2009)(Peru) Best Documentary, Features Nominees: Burma VJ: Reporter i et lukket land (2008): Anders Østergaard, Lise Lense-Møller The Cove (2009): Nominees to be determined Food, Inc. (2008): Robert Kenner, Elise Pearlstein The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers (2009): Judith Ehrlich, Rick Goldsmith Which Way Home (2009): Rebecca Cammisa Best Documentary, Short Subjects Nominees: China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province (2009) (TV): Jon Alpert, Matthew O’Neill The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner (2009): Daniel Junge, Henry Ansbacher The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant (2009) (TV): Steven Bognar, Julia Reichert Królik po berlinsku (2009): Bartosz Konopka, Anna Wydra Music by Prudence (2010): Roger Ross Williams, Elinor Burkett Best Short Film, Animated Nominees: French Roast (2008): Fabrice Joubert Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty (2008): Nicky Phelan, Darragh O’Connell La dama y la muerte (2009): Javier Recio Gracia Logorama (2009): Nicolas Schmerkin Wallace and Gromit in ‘A Matter of Loaf and Death’ (2008) (TV): Nick Park Best Short Film, Live Action Nominees: The Door (2008): Juanita Wilson, James Flynn Istället för abrakadabra (2008): Patrik Eklund, Mathias Fjällström Kavi (2009): Gregg Helvey Miracle Fish (2009): Luke Doolan, Drew Bailey The New Tenants (2009): Joachim Back, Tivi Magnusson

