Blazers are a gentleman’s style essential. For both smart and casual occasions, there’s always a place for a gentrified jacket to help promote one’s style and individuality, without going overboard.

Smart and understated, yet elegant and refined, the male blazer is the perfect garment of outerwear that every gent should take advantage of this coming autumn and winter.

A staple item in any gentrified dandy's wardrobe, here at Gentry Style, we’re going to take a look at our top five.

Boden Wool Blazer

 In Boden’s new male autumn range is this rather suave woollen blazer. Available in grey check, olive check, navy and brown herringbone, it is perfect to throw over a plain t-shirt or sweater, for those brisk Saturdays walking around London markets hunting for gifts in the run up to the festive period. Made with finest English fabrics and each lined with imperial purple, they are cut to compliment the male physique. With sharp shoulder pads and with a mid-length fitting, it allows a comfortable fit without drowning the wearer in wool.

Gieves Classic Single Breasted Navy Blazer

Made out of 100% wool, this blazer from the fine tailors at Gieves is classic style simplicity. Finely cut to fit, it is perfect to help dress up a polo shirt or dress down a smart shirt, allowing ultimate choice when it comes to achieving the smart-casual image. With slender arms and an added white handkerchief in the breast pocket, it oozes masculine elegance.

J.Crew Cashmere Ludlow Legacy Blazer

Made out of super soft cashmere, this blazer from J.Crew is one of their modernised Ludlow styled garments. With narrow lapels and a trimmer silhouette, it is ideal to pair with a light shirt and some beige chinos, for those casual trips to a gallery or a museum. Lined with high quality Bemberg lining, the interior has contrasting pick stitching and silk foulard trim at the welts. It’s a timeless jacket that would appeal to young and old alike, and it is sure to dandify any outfit it is worn with.

Norton and Sons Bespoke Tweed Jacket (Vintage)

Norton and Sons was established in 1821 and has grown to become one of the most respected tailors on Saville Row. All of their jackets are unique and tailor made to fit. Here we have a vintage piece from Norton and Sons. With red, blue and brown check, upon tweed, the jacket is the epitome of British prestige and heritage. Reminiscent of classic Sherlock Holmes, it is the ultimate jacket for the gentleman with a more refined and vintage tastes. Paired up with a check shirt and vintage tie, it will evoke English elegance. Paired with a polo shirt it can be used to create a contemporary gentleman’s look, effusing both classic and modern styles for fashionable individuality.

A.Sauvage

New British label A. Sauvage has unveiled their Autumn 2010 line, entitled ‘This Is Not A Suit’. With the theme of Captain, Adrien Sauvage has recruited the likes of Alex Turner and Bill Nighy (whom he considers captains of their art), to model some of his latest designs. A. Suavage aims to utilise the traditional suit and transform it into an outfit of individuality by radicalising it, but still maintaining an element of male elegance. With this single breasted country blazer he uses blue flannel Prince of Wales check. He pairs it with a pair of bright blue corduroy trousers, to create a unique and exciting outfit, suitable for those who are more creative and daring with their wardrobes.

Written By Lewis Corner

Post from: Gentry Style

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In a time when the public are quickly losing faith in the railway networks due to continuous delays and increasing ticket prices (yet no apparent increase in service quality); we’re going to take a look at five of the best train journeys, and attempt to recapture the romance, adventure and luxury that railway trains used to (and still can if you know where to look), possess.  

The Toy Train, New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling, India

With its status as a World Heritage Site, the Toy Train remains one of the most sacred vehicles in the steam engine industry. Travelling 30 miles from the steaming plains of Bengal to the edge of the Himalayas, the journey takes a staggering 9 hours, as the train never surpasses walking speed. This gives you plenty of time to take in the wonders of the Indian countryside, full of scenic landscape and sleepy villages. Built in 1881, its purpose was to escort the elite of the Raj out of an unbearably hot Calcutta to cooler climates. After gently chugging through India through the night, you are greeted towards the end of your journey by the sun, rising over Everest; a sight that a 9 hour train journey would definitely be worth sitting through.

