In 1956 audiences flocked to The Searchers precisely because it was a John Wayne western, and lapped up its mix of Injun-fightin' action, rough comic knockabout and intense, emotional storyline. Seen now, it is all that and much, much more.

Full of restraint, from both its director and leads, this is a quiet gem with the power to move.

The blend of Schrader's script, Scorsese's direction and De Niro's performance is both riveting and unnerving. A film that will stay with you forever.

Certainly difficult to define, this period piece messes with genres, power relationships and your head.

A dazzling spy thriller that’s still amazing.

Shimmering with awards potential, Leigh’s glorious picture is a hilarious, confounding, wholehearted and dazzlingly performed portrait of an artist as an ageing man.

Of course, Scorsese delivers a stunning, gangster flick but The Irishman is so much more, a melancholy eulogy for growing old and losing your humanity. Savour every one of its 209 minutes, you won’t regret it.

Avant-garde triumph revolving around the seemingly mundane life of a widow in Brussels.

A devastating heart-stab of a movie, this certainly isn't a family film. It is, however, a beautifully constructed, animated drama.

A typical older male mentore story...told with sensitivity and perceptiveness.

Certainly one of Hitchcock’s most satisfying thrillers, mostly thanks to Wright and Cotten’s believable relationship.

Inside Out is audacious as it is silly, as funny as it is imaginative.

Brilliantly observed characters are becoming second nature to Payne and Taylor, and the performances here are uniformly terrific. This is wonderful, original stuff.

Judy Garland's most famous role and her best performance make for entertaining viewing.

Subtle, savage and insightful but with such a big heart it is as moving as it is informative about the value of making art that moves.

Delightful comedy romance with a clutch of note-perfect performances.

Flawed but staggering cinema, the unforgettable Apocalypse Now setpieces are extraordinary.

Peck's tired resignation, and the authentic atmosphere and building tension make for a compelling retribution drama of the West.

A moving look behind the curtain of a rarely-explored community.

Whether rediscovering La France périphérique or hurtling through the Louvre, Varda and JR make a surprisingly empathetic team and their collaboration is as provocative as it is poetic and poignant.

Rarely has a film bared itself to simple majesty...it feels epic yet runs barely over and hour and a half. [22 Oct. 1997]

A transcendent debut for South Korean-Canadian filmmaker Celine Song, this romantic drama is a masterclass in slow, simmering storytelling. It will stay with you, maybe even into your next life.

Orson Welles second tribute to Shakespeare is an often-ignored masterpiece. Check it out.

Those who have walked beside these heroes every step of the way on such a long journey deserve the emotional pay-off as well as the action peaks, and they will be genuinely touched as the final credits roll.

Achingly evocative of a time when Hollywood had the courage to invest in complex and morally ambiguous films and an indisputable masterpiece of American cinema. [26 May 2003]

A film that’s at once light, joyful and emotionally devastating, with deeply affecting central performances. A full-hearted romantic masterpiece.

Ramirez's outstanding performance and Assayes' superb skill in storytelling make this a mini-series not to be missed.

Marriage Story manages to be one of this year’s best thrillers, comedies and romcoms all at once. A tender, taut gem of a film that will make you reconsider love and loss.