Lester's Finest
My vote for Richard Lester's best film (and he made several worth keeping) is this taut suspense thriller, an instant classic of that genre. Dark, cynical, nail-biting, but imbued with Lester's wit and redemptive spirit, this is a lesson in how to make a thriller that matters. It showcases a remarkable number of great British actors, including young Anthony Hopkins and Ian Holm, just beginning to hit their stride. The best thing about this film is its smart script by Richard Alan Simmons and Alan Plater, whose true-to-character dialogue invites masterful performances by all (and gives Lester regular Roy Kinnear his finest moment). TERROR ON THE BRITTANIC is a stupid title for this lamentably forgotten masterpiece, a true JUGGERNAUT that should be seen by everyone who cares about film.