The Blue Train, Cape Town to Pretoria, South Africa

 Built in 1946, The Blue Train is the longest established luxury train that still remains today. Its history is entwined with the gold and diamond discoveries of the 1940’s and 50’s, and continues to pass through the diamond capital of Kimberley. With recently refurbished carts, it offers exquisite luxury and comfort, while being able to take in the dusty plains of South Africa, with its plethora of Sahara trees and wild beasts. The experience is like a steam ran safari, allowing you to mix luxury travel with adventure.

The Deer Stalker Express, London Euston to Fort William, United Kingdom

At least there is still one train that can recapture the scenic beauty of the British countryside. The 21.05pm sleeper, allows you to depart from the busy and fast paced city chaos at Euston and wake up in the mountainous calm of the Scottish highlands. Looking out the windows in the morning you’ll be greeted by vast landscapes of deep purple heather and the occasional stag. The carriages are opulent, yet traditionally British, and are all pulled along by a vintage steam locomotive. With scones and tea on the menu, it gives the passenger the opportunity to rediscover the romance of classic British elegance at its best.

Oriental and Eastern Express, Bangkok to Singapore, Eastern Asia

The iconic Orient express is still in service today. Departing Bangkok, the magnificent and legendary steam engine glides through the tropical landscapes of Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. With scenery full orient mystery and adventure, on view are ancient temples, rubber plantations and rice paddies, as well as many bustling villages. One of the main attractions of the journey is the passing over the glorious river Kwai, with its rapid and glistening waters. The Orient Express is made up of 22 carriages, which includes 2 restaurants, an observation cart and 6 pullman cars. Ultimately it is a luxurious hotel on wheels. At night when the stars are on full view in the clear sky, fireflies can be seen wafting above the passing jungle’s canopy.

Le Train Bleu, Calais to Côte d’Azur, France

Although no longer in service, ‘Le Train Bleu’, as it was colloquially referred to, was a resplendent blue steam train that began in Calais and strolled through the night down to the warm and glamorous Côte d’Azur. Frequented by the British elite such as Charlie Chaplin and F. Scott Fitzgerald, they would stop off at Paris to pick up French contemporaries Cocteau and Coco Chanel. The service was exclusively first class, with an infamous haute cuisine five course meal to be enjoyed in the restaurant carriage. The aroma of fine French wines and flavoursome cheeses would have wafted throughout the refined and cultivated social atmosphere.  Dandy aesthetes and their ladies would visit French Riviera communes such as Grasse, to buy exclusive and unique fragrances. They would stop by perfume houses such as Molinard, which is still in business today, helping to cement Grasse as the international capital of fragrances. Other destinations the Blue Train would stop at include Cannes, Antibes and Monaco, still some the most glamorous and fashionable places in Europe today. In 1938 ‘Le Train Bleu’ was nationalised and added second and third class carriages, marking the end of its luxurious status and becoming one of many nocturnal trains headed for the south of France.

Written By Lewis Corner

Post from: Gentry Style

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Gentry takes a look at the 5 bests Polo Clubs in the world:

GUARDS POLO CLUB
Egham, Surrey, England

A summer playground for the British royals, landed gentry and social set, Guards is the largest polo club in Europe with 10 playing fields, an imposing clubhouse, and fabulous hospitality facilities that swing into action in April and gallop all the way through to mid-September.

It's Wimbledon with horses – champagne, afternoon teas, strawberries and cream, and social climbing.

(http://www.guardspoloclub.com)

EL METEJON POLO CLUB
Cañuelas, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

Argentines are passionate about polo, and matches in Argentina are heady mix of top equestrians, fabulous facilities and Latin glamour, attributes personified in to see top player and Ralph Lauren model Nacho Figueras.

Well-heeled fans from Buenos Aires travel forty minutes out of town to this beautiful club, which hosts tournaments from October to December, the highlight being the Argentine Polo Championship in late November.

The adjoining El Metejon Polo Resort, billed as Argentina's first polo hotel, will help soothe aching limbs with its wonderful health club, solarium, swimming pool and 12 elegant suites.