IMDB TOP 250

1.	9.1	The Shawshank Redemption (1994)	473,516
2.	9.1	The Godfather (1972)	382,507
3.	9.0	The Godfather: Part II (1974)	225,535
4.	8.9	Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo. (1966)	143,408
5.	8.9	Pulp Fiction (1994)	385,160
6.	8.8	Schindler’s List (1993)	255,086
7.	8.8	12 Angry Men (1957)	105,089
8.	8.8	One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)	196,504
9.	8.8	Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)	259,247
10.	8.8	The Dark Knight (2008)	421,872
11.	8.8	The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)	337,459
12.	8.8	Star Wars (1977)	302,787
13.	8.7	Casablanca (1942)	157,347
14.	8.7	Goodfellas (1990)	211,093
15.	8.7	Shichinin no samurai (1954)	89,838
16.	8.7	Fight Club (1999)	350,666
17.	8.7	Cidade de Deus (2002)	151,716
18.	8.7	Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)	228,597
19.	8.7	The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)	362,651
20.	8.7	Rear Window (1954)	110,216
21.	8.7	The Usual Suspects (1995)	249,585
22.	8.7	Psycho (1960)	132,749
23.	8.7	C’era una volta il West (1968)	67,176
24.	8.6	The Silence of the Lambs (1991)	226,936
25.	8.6	The Matrix (1999)	353,990
26.	8.6	Se7en (1995)	255,696
27.	8.6	Memento (2000)	250,088
28.	8.6	The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)	304,813
29.	8.6	It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)	95,550
30.	8.6	Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)	147,144
31.	8.6	Sunset Blvd. (1950)	50,044
32.	8.6	North by Northwest (1959)	86,811
33.	8.6	Citizen Kane (1941)	130,700
34.	8.6	Léon (1994)	182,526
35.	8.6	Apocalypse Now (1979)	162,112
36.	8.5	American Beauty (1999)	273,638
37.	8.5	American History X (1998)	205,998
38.	8.5	Forrest Gump (1994)	275,113
39.	8.5	Taxi Driver (1976)	143,086
40.	8.5	Vertigo (1958)	85,014
41.	8.5	Lawrence of Arabia (1962)	74,539
42.	8.5	Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)	219,319
43.	8.5	Avatar (2009)	174,853
44.	8.5	Le fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain (2001)	166,826
45.	8.5	WALL·E (2008)	161,109
46.	8.5	Alien (1979)	167,257
47.	8.5	Saving Private Ryan (1998)	251,949
48.	8.5	A Clockwork Orange (1971)	179,759
49.	8.5	The Shining (1980)	163,719
50.	8.4	Paths of Glory (1957)	41,309
51.	8.4	The Departed (2006)	239,957
52.	8.4	To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)	77,258
53.	8.4	The Pianist (2002)	121,991
54.	8.4	Aliens (1986)	158,649
55.	8.4	Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi (2001)	91,662
56.	8.4	Das Leben der Anderen (2006)	66,558
57.	8.4	M (1931)	36,680
58.	8.4	Double Indemnity (1944)	34,139
59.	8.4	Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)	202,717
60.	8.4	Chinatown (1974)	72,907
61.	8.4	Requiem for a Dream (2000)	170,189
62.	8.4	The Third Man (1949)	47,619
63.	8.4	L.A. Confidential (1997)	155,400
64.	8.4	Reservoir Dogs (1992)	197,451
65.	8.4	Das Boot (1981)	65,996
66.	8.4	The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)	30,709
67.	8.4	Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)	146,348
68.	8.4	El laberinto del fauno (2006)	139,181
69.	8.4	City Lights (1931)	24,727
70.	8.4	Inglourious Basterds (2009)	132,819
71.	8.4	The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)	55,044
72.	8.4	Up (2009)	78,576
73.	8.3	Raging Bull (1980)	83,272
74.	8.3	The Prestige (2006)	183,406
75.	8.3	Singin’ in the Rain (1952)	51,541
76.	8.3	2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)	150,025
77.	8.3	La vita è bella (1997)	99,506
78.	8.3	Back to the Future (1985)	185,485
79.	8.3	Der Untergang (2004)	75,175
