Amour (out Feb 21) is a sad tale about the battles we face, both physical and mental, when we reach a ripe old age. It's a little drawn out but I was still impressed by the precise direction of Michael Haneke. The lack of music creates an uncomfortable vibe & the deliberate decision to not show certain events adds an element of mystery. Grade: B+.

Beautiful Creatures (out Feb 21) is loaded with potential. It's offering something more interesting than the Twilight saga and the two leading characters are solid. Unfortunately, I don't think the story is told all that well. It's pandering to the lovesick teen crowd and the visual effects are puzzling. Grade: C+.

Sightseers (out now) is a surprising black comedy about a socially awkward couple who go on a caravan holiday across the UK. It turns out to be anything but ordinary. It gets a little repetitive in the later stages but the plot is twisted and the characters are original. Grade: B+.

Anna Karenina (out now) is the latest adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s beloved 19th Century novel and is very good. It lacks a final emotive punch but is still a creative, fluid, fast-paced period piece (a rarity). It's been beautifully shot and the performances are terrific. The characters' eyes say so much. Grade: A-.

West Of Memphis (out Feb 14) is a superbly told documentary that looks at 3 teenagers who were found guilty of a 1993 murder and spent 18 years in jail. The problem... was that they were innocent. The film isn't afraid to point a few fingers and some of the events will leave you stunned. Grade: A-.

Movie 43 (out now) isn't the worst film of all time (as described by some critics) but it's still pretty bad. The skits are dull, strange, tedious and the punch lines fall flat. How they coerced so many Hollywood stars to appear is a mystery to me. Grade: C-.

Lincoln (out Feb 7) is a tale as relevant today as it was 150 years ago. Reminding us that politics is the art of compromise and that we must sometimes lie in pursuit of a greater good, the film is headlined by a terrific performance from Daniel Day-Lewis. A little dry at times but still informative, eye-opening and rewarding. Grade: A-.