CAST
ROBERT DE NIRO, PETER BOYLE, ALBERT BROOKS, JODIE FOSTER, HARVEY KEITEL, CYBIL SHEPHERD

DIRECTED BY
MARTIN SCORSESE

A raw, gritty tale of loneliness and despair set against the seedy streets of New York City, Taxi Driver continues to live up to its reputation as an extremely influential piece of cinema.

Robert De Niro stars as Travis Bickle, a Vietnam veteran who takes a job as a New York taxi driver. As his attempts to become a part of society back fire, Travis becomes even more isolated as he decides to take out the "scum of the earth" that fill the city once and for all, his befriending a child prostitute (Jodie Foster) taking him over the edge.

De Niro is perfectly cast as Travis, creating from the ground up a frightening study of quiet intensity and murderous rage, the demons inside his head never letting go. Director Martin Scorsese uses the camera to illustrate Travis' point of view, giving insight into the madness that has gripped him as he slowly turns into an angel of death.

CAST
TOM HANKS, EDWARD BURNS, MATT DAMON, VIN DIESEL, TOM SIZEMORE

DIRECTED BY
STEVEN SPIELBERG

Has there ever been a more powerful opening 20 min in film? Before Steven Spielberg unleashed hell on earth in his brutal depiction of the D-Day Invasion, the war genre in general was not a big draw, yet Saving Private Ryan brought it back in unrelenting fashion.

Its story of a group of US soldiers (led by Tom Hanks) sent on a mission to retrieve a paratrooper (Matt Damon) whose brothers have been killed in combat is one where incredible action filmmaking sits comfortably alongside moving dramatic moments.

World War II is a subject near and dear to Speilberg’s heart and Saving Private Ryan was his tribute to the Greatest Generation. Since its release, brutal realism in the war genre has become a must. But few match the power seen here.

CAST
SEAN ASTIN, ORLANDO BLOOM, IAN McKELLEN, VIGGO MORTENSEN, MIRANDO OTTO, ANDY SERKIS, LIV TYLER, HUGO WEAVING, ELIJAH WOOD

DIRECTED BY
PETER JACKSON

The second entry in The Lord of the Rings trilogy takes reign as the best.

With the pleasantries of …The Fellowship of the Ring out of the way, director Peter Jackson throws us into the thick of a battle between good and evil, that culminates in a masterfully choreographed and captured battle sequence.

The introduction of one of the best VFX creations to grace the screen in the form of decrepit, two faced Gollum (played brilliantly by Andy Serkis) ups the stakes in an adventure where the fate of the world lies in the balance.   

CAST
AL PACINO, JOHN CAZALE, CHARLES DURNING, CHRIS SARANDON, PENELOPE ALLEN

DIRECTED BY
SIDNEY LUMET

Sidney Lumet’s second and final collaboration with Al Pacino, Dog Day Afternoon proved that reality is indeed stranger than fiction.

Based on a true life incident, the film starred Pacino as bumbling bank robber Sonny Wortzik, who became a celebrity when his stick up of a bank quickly became a hostage situation, drawing the ire of every cop in New York City and the attention of a salivating media.

As Sonny, Pacino delivers one of his best turns that is equally funny and tragic. Meanwhile Lumet effectively mixes dark comedy with crippling tension, to go along with a commentary about celebrity in the TV age.  

CAST
JAKE GYLLANHAAL, MARK RUFFALO, ROBERT DOWNEY JR., ELIAS KOSTEAS, ANTHONY EDWARDS

DIRECTED BY
DAVID FINCHER

A sprawling, intelligent and engrossing mystery that is as horrifying as it is addictive, Zodiac displays director David Fincher at his technically sound, storytelling best in his gripping portrait of the time when a madman had the San Francisco Bay Area gripped in fear.

As well as being a top rate thriller, Zodiac is also a tale of obsession told through the investigations of a detective (Mark Ruffalo), a journalist (Robert Downey Jr), and a cartoonist (Jake Gyllenhaal), who oddly enough came closer than anyone in solving the mystery.

Fincher’s methodical approach and knack for the visual left no stone unturned in his recreation of these events and the environment they were set in, resulting in an historical thriller with little equal.