(http://www.elmetejon.com.ar)

THE CHANTILLY POLO CLUB
Aprement, Oise, France

If you're looking for a stylish day out from Paris, the Chantilly Polo Club is a frequent destination for members of Parisian haute société.

From the end of April to the beginning of October, the club opens its doors to members and visitors for an exciting season of tournaments, featuring some of the world's top players, and glittering social events.

Although founded in 1995, the club's spirit harks back to the 1920s when the Rothschild family set up a polo field on a farm in the postcard village of Apremont.

(http://www.poloclubchantilly.com)

NINE DRAGONS HILL POLO CLUB Shanghai, China

Polo has been popular in China since the time of the Tang Dynasty (617 – 908 A.D.), so we had to include Asia’s premier club on our list.

Located on the coast, just over an hour away from central Shanghai , the Nine Dragons Hill Estate also offers a 27 – hole golf course and a marina club. These combine gracefully with private villas and condos, all with views over both the ocean and the green hills from which the resort takes its name.

The Polo Club organises international tournaments from March through to November, inviting the world’s best polo and equestrianism players.

(http://www.ndhpolo.com/en/)

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Tee shirts give you the opportunity to wear your heart on your chest (which is where it is anyway, I suppose), so don't waste the opportunity to make the most of this sartorial billboard. It's a pretty sly way of letting everyone know you’re hip to the game. And the general rule is: the more obscure, the better.  But it has to be recognizable enough for everyone else to get it. So, here's how to tread the line:

5. BLUE OYSTER CULT

This "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" tee pays tribute to the undeniably classic single from the geekiest of hairy  occult rockers, BOC. Recently the influential New Yorkers have had their profile raised further by SNL's brilliant "more cowbell" skits. Check them out here. This is a natty little tee with that unmissible heavy metal colour scheme.

4. KRANG

The most inexplicable villain in the entire realm of kid's cartoons (a talking brain inside the stomach of a  robot), Krang's unexplained and forever unresolved anger issues made him the perfect foil for the clownish Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Perfectly gaudy for  Frisbee jaunts to the park this summer. You'll be hard to miss.

3. FLUX CAPACITOR

It's all about the detail. Isolating a powerful nugget of pop culture energy and letting loose in as subtle and unassuming way as possible. Here, a simple  text declaration of two of the 1980's most revelatory words really does the trick: "Flux Capacitor". Of  course, the Flux Capacitor is the machine Doc Brown dreamed up when he banged his head on a sink whilst changing a lightbulb. Doc Brown? You know, from Back to the Future.  That should spark the necessary wave of nostalgia.

2. OCP

That's "Omni Consumer Products", to you. The dystopian megacorporation from RoboCop has a cult following all  its own. They're the perfect distorted mirror image of today's Oppressive Capitalist Pigs (alternative name for OCP). Here's the company's mandate, a  fittingly sinister and frightfully familiar set of ambitions: "Take a close look at the track record of this company, and you'll see that we've gambled in markets traditionally regarded as non-profit: hospitals, prisons, oprhanages. I say good business is where you find it." Check out the all knowing OCP tees right here.

1. CLAY DAVIS

Fans of The Wire are fans of Clay Davis, the sweating, stammering, shameless icon of corruption. Famous for his deliciously delivered catchphrase  ("Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeit!") and his ability to negotiate himself free from the jaws of defeat, here's your  chance to spread the word. And it's sure to raise a smile. Slip this on and say "yes" to greasing the wheels.

If you've come across any other geeky tees, let us know.

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Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve, 20 Year

This 20-year-old is special: a whiskey-hound’s defining bottle – it’s deep, powerful and concentrated taste is beautiful.  Awarded 99 out of 100 by the trend-setters over at Beverage Tasting Institute, it's rich, buttery and nutty. A subtle sipper to be taken neat and definitely without ice. One problem: its popularity has made it rather rare, so be sure to save it for only the most special of occasions.

Price: Up to £70.

Eagle Rare, 17 Year

This is a wonderful, delicate expression of a bourbon and it comes a very close second to Pappy’s. Dry, leathery, and on more warming char, toffee, some spicyness, with a faint trace of marzipan. It’s a snifter only so don’t add water! Too delicate and aromatic to stand up to much mixing for most bourbon drinks, use something heavier and beefier to mix with. Of course, it’s good with a light bodied cigar. Again, you’ll have to move fast, this is one that collector’s go wild for.

