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Daily Record
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
'One of the best biopics ever' streaming on Prime Video director says is greatest war movie
The acclaimed director was choosing some of his favourite films An Oscar-nominated director has revealed his pick for one of the greatest war films ever produced. Earlier this year, Denis Villeneuve had the opportunity to visit the Criterion Closet and share his favourite films and recommendations with fans. His selection included films that have inspired him as a filmmaker, as well as his favourite works from renowned directors. Villeneuve is recognised for directing films such as Sicario, Arrival, Prisoners, Blade Runner 2049, and Dune Parts One and Two. His work has earned him numerous Oscar and BAFTA nominations, including a Best Director nod for Arrival, reports the Express. The Criterion Closet is a physical or sometimes mobile space created for events, housing every title distributed by The Criterion collection. Reportedly home to at least 1,700 films, celebrities are often invited to select their favourites while being filmed. During his visit earlier this year, Villeneuve's picks included The Three Colours trilogy directed by Krzysztof Kielowski, Lars von Trier's Europa, Akira Kurosawa's The Seven Samurai, Satyricon by Fellini, and Henri-Georges Clouzot's The Wages of Fear. The director also expressed his appreciation for documentaries, recommending Le Mystère Picasso from Henri-Georges Clouzot. Additionally, he highlighted a film about a historical figure which, in his opinion, ranks among the best war movies. He remarked: "Che, with the great Benicio del Toro. For me, it's by far one of the best movies about war, about what it is to be a leader of men." Expanding on his thoughts, he stated: "The research behind this movie is astonishing, and I absolutely adore the directing. I think it's a movie that is underrated. Honestly, it's a masterful work by Soderbergh. My favourite movie from Soderbergh." Intriguingly, he hinted as well at a possible source of inspiration for his own monumental interpretation of the Dune novels when examining the double DVD boxset, noting: "Part one, part two. Maybe there's an influence there. I don't know." The 2008 epic biographical flick Che unfolded the story of Argentine Marxist revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara and came in a nearly five-hour-long two-part format. For those intrigued to delve into what Villeneuve extolled, they will be pleased to find both chapters available for streaming on Prime Video. Under the directorial prowess of Steven Soderbergh, the film starred Benicio del Toro as Che and strayed from the conventional linear storytelling, instead opting to weave together various segments from Che's life journey. One enthusiast hailed the film, asserting: " One of the best biopics ever. It should have won Oscar." A separate individual praised it further saying: "Gorgeously shot, superbly acted, and poignantly relevant." For those inclined to watch, 'Che Parts One and Two' are streamable now via Prime Video.
Daily Mirror
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Where to stream 'insane' action movie with 43% on Rotten Tomatoes Ben Affleck calls his 'best work'
Ben Affleck is renowned for starring in hits like Good Will Hunting, Gone Girl and Argo, just to list a few. Ben Affleck has referred to an 'insane' action film as his 'best work' despite receiving a less than impressive score on Rotten Tomatoes. The 52-year-old has become a household name thanks to his diverse 28-year career, which was catapulted into international stardom thanks to 1997's Good Will Hunting with Robin Williams and Matt Damon. However, despite Good Will Hunting earning him an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, he commends another surprising choice for being his 'best work' - which is ready to watch on Disney+. While speaking to The Criterion about some of his favourite films of all time, he opened up about his thoughts on the 1998 sci-fi action film Armageddon, in which he plays oil driller AJ Frost. Starring opposite big names like Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, Owen Wilson and Steve Buscemi, Affleck believes he shined thanks to this film, but not in the conventional way. He explained that it wasn't his performance in Armageddon which is his 'best work' but the infamous commentary that he did for the DVD, where he talked about the film's plot holes. Affleck elaborated: 'I didn't think of it as that kind of movie [a classic] when we did it. 'And in retrospect now, I feel like maybe my best work in my career is the commentary on this disc. 'People approach me to talk about the commentary on this disc as much as they do movies that I've been in. 'And it's because I didn't know any better than to be really honest.' He added: 'But I won't spoil it for those of you who are interested. 'It is an achievement that I'm proud of and didn't intend to be as good as I now think it is at the time.' Fast-forward to 2025 and the star has several projects in the pipeline, including a thriller entitled Animals, which sees him work with Sex Education's Gillian Anderson and Scandal star Kerry Washington. In addition to this, Affleck is working on an adaptation of Agatha Christie's Witness For The Prosecution and a crime drama that will reunite him with his Good Will Hunting co-star Matt Damon.
