Terrible news about English filmmaker Anthony Minghella's death. Some criticized him for the high-gloss of his pictures, but really that just seemed emblematic of a certain admirable style, a visual elegance that was traditional and constant in today's jump cut, shaky camera auteur scene. In the films he wrote and directed, from the supernatural romance Truly Madly Deeply, to his masterpiece The Talented Mr. Ripley, to his last, curious effort Breaking & Entering, Minghella (who also produced and worked extensively in television) showed the passion of a true devotee of the medium. His technique may have lacked a certain zingy flair, but that was made up for by a refreshing lack of cynicism. Minghella's films brimmed with sincerity, a commodity that, especially today, feels pretty rare. After the jump, find some clips of his work.

Minghella's first film, Truly Madly Deeply (1990)

Having the foresight to cast a young Mary-Louise Parker in Mr. Wonderful (1993)

The beginning of the end of The English Patient (1996)

A brutal, beautiful scene from Mr. Ripley (1999)

Reunion scene in Cold Mountain (2003)

Trailer for Breaking & Entering (2006)

(Highly recommend seeing. Even if you don't end up loving it, it's still beautifully composed.)