CAST
JEFF BRIDGES, STEVE BUSCEMI, JOHN GOODMAN, PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN, JULIANNE MOORE, PETER STORMARE, JOHN TURTURRO

DIRECTED BY
JOEL COEN, ETHAN COEN

Featuring one of the great cinematic creations of the last 20 years, The Big Lebowski features the Coen Brothers at their witty, quirky best.

The film stars a hilarious, perfectly cast Jeff Bridges as Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski, an unemployed bowling loving stoner who gets caught up in a case of mistaken identity with a millionaire whose trophy wife is abducted.

On the case, The Dude must navigate the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles and reign in his volatile Vietnam veteran buddy Walter (John Goodman) in order to clear his name. Both Bridges and Goodman are a downright hoot in their respective roles, as the Coens brilliantly blend neo-noir elements with surreal imagery and stoner comedy conventions to make a potent, unique comedy.   

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

DIRECTED BY
PETER JACKSON

The final chapter in The Lord of the Rings trilogy is a suitably action packed epic that holds an equal amount of visual spectacle and emotional power.

Although featuring a mammoth running time, Peter Jackson’s tale of hobbits, dwarves, elves and heroic humans doing battle against forces of darkness is one of size, scope and an undeniable emotional strength that does justice to its previous two chapters.

CAST
CASEY AFFLECK, BRAD PITT, MARY LOUISE-PARKER, JEREMY RENNER, SAM ROCKWELL, PAUL SCHNEIDER, SAM SHEPARD

DIRECTED BY
ANDREW DOMINICK

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is an engrossing and hypnotic western that places a heavy emphasis on atmosphere, character and the culture of celebrity.

Set between the years of 1881-1882, the film stars Brad Pitt as the charismatic and dangerous Jesse James (Brad Pitt), and Casey Affleck as the cowardly Robert Ford, the youngest and weakest of the James gang who is constantly taunted and belittled by everyone including Jesse, who he considered his idol.

Both Pitt and Affleck deliver pitch perfect performances under the direction of Andrew Dominick, who created an extremely well-paced, absorbing film that transfixes and awes throughout its almost 3 hour long running time.

CAST
RIVER PHOENIX, WIL WHEATON, JOHN CUSACK, RICHARD DREYFUSS, COREY FELDMAN, JERRY O’CONNELL, KIEFER SUTHERLAND

DIRECTED BY
ROB REINER

A coming of age story of immense emotional strength and unforgettable adventure, Stand By Me is a timeless classic that can be enjoyed by generations of movie lovers.

Based on the short story by Stephen King, its story of four best friends (River Phoenix, Wil Wheaton, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O’Connell) who set out in search of a dead body is one that conjures strong feelings of joy, sadness and nostalgia.

CAST
BRUNO GANZ, CORINNA HARFOUCH, JULIANE KOHLER, ALEXANDRA MARIA LARA, ULRICH MATTHES

DIRECTED BY
OLIVER HIRSCHBIEGEL

That many will know this superb Oliver Hirschbiegel directed film through the popular series of YouTube parody videos is just unfair and unfortunate for such an astounding piece of cinema.  

Bruno Ganz portrayal of Adolf Hitler during the last days of WWII remains one of the most daring and powerful performances in recent memory, injecting humanity into a very real monster whose last grasp for power in a losing war saw him turn on his own men and label his people cowardly traitors. 

Ganz failed to receive Oscar love, as did Downfall itself in the Best Foreign Picture category, marking one of the worst Oscar snubs to one of the best war films ever made.

CAST
DAVID OYELOWO, CARMEN EJOGO, WENDELL PIERCE, GIOVANNI RIBISI, TIM ROTH, TOM WILKINSON, OPRAH WINFREY

DIRECTED BY
AVA DUVERNAY

Any filmmaker who decides to tackle a film about Martin Luther King will face insurmountable expectations, based on who the man was and the legacy he left behind. For Ava Devurnay it was a project which she tackled with skill, passion & an upmost responsibility, Selma presenting the Nobel Prize winning Christian activist and his crusade for racial equality, with power & truth.

