JOHN Malkovich's directorial debut is every bit as good as fans of the great actor had hoped.

Based on Nicholas Shakespeare's fictionalised account of a South American country riddled with corruption, the film expertly blends suspenseful thriller, intense political drama and intelligent, mature romance as an honest cop tries to balance the demands of his senior officers with his wellrounded and deeplyfounded scruples.

His moral agonies are not made any easier by his being unfaithful to his shallow, ambitious wife as he embarks in hungry pursuit of an enigmatic dance teacher.

Javier Bardem (star of Jamon Jamon and Before Night Falls) headlines with support from Juan Diego Botto and Laura Morante.

see it at Rex (Fri-Mon only)