The N-S Review Archive

Missed something at the cinema? Or maybe you want to find out more about a particular film? Check out our archive to read a review...

N-S

Narc (USA)
Ray Liotta and Jason Patric deliver powerful performances in Joe Carnahan's hard-hitting cop drama.
Nathalie... There's plenty of oo-la-la in this steamy French tale about a woman who hires a prostitute to seduce her husband.
National Security (USA)
Horrendous racist comedy starring Martin Lawrence as a security guard who wants to be a cop.
Ned Kelly (Australia/UK)
"Buffalo Soldiers" director Gregor Jordan takes on an Aussie legend in this enjoyable crime western.
New Guy, The (USA)
A lanky nerd (DJ Qualls) becomes the coolest guy at his new school in this crass teen comedy.
Nicholas Nickleby (UK/USA)
Writer/director Douglas McGrath bites off slightly more than he can chew with this adaptation of Dickens' doorstep novel.
Nine Dead Gay Guys (UK)
Two Irish lads go on the game in London in Ky Mo Lab's "Lock Stock"-alike debut.
Nine Queens (Argentina)
Nói Albinói (Iceland/Germany/ UK/Denmark)
Dagur Kári's impressive Icelandic debut is a darkly amusing account of teenage restlessness with a nightmarish twist.
Northfork
Not even angels can help James Woods and Nick Nolte make sense of this arthouse oddity.
Nowhere in Africa (Germany)
A Jewish German family flee to Kenya to escape the Nazis in this evocative portrait of life in Eastern Africa.
O (USA)
Contemporary retelling of William Shakespeare's "Othello", set in a US high school, with a disappointing turn from Josh Hartnett.
Octane (UK/Luxembourg)
A lobotomised horror movie without a soul, a brain, or even a sense of fun. Say hello to Octane.
Okay
Nothing's really OK in this bittersweet Danish story about a woman nursing her cantankerous father.
Old School (USA)
"American Pie" grows up in this gross-out comedy about a bunch of thirtysomething guys who open a frat house.
One and Only, The (UK)
Newcastle is the setting for this feeble British romantic comedy, starring Patsy Kensit and Donna Air. Need we say more?
One for the Road
Excellent British black comedy about four men on an alcohol rehab course, from first time director Chris Cooke.
One Hour Photo (USA)
No more Mr Nice Guy for Robin Williams, playing a creepily obsessive photo lab technician in director Mark Romanek's glossy thriller.
One Last Chance
Three friends in the Scottish Highlands run into trouble after discovering a nugget of gold in this black comedy.
Once Upon a Time in Mexico (USA)
The third and final outing for Robert Rodriguez's gunslinging troubadour.
Once Upon a Time in the Midlands (UK)
Open Hearts (Denmark)
An engaging, emotional Danish drama about infidelity and loss. Bring popcorn!
Open Range
Kevin Costner's third film as director is an old-fashioned, reactionary western with a brilliant final shootout.
Orange County (USA)
Colin (son of Tom) Hanks stars in this engaging comedy about a Californian teenager who dreams of becoming a writer.
Orphée
The real world and the spirit world mysteriously intertwine in this re-release of Jean Cocteau's haunting fairy tale.
Osama
This stunning Afghan drama captures the realities of life for women under the Taliban.
Otherworld (Wales)
Three teenagers discover a magical portal to the Otherworld in this animated take on the Welsh mythology of The Mabinogi.
Our House
Director Danny DeVito hits a brick wall and keels over with this stilted comedy starring Ben Stiller and Drew Barrymore.
Out Of Time
Denzel Washington gives another excellent performance in this exciting, enjoyable thriller.
Paradise is Somewhere Else
A young boy tries to escape Iran but runs into trouble with the law, in this tense and involving drama.
Party Monster
Macaulay Culkin trashes his cleancut image in this equally trashy story of hard partying and murder in 90s New York.
Pas Sur La Bouche
Legendary French director Alain Resnais returns with a farcical musical throwback to the 1920s.
The Passion Of The Christ
Mel Gibson's bloody depiction of Jesus' death is powerful but simplistic: more gore than gospel.
