V for Vendetta

James McTeigue, 2005 (9.0*)
My favorite film of the Washowski Brothers (Matrix Trilogy). Natalie Portman runs across a wanted revolutionary (Hugo Weaving behind the mask) and becomes involved in his world in this future dystopean society sf film, a time after some mysterious event has unleashed a virus on the population. We find out more about this event as the plot unfolds, as it's integral to sowing the seeds of revolution.

The uniformly excellent cast includes Stephen Rea and John Hurt as "The Leader", who need no name. This is a tight science fiction story that’s a parable of independence, and super special effects make this one of the top sf films.