Peter Kosminsky

Comments

Incendies

One of the cleverest movies I've ever seen, made by a master. Manages to engage with serious subject-matter and deliver an extraordinary twist at the end. Brilliant premise.

Hell or High Water

Powerful and deeply moving film that manages to convey the reality of life in Trump's America more eloquently than any documentary. And a stunning score.

Arrival

A brilliant, mind-bending drama, with breath-taking performances. Proves that movies can successfully engage with deeply complex stories which don't in any way patronise the audience.

Michael Clayton

Triumphant storytelling, brilliant direction and screenwriting by Tony Gilroy. Manages to deliver a really important point about pollution and corporate America without any sacrifice of character or imaginative plotting.

Die bleierne Zeit

For its brilliant exploration of the nature of German post-Nazi guilt and for the choices faced by the radical post-Nazi generation.

Salvador

Inspired decision to see the conflict in Central America through the eyes of an utterly amoral wreck of a man, brilliantly played by James Woods. His journey from self-destruction to compassion is so unexpected.

Man on Fire

A moving story of redemption, brilliantly designed and shot - with a stunning performances from Denzel Washington and a very young Dakota Fanning.

Broadcast News

A grown-up film about grown-up issues. One of the most faithful evocations of life in television I know. The complex relationship between the Albert Brooks and Holly Hunter characters is a joy to watch.

The Constant Gardener

A profoundly personal story which captures a time, a place and a cause magnificently. To watch Ralph Fiennes transition from detached civil servant to someone who is committed is amazing to watch. Probably his finest performance, I think.

Land and Freedom

For me, Loach's finest. Really helped me understand why young British progressives left our shores, often for the first time, to fight in Spain for a noble but ultimately hopeless cause. The scene where young Spaniards sit around discussing the pros and cons of collectivisation is as brilliant as it is surprising.