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Of all the films I've seen this year (I'm writing this review in December 2010) A 20 plus year old movie has been the biggest surprise. First because I consider myself someone who's seen "everything" and although I had heard the title I never actually got to see it, until last night. Second because in a most unexpected way the film deals with themes that must have appeared way ahead of its time in 1988. The language of the film is consistent, never lets go. The central character Adrian, played magnificently by Colin Firth - also ahead of his time - lives his life where the only points of reference are movies. That's why some people called it "derivative" Well, duh...the character doesn't have anything else, that's why the tone of the movie changes according to his state of mind and his state of mind grows darker and darker. We can spot flashes of romantic comedies, thrillers, horror. From Truffaut to Bunuel to Polanski to Hitchcock. The gallery of characters also come, not just from different countries but from different schools of acting and thought. Douglas Sirk, Jean Pierre Melville and back to Polanski and Hitchcock. I was enthralled from beginning to end.

Just when I thought Jim Carrey couldn't surprise me anymore, even if he tried...bang! "I Love You Phillip Morris" Here Jim Carrey creates the most complex and complete character of his career. A bisexual co-man of all things. An amoral guy who finds love and when I say "finds" we see him finding it. The romantic entanglement of Carrey and McGregor is a real first because we, even the ones who don't quite get the same sex thing, gets it. I saw the love between this two men and I believed it. "Brokeback Mountain" was easier to believe because the tragedy filled with deceit and self loathing fit perfectly with what I, and many others I suspect, believe that kind of union may involve. Here I saw romance in Ewan McGregor's eyes. His disbelief that somebody loves him is out of "The Nights Of Cabiria" - I will certainly see this again.