If you thought Rickman's Snape was as devastating as his career ever got, you're obviously not amongst those who have seen the beautiful, poignant romantic tragedy that is Truly, Madly, Deeply. Roger Ebert famously called the film "Ghost for grown-ups", and the parallel is an appropriate one. Rickman plays Jamie, a cellist who dies but returns as a ghost to continue his relationship with his girlfriend (the equally excellent Juliet Stevenson). As the "haunting" unfolds, Jamie's behaviour becomes insufferable and Nina finds herself growing closer to someone else, while wrestling with her commitment to Jamie. It's a beautifully subtle romance, and when the reveal comes that Jamie returned to Nina to consciously help her get over him, the emotional uppercut is heavyweight quality. The film is rightly considered Anthony Minghella's best, and were it not for two iconic villain roles, it would have easily deserved top billing here.