Paycheck
Ben Affleck gets all frowny in this enjoyable sci-fi hokum from Face/Off director John Woo.
People I Know
Al Pacino stars as a Manhattan PR man who's drawn into a web of intrigue in this intricate thriller.
The Perfect Score
This story of disaffected students banding together to steal crucial exam papers is sadly lacking in IQ.
Performance
Donald Cammell and Nicolas Roeg co-direct this British classic featuring sex, drugs, and rock'n'roll star Mick Jagger.
Perfume de Violetas (Mexico)
Oscar-nominated true-life drama from writer-director Marysa Sistach.
Persona (Sweden)
Re-release for Ingmar Bergman's formally adventurous and powerfully intense chamber drama.
Personal Velocity (USA)
Writer-director Rebecca Miller gets slightly out of her depth in this tale of three women dealing with their individual life crises.
Peter Pan
The flying boy takes on Captain Hook in this excellent adaptation of JM Barrie's children's classic.
Petites Coupures (France)
Daniel Auteuil and Kristin Scott Thomas star in this meandering comic tale of a French Communist's mid-life crisis.
Phone Booth (USA)
Golden boy Colin Farrell plays an arrogant gadabout whose life is - quite literally - on the line, in Joel Schumacher's watchable thriller.
Pianist, The (France/Germany/ Poland/UK)
Adrien Brody gives his best performance yet in Roman Polanski's elegant and award-winning depiction of Jews in WWII Warsaw.
Pieces Of April
Katie Holmes stars in a low-budget indie drama from the writer of What's Eating Gilbert Grape.
Piglet's Big Movie (USA)
Disney returns to the Hundred Acre Wood for yet another big-screen adventure based on AA Milne's much-loved characters.
Pirates of the Caribbean (USA)
Johnny Depp excels as an eccentric seafarer in this hilarious action blockbuster.
Platform (China)
Pluto Nash (USA)
Pot Luck (France)
Patchy French comedy about the pleasurable muddle of student life.
Possession (USA)
AS Byatt's Booker Prize-winning novel goes from page to screen but fails to sparkle, despite the presence of Gwyneth Paltrow and Aaron Eckhart.
Powerpuff Girls, The (USA)
The Powerpuff Girls - Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup - do battle with evil monkey Mojo Jojo in their first big-screen adventure.
The Prince & Me
An undercover Danish prince falls for an American student in this fairy-tale nonsense, starring Julia Stiles and Luke Mably.
The Principles Of Lust
A novelist falls in with the wrong crowd in this boldly dark slice of British drama. Just don't call it Fight Club.
Private Life of Sherlock Holmes, The (USA)
Director Billy Wilder reveals the secret life of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's pipe-smoking detective.
Public Enemy (Korea)
An unconventional cop goes off the rails and after a murderer in this Korean thriller.
Puckoon (UK/Ireland)
The boundary between Ulster and the Irish Free State divides the village of Puckoon, in this dramatisation of Spike Milligan's satirical novel.
Punch-Drunk Love (USA)
"Magnolia" man Paul Thomas Anderson directs Adam Sandler in a strange, stirring romantic comedy.
Pure (UK)
An engaging but slight coming-of-age tale, bolstered by a terrific performance from ten-year-old Harry Eden.
Quiet American, The (2002 USA)
Michael Caine and Brendan Fraser shine in this intelligent new take on Graham Greene's political thriller.
Quiet American, The (1958 USA)
Rabbit-Proof Fence (Australia)
Three Aborigine children walk 1,500 miles in this moving historical drama set in 30s Australia.
Rain (New Zealand)
Growing up proves fraught with heartache in this wistful indie family drama from New Zealand.
Raising Victor Vargas (USA)
Director Peter Sollet makes an impressive debut with this growing pains yarn set in Manhattan's Latino community.
Real Women Have Curves (USA)
Newcomer America Ferrera proves she's all that, and then some, as the shapely heroine of this charming comedy.
The Reckoning
Paul Bettany stars in this flawed adaptation of Barry Unsworth's Morality Play from the director of Gangster No.1.
Recruit, The (USA)
Colin Farrell shines in this so-so CIA thriller co-starring Al Pacino.