80.	8.3	Some Like It Hot (1959)	62,470
81.	8.3	Modern Times (1936)	32,560
82.	8.3	The Maltese Falcon (1941)	48,269
83.	8.3	Amadeus (1984)	90,290
84.	8.3	Gran Torino (2008)	107,256
85.	8.3	Full Metal Jacket (1987)	140,026
86.	8.3	Rashômon (1950)	35,795
87.	8.3	Slumdog Millionaire (2008)	155,921
88.	8.3	Nuovo cinema Paradiso (1988)	41,515
89.	8.3	Braveheart (1995)	224,402
90.	8.3	Once Upon a Time in America (1984)	66,289
91.	8.3	All About Eve (1950)	32,680
92.	8.3	The Elephant Man (1980)	53,496
93.	8.3	Sin City (2005)	237,454
94.	8.3	The Green Mile (1999)	181,926
95.	8.3	Metropolis (1927)	35,960
96.	8.3	Rebecca (1940)	32,829
97.	8.3	The Great Dictator (1940)	33,793
98.	8.3	The Apartment (1960)	33,479
99.	8.3	The Sting (1973)	61,223
100.	8.3	Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)	160,985
101.	8.3	The Great Escape (1963)	57,580
102.	8.3	Gladiator (2000)	257,462
103.	8.3	Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983)	198,085
104.	8.3	Ladri di biciclette (1948)	24,808
105.	8.3	Batman Begins (2005)	250,463
106.	8.3	Unforgiven (1992)	90,444
107.	8.3	Jaws (1975)	128,302
108.	8.2	District 9 (2009)	117,229
109.	8.2	Blade Runner (1982)	174,226
110.	8.2	Hotel Rwanda (2004)	84,549
111.	8.2	Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)	31,085
112.	8.2	No Country for Old Men (2007)	181,483
113.	8.2	Die Hard (1988)	168,409
114.	8.2	On the Waterfront (1954)	38,155
115.	8.2	Touch of Evil (1958)	30,348
116.	8.2	Oldboy (2003)	87,189
117.	8.2	Det sjunde inseglet (1957)	33,855
118.	8.2	Fargo (1996)	154,894
119.	8.2	Mononoke-hime (1997)	60,336
120.	8.2	The Wizard of Oz (1939)	96,401
121.	8.2	Per qualche dollaro in più (1965)	39,097
122.	8.2	Strangers on a Train (1951)	31,476
123.	8.2	Heat (1995)	134,213
124.	8.2	Donnie Darko (2001)	195,001
125.	8.2	Cool Hand Luke (1967)	42,042
126.	8.2	High Noon (1952)	31,823
127.	8.2	The Wrestler (2008)	80,114
128.	8.2	Notorious (1946)	29,101
129.	8.2	There Will Be Blood (2007)	119,562
130.	8.2	The Manchurian Candidate (1962)	32,748
131.	8.2	The Sixth Sense (1999)	223,230
132.	8.2	Annie Hall (1977)	60,640
133.	8.2	The Deer Hunter (1978)	81,890
134.	8.2	Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)	214,425
135.	8.1	Platoon (1986)	101,078
136.	8.1	Snatch. (2000)	158,968
137.	8.1	The General (1926)	18,289
138.	8.1	Ben-Hur (1959)	54,351
139.	8.1	The Big Sleep (1946)	26,975
140.	8.1	Into the Wild (2007)	86,284
141.	8.1	The Big Lebowski (1998)	163,197
142.	8.1	Million Dollar Baby (2004)	128,866
143.	8.1	Yojimbo (1961)	26,800
144.	8.1	Ran (1985)	32,051
145.	8.1	It Happened One Night (1934)	23,057
146.	8.1	The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)	132,805
147.	8.1	Star Trek (2009)	115,430
148.	8.1	Life of Brian (1979)	87,403
149.	8.1	The Lion King (1994)	123,189
150.	8.1	Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)	53,559
151.	8.1	Smultronstället (1957)	19,380
152.	8.1	Finding Nemo (2003)	151,063
153.	8.1	Witness for the Prosecution (1957)	16,409
154.	8.1	Trainspotting (1996)	140,044
155.	8.1	Stand by Me (1986)	83,628
156.	8.1	The Graduate (1967)	72,185
157.	8.1	Gone with the Wind (1939)	73,264
158.	8.1	Toy Story (1995)	133,357
159.	8.1	The Terminator (1984)	166,296
160.	8.1	Groundhog Day (1993)	124,700
161.	8.1	Scarface (1983)	139,776
162.	8.1	Ratatouille (2007)	119,717
163.	8.1	Amores perros (2000)	56,414
164.	8.1	The Thing (1982)	71,677
165.	8.1	Dog Day Afternoon (1975)	54,685
166.	8.1	Gandhi (1982)	46,832
167.	8.1	V for Vendetta (2005)	205,241
168.	8.1	8½ (1963)	26,808
169.	8.1	The Grapes of Wrath (1940)	21,680
170.	8.1	The Gold Rush (1925)	19,130
