riverofgiraffes's - Rented List

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It is 1827. Beethoven is dead and the whole of Vienna is mourning. For his friend Anton Schindler (Jeroen Krabbe) it is the start of a strange search.

In his will Beethoven has left all his worldly goods to his "Immortal Beloved" and Schindler takes it upon himself to discover this person’s identity. His search takes him on a fascinating journey into the mysterious life of the legendary composer and his artistic and romantic passions. A life that is once tragic and inspirational; obsessive and romantic; lived by a man best by his own genius an its tumultuous consequences.

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In Melville's self-confessed 'love letter to Paris', the world-weary hero weaves his way through a stylised Parisian underworld, a failed gambler wearing a trench coat and a gentleman's code of honor.

His pursuit of the ultimate heist takes him on a journey from the Sacre Coeur to Montmartre and Pigalle. Encountering betrayal, secrets and a dangerously seductive young girl, Bob Le Flambeur seeks to carry out his one final crime, despite warnings from L'inspecteur, his loyal friend yet adversary.

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Set amidst the glittering theatre world of 19th century Paris, the story revoles around the beautiful and free-spirted courtesan, Garanace, and the four men who compete for her affections; a mime-artist, an actor, an aristocrat and a criminal.

As the melodrama unfolds, we are treated to one of cinema's greatest love stories, a captivating tale of passion, deception and murder.

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The extended edition (over 40 extra minutes) of the second film in Peter Jackson's epic big screen adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy. The Fellowship of the Ring has now divided and Sam and Frodo are lost in the hills of Emyn Muil.

They are also being followed by Gollum,a creature who promises to help them find the Mountain of Doom. Meanwhile Aragorn,Legolas and Gimli search for the hobbits Merry and Pippin in the Kingdom of Rohan,which is currently being attacked by Saruman's orc armies. Gandalf returns as Gandalf the White to remind Aragorn of his destiny to unite the people of Rohan with Gondor. Whilst the Fellowship are not travelling together they must unite against the powerful forces coming from the Two Towers: Orthanc Tower in Isengard where Saruman has bred a deadly army of 10,000,and Sauron's fortress at Barad-dûr.

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Following the destruction of the Death Star, Imperial forces pursue the Rebel Alliance to the ice planet Hoth. After a devastating defeat, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) journeys to the planet Dagobah to train with the Jedi Master Yoda.

Meanwhile, in the Cloud City of Bespin, Darth Vader attempts to lure Luke into a trap by kidnapping Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher). When Luke comes to their rescue, he must fight a fierce lightsaber duel with Darth Vader himself and come face to face with a stunning revelation that could change his destiny.

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Based on the infamous Johnson County War of 1892, Michael Cimino's epic western is now hailed as a masterpiece of American cinema...Harvard graduate James Averill (Kris Kristofferson) has returned to Wyoming as a Marshall and is facing a county with growing divisions and escalating tensions.

The powerful, government-backed cattle barons are waging war on the immigrant settlers they brand 'thieves and anarchists' and are drawing up a 'death list' for their hired mercenaries to act upon. As hostilities mount, the inevitability of a full-scale and bloody war edges ever closer.

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When a lethal airborne virus with the power to wipe out humanity is unleashed, the worldwide medical community races to find a vaccine and stop the panic from spreading. This edge-of-your-seat thriller follows the deadly path of a virus that is beyond containment.

Researchers for disease control, the military, the World Health Organisation and ordinary civilians mobilise to try and find a cure and the cause before it's too late.

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Director's, extended cut of the famous fantasy adaptation. In part one of the fantasy trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien. Frodo (Elijah Wood) is a hobbit living in the Shire, a quiet, peaceful part of Middle Earth.