Red Dragon (USA)
Anthony Hopkins returns as Hannibal the cannibal in this latest moneymuncher. So, does he bite or suck?
Reign of Fire (UK/Ireland)
Re-inventing Eddie
An innocent dad is hounded by social services after he's accused of abusing his children.
Resident Evil (USA)
Matt Lee takes a look at zombie-fest Resident Evil, and likes what he sees... as long as the brain is in neutral.
Resident Evil (USA)
Respiro (Italy)
Atmospheric Italian fable, about a woman in conflict with a traditional society.
Revengers Tragedy (UK)
British filmmaker Alex Cox updates Middleton's classic play of lust and revenge in this camp extravaganza.
Rififi (France)
Ring, The (USA)
Be prepared to be scared! Naomi Watts and Martin Henderson star in this surprisingly OK remake of the Japanese horror.
Ripley's Game (USA/UK/Italy)
Cool conman Tom Ripley returns to the big screen in this blackly comic thriller adapted from the popular novel by Patricia Highsmith.
Rivers and Tides (Germany)
Award-winning documentary about Scottish sculptor Andy Goldsworthy, who uses natural phenomena to create organic, site-specific "earthworks".
Road to Perdition (USA)
An epic tale of revenge and retribution, set in Depression-era Chicago. Released nationwide 27th September.
Roger Dodger (USA)
A very funny, very perceptive exploration of the battle of the sexes, Dylan Kidd's debut is one of the best films of 2003.
Rookie, The (USA)
Dennis Quaid stars in this schmaltzy true story about a middle-aged baseball player's second shot at the big time. Not the one with Clint Eastwood and Charlie Sheen...
Rugrats Go Wild (USA)
The Rugrats meet the Wild Thornberrys in this double Nickelodeon cartoon spin-off.
Rules of Attraction, The (USA)
Roger Avary's dark satire of college highs and lows, adapted from the novel by "American Psycho" author, Bret Easton Ellis.
Runaway Jury
Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman are guilty of wasting their talents in this lacklustre courtroom drama, loosely adapted from John Grisham's novel.
Russian Ark (Russia/Germany/ Japan)
An ethereal journey through Russia's turbulent history undertaken in a single, uninterrupted steadicam shot - is this the definition of arthouse?
S1m0ne (USA)
Al Pacino's a washed-out film director who creates his own leading lady in this amusing satire from Andrew Niccol.
S21: The Khmer Rouge Killing Machine
The brutal rule of Cambodia's Khmer Rouge is exposed in this harrowing documentary.
Saddest Music in the World
Maverick Canadian director Guy Maddin conjures up another unique vision, this time recalling the screwball comedies and melodramas of yore.
Safety of Objects, The (USA)
Glenn Close leads the cast of this terrific ensemble drama about dysfunctional families in American suburbia.
Sans Soleil (France)
A 20th anniversary re-release for Chris Marker's puzzling yet bewitching documentary-essay.
Santa Clause 2 (USA)
Tim Allen dons the red suit again in this entertaining sequel to the 1994 seasonal box office smash.
Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (UK)
Albert Finney's angry young man sticks two fingers up to the world in this reissued kitchen sink classic.
Scary Movie 3
The Ring and Signs are just two of the movies played for laughs in David Zucker's resolutely average horror spoof.
School Of Rock
Jack Black hits all the right notes in this loveable kids' comedy, directed by Richard Linklater.
Scooby Doo (USA)
Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
Scooby and the Mystery Gang are back on the case. Only this time there's more than one ghost.
Scratch (USA)
Seabiscuit (USA)
Disappointing drama about a racehorse which defied all odds and gave hope to a depressed nation.
Secondhand Lions (USA)
Caine, Duvall and Haley Joel Osment get together to practice their Southern accents in this family schmaltz fest
Secret Ballot (Iran)
The arrival of a ballot box causes all kinds of problems in this surreal political comedy from Iran.
Secret Window
A dimwitted take on another Stephen King story, which isn't even saved by Johnny Depp's magnetic presence.
Secretary (USA)
Maggie Gyllenhaal gives her all but can't save this somnambulistic, sadomasochistic sexual drama.
