500 Days of Summer (2009)

"A clever, refreshing, non-formulaic antidote to your average, bog-standard Hollywood romcom."

Adventureland (2009)

"An Indie romcom which doesn’t pile on the contrived quirkiness and instead concentrates on being believable, smart and sweet."

An Education (2009)

"Much more than a simple cautionary tale, An Education captures the giddy hopes and fears of adolescence, and the dawn of the most transforming decade in recent memory."

Anvil! The Story of Anvil (2009)

"This documentary about a Canadian heavy metal trying to regain their fame in their 50s is hilarious and heartbreaking."

Awaydays (2009)

"Call us old-fashioned, but we wouldn’t have minded some characters to relate to, root for and care about."

Broken Embraces (2009)

"Entertaining enough with visuals to die for, but definitely not as emotionally rewarding as some of this director's other recent pictures."

Cadillac Records (2008)

"The story of Chess Records (Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry etc) is a tad episodic, but the cast, including Beyonce, is strong."

The Class (2008)

"Don't let the aura of subtitles and arthouse put you off - this is probably the finest schoolroom drama ever made."

Coraline (2009)

"Endlessly inventive and impeccably realised, it’s tough to find fault with this freaky, feisty fable."

The Damned United (2009)

"Chameleon Sheen gives another terrific performance in a compelling, funny drama you don’t have to like soccer to enjoy."

Disney's A Christmas Carol (2009)

"A Christmas Carol is certainly set to win the nation’s attention. With all this hype, we’d hoped for something a bit more special."

Doghouse (2009)

"A sexist, unoriginal but entertaining bit of fun. And isn¹t that exactly what you want some Saturday nights?"

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

"Anderson's recent films The Life Aquatic and The Darjeeling Limited suffered in terms of story. The switch to animation, and the benefit of a plotline borrowed from a master storyteller, have recharged his creative batteries."

Fired Up (2009)

"Clichéd execution, paper-thin characters."

G-Force (2009)

"A slick slice of efficient family entertainment, but lacking the inspiration to turn in into something special."

The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard (2009)

"Jokes only get you so far, and The Goods gets increasingly bogged down in its uninspired plotlines. Ferrell's cameo is a particular lowpoint."

The Hangover (2009)

"Debauched, depraved and very, very funny."

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

"After the clumsy storytelling and hollow action of some of this summer’s Hollywood blockbusters, Yates’ latest Potter is a shining beacon of quality."

The Hurt Locker (2009)

"A stunningly realistic, thrillingly intense depiction of extraordinary men carrying out one of the toughest jobs imaginable, graced with a knockout performance by relative unknown Renner."

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009)

"Fantastic animation, lively dialogue and some terrific new characters spice up this franchise. It'll delight existing fans and probably win over some new ones too."

The Informant! (2009)

"You go in expecting a jaunty caper. What you get, disconcertingly, is a bleak, rather sad study of an unraveling mind."

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

"Tarantino likes action, but more than anything he likes seeing actors delivering the dialogue he wrote for them. In the case of the surprising, original Inglourious Basterds, we are happy to indulge him."

Is Anybody There? (2009)

"Whether by accident or design, Is Anybody There? shares its youthful lead and ‘80s setting with funny, inventive Son Of Rambow. It hasn’t emerged from its shadow."

Julie & Julia (2009)

"Hollywood, famously, makes few movies aimed at older females because young men are much easier to satisfy. Julie & Julia is that rare film targeted at your mum, but we think you’ll enjoy it too."

Land of the Lost (2009)

"Too rude for kids and too dumb for grown-ups, this laboured romp is a dino-snore."