Price: Up to £50

Booker's

This is the only uncut, unfiltered, straight-from-the-barrel, connoisseur's sipping bourbon available today… Broad-shouldered and traditional, this is a worthy memorial to a legendary whiskey. The sweet, berry flavour contrasts well with the hot, spicy burn. Each barrel that will become Booker's bourbon is aged in the very center of the rack-house where the temperature and humidity combines in the perfect proportion for one of the finest bourbons available.

Price: Up to £30

Black Maple Hill

Aged for an average of eight years, Black Maple Hill Small Batch Bourbon is bottled in small batches straight from Heaven Hill Distillery oak casks in Bardston, Kentucky. In spite of its affordable price, Black Maple Hill is a nicely smooth bourbon. A 95-proof liquor, it expectedly has a bit of heat but it's met with a surprisingly mellow and dry finish with hints of butterscotch and oak.

Price: Up to £25

Old Pogue Master Select

This bourbon has a history dating back to the years following the Civil War. In 1869, the orginal Pogue Ddistillery was established in Maysville Kentucky. Pogue ceased production due to Prohibition, but they did not forget how to craft excellent small batch bourbon. 45.5% alcohol. It smells wonderful (salt and cooked maple) and it goes down smooth: spiced vanilla mellowed with black tea. A welcome addition to the field (and Gentry’s already over populated liquor cabinet)!

Price: Up to: £45

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5. Jaws

The finest of page-turners meets its match in perhaps the greatest ever populist filmmaker, Steven Spielberg. Jaws is mean and lean thriller – a perfect representation of what paperback fiction—traditionally—is all about, because you can’t turn your attention from the action for even a second. In fact, complete within its own world, Jaws is one of the few “perfect” films of the genre (along with The Birds and The Thing), terrorizing the sense of security it so effortlessly creates. Spielberg’s golden touch helped shift hundreds of thousands more of Peter Benchley’s already best-selling novel – so there’s never been any complaints from the author about the vast changes to the original manuscript.   

4. The Big Sleep

The plot of The Big Sleep is so enjoyably complex that director Howard Hawks, the first and most successful of the filmmakers to adapt it for the movies, admitted that he never did understand who killed one of the characters—and when he telegraphed Chandler for clarification, Chandler himself was unable to provide a definitive answer. That aside, this is without doubt the definitive Raymond Chandler adaptation. The wet heat, the cracking dialogue and Bogart leaning into the crotch of every scene as an irrepressibly slick Marlowe – The Big Sleep is a fascinating noir and a singularly stylish piece of Hollywood storytelling from Hawks. Throw in a script by William Faulkner and Leigh Brackett and you’ve got a movie masterpiece that brings to life better the decadent L.A. so well sketched by Chandler.

3. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? / Blade Runner

One of the most perfectly realised, integrated visions of the future, Ridley Scott's masterpiece is a seamless transition from now to when: a deconstructed, impersonal world in which corporate interests have obliterated any social cohesion. Harrison Ford, as the transposed film noir detective, Deckard, stalks the rain swept belly of the metropolis, terminating replikants who are, in almost every way, more human than himself. At once visceral and literate, grave and romantic, Blade Runner is a vast improvement on Philip K Dick's visionary but unevenly comic novel. The gloomy, dreamy soundtrack from Vangelis echoes the theme of synthesis and processed emotion that reverbs through the film, the sodden, warped sounds haunting Deckard's every uncertain step into unknown territories. The film will stand as Ridley Scott's best work, reigniting a decaying genre and defining forever our imaginings of things to come.

2. Othello

Should I ever be strangled, be sure it will be by an enraged academic. And the reason? For the statement I’m about to relay: Orson Welles was as good as Shakespeare. Shock, horror, choke! Othello is as good a film in the hands of Orson Welles as it possibly could have been on the stage of any play house. Welles has, if anything improved on The Bard’s beguiling tale of power and envy. The funereal opening scene, the improvised bath-house scramble, Michael MacLiammoir as the insidious, lank-haired Iago, and the heart-crushing tenderness of Welles as he lingers over the dead body of Desdemona – Othello’s exploration of the rich themes is wretchedly compelling.  By some distance the most accomplished and inventive Shakespeare adaptation to date.  