171.	8.1	Twelve Monkeys (1995)	157,617
172.	8.1	Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)	115,679
173.	8.1	Le salaire de la peur (1953)	12,829
174.	8.1	Les diaboliques (1955)	13,068
175.	8.1	The Night of the Hunter (1955)	23,622
176.	8.1	The Princess Bride (1987)	117,674
177.	8.1	The Incredibles (2004)	146,659
178.	8.1	Casino (1995)	99,565
179.	8.0	Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)	12,783
180.	8.0	The Killing (1956)	22,726
181.	8.0	Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)	11,977
182.	8.0	The Wild Bunch (1969)	28,834
183.	8.0	Children of Men (2006)	144,855
184.	8.0	Hotaru no haka (1988)	31,133
185.	8.0	In Bruges (2008)	85,375
186.	8.0	The Exorcist (1973)	95,250
187.	8.0	Le notti di Cabiria (1957)	9,936
188.	8.0	The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)	16,002
189.	8.0	The Hustler (1961)	23,593
190.	8.0	Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927)	10,239
191.	8.0	The Kid (1921)	12,352
192.	8.0	Harvey (1950)	21,669
193.	8.0	Ed Wood (1994)	68,632
194.	8.0	Good Will Hunting (1997)	138,246
195.	8.0	King Kong (1933)	35,938
196.	8.0	Rosemary’s Baby (1968)	46,115
197.	8.0	Dial M for Murder (1954)	27,059
198.	8.0	Big Fish (2003)	130,105
199.	8.0	Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)	51,233
200.	8.0	Låt den rätte komma in (2008)	45,636
201.	8.0	Shadow of a Doubt (1943)	19,646
202.	8.0	Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)	168,520
203.	8.0	A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)	31,177
204.	8.0	Sleuth (1972)	15,897
205.	8.0	The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)	120,428
206.	8.0	Stalag 17 (1953)	19,246
207.	8.0	Brief Encounter (1945)	12,218
208.	8.0	Crash (2004/I)	159,382
209.	8.0	Magnolia (1999)	114,452
210.	8.0	Le scaphandre et le papillon (2007)	27,227
211.	8.0	Duck Soup (1933)	24,624
212.	8.0	The African Queen (1951)	31,603
213.	8.0	Rocky (1976)	87,469
214.	8.0	Mystic River (2003)	108,848
215.	8.0	Bonnie and Clyde (1967)	38,052
216.	8.0	Rope (1948)	28,649
217.	8.0	Network (1976)	30,554
218.	8.0	Manhattan (1979)	35,680
219.	8.0	Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)	215,848
220.	8.0	La strada (1954)	16,228
221.	8.0	Wo hu cang long (2000)	103,002
222.	8.0	Little Miss Sunshine (2006)	139,066
223.	8.0	Changeling (2008)	55,072
224.	8.0	Patton (1970)	36,932
225.	8.0	The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)	21,549
226.	8.0	The Conversation (1974)	30,268
227.	8.0	Planet of the Apes (1968)	53,171
228.	8.0	La battaglia di Algeri (1966)	12,435
229.	8.0	The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)	71,827
230.	8.0	(500) Days of Summer (2009)	47,793
231.	7.9	All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)	19,715
232.	7.9	Shaun of the Dead (2004)	120,184
233.	7.9	Glory (1989)	53,668
234.	7.9	Barry Lyndon (1975)	36,702
235.	7.9	Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)	17,788
236.	7.9	Mulholland Dr. (2001)	93,165
237.	7.9	The Lady Vanishes (1938)	16,544
238.	7.9	The Philadelphia Story (1940)	25,991
239.	7.9	Tonari no Totoro (1988)	26,309
240.	7.9	Spartacus (1960)	46,875
241.	7.9	Anatomy of a Murder (1959)	15,093
242.	7.9	Monsters, Inc. (2001)	102,865
243.	7.9	Les quatre cents coups (1959)	21,588
244.	7.9	Toy Story 2 (1999)	103,748
245.	7.9	His Girl Friday (1940)	19,322
246.	7.9	Brazil (1985)	72,229
247.	7.9	Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)	27,857
248.	7.9	Mou gaan dou (2002)	32,687
249.	7.9	The Truman Show (1998)	140,106
250.	7.9	The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)	32,899

