One of the year's best

Rating: 9/10 (31 July 2006)

Excellent. Plain and simple. The story is that of a terrorist, V (An Oscar nod is in order for Hugo Weaving), who drags a civilian (Natalie Portman, pulling off a convincing British accent) into his guerilla war with a totalitarian government. The many taboos (abusive priests, gay sex) that are brought up in the film service the story, as opposed to simply fueling a political fire. The fights are directed with panache by James Mcteigue, who makes a first rate debut, and the set design is appropriately gloomy. The soundtrack carries the film, and it manages to have a beating heart beneath the political propaganda. V gets my vote.