A refreshingly mature gangster movie from Australia. Characterisation, themes and plot dominate Animal Kingdom and leave no room for the usual childish romanticisation.
Crime
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest
Everything comes together nicely in a final instalment of the Millennium trilogy that oozes thrills, class and memorable moments.
This is England
After a few tentative hits Shane Meadows reached his peak with this tender yet harrowing movie about skinheads in 1980s England. Quite possibly the best British film of the Noughties. Sorry, I’ve probably made Harry Potter cry now. Shut up and cut your hair, you’re not a Beatle.
Burke and Hare
John Landis’ big screen comeback is a strange one. Mixing serial killing, comedy and a glut of actors not speaking in their natural accents are risks that don’t quite pay off.
Bronson
A frustrating biopic of ‘Britain’s most dangerous prisoner’ that’s redeemed sightly by Hardy’s brilliant performance and a quality Eighties soundtrack.
Freight
Freight is notable mainly for the fact that it’s only the second ever film I’ve seen set in my unremarkable home town of Leeds. After getting over this shock I was just treated to clichés, a poorly thought out storyline and dialogue and a little bit of serviceable action.