1. Heart of Darkness / Apocalypse now 

Tapping the rich, throbbing vein that runs through Joseph Conrad’s novel, Apocalypse Now transforms the slight into the spectacular and the evocative into the epic. What's so effective about the film is the hallucinogenic incongruity of it—Coppola has created a stunning piece of historical imagery: a violent, pornographic dream—nightmare escaped from the mind of a bored, frightened, horny grunt. Kurtz could never be realized more effectively by any other force than that of Brando. Gigantic and mad, he looms over every frame, his senile ramblings and whirlpool of a mind sucking Willard further and further toward his inner void. A great novel bettered still by perhaps the greatest of all films.  

If you can think of any other books on film that should make the top 5, just let us know…

Mr. Paolo Cabrelli

Post from: Gentry Style

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If you’re not living your life in fundamentally the right way by now, you’re basically screwed.  But there are certain things you can do to slow the decline. Take note of Gentry’s 5 ways to improve your life in 2009 and next year could be 447% better for you.

MOVE
There’s no point slouching your way through another 52 wheezy weeks. This simple daily regime will fix you up in three months: 100 press-ups, 300 sit-ups, 30 squats and a 20 minute run. You will look better and feel better. Right body, right mind. Don’t think. Go do it.

READ
Fact: you don’t read enough. If truth be told, you’re reading less and less. Reading a great novel trains the mind, disciplines you, enlightens you. So, pledge to read one great book a month. Specifically: Tender is the Night, The Crying of Lot 49, Germinal, Rabbit Run, Our Mutual Friend, Don Quixote, The Black Sheep, The Scarlet Letter, Anna Karenina, The Sea Wolf, Manhattan Transfer.

WATCH
As above, but movies are even more transcendental and take up hardly any time. Cross these off your list and expand your tastes. You’ll be more interested and more interesting in every way: Lost Highway, The Lost weekend, The Magnificent Ambersons, Vertigo, Kiss me Deadly, Repulsion, The Bride of Frankenstein, Gaslight, Letter from an Unknown Woman, Diary of a Country Priest, Greed, L’Atalante.

GET RICH
The economy will continue to tank in 2009. Basically, you’re on your own. So, it’s time that great business idea you’ve been brewing, that great innovation or invention you’ve got tucked away, was unleashed. Without some way of hitting it big this year, you might shrivel. So, sit down with a pen and paper and come up with some ways to bring in the bucks. Just take an hour out of your life and think about it, You’ll be surprised what you can come up with.

BE DYNAMIC
Stop cheating on your girlfriend, start cheating on your boyfriend, change your name, fake your own death, beat someone up, quit your job, start your dream career, do something 2009 will remember you by. Make an impression. Whatever you’ve been holding back, let it go.

These fine points of wisdom will guarantee an exciting and meaningful year, at the very least.

Any more hot tips? Let us know… 

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No matter what your tastes might be, every discerning guest demands a little style and panache from their lodgings. We've chosen what we believe are the five best hotels in London – hotels that give you a little shiver when you pass through their doors.

1. CHARLOTEE STREET HOTEL

 Charlotte Street Hotel is situated in the media neighbourhood just north of Soho. It is a minute's walk from leafy Soho Square and the theatre district, within easy reach of the financial centre and is surrounded by some of London's most vibrant bars, restaurants and cafes. Designer Kit Kemp has used a 'Bloomsbury Group' theme throughout the hotel which features original art from the period and a mural in the brasserie reflecting scenes of 'contemporary London life'. The drawing rooms are in the spirit of Bloomsbury artists Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell who were influenced by Matisse and the more colourful French painters. This is the very best hotel we can imagine – a perfect representation of London in the 21st Century. 

