Have You Seen...?

David Thomson's Biographical Dictionary of Film is pretty essential for any serious film buff. Yet this is the first time that Thomson has produced the obvious companion, a series of essays on individual films. And, as expected, it's highly opinionated, and highly entertaining. It's limited to 1000 films, so it's not the essential film reference book (that'd be the Halliwell's Film Guide) but it's an ideal book to browse through if you've any interest in the movies. Part of the fascination is in seeing what Thomson selects, having limited himself to 1000 films. All the essential selections are there, but there are some fascinating choices too, like Black Legion, a film where Humphrey Bogart plays against type as a man who is drawn into the Ku Klux Klan. Elsewhere, the interest is in Thomson's very detailed views - his criticisms of Lawrence of Arabia are fascinating. Incredibly absorbing for film fans, fascinating for anyone with even a passing interest in film. [Keir Hind]