Seeing Double (UK)
Ain't no party like an S Club party! The kiddies' favourites follow in the footsteps of the Spice Girls with their first big-screen adventure. Be afraid...
Sex is Comedy (France)
Controversial French director Catherine Breillat explores the sexual tension of creativity in this film about filmmaking.
Sex Lives Of The Potato Men
Johnny Vegas and Mackenzie Crook star in a crude Britcom about four delivery men and their endless search for sex. As dire as it sounds.
Shanghai Knights (USA)
Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson's "Shanghai Noon" sequel features a lot of laughs and stunts, but not a lot of plot.
Shape Of Things, The
Rachel Weisz stars in a superb and sexy take on Pygmalion, from director Neil LaBute.
Shaun Of The Dead
An hilarious Brit zom-rom-com about escaping the walking dead. The apocalypse shouldn't be this funny.
Shiri (South Korea)
A North Korean terrorist group threatens Seoul with a liquid explosive bomb in this tense Asian thriller.
Shoreditch
Shane Richie plays an East End jazz club owner during the Second World War in this time-hopping drama.
Shrek 2
Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy return for another enjoyable monster hit, as Shrek meets the in-laws.
Signs (USA)
Crop circles spell danger for Pennsylvanian farmer Mel Gibson in the creepy new thriller from the director of "The Sixth Sense".
Silence Between Two Thoughts
Slow Iranian tale about an executioner struggling to see beyond a life of oppression and fundamentalism.
Silent Grace
Two women discover friendship and solidarity in this prison movie set during the Troubles.
Since Otar Left (Depuis Qu'Otar Est Parti)
Director Julie Bertucelli makes her feature debut with the story of three generations of women struggling to get along in post-Soviet Georgia
Sin Eater, The (USA)
If God exists, why does he allow such awful things to happen as this Brian Helgeland thriller?
Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (USA)
DreamWorks' latest foray into traditional animation is a handsome but conventional maritime adventure.
Singing Detective, The (USA)
This modern makeover of The Singing Detective is worth a look, even with its faults.
Slap Her, She's French (USA)
A Texan cheerleader meets her match in the shape of treacherous exchange student Piper Perabo.
Sobibor: 14 October 1943, 16:00 (France)
Claude Lanzmann's moving documentary recounts the events of the Jewish uprising at the Sobibor concentration camp.
Solaris (USA)
Thoughtful, heavyweight philosophical sci-fi from the brains behind "Ocean's Eleven" and "The Terminator".
Something's Gotta Give
Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson coast through this dull romantic comedy from writer/director Nancy Meyers.
Son, The (France/Belgium)
Another austere, enigmatic drama from Belgium's Dardenne brothers.
Son Frère (His Brother)
French director Patrice Cheréau's moving drama examines the relationship between a man and his ailing brother.
Son of the Bride (Argentina)
Excellent Argentine comedy-drama about a man facing crises on all fronts, including an elderly mother with Alzheimer's.
Song For A Raggy Boy
If you liked Dead Poet's Society, this drama about an Irish reformatory school will definitely appeal.
Sophiiiie! (Germany)
Self-destructive womanhood and digital video create an intriguing mix for German director Michael Hofmann.
The Sorrow And The Pity (Le Chagrin Et La Pitié)
A groundbreaking, sprawling documentary about life in a French town during the Nazi occupation.
Spare Parts (Rezervni Deli)
A murky Slovenian drama about a gang of people-smugglers shipping asylum seekers through Europe.
Spellbound (USA)
This hilarious documentary about America's National Spelling Bee looks at little kids and big words.
Spider (France/Canada/UK)
Ralph Fiennes stars as a schizophrenic in David Cronenberg's sombre examination of mental illness. Not one for the popcorn and coke crowd.
Spider-Man 2
Director Sam Raimi and star Tobey Maguire spin celluloid gold with this long-awaited follow-up to Spider-Man.
Spirit of the Beehive, The (Spain)
Spanish director Victor Erice's classic, haunting tale of childhood trauma gets re-released.
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (USA)
Spirited Away (USA/Japan)
Gorgeously animated and beautifully told, this stunning Japanese animé will spirit your heart away.