Set during the civil-rights fight for the right to vote in the racial hotbed of Selma, Alabama, Duvernay's historical drama successfully transports viewers back to the time where racial segregation was at its ugliest. Yet from that darkness came a shining light in King's preach that God created all men equal.
Portraying that righteous, commanding power was British actor David Oyelowo, who quite simply became Martin Luther King, delivering a stunning, complete performance that mesmerises with its grace & gravitas.

A mighty achievement as both a film and socially relevant reminder of where we were and where we still are, Selma is not only a masterful movie, but a vitally important one.

CAST
ELLA COLTRANE, PARTRICIA ARQUETTE, ETHAN HAWKE, BRAD HAWKINS, LORELEI LINKLATER, MARCO PERELLA

DIRECTED BY
RICHARD LINKLATER

Who knew that during 12 prolific years when filmmaker Richard Linklater was creating films such as Before Sunrise, Me & Orson Welles & Bernie, that he was also hard at work filming and piecing together the movie of his career? Yet that is what he delivered with Boyhood, an ambitious and suitably epic chronicle of young Mason's (Ella Coltrone) journey from 6-year-old boy to 18-year-old young man.

Linklater's presentation that life is but a series of moments is beautifully realised and structurally impressive, not to mention excellently portrayed with both Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette's performances as Mason's divorced parents especially strong.

Most impressive is that Linklater has not merely created a film but a once in a lifetime viewing experience, as we watch human life grow, interact, love & learn with incredibly natural feel and profound effect.

CAST
ANTHONY HOPKINS, JOHN HURT, ANNE BANCROFT, JOHN GIELGUD, WENDY HILLER

DIRECTED BY
DAVID LYNCH

Doing away with the eerie weirdness that is part and parcel of many a David Lynch film, The Elephant Man instead focuses its gaze on the power of human dignity found on the inside of all men (and women) within a world of judgement.

John Hurt delivers a tender, sympathetic performance as John Merrick, a hideously deformed man rescued from a life of being a carnival freak show by Dr. Frederick Treves (Anthony Hopkins).

As a friendship grows between these men, we the audience are shown the true value of a person’s beauty and the destructive power of judgement.

CAST
RUSSELL CROWE, AL PACINO, CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER, DIANE VENORA, PHILIP BAKER HALL

DIRECTED BY
MICHAEL MANN

The Insider is one of those rare beasts that combines intelligence, heavy drama and thrills to make for an absorbing watch.

Based on true story of corporate whistle blower Jeffrey Wigand (Russell Crowe), his battle against big tobacco, and the 60 Minutes producer (Al Pacino) who faces opposition trying to get Wigand’s story on air, The Insider displays Michael Mann’s knack for stark thrills in this example of the shady relationship between the business and news worlds.

Both Crowe and Pacino (the two best actors of their respective generations) are in top form, Pacino especially good at using his patented ferocious intensity used to devastating effect, delivering a performance reminiscent of his early work, yet backed by a wisdom he could not muster during his formative years.

CAST
CLIVE OWEN, MICHAEL CAINE, CHIWETEL EJIOFOR, CHARLIE HUNNAM, DANNY HUSTON, JULIANNE MOORE

DIRECTED BY
ALFONSO CUARON

The stakes don’t get any higher than when the fate of mankind lies in the balance. That is what’s presented in Children of Men, an engrossing sci-fi thriller that envisions a world gone mad when faced with the reality of extinction.

Clive Owen stars as Theo, an everyman caught in an extreme situation when its left up to him to help a pregnant woman travel across a war ravaged Britain to find safety. Yet there are many who want to get their hands on this expected bub, with government officials and activists all salivating the benefits of possessing the first baby born in decades.

Directed with filmmaking wizardry by Alfonso Cuaron, Children of Men features a tense atmosphere punctuated by pitch perfect pacing, unapologetic political commentary, and strong religious overtones that elevate the sacredness of new life in a dying world.