Tulitikkutehtaan tyttö (The Match Factory Girl, 1990)

One of Aki Kaurismaki's more depressing films, Kati Outinen plays a quiet girl who works all day in a match factory, brings the money home to her parents, then goes out to dance and ends up not getting picked. Just when we feel she might have found some happiness things take a considerable turn for the worse. Thanks to Kaurismaki's brilliant sense of irony there is a constant touch of humour beneath everything - with such stylised performances it's hard to take anything too seriously. In a way there is a happy ending, but certainly not of your Hollywood variety. Miserable but touching.

The Other Side of the Mirror (2007)

A very natural concert film documenting Bob Dylan's appearances at the Newport Folk Festival at the very beginning of his career when he quickly changed from young idealistic protest singer to abstract rock pioneer. The performances are allowed to speak for themselves with minimal editing or camerawork. The result is that we feel very much as though we were there, watching interrupted performances from the perfect vantage point, except the bonus here is that we can see Dylan's evolution over a much shorter time as quickly detect how he was developing beyond the folk scene - even down to his appearance. Illuminating for any Dylan fan.

A Skin, A Night (2008)

This hour long documentary on New York band, The National, is intriguingly arty and features good music (if you like the band) but it doesn't reveal much at all. There are very few performances, a few shots of the band in the studio, a few short interviews. On the whole we simply watch the band feeling awkward on camera and in the process of nearly recording their album - not great.

Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006)

Another easily watchable Ice Age comedy, albeit with some slightly forced jokes and a complete disregard for biological accuracy. At times it will only appeal to children but also, as is typical in modern cartoons, there's a few parts that'll go over their heads - though not as intelligent as the bulk of Pixar films. Unfortunately there's a bit of a missed opportunity, in that the film is set at the point when the Ice Age comes to an end and the huge walls of ice surrounding the animals' home begin to melt. If the film had wanted to be a little moralistic and current, it could have attempted to address the problem of global warming. Perhaps that would have contrived in what is really just a bit of fun.

Batman Begins (2005)

As much as Chris Nolan might have been trying to create a very real superhero film, he can't escape the preposterousness of this plot. I would personally be much happier to accept that Bruce Wayne is simply extremely rich has bought himself a rather impressive technical get-up to go and fight crime but as he's presented here, being trained in martial arts in the Himalayas by a mysterious organisation, his history seems rather contrived, cliched and ridiculous.

The idea of him utilising his own fears to intimidate criminals is rather interesting but the fact that this involves an artificial scary voice again serves to make him faintly cartoonish, rather than the 'real' character that Nolan was trying to reveal. I wasn't especially impressed by Christian Bale (Michael Keaton is still the best) but then I don't think he's been any good since 'Empire of the Sun'. As far as Batman films go it's not bad, with impressive fight scenes, a budget-busting supporting cast and a fun new Batmobile, but it wasn't enough to convince me that comic book adaptations can ever make worthy films.

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)

Having seen this a few time it does quickly lose some of its humour, although it was never quite a 'Zoolander' or an 'Anchorman'. There are still a few moments of comic brilliance - mainly in Ben Stiller's repulsive performance - my own favourite being Lance Armstrong's cameo. The most noticeable thing, though, is how quickly the plot goes by, which means fairly obvious characterisation and and a very unsubtle narrative arc in which it's clear the heroes will inexplicably manage to come through and save the day. The better comedies or recent times have succeeded because they've been so arbitrary and unexpected, but 'Dodgeball' is unfortunately extremely predictable.

This Movie Is Not Yet Rated (2006)

Illuminating documentary on the mysterious way in which the American ratings system operates, favouring studios against independent filmmakers and suppressing sexual content rather than violence. It's shocking to discover that all films in America are rated by 'normal' parents with no professional qualifications, although they are not appointed according to the rules the MPAA have set out themselves. The appeals process also appears to be biased and the film argues that the First Amendment is under threat by this secret organisation led by the self-grandising Jack Valenti for almost 40 years.

With both interviews with filmmakers who have suffered at the hands of the MPAA, and an amusing side-plot featuring a private detective attempting to uncover the identities of the raters, the film succeeds in being both entertaining and revealing, although it unfortunately probably won't change much for the average, independent, art film director.

Fanny Hill (1983)

Rather cheap and exploitative version of the classic romp that doesn't take itself at all seriously, providing some titillating sex scenes and a few vaguely comic moments. The performances are surprisingly not too bad, with appearances from Oliver Reed and Shelley Winters, and even the attractive lead, Lisa Raines, does quite well despite her frequent nudity. Unfortunately everything else about the film seems totally artificial and contrived - but who's paying attention to that!

