The Battle of Algiers (1965)

Powerful look at the state of modern revolution. It clearly sides with the revolutionaries (which leads to some weird mixed feelings), but at the same time it's a thoughtful consideration of both involved parties -- it's not a hatchet job. The character of the French colonel is especially well-constructed. Instead of a tyrant or a cardboard villain, he's a reasonable guy who knows and respects what he's up against and knows what he has to do to achieve his goals. Provides, quite literally, a textbook definition of Hitchcock's delineation between suspense and surprise -- the suspense in a number of scenes could peel the paint off walls.

Grade: A-