Philadelphia (1993 Jonathan Demme)

Tom Hanks won Oscar and writer Ron Nyswaner was nominated but it was a stiff competition year (Schindler's List). Unfairly overlooked was Demme, who's direction is outstanding - almost all the key dialogue scenes are shot centred and almost to camera, like this:

The effect is very intense. He also uses other good tricks, like the courtroom inquisition in which Mary Steenburgen (proving how good she is in tough role) is filmed at a tilt, or the Puccini scene from overhead, in which the light changes dramatically:

(Tak Fujimoto is on camera.) Denzel Washington is also good as a conflicted lawyer, Jason Robards as Hanks' former mentor, Robert Ridgely (another partner) and Joanne Woodward.

After a long period of semi-retirement Demme is back now directing new features. Good, because all his films are quirky and distinctive. Maybe we should try his Manchurian Candidate and revive Married to the Mob?

I wonder whether the ending, with the home movie clips, was just a little too much?