The Thief of Bagdad

(1940, UK, 106 min)

A young boy helps an imprisoned prince win back his kingdom from the evil Grand Vizier Jaffar. Colorful, thoroughly agreeable adaptation of the classic tale with the Djinni encounter being the highlight.

Starring Conrad Veidt, Sabu, June Duprez, John Justin, Rex Ingram, Miles Malleson, Morton Selten, Mary Morris, Bruce Winston. Directed by Ludwig Berger, Michael Powell, Tim Whelan; written by Miles Malleson; produced by Alexander Korda; music by Miklós Rózsa; film editing by Charles Crichton; production design by Vincent Korda; art direction by Vincent Korda.

The Crazies

(2010, USA/United Arab Emirates, 101 min)

The residents of a small farming community are plagued by insanity after a mysterious chemical contaminates their drinking water. Slick, efficient horror-thriller that features a number of effective set-pieces and a quality performance from its underrated lead actor.

Starring Timothy Olyphant, Radha Mitchell, Joe Anderson, Danielle Panabaker, Christie Lynn Smith, Brett Rickaby, Preston Bailey, John Aylward, Joe Reegan. Directed by Breck Eisner; written by Scott Kosar, Ray Wright; produced by Michael Aguilar, Rob Cowan, Dean Georgaris; music by Mark Isham; cinematography by Maxime Alexandre; film editing by Billy Fox; production design by Andrew Menzies.

Deranged

(1974, Canada/USA, 84 min)

A farmer goes on a killing spree to appease his dead mother. Familiar horror quickie that is elevated by its twisted sense of humor and the lead’s understated performance. Based on the true life story of Ed Gein, which also inspired Psycho and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

Starring Jeff Gillen, Alan Ormsby, Roberts Blossom, Cosette Lee, Leslie Carlson, Robert Warner, Marcia Diamond, Brian Smeagle, Arlene Gillen, Robert McHeady, Marian Waldman. Directed by Jeff Gillen, Alan Ormsby; written by Alan Ormsby; produced by Bob Clark, Tom Karr; music by Carl Zittrer; cinematography by Jack McGowan.

The Ghost Writer

(2009, France/Germany/UK, 128 min)

A ghostwriter finds his life in jeopardy after agreeing to complete the memoirs of a former British prime minister. Smar, refreshingly adult thriller that, though traditional in structure, showcases the powers of a director who has not lost a step despite his advancing age and legal troubles.

Starring Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Olivia Williams, Kim Cattrall, Tom Wilkinson, James Belushi, Timothy Hutton, Jon Bernthal, Eli Wallach. Directed by Roman Polanski; written by Robert Harris, Roman Polanski; produced by Robert Benmussa, Roman Polanski, Alain Sarde; music by Alexandre Desplat; cinematography by Pawel Edelman; film editing by Hervé de Luze; production design by Albrecht Konrad; art direction by Cornelia Ott, David Scheunemann, Steve Summersgill.

From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money

(1999, USA, 88 min)

Four small-time criminals are attacked by vampires on their way to rob a bank in Mexico. B-grade horror cheapie that is more amusing than it is scary thanks to the director’s numerous absurd POV shots.

Starring Robert Patrick, Bo Hopkins, Duane Whitaker, Muse Watson, Brett Harrelson, Raymond Cruz, Danny Trejo, James Parks, Stacie Bourgeois, Maria Checa, Tiffani Thiessen, Bruce Campbell. Directed by Scott Spiegel; written by Scott Spiegel, Duane Whitaker; produced by Micahel S. Murphey, Gianni Nunnari, Meir Teper; music by Joseph Williams; cinematography by Philip Lee; film editing by Bob Murawski; production design by Felipe Fernández del Paso ; art direction by Liza Rowland.

The Decline of the American Empire

aka Le déclin de l’empire américain

(1986, Canada, 101 min)

A disparate group of Montreal academics and their significant others get together at a country house to discuss their sex lives. Well-acted and written but the pompous, egocentric characters are an absolute bore.

Starring Dominique Michel, Dorothée Berryman, Louise Portal, Pierre Curzi, Rémy Girard, Yves Jacques, Geneviève Rioux, Daniel Brière, Gabriel Arcand, Évelyn Regimbald. Directed by Denys Arcand; written by Denys Arcand; produced by Roger Frappier, René Malo; music by François Dompierre; cinematography by Guy Dufaux; film editing by Monique Fortier; production design by Gaudeline Sauriol; art direction by Gaudeline Sauriol.

Taxi Driver

(1976, USA, 113 min)

An emotionally unhinged cab driver in New York City becomes obsessed with saving an adolescent prostitute. An unpleasant but magnificently made journey into hell on earth that remains the career pinnacle for both the director and lead actor.

Starring Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Albert Brooks, Harvey Keitel, Leonard Harris, Peter Boyle, Cybil Shepherd. Directed by Martin Scorsese; written by Paul Schrader; produced by Julia Phillips, Michael Phillips; music by Bernard Hermann; cinematography by Michael Chapman; film editing by Tom Rolf, Melvin Shapiro; art direction by Charles Rosen.