Roman Polanski’s adaptation of this well-loved political thriller provides action and suspense with a well disguised twist; and all with a sprinkling of humour throughout. 

This transfixing picture, based on the novel by Robert Harris, sees an undistinguished writer (Ewan McGregor) hired as a ghostwriter, to re-write the memoirs of former British Prime Minster, Adam Lang, played by Pierce Brosnan. 

Set on a bleak and blustery island off America, the ghostwriter sets about his task, only to unravel a string of hidden secrets surrounding his protagonist, while discovering the truth about the puzzling death of his predecessor.  Many a tense moment is portrayed, with car chases and mysterious phone calls, as the ghostwriter battles to uncover the concealed truths within Lang’s memoirs.

 From start to finish, this exciting and politically stimulating film displays enthralling cinematography, in such a way only Polanski can achieve.  Both Brosnan and McGregor deliver solid and compelling performances, although particular credit should go to Kim Cattrall and Tom Wilkinson for their strong supporting roles. 

The only slight annoyance comes in the form of the less-convincing British accent by Cattrall, although it is a flaw I will pass over because this is an outstanding movie, and one not to be missed.

"Drum roll pur-leeeease!"

In the top spot is Gideon’s Daughter (2005), written and directed by Stephen Poliakoff and features Bill Nighy, Miranda Richardson and Emily Blunt. 

Nighy plays a PR guru, Gideon Warner, in a BBC drama following the British public’s spirit following Labour’s election win in 1997 and the death of Princess Diana.  Gideon meets Stella (Richardson) on a journey of self discovered fuelled by his daughter Natasha’s (Blunt) threat to leave. 

Poliakoff is a master of visual imagery and expressing human relationships and this film does not disappoint.  If you fall in love with this, which you will, his Perfect Strangers (2001) should be next on your ‘to watch’ list.

Election (1999), directed by Alexander Payne, comes in at a close second.  This drama includes Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon and Chris Klein in its cast. 

Baby-faced Klein (American Pie) stars as a high school jock cajoled into standing against Tracy Flick (Witherspoon), star pupil at Carver High, by Social Studies teacher Jim McAllister (Broderick) in an election for student president. 

Jim and Tracy’s character flaws are played out in an uncomfortable and, at times, certificate 18 comedy.

Third on the list is director Alan J. Pakula's All The President’s Men (1976) starring Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford. 

Carl Bernstein (Hoffman) and Bob Woodward (Redford) are two journalists digging for Watergate scandal scoops that set this narrative about conspiracy and hypocrisy in motion. 

Night time meetings with unnamed informants keep the suspense alive in a film that otherwise studies the story-writing process.

Dustin Hoffman swaggers his way again into this top five bringing with him Mr Robert De Niro to feature in Barry Levinson's Wag The Dog (1997). 

Conrad Bean (De Niro), a spin doctor, and Stanley Motts (Hoffman), a Hollywood producer, work to cover up a sex scandal involving the President of the United States of America just weeks before an election. 

A fictional war is the men’s tool of choice and the film highlights the public’s belief in television as reality.

Finally, we reach All The King’s Men (2006) directed by Steven Zaillian.  The all-star cast for the most recent film on the rundown includes Sean Penn, Jude Law, Anthony Hopkins and Kate Winslet. 

When Jack Burden (Law) is asked to interview Willie Stark (Penn) he does not expect to become Stark’s right hand man.  Stark’s rise to Governor of Louisiana throws him into the lives of aristocrats Judge Irwin (Hopkins) and Anne Stanton (Winslet) as he gains support from the lower classes he tries to represent. 

Betrayal and conspiracy are the main themes in a film that improves once you get over Law’s American accent in the opening sequence.

Tell us what you think of the films by leaving a comment below!

Have you ever been to watch your mates play in a band and cringed the whole way through?  No?  Ever been dragged by your parents to hear a younger sibling in a school choir and thought, ‘it’s cute that they’re trying but please remove my ears!’? 

New play Pub Rock at the Lyric Hammersmith encompasses all of these feelings and this is the sheer beauty of it.  Not only do you feel uneasy because these people seriously think they are great at their job but they are doing their best to get the crowd going with their mediocre musicality.

The actors belt out rock and pop covers during a play that reveals the characters and their relationships while you pop to and fro from the bar whenever you feel like it.  Sounds too good to be true?  Well, it’s staged in a pub.  That’s right, an actual pub. 

For students struggling on a shoestring budget, the £10 ticket price plus travel and drinks might be a stretch too far.  This is the only downside however. 

Got a spare evening with nothing but watching reruns on Dave to do?  Splash out and treat yourself. Feel better because you went and got all cultured up. 

No-one ever needs to know you were tossing your hair around and singing your heart out in the process.

The Lyric takes part in the Free Theatre Tickets For Under 26s scheme so the £10 ticket cost could be blown out of the water.  Call the theatre on 0871 22 117 29 for more details.

Pub Rock runs until February 20.