Vampyros Lesbos: Die Erben des Dracula (Vampiros Lesbos, 1971)

Rather poor and nonsensical lesbian vampire film that has somehow become a cult classic, presumably simply because it features lesbian vampires and for no other reason. Still, the soundtrack is fascinatingly bizarre, if a little inappropriate, with wild psychedelic jazz one moment and strange robotic murmuring the next. Elsewhere, the attention to detail is appalling, the plot confusing and the performances poor. Not quite the hidden gem it was portrayed as.

Sud sanaeha (Blissfully Yours, 2002)

A wonderful slow-paced and dreamy paean to summer laziness, featuring a Burmese man and a Thai woman who subtly disobey the rules of society and skip work to go picnicking in the forest and swimming in a stream. Nothing really happens and the film is extremely slow at some points (holding a shot on a sleeping girl for five minutes) but it's extremely atmospheric and involving, and so cleverly subversive. Director Apichatpong Weerasethakul ('Joe' to his friends) has become one of my favourites in recent years with his experimental and dreamlike films that are so close to reality and yet like no other filmmaker around today.

Killer's Kiss (1955)

Coming soon...

Jag ar nyfiken - en film i gult/blatt (I Am Curious (Yellow/Blue), 1967/68)

Coming soon...

The Lonely Guy (1984)

Coming soon...

Anger Management (2003)

Coming soon...

Gotter der Pest (Gods of the Plague, 1970)

Coming soon...

On The Town (1949)

Coming soon...

The Mission (1986)

Coming soon...

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Coming soon...

Lolita (1962)

Coming soon...

Ariel (1988)

Coming soon...

Control (2007)

Coming soon...

Anatomy of a Murder (1959)

Coming soon...

All Quiet On The Western Front (1930)

The harrowing true story of a group of young schoolfriends who join up to fight in the trenches of the First World War only to find it doesn't live up to their romantic idyll of warfare. Some moments may seem dated now, such as the slightly sped up action scenes, but the horrors of war are even more striking being portrayed in a time before special effects, when these events were still fresh and were to reoccur a decade later.

United 93 (2006)

Intense and powerful drama following the events of 9/11 from onboard the one plane that didn't hit a target, as well as throwing us into the confusion of the various air traffic control teams. Brilliantly executed with a lack of sentiment and judgement, allowing us to forget our opinions and become immersed in the tragedy as it unfolds.

Following (1998)

Low budget, overly complicated thriller with touches of philosophy but poor performances. Nonetheless, demonstrates good flair from a young filmmaker who can now be found making Batman Movies (obviously has a good ten year plan).

John Tucker Must Die (2006)

Very American teen comedy that finds a few laughs but ultimately fails to reach a climax and convey any moral tale.

300 (2006)

Macho (and slightly homoerotic) comic book version of Spartan legend that sacrifices the majority of a personal story for spectacle and freakshow-like wonderment, with more than a few elements of 'Lord of the Rings'.

Baby Mama (2008)

Light comedy about motherhood which fails to take its issues seriously enough whilst providing only a few laughs.

Something's Gotta Give (2003)

Aged romantic comedy with warmth and good performances but with an overbearing sentimentality and the general feelig that it may have been better under the helm of a more talented director.

Funny Ha Ha (2002)

Lo-fi tale of young Americans that successfully represents the counter-culture without being self-indulgent or alienating. An encouraging film for a young director.

Golem, l'esprit de l'exil (Golem, The Spirit of the Exile, 1992)

Complex film transporting Jewish religious myths to present day Paris, creating some memorable cinematic moments but ultimately a confusing and only half-successful plot. Still, with the involvement of Sam Fuller, Bernardo Bertolucci, Philippe Garrel, Hanna Schygulla, Vittorio Mezzogiorno, Henri Alekan, Agnes Godard, Mireille Perrier, Marisa Paredes and music from the sons of Karlheinz Stockhausen - all under the watchful eye of Amos Gitai - you know this has to be something special.

Pal Joey (1957)

Classic musical (Frank Sinatra, Rita Hayworth, Kim Novak) but not particularly memorable.

The First Wives Club (1996)

Rubbish revenge comedy after three old friends decide to get even with the men in their lives, displaying an unhealthy obsession and low-brow comedy. Worth watching for Diane Keaton's wild freak out in the office.

Intolerable Cruelty (2003)

Disappointingly bland romantic comedy from the Coen Brothers and George Clooney, although Catherine Zeta-Jones is gorgeous. Fortunately their other films demonstrate what they are capable of when they really apply themselves.

Varjoja paratiisissa (Shadows in Paradise, 1986)

Slightly depressing but drily humorous tale of nobodies falling for each other, with charm in its unsensational romance.

Teorema (Theorem, 1968)

One of Pasolini earlier alienating philosophical treatises that wanders and is less effective than his great neo-realist films.

The Last Kiss (2006)

Sitting curiously between romantic comedy and romantic drama, there are some great, emotional scenes with stron performances, which are then let down by the more immature and unneccesary crowd-pleasing scenes.