ENGLISH - UK

British's best

Movie : Lawrence of Arabia - 1962 - Adventure | Biography | Drama  Director : David Lean Writer : T.E. Lawrence Robert Bolt ·     Stars : Peter O'Toole, Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn Cinematography : Freddie Young Music : Maurice Jarre Synopsis :  Strip away its scale and grandeur and Lawrence Of Arabia seems to be the kind of rags-to-riches tale that's two-a-shilling in cinema: an ordinary man shaking off mediocrity to answer the call of greatness. It's Rocky in Bedouin robes. Except, of course, it's much more than that. Over three-and-a-bit hours David Lean gives us a portrait of a man riddled with contradictions, awash with doubt and filled with enough hang-ups to give Freud a migraine. Through his fabled journey, Peter O'Toole's T.E. Lawrence somehow unites the Arab tribes and leads them stampeding through Aqaba and on the blood-stained path to nationhood. If 'El-Aurens' is complex enough to stand comparison with Charles Foster Kane or Michael Corleone, his co-star, the vast and magnificent Arabian desert, fully deserves second billing. Captured in all its widescreen sweep by Freddie Young's cameras and given voice by Maurice Jarre's stirring score, it's friend, enemy, solace and implacable observer all in one; an epic canvas on which Lean paints an epic picture.

Hollywood's best

Movie : The Shawshank Redemption - 1994 -  Crime | Drama  Director : Frank Darabont Writer : Stephen King Frank Darabont ·         Stars : Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton Cinematography : Roger Deakins Music : Thomas Newman Synopsis :  In 1946, a banker named Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is convicted of a double murder, even though he stubbornly proclaims his innocence. He's sentenced to a life term at the Shawshank State Prison in Maine, where another lifer, Ellis "Red" Redding (Morgan Freeman), picks him as the new recruit most likely to crack under the pressure. The ugly realities of prison life are quickly introduced to Andy: a corrupt warden (Bob Gunton), sadistic guards led by Capt. Byron Hadley (Clancy Brown), and inmates who are little better than animals, willing to use rape or beatings to insure their dominance. But Andy does not crack: he has the hope of the truly innocent, which (together with his smarts) allow him to prevail behind bars. He uses his banking skills to win favor with the warden and the guards, doing the books for Norton's illegal business schemes and keeping an eye on the investments of most of the prison staff. In exchange, he is able to improve the prison library and bring some dignity and respect back to many of the inmates, including Red. Based on a story by Stephen King, The Shawshank Redemption was the directorial debut of screenwriter Frank Darabont

Korean's best

Movie : Oldboy - 2003 - Drama | Mystery | Thriller  Director : Chan-wook Park Writer : Garon Tsuchiya (story), Nobuaki Minegishi ·     Stars : Min-sik Choi, Ji-tae Yu, Hye-jeong Kang  Cinematography : Chung-hoon Chung Music : Hyun-jung Shim Synopsis :  An average man is kidnapped and imprisoned in a shabby cell for 15 years without explanation. He then is released, equipped with money, a cellphone and expensive clothes. As he strives to explain his imprisonment and get his revenge, Oh Dae-Su soon finds out that his kidnapper has a greater plan for him and is set onto a path of pain and suffering in an attempt to uncover the motive of his mysterious tormentor

French's best

Movie : The Rules of the Game - 1939 - Comedy | Drama  Director : Jean Renoir Writer : Jean Renoir, Carl Koch  ·     Stars : Marcel Dalio, Nora Gregor, Paulette Dubost Cinematography : Jean-Paul Alphen, Jean Bachelet, Jacques Lemare, Alain Renoir Music : Joseph Kosma Synopsis :  Aviator André Jurieux has just completed a record-setting flight, but when he is greeted by an admiring crowd, all he can say to them is how miserable he is that the woman he loves did not come to meet him. He is in love with Christine, the wife of aristocrat Robert de la Cheyniest. Robert himself is involved in an affair with Geneviève de Marras, but he is trying to break it off. Meanwhile, André seeks help from his old friend Octave, who gets André an invitation to the country home where Robert and Christine are hosting a large hunting party. As the guests arrive for the party, their cordial greetings hide their real feelings, along with their secrets - and even some of the servants are involved in tangled relationships.

Ilaly's best

Movie : Bicycle Thieves - 1948 - Crime | Drama  Director : Vittorio De Sica Writer : Luigi Bartolini, Cesare Zavattini, ·     Stars :  Lamberto Maggiorani, Enzo Staiola, Lianella Carell Cinematography : Carlo Montuori Music : Alessandro Cicognini Synopsis :  A poor young father in postwar-ravaged Rome who finally finds work putting up Rita Hayworth posters around town, only to have his precious bicycle stolen the first day on the job. In a light moment as the father and his young son chase after the thief, the boy attempts to relieve himself against a wall, and his father lets him know they don't have time for that. In another scene, the father tracks the thief into the kitchen of a brothel.