The formula for calculating the Top Rated 250 Titles gives a true Bayesian estimate:

 

 weighted rating (WR) = (v ÷ (v+m)) × R + (m ÷ (v+m)) × C

where:

• R = average for the movie (mean) = (Rating)
• v = number of votes for the movie = (votes)
• m = minimum votes required to be listed in the Top 250 (currently 3000)
• C = the mean vote across the whole report (currently 6.9)

for the Top 250, only votes from regular voters are considered.

Persepolis

I’ve never understood the frequent aversion to animated films. Persepolis is the perfect example of the effectiveness of animation and it’s ability to communicate the gamut of emotions, bringing all that is both tragic and humerous from it’s humanity. It’s sincerity is no doubt partly down to the fact that Persepolis is an autobiography – director Marjane Satrapi looks back at her childhood in revolution-era Iran, everything she has lost to conflict and time, and how her country has suffered. Her light touch wipes away any preaching that may endanger lesser films, the stark black and white visuals convey more texture and detail than can be imagined, and it features some of the best sound design I’ve seen in an animated film. All these elements combine to create a feature that deserves the accolades it’s won – if you didn’t think animation could do the horror of war and the poignancy of growing up justice, this film is vital.

The Fall

The Fall embodies everything that is good and bad about auteurism – director Tarsem (The Cell) is best known for his astonishing visuals, and here he doesn’t disappoint. But as director, producer and co-writer, one wishes he’d had someone around to once in a while, just say “no”. This doesn’t refer to the film’s excess, which is stunning and motivated, but rather to a confusion of direction which has us swaying from epic adventure, to serious drama, to juvenile humour. This really is a pity, as at the core is a great tale – in 1920s Los Angeles, young Alexandria (Catinca Untaru) is confined to a hospital with a broken arm. She befriends Roy (Lee Pace), a paralysed stuntman who spins her a story of 5 bandits seeking revenge in an exotic new world. Pace is sincerely moving, and Untaru is remarkable, but the ridiculousness of the story is often so laughable (in all the wrong ways) that it’s surprising Alexandria, even with her youthful innocence, isn’t rolling around between the beds. The Fall is ultimately worth a watch for its glorious merging of global cultures and Untaru’s charisma. One just wishes that, just once, one could have one’s techicoloured, cinematic cake, and eat it.

Edge of Darkness

The BBC is most loved and known for it’s period dramas, adaptations and comedies, and though once in a while a really gripping thriller will join the large and impressive catalogue, seldom is it anything with nearly the same striking originality and depth as Edge of Darkness. The series originated during the bitterness and paranoia of Thatcher’s 1980s Britain, where writer Troy Kennedy Martin was railing against broadcasters lack of any meaningful programming. But, as with all great works of inspiration, he ignored the status quo and began work on the story of Rob Craven (Bob Peck), a police inspector who sets out on a terrifying and bizarre journey to discover the reason behind his daughter’s murder.  Struggling with his grief, Craven is pulled into the corrupt and deceit riddled world of nuclear commerce, alone except for the mercurial company of eccentric CIA operative Darius Jedburgh (Joe Don Baker). The pace of the series is the only thing that dates it, though it does pick up significantly, even to a nail-biting degree of tension. Peck and Baker’s superlative, cinema- standard performances drive the story to it’s profound conclusion which, unlike most sugar-coated  television, will haunt you for days afterward. Throw in a guitar-driven score by Eric Clapton, some action-spelunking and of course the still relevent eco-politics and you’ve got a series that deserves the cult status it enjoys.

North And South

Starring: Daniela Denby-Ashe, Richard Armitage, Sinead Cusack, Lesley Manville, Tim Pigott-Smith, Pauline Quirke, Brendan Coyle.

Directed by: Brian Percival.

North and South is a powerful adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell’s feisty and passionate love story, set across the social divides in the changing world of Victorian industrial society. Margaret Hale is one of literature’s most original heroines: a southerner from a country vicarage newly settled in the industrial northern town of Milton. In the shock of her move, she misjudges charismatic cotton mill-owner John Thornton, whose strength of purpose and passion are a match for her own pride and wilfulness. When the workers of Milton call a strike, Margaret takes their side, and the two are brought into deeper conflict. As events spiral out of control, Margaret – to her surprise – begins to fall in love with Thornton…

Cranford

This witty and poignant story, starring the Oscar-winning Judi Dench, follows the small absurdities and major tragedies in the lives of the people of Cranford, as they are besieged by forces that they can’t withstand. Cranford in the 1840s is a small northern English town on the cusp of change. Things are on the move. The railway is pushing its way relentlessly towards the town from Manchester, bringing fears of migrant workers and the breakdown of law and order. The arrival of a handsome new doctor from London causes a stir, not only because of his revolutionary medical methods, but also because of the effect he has on many of the ladies’ hearts in the town. Three Gaskell novels have been woven together to create this uniquely rich and comic drama about ordinary human lives during one extraordinary year.

A witty and poignant story, starring the Oscar-winning Judi Dench

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Pusher I

Drug dealings, ultra-violence, prostitution. Yes, it seems the sex, drugs and rock n roll side of gangster movies is not relegated to the grimy, but familiar streets of New York or London. In Pusher, the drama plays out in Copenhagen, with hard drug-dealer Frank as our reprehensible but ultimately likable hero. The story is well-worn: Frank’s deal goes wrong and suddenly he owes a lot of money to some very scary Serbs, with heart-felt loves for cuisine. But director Nicolas Winding Refn’s frank, wry confidence and no-frills handheld sets this one apart and, along with the rockingly excellent soundtrack, gives this low-budget debut it’s cinematic quality. Denmark loved it, as did my 17 year old sister - and, if you find you do too, you have two more films in the trilogy to look forward to.