The best film of 2007? Without question according to Standard reviewer Clare Shepherd.
THE PAINTED VEIL (12A)
Afraid of being left on the shelf Kitty (Naomi Watts) marries Walter (Edward Norton). Bored, she soon has an affair, but when Walter discovers the truth he accepts a job in a remote cholera infested village in China and takes her along. It has a haunting score and is a film that stays with you long after you have seen it. Don't miss it.
THE LIVES OF OTHERS (15)
In 1984 at the height of the Cold War socialist East Berlin employed approximately 100,000 in the Stasi (German Democratic Republic's Secret Police) who in turn had 200,000 informers. Captain Gerd Wiesler (Ulrich Muhe) is assigned to spy on liberal playwright Georg Greyman (Sebastian Koch). Beautifully crafted, and interesting with a strong ending. Subtitled
THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND (15)
Recently qualified doctor Nicholas Garrigan (James McAvoy) arrives in Uganda to help the needy and have some fun. But an accident involving Idi Amin (Forrest Whitaker) finds him accepting a job as Amin's personal physician. Brilliant performances.
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM (12A)
Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) is still suffering from amnesia and being hunted by the CIA. He is now in hot pursuit of journalist Simon Ross (Paddy Considine) who seems to know an awful lot about him and he hopes will enlighten him about his true identity. Gripping.
ZODIAC (15)
Between December 1968 and October 1969 a serial killer was terrifying San Francisco. He wrote letters to the newspaper goading the police, but the case still remains unsolved.
Superbly executed and interesting, considering we know the outcome.
THE KITE RUNNER (12A)
Amir's ((Zekiria Ebrahimi) best friend Hassan (Ahmad Khan Mahmoodzada) is the son of his family's much respected servant. The boys love kiting and Hassan is the best kite runner in the area. But when Hassan is brutally attacked Amir sneaks away. This cowardly act colours all the lives and it takes until adulthood for Amir (Khalid Abdalla) to make amends. Brilliant and deeply moving.
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THE ILLUSIONIST (PG)
After travelling the world honing his skills as a magician Eisenheim (Edward Norton) returns home to Vienna, to find his forbidden childhood love Sophie (Jessica Biel) is engaged to the wicked Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell). Clever entertainment.
HAIRSPRAY (PG)
Pretty but overweight teenager Tracy (Nikki Blonsky) auditions to be on a local TV dance show and gets accepted. But another contestant, glamorous Amber Von Tussle (Brittany Snow) is out to destroy poor Tracy's dream. Toe-tappingly uplifting.
BLOOD DIAMOND (15)
Soloman (Djimon Hounsou) is forced into slavery to work in the diamond mines. While there he finds a large diamond and buries it. Smuggler Danny (Leonardo DiCaprio) hears about the diamond and is determined to get his hands on it. DiCaprio at his best.
AMERICAN GANGSTER (18)
Manhattan heroin dealer Frank Lucas (Denzal Washington) is successfully smuggling the drug into the country and outcast Detective Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe) is determined to bring him to justice. Extremely violent and long, but totally absorbing.
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