***** 1950. Written for the screen and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. 14 nominations and 6 Academy awards. One of the rare American masterpieces awarded by the Film Academy. 58 years later, this movie still delivers.

***** 1981. Written and directed by Brian De Palma. A sound engineer tries to unravel a political conspiracy but nobody believes him. This lyrical thriller, which has become a cult movie, proves once again that Brian De Palma is a major director. Masterpiece.

***** 2001. Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel. Four German Film Academy awards. Scientists hire twelve volunteers and lock them up in the basement of the building. Six men will play the prisoners and the others the wardens. Soon, the experiment becomes out of control. Masterpiece.

***** 2006. Co-written and directed by Zack Snyder. The Battle of Thermopylae (480 B.C.) between the Spartans and the Persians told to the younger generations. An undeniable accomplishment. Masterpiece.

****1/2 1949. Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. NYC in the early 30's. When the government starts to examine how Gino Moretti's familial bank really works, the old Italian born godfather must face three of his four sons who wants to forsake him. First-rate film noir.

**** 1947. Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. Nomination for the 1948 Film Academy award in the Best Cinematography category. A young widow falls in love with the ghost of a seaman. This romantic and sentimental film of the fantasy genre is, like GUYS AND DOLLS, a curiosity in Mankiewicz's filmography.

**** 1992. Directed by Frank Oz. A mythomaniac woman revolutionizes the life of a depressed architect. The couple Steve Martin-Goldie Hawn's performance can be compared to those found in the best American comedies of the 30's and the 40's.

**** 2006. Written for the screen and directed by Sarah Polley. Golden Globe earned by Julie Christie. After 44 years of marriage, Grant and Fiona are torn apart by Alzheimer's disease. Moving.

**** 2007. Co-written and directed by Bruce A. Evans. A serial killer, affected with remorse, tries to fight temptation. This cynical thriller is a UFO in the Hollywood landscape and deserves your attention.

***1/2 1995. Directed by Gus Van Sant. Golden Globe earned by Nicole Kidman. The movie tells the story of Suzanne Stone, a woman who dreams to be on television or at least talked about. As tabloids have never been so read nowadays, there is here a guilty pleasure to replace Suzanne Stone's character by real people. No, I won't tell you any name ! No.

***1/2 2002. Co-written and directed by Laetitia Colombani. How better talk about this film without giving away its plot than to describe it as a mix of Adrian Lyne's FATAL ATTRACTION and Akira Kurosawa's RASHOMON.

***1/2 2004. Co-written and directed by Niels Muller and produced by Alfonso Cuarón and Leonardo DiCaprio. An idealistic salesman tries to live according to his ideas. He soon loses his job and he is rejected by his own family. Astounding Sean Penn performance.

***1/2 2005. Directed by Robert Rodriguez. Numerous good actors for this adaptation of Frank Miller's graphic novels. It's a lot more violent than BATMAN even if Basin City looks a lot like Gotham City. Recommended.

***1/2 2005. Written and directed by Gavin Hood. Academy award in the Best Foreign Language Film of the Year category. A young thug from Johannesburg, South Africa accidentally kidnaps a baby and takes care of him during a few days. Good portrait of a doomed boy.

*** 1999. Directed by Sam Weisman. When I read that the estimated budget of this film is $40,000,000, I wonder where all the money went. I suppose Steve Martin, Goldie Hawn and John Cleese were well paid but, still, I'm sure there was some money left. Enjoyable but already forgotten.

*** 2007. Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel. Fourth adaptation of Jack Finney's novel. The enemy is inside us. Enjoyable but already forgotten.

** 2006. Directed by Edward Zwick. Five nominations for the Academy awards. A mercenary helps a refugee to meet up with his family in exchange for a very rare pink diamond. Besides Leonardo DiCaprio's performance, a total disaster.