FILM: THE FIVE BEST FILMS

1

The Straight Story (U)

David Lynch steadies the wheel and dabs on the brakes for this warm, folksy road-movie with a difference. Richard Farnsworth is the genial old salt heading Wisconsin way atop his little green tractor.

2

Ratcatcher (5)

Set in the rubbish-strewn wilds of Seventies Govan, Lynne Ramsay's debut paints a haunting portrait of everyday childhood madness. Quite simply, it's the best British film we've seen all year.

3

The World is Not Enough (2)

Leaping off a dazzling pre-credits sequence comes the best Bond in decades. Pierce Brosnan has his hands full tackling Sophie Marceau's lissome heiress and a shaven-headed Robert Carlyle.

4

Alice et Martin (5)

Andre Techine's good-looking redemption play swings between Alex Loret's angsty male model and Juliette Binoche's pensive older woman. Paris, Granada and provincial France flit by in the background.

5

Fight Club (8)

David (Seven) Fincher's anarchistic roller-coaster of a movie is flawed but fascinating; almost Ali-like in its loud-mouthed wit and quicksilver-cool. Ed Norton and Brad Pitt play their roles at top volume.