Philadelphia (1993 Jonathan Demme)

Written with edge by Ron Nyswaner, and directed with a very intimate intensity by Demme, who keeps putting the actors so they're almost looking straight into the lens at you.

Hanks took the plunge - he went basically from comedies like Sleepless in Seattle straight into this... and won the Oscar. He's great. With Denzel Washington, Antonio Banderas, Jason Robards, Joanne Woodward, Mary Steenburgen, Bradley Whitford and Demme mentor Roger Corman.

Shot by Tak Fujimoto and edited by Craig McKay.

Loved the bit where Denzel tweaks the baby's nose.

The aria is 'La Mamma Morta' from 'Andrea Chenier' by Umbero Giordano, sung by Maria Callas.

Hanks in court kept reminding us of Niles in Frasier.