When it turns out that his elderly relative Bilbo (Ian Holm) is harbouring the ultimate Ring of Power and the evil Nazgul riders of Sauron, The dark Lord of Mordor, are coming to find it, Frodo is entrusted by wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) to deliver the Ring out of the Shire without it falling into their hands. Frodo leaves the Shire aided by his cousins Merry (Dominic Monaghan), Pippin (Billy Boyd) and trusty friend Sam Gamgee (Sean Astin), but they soon realise that the agents of Mordor are everywhere and that their trip is far from over. Once they reach the Elvish realm of Rivendell the Hobbits form part of the anti-Sauron fellowship, which includes Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), Boromir (Sean Bean), Legolas Greenleaf (Orlando Bloom), Gimli the dwarf and of course Gandalf. Together they must battle across Middle Earth to destroy the Ring by casting it into the Cracks of Doom, the fiery chasm in the centre of Mordor.

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Louise (Pascale Ogier) lives with Remi (Tchéky Karyo) in Marne-la-Vallee. He is an architect, she is an interior decorator. Their lives would be perfect if Remi were less of a homebody, and if Louise were not such a night owl.

Conscious of preserving her independence, Louise rents a pied-a-terre in Paris. Octave (Fabrice Luchini), her friend and confidante, is always ready to accompany her during her night prowls. One evening, beneath a full moon, and Octave's jealous, loving gaze, she succumbs to the charms of a sensual dancer. As day breaks she realises, however, that she would much rather be with Remi.

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Will Ferrell is Ron Burgundy, a top-rated 1970's San Diego anchorman who believes women have a place in the newsroom - as long as they stick to covering fashion shows or late-breaking cooking stories.

So when Ron is told he'll be working with a bright young newswoman (Christina Applegate) who's beautiful, ambitious and smart enough to be more than eye candy, it's not just a clash of two TV people with really great hair - it's war! Filled with wicked wit and slapstick humour, 'Anchorman' is the year's most wildly irreverent, must-see comedy hit!

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Although a brilliant, classical pianist from an intellectual, well-to-do family - Robert Dupea (Jack Nicholson) has made a career out of running from job to job and woman to woman.

Presently working in an oil field, Dupea spends most of his free time downing beers, playing poker and being noncommittal with his sexy but witless girlfriend Rayette (Karen Black). But when he is summoned to his father's deathbed, Dupea returns home with Rayette, where he meets and falls for a sophisticated woman. Now caught between his conflicting lifestyles, the gifted but troubled Dupea must face issues that will change his life forever.

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From writer/director J.C. Chandor comes "A Most Violent Year", a riveting crime thriller set in New York City during the winter of 1981, the most dangerous year in the city's history.

Starring Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain, this gripping story shows one man's determined battle to build his business in the midst of corruption and mob rule whilst protecting his family, without resorting to the violence that surrounds them.

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Gerry (Ben Mendelsohn) is a talented but struggling poker player, about to be swallowed up by his unshakable gambling habit, when his luck begins to change after he meets the young, charismatic Curtis (Ryan Reynolds).

Gerry convinces his new lucky charm to hit the road with him towards a legendary high stakes poker game in New Orleans, and an undeniable bond forms between them. Also starring Sienna Miller, Mississippi Grind is a bittersweet road movie about friendship and the refusal to give up - even when the odds are stacked against you.

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Sold by her impoverished mother to Zampano (Anthony Quinn), a brutish fairground wrestler, waif-like Gelsomina (Giulietta Masina) lives a life of drudgery as his assistant.

After taking to the road with a travelling circus, a budding relationship with II Matto/The Fool (Richard Basehart), a gentle-natured, tightrope walking clown, offers a potential refuge from her master's clutches. Trapped by her own servile nature, Gelsomina waivers, and Zampano's volcanic temper erupts with tragic consequences. Characteristically mingling elements of biography with metaphor and symbolism, 'La Strada' also combines an easygoing charm with a far harder edged realism in the form of domestic violence and decaying, desolate towns. Masina - Fellini's wife - is astonishing in the central role and what with the evocative Nino Rota score and Otello Martelli's ravishing photography, it's little wonder that 'La Strada' was the winner of the first official Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Ma has created a whole universe in 'Room' for five-year-old Jack, where they have both lived for Jack's whole life. But when Ma decides they have to escape, she risks everything to give Jack the chance to make a thrilling discovery: the world.