Rooms range from £258.50 to £1351.25… 

15 Charlotte Street, North Soho, London. W1P 1RJ… Click here to learn more

2. BLAKES HOTEL george stephanopoulos zoloft

Created by Anouska Hempel, the London hotelier and internationally renowned designer, the hotel offers her style, elegance and sensational service to the well-travelled connoisseur. Blakes is now established as totally unique and has been the model for the "fashionable small hotel" in London and cities around the world. Respected for protecting the privacy of its clients against the paparazzi, it is the London base for film stars, musicians and all the top designers, earning its reputation as The "Couture" Hotel.

Rooms range from £172.50 to £1144.25… 

33 Roland Gardens, South Kensington, London. SW7 3PF…Click here to learn more

3. HAYMARKET HOTEL

Haymarket Hotel is situated on the corner of Haymarket and Suffolk Place in the heart of London's theatre district. It is next door to the famous Haymarket Theatre Royal and is surrounded by some of London's best restaurants and bars. The hotel is perfect for Mayfair, Regent Street and Jermyn Street shopping. Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery are just around the corner – St. James's Park is a short walk. The hotel is within easy reach of the city's financial centre.

Rooms from £334.88 to £464.13 

1 Suffolk Place, Haymarket, London. SW1Y 4BP…Click here to learn more 

4. No. 11 LONDON

Not your average Chelsea boutique hotel, No 11 London comprises of four revamped Victorian townhouses where antiques stand side-by-side with the cool, contemporary styling of Paul Davies. A firm favourite of the fashion pack, it owes much to its excellent location, just a stroll away from Sloane Street. No 11 London is an ideal place to unload and unwind after a shopping binge at designer stores like Prada, Hugo Boss and Tod's. A taste of the past, in the most modern of cities.

Rooms from £166.75 to £345.00 

11 Cadagon Gardens, Chelsea, London. SW3 2RJ…Click here to learn more 

5. HALKIN HOTEL

The Halkin is respected worldwide for its unrivalled standards of service, sophistication, contemporary design and style. It is the sister hotel of The Metropolitan on Park Lane, both of which were created and are owned by Christina Ong. The hotel is a sanctuary at a very discreet address where you can enjoy a five-star experience of quiet glamour, poised service and chic interiors. Reflecting the hotel's unfailing attention to detail, staff uniforms are designed by Giorgio Armani.

Rooms from £258.75 to £558.00

5-6 Halkin Street, Belgravia, London. SW1X 7DJ…Click here to learn more 

Any hotels you feel should be on our hot list of the best hotels in London? Just let us know… 

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Jo'berg, Jozi . . . Ever evolving, this vibrant city throbs to a heady, relentless beat. and now, with the 2010 world Cup looming, serious footie fans had better start booking. But that's not the only reason to visit this spirited city – just like Beirut, it's fast becoming one of the choice destinations for the discerning jet set. Here are the very best 5 star hotels in and around the great city…

1… Hotel Ten Bompas    

10 Bompas Road Dunkeld West Gauteng Johannesburg South Africa Quite simply: the best of the best. In a world where size is the standard measure of success, where me-too conformity leads the upwardly mobile masses, there is a haven of sanity and tranquility for the true individual – Ten Bompas Hotel. The en suite bathrooms are gorgeous and the rooms spacious and truly luxuriant. If you're looking for the total, high-end experience, this is it.

For more information, just click here…

 
2… The Westcliff

67 Jan Smuts Avenue Westcliff Johannesbourg 2193 South Africa

Situated in Johannesburg's most exclusive residential suburb, The Westcliff's hillside setting with cascading, sculpted gardens and elegantly opulent accommodation evoke a bygone era of leisure and refinement in one of the world's most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities. Notable also for its fantastic services for kids, including an adventurous junior itinerary.

For more information, just click here…

3… Saxon

Saxon PO Box 567 Saxonwold Johannesburg 2132 South Africa

Nestled in the exclusive Sandhurst suburb of Sandton, SAXON makes a world class statement of ethnic African elegance, combined with personalized attention to detail. SAXON has always been a place of welcome. First as a home, now a home away from home. Simple pleasures don;t get better than this.