Springtime in a Small Town (China/Hong Kong/ France)
A love triangle in 40s China forms the heart of this delicate chamber drama.
Spun
Mickey Rourke stands out in an otherwise irritating American indie flick about the danger and - ooh! - glamour of drugs.
Spy Kids 2 (USA)
Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (USA)
A third outing for the pint-sized superspies proves enjoyable but incoherent. And yes, it's in 3-D.
Standing in the Shadows of Motown (USA)
The forgotten musicians behind the Motown sound of Diana Ross, The Supremes and Marvin Gaye are uncovered in this fascinating documentary.
Star Trek: Nemesis (USA)
The crew of the Starship Enterprise face their biggest challenge yet when a clone of Captain Picard declares war on the Federation.
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (USA)
The second instalment of the Star Wars trilogy prequels. This one is far better than The Phantom Menace, according to Danny.
Stark Raving Mad (USA)
Lame-brained Seann William Scott crime comedy, about an opportunist conman who holds a rave to hide a heist.
Starsky & Hutch
Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson star in this hit-and-miss comedy reworking of the 70s TV cop series.
The Statement
A clunker in the Michael Caine canon, this Nazi-hunting 'thriller' could bore you to death.
The Station Agent
Peter Dinklage stands tall - for a short guy - in a tender and funny tale about finding friendship.
Steal (USA)
Stephen Dorff heads a posse of extreme bank robbers in this dumb action caper from the director of Taxi.
Stealing Harvard (USA)
Comedian Tom Green goes for broke in this juvenile comedy co-starring Jason Lee.
Stoked: The Rise and Fall of Gator
A prodigal father's return brings more misery than joy in Andrey Zvyagintsev's gripping Russian drama.
Story of the Weeping Camel
A beautifully crafted docu-drama about survival against all odds on the Mongolian plains.
Strange Gardens (Effroyables Jardins)
Two amateur resistance fighters get hard life lessons in this French Second World War fable.
Stuart Little 2 (USA)
Stuck On You
Matt Damon and Greg Kinnear act excellently as conjoined twins, but can't save this laugh-free Farrelly brothers comedy.
Suddenly (Tan De Repente)
Two lesbians kidnap a shop worker they've fallen in love with in this unexpectedly tender Argentinian drama.
Sum of All Fears, The (USA)
Summer Madness
David Lean's touching romance shines again thanks to a wonderful Katharine Hepburn and a lush new print.
Summer Things (France)
Charlotte Rampling shines in this classy French ensemble comedy drama by writer/director/actor Michel Blanc.
Sunrise: A Song Of Two Humans
FW Murnau's silent classic is a love story, a weepie, and a landmark in the history of cinema.
Sunset Boulevard (USA)
Welcome re-release of Billy Wilder's masterpiece, about a one-time movie great desperate to return to the limelight.
Sunshine State (USA)
Super Troopers (USA)
Prank-pulling state troopers go on the drugs trail in American comic quintet Broken Lizard's patchy comedy.
Suzie Gold
Girl meets goy in this well-observed Jewish romantic comedy, starring Summer Phoenix.
S.W.A.T.
An undemanding by-the-numbers action flick with Samuel L Jackson putting Colin Farrell through his paces.
Sweet Home Alabama (USA)
It's Southern Comfort all round as Reese Witherspoon discovers she left her heart in Alabama.
Sweet Sixteen (UK)
British director Ken Loach returns with a harrowing tale of dysfunctional families and teenage tearaways in modern Scotland.
Sweetest Thing, The (USA)
Swimfan (USA)
"Fatal Attraction" meets "Bring it On" in this derivative teen thriller about a swimming champion who cheats on his girlfriend.
Swimming Pool (France)
Charlotte Rampling plays an English crime novelist in this atmospheric English-language thriller from "8 Women" director François Ozon.
Sylvia
Gwyneth Paltrow gives an impressive performance in this elegant biopic of the troubled British poet.
Sympathy for Mr Vengeance (South Korea)
Illegal organ transplants, a deaf and dumb hero, and a grittily hardboiled script in this excellent Korean thriller.

Return to the Review Index
Check out the A - F Reviews
Check out the G - M Reviews
Check out the T - Z Reviews