Breaking the Waves (1996 Lars Von Trier)

Having a hard job summarising feelings for this film. Emily Watson's performance is extraordinary. It's a sneaky movie really, because her (mentally unstable?) actions do ultimately save him (ironically he's getting much better). Clearly a lot to do with faith (the church, her talking to god), with playful (miracle) ending of bells suddenly ringing. Robby Muller's landscape vistas for chapter headings memorable. (Strangely on Film4 only in 16x9, though it's 2.35:1).

The Yearling (1946 Clarence Brown)

Looks great: the scene where everyone's around G. Peck's bed looks especially Old Mastery. Claude Jarman Jr's great as the human yearling, but when the other kid 'Fodderwing' comes on with his faraway look, you want to slap him. Such is the technical excellence of the film you're not sure sometimes whether  you're looking at a painting / studio or sky / exterior. Sympathy for the actual deer has definitely reduced over time!

Casino Royale (2006 Martin Campbell)

Determined to be different - pre-credits in black and white. Sniper / blood image at end. Graphic design titles (Martin Kleinman). Actually follows (some of) Fleming's plot. 'Bond, James Bond' at end.

Craig excellent (cool but vulnerable). Villain draws on tradition of European actors, Mads Mikkelsen more credible than other villains, but weedy. Didn't even recognise Giancarlo Giannini as Mathis. Paul Haggis had a hand in better-than-usual script. No campy humour, minimum gadgets. Great torture scene. Phil Méheux has come a long way since Out (remembered this after ?30 years). Arnold's score really a John Barry copy. Absolutely amazing standard-setting stunt / chase early scene free-running. It's long, but there's no 'big' set piece final shoot out: a definite plus.

Ashes and Diamonds (1958 Andrzej Wajda)

Though not as immediate as Kanal, and more complex, contains several moments of classic film: the couple in bed, all close-ups and darkness; the murder and fireworks; death on rubble; the chapel.

Kanal (1957 Andrzej Wajda)

Wow. Becomes surreal indeed in the dark, dark sewers, where Vladek Sheybal goes mad (what happens to him?) and almost everyone is caught. Distinctive soundtrack, the darkest photography, a satisfyingly downbeat ending. Only Daisy, we suspect, might be a survivor. Funnily enough, no mention  of the smell (except at the beginning, when she's been walking the sewers).

Die Büchse der Pandora / Pandora's Box (1928, rel 1929, Georg Wilhelm Pabst)

The lack of establishing and tracking shots can make the geography of silent films strange. (And why is silent movie music so goddam weird?) Nevertheless the story of free-spirited Lulu's descent into hell is still absorbing stuff, although claims about film's sexuality are overrated. Memorable. Who's the older guy in her apartment in beginning? 'It's funny how you can get booze on credit, but not bread.' Lulu sold to the Egyptian for £300. The sailor whose clothes she borrows. The desperation of the besotted countess. And finally, the survival of the old schemer (who Lulu delightfully refers to a 'My first ... patron') who manages to wheedle his Christmas pudding.

Watch the featurette.

Louise Brooks, Fritz Kortner, Francis Lederer

Ph. Günther Krampf

Lancelot du Lac (1974 Robert Bresson)

Did the Pythons see this before Holy Grail?* Despite the opening tangent (Lancelot even slightly resembles Michael Palin), this is a typically sparse rendition that manages to be both elliptical and dramatic. Strangely mesmerising in details (the knights' colours, horses).

*A long time after writing this, Michael Palin confirmed that they had!

Two-Lane Blacktop (1971 Monte Hellman)

James Taylor, Dennis (Beach Boys) Wilson, Warren Oates.

With its non-professional, minimalist performances, script, and lack of lighting and incidental music, this could be an early work of Dogme, directed by Bresson. Warren Oates has funny lines as he lies to a succession of hitchers.

Laurie Bird was living with Art Garfunkel when she killed herself eight years later. According to 'Fragile Geometry' (Joseph Lanza), Garfunkel had a fatal premonition of her while filming Bad Timing. He was about to return to the US for more filming when he heard she'd killed herself, the same way as Milena attempts it in the film.

They sure knew how to do film endings in the seventies.

Bully (2001 Larry Clark)

Brad Renfro, Rachel Miner

Typically raw and compelling take on true story by Vietnam vet/photographer Clark, whose Ken Park is so controversial it's only available from the Netherlands. Good music compilation.

Oldboy (2003 Chan-Wook Park)

South Korean.

Fabulous performance by Min-Sik Choi.

Mix of Shakespearean tragedy and ultra-violent comic book is a bit silly really, but truly memorable, fascinating and nasty.

The Anniversary Party (2001 Alan Cumming, Jennifer Jason Leigh)

.. who as well as directing, wrote and starred in it, with Kevin Kline, John C Reilly, Parker Posey, Phoebe Cates.

Interesting, apparently.

Lantana (2001 Ray Lawrence)

 With Anthony LaPaglia, Rachel Blake, Kerry Armstrong.

DP Mandy Walker.

Excellent. Good music.

Anger Management (2003 Peter Segal)

Jack Nicholson, Adam Sandler, Marisa Tomei, Luis Guzman.

Got funnier as it went along, apparently.

Bringing Down the House (2003 Adam Shankman)

Steve Martin, Queen Latifah, Eugene Levy, Joan Plowright.

Good fun. (Can't remember a thing about it now.)

Edited by Jerry Greenberg

The One and Only (2002 Simon Cellan Jones)

Newcastle kitchen builder with cute African child wins pregnant girl. OK.

Justine Waddell, Richard Roxburgh, Jonathan Cake, Patsy Kensit.

DP Remi Adefarasin, composer Gabriel Yared, editor Pia di Ciaula.

I didn't realise at the time it's a remake of Susanne Bier's original Den Eneste Ene (1999) with Borgen's Sidse Babett Knudsen and The Killing's Sofie Gråbøl (not, unfortunately, subtitled for English).

Hable Con Ella / Talk To Her (2002 Pedro Almodóvar & scr)

 Javier Camara good in the lead, good story. Screenplay won Oscar.

Eyes Wide Shut (1999 Stanley Kubrick)

At the cinema in High Wycombe.

The Aristocats (1970 Wolfgang Reitherman)

Is this film about single parent families? I dunno. Nicely animated but dramatically limp. Guest appearance by Coo-Coo Pigeon Sisters.

The Anniversary (1968 Roy Ward Baker)

Bette Davis, Jack Hedley, James Cossins. Hammer.

Flashes of humour enliven artificial, stagey presentation of despotic mother's attempts to ruin lives of three sons. Supporting acting dodgy.

Black Rainbow (1989 Mike Hodges & scr)

Rosanna Arquette, Jason Robards, Tom Hulce.

Despite cast and performers*, we thought this supernatural thriller was awful. But then, we were somewhat "superannuated". No wonder Goldcrest flopped.

*Ed. A fine distinction, to be sure, to be sure.