A Pure Formality (1994)

Much like Barton Fink, this is a movie for writers. Not only is it brilliantly written, but it is also about a writer who is confronted about what he writes. And although this might not seem like the most jaw dropping premise for all you non-writers out there, let me tempt you by saying it's also somehow a suspenseful thriller.

The gloomy mood throughout the film, and a vortex of a script, has the distinct feel of a Roman Polanski movie, but it was actually directed by Italian wonder-boy Giuseppe Tornatore, most famous for the wondrous Cinema Paradiso.

Mr. Polanski stars in it though, and proves that not only is he one of our times most ingenious directors, he also knows a thing or two about acting. Playing opposite living legend Gérard Depardieu, sparks fly across the screen as these two lock their horns together. The performances are so brilliant, I can only compare it to Kevin Spacey's breakthrough in The Usual Suspects.

The ending is a bit passé, and has been done to death since A Pure Formality first came out, but that doesn't really matter. This is a film where it's the journey, and not the destination, that will have you in awe.

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