For more information, just click here…

 
4… Intercontinental

CORNER FIFTH ST & ALICE LANE JOHANNESBURG 2146 SOUTH AFRICA 17

Exclusive hotel in the heart of Sandton, Johannesburg’s premier residential and business district, with a direct link to Sandton City, South Africa's premier shopping complex. Superbly placed for business, it is also the ideal base for golf lovers. Several of South Africa’s major courses are within a 50-kilometre radius. You know what to expect from the Intercon – and you get it every time.

For more information, just click here…

5… Park Hyatt Johannesburg     

191 Oxford Road Rosebank 2196 PO Box 1536 Saxonwold 2132 Republic of South Africa

A world-class hotel for the discerning traveller. Park Hyatt Johannesburg, situated in the leafy, cosmopolitan suburb, Rosebank, north of Johannesburg, is the epicentre of the African renaissance on this dynamic continent. Park Hyatt Johannesburg is centrally located in one of Johannesburg's most important social and business districts. Pay attention to the reputation — worth every penny.

The Book of Eli dvd

For more information, just click here…

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5. PERFORMANCE (Nicholas Roeg and Donald Cammell, 1970)

"Performance" is a whacky story of two completely different worlds – crime and bohemian. Chas (James Fox) is an East London gangster who escapes the criminal scene and lodges at the queer palace of retired rock star Turner (Mick Jagger) and his two lithe female companions (one of which is the giorgeous Anita Pallenberg). They guide the hard man-in-exile through a disturbing journey of self–discovery that leads to merger of Chas’ and Turner’s personalities. Jagger and Fox are perfect in this utterly insane mood piece.

4. THE FALLEN IDOL (Carol Reed, 1948)

There are lies and lies,” mumbles Baines, butler to the French Ambassador, to his severe, sadistic wife, “and some lies are just kindness.” The shifting importance of truth is the subject of Carol Reed’s incredible domestic thriller, a theme with which the characters seem to have a desperate, frightful relationship. A year before he directed "The Third Man", Reed took his fluid, uniquely perceptive camera into the home, with fantastic success. A cruel and astute script from Graham Greene, brought to life by Ralph Richardson's greatest ever performance.

3. IRINA PALM (Sam Garbarski, 2007)

If "naughty granny" was a genre, then this would be its "Citizen Kane". Marianne Faithfull plays Maggie, a middle-class suburban widow preparing to settle into a meek and marginal old age. Maggie has a few friends, but her great love is for her grandson, Olly, whose life is threatened by an illness that can be cured only by an experimental treatment available in Australia that his family can’t afford. So, Faithful innocently answers an ad and finds herself ensconced in the cozy, comical underworld of prostitution. She becomes a sensation, the best "glory-hole" girl Soho's ever known! This is an absolutely barmy piece of filmmaking that MUST be seen to be believed.

2. NIL BY MOUTH (Gary Oldman, 1997)

Gary Oldman's brutal depiction of South London scumbags is a true masterpiece of underclass cinema. Ray Winstone puts in a performance to rival de Niro in "Raging Bull" and Cathy Burke will never do anything better – a career high for all involved. But there's no sermonising or romanticising here, just a sad, clear-eyed acknowledgement that domestic abuse and crime create a vicious circle from which many barely even try to escape. Shot and scripted in a deceptively casual, bleakly 'realist' style, it's the closest Britain has produced to a Cassavetes film, and as such, profoundly humane.

1. REPULSION (Roman Polanski, 1965)

Still perhaps Polanski's most perfectly realised film, a stunning portrait of the disintegration, mental and emotional, of a shy young Belgian girl (Deneuve) living in London. When she's left alone by her sister in their Kensington flat, she becomes reclusive and retreats into a terrifying world of fantasies and nightmares which find murderous physical expression when she is visited by a would-be boyfriend and her leering landlord. Polanski employs a host of wonderfully integrated visual and aural effects to suggest the inner torment Deneuve suffers: cracks in pavements, hands groping from walls, shadows under doors, rotting skinned rabbits, and – as in Rosemary's Baby – the eerie, ever-present sound of someone practising scales on a piano. All in all, one of the most intelligent horror movies ever made, and certainly one of the most frighteningly effective.

Can you think of any we've missed out? Let us know below.

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