Cary Elwes

“Well, of course, one of the first movies I saw on the screen, in London when I was living on my own, was Battle of Algiers, Gillo Pontecorvo. Basically takes us through how Algeria found its independence through this gritty, incredible movie. Once you’ve seen it, you’re never the same again. No one’s ever made anything like it. It’s a classic, so we’re keeping that, thank you.”

“One of my favorites: Fellini, Roma. Why do I love Fellini? Fellini… All his films are like dreams. He used to write down his dreams, as soon as he woke up in the morning, because he wanted his films to feel… have that ethereal feel, and he said moviemaking and movies are the closest things we have to dreaming, and so all of his films are like fever dreams. And I just love this. Roma’s incredible. Every extra is a star in this movie. It’s fabulous. Okay.”

“Bob Fosse, All That Jazz. This is one of the great movies of all time. This guy only made a handful of films and they’re all just brilliant, and also kind of like a fever dream. Roy Scheider is going through terrible personal life and he’s trying to put on a musical at the same time and… Yeah, amazing film, beautifully shot.”

“The Hit. Yes. Stephen Frears. Oh my God. This is one of my favorite, favorite movies. Every time it’s on, I dare you try and flip the channel if it’s on TV. This is a beautiful film, and it’s about a guy who’s on the run. He’s in the witness-protection program, Terence Stamp, he’s sent to Spain and given a new identity, and then he has to deal with the fact that John Hurt and Tim Roth have been sent to kill him. And it’s fabulous. It’s a great look at the British underworld and gang life and… everything. It’s so great, and Terence is brilliant in this. As is Tim Roth, it’s his first role. John Hurt, can never go wrong with John Hurt.”

“Okay, one of the films that defined me growing up. First time I saw Carol Reed directing. All of his films are brilliant, but Odd Man Out is one of my favorites. I mean, James Mason, what a beautiful, beautiful film. This guy also on the run from the law. Belfast. Part of a robbery that goes wrong and he finds himself on the street, ends up with Robert Newton. God. This film is a film noir. It’s just beautiful. And Carol Reed was just one of my favorites. Just a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful filmmaker. Just extraordinary. Every film of his are classics. A keeper.”