Movies That Matter

Casablanca

Filled with romance, intrigue, excitement, suspense and humour, Casablanca deserves its status as one of the greatest Hollywood films ever made. World weary cafe owner, Rick (Bogart) has his cynical life turned upside down, when he helps an old flame (Bergman) escape the Nazis. Trouble is she's now married to an heroic underground leader. Rick must now choose between personal gain and the greater good in a world ravaged by war. Classic.

Amadeus

Lively, bawdy, crude and broke. Not how you might imagine the greatest musical genius who ever lived. Tom Hulce plays Austria's finest with verve and humour and helps this costume drama par excellence zip along at entertaining speed. This is a lavish spectacle and fully deserving of its five oscars and five stars!   

Dr Zhivago

No-one does big and beautiful like David Lean, not even Russ Meyer.  Master of the epic set piece he may be, but his films are also full of heart, gripping plot and great characters. All of which is true of this World War 1 Russian epic. Starring Omar Sharif and the beautiful Julie Christie, Dr Zhivago follows the life of a Moscow Doctor who suffers exile, battle and separation from his only love.

A complex tale- but what it may sometimes lack in coherence, it more than makes up for with sheer spectacle. A top film from one of the greatest ever directors.

Gone With The Wind

The ultimate Hollywood drama, Gone With Wind still takes some beating. Leaving aside some dated representation of slavery, there is little here to fault despite a running time of over three and a half hours. Clarke Gable and Vivian Leigh are perfect as Rhett Butler and Scarlett O'Hara and their heated love affair in the deep American south is a joy to watch.

God invented Sunday afternoons for films like this!