CAST
KEANU REEVES, LAURENCE FISHBURNE, GLORIA FOSTER, CARRIE-ANNE MOSS, JOE PANTOLIANO, HUGO WEAVING

DIRECTED BY
LANA WACHOWSKI, LILLY WACHOWSKI

A ground breaking achievement in the sc-fi and action genres, The Matrix still stands as an innovative and enthralling spectacle unlike any other.

Keanu Reeves (in perhaps his best role) stars as Neo, a computer hacker who is believed to be the saviour of a world hiding behind an illusion. Removed from the facade of the world as we know it, Neo joins an army of rebels in a revolt against the machines who have enslaved humanity.

Directors Lana and Lilly Wachowski deliver a film that is as unique as it is mind blowing entertaining, as a blend of genres and state of the art filmmaking combine to make the greatest action film of all time.

CAST
CHIWETEL ELJIOFOR, BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH, PAUL DANO, MICHAEL FASSBENDER, LUPITA NYONG’O, SARAH PAULSON, BRAD PITT

DIRECTED BY
STEVE McQUEEN

Much like Schindler’s List before it, 12 years a Slave is not only a powerful reminder of what was once and should never be again, but it is also a masterfully made film, a perfect blend of the artistic, the technical and the heartfelt.

It is also filled with remarkable performances, especially by Chiwetel Eljiofor who delivers a mournful, soul shattering turn that hauntingly exemplifies the tragedy and heroism of Solomon Northup.

In only his third feature film, Steve McQueen has created a movie that transcends its medium with concise voice, concise vision and concise message. As powerful and illuminating a film as they come, 12 Years a Slave should be seen and embraced by all.

FEATURING
ARYTON SENNA, ALAIN PROST

DIRECTED BY
ASIF KAPADIA

What makes a man a legend? That is the basic theme of Senna, an engrossing look into the life and exploits of Formula One driver Aryton Senna whose passion for his sport and obsession to win made him a highly controversial and respected figure in motor racing.

The biggest surprise to Senna’s legacy was his spirituality, with the Brazilian believing the hand of God led the way during his races. This led many to labelling him arrogant and dangerous, especially arch rival Alain Prost.

Yet such are the complexities of this man whose presence is felt throughout Senna, with director Asif Kapadia wading through mountains of footage to create a hypnotic film about obsession, passion and arrogance in action, presenting just what it takes to become a God amongst men.

CAST 
HARVEY KEITEL, TIM ROTH, MICHAEL MADSEN, CHRIS PENN, STEVE BUSCEMI, LAURENCE TIERNEY

DIRECTED BY 
QUENTIN TARANTINO

A blood soaked modern crime classic, Quentin Tarantino’s ground breaking Reservoir Dogs features a cracking script delivered by an exceptional cast, resurrecting the forever underrated Harvey Keitel, and introducing the world to the likes of Tim Roth, Steve Buscemi, and Michael Madsen.

The plot concerns six strangers brought together by crime boss Joe Cabot (Lawrence Tierney) to rob a jewellery store of its diamonds. After the robbery goes horribly wrong, confusion reigns at the rendezvous point where they believe there is a rat within their ranks.

Tarantino is a filmmaker who wears his influences on his sleeve (Martin Scorsese, Sam Peckinpah) yet he also brings his own hyperkinetic energy to the proceedings. This is especially felt though his writing which is sharp, funny, and rather brilliantly threads in pop references galore. Also, a groovy soundtrack adequately heightens key scenes while providing toe tapping enjoyment.

CAST
GUY PEARCE, MARK BOONE JUNIOR, RUSS FEGA, CARRIE-ANNE MOSS, JOE PANTOLIANO, STEPHEN TOBOLOWSKY

DIRECTED BY
CHRISTOPHER NOLAN

Christopher Nolan’s second feature still remains his best, with Memento a gripping, intelligent and innovative mystery thriller.

Guy Pearce stars as Leonard, a man seeking revenge for the rape and murder of his wife. Leonard also has no short-term memory, relying on the tattoo’s adorned all over his body to guide his investigation into who made his life a living hell.

As much a tale of obsessions as it is a mystery with more twists and turns than a rollercoaster, Nolan successfully navigates his audience (without showing to much of his hand) in piecing together this most complex and thrilling of movies.