Sex addiction is no laughing matter

We've become accustomed to laughing off sex addiction. You may not be able to keep it in your pants, we say, but that's not the medical profession's problem. Well, you won't be laughing after Shame, as you follow Brandon (Michael Fassbender) on his daily course of masturbating in the shower, masturbating in the work toilets, downloading internet porn, finding real women to have sex with, and dodging calls from his needy younger sister.

Finally, a good superhero movie

As cool and detailed as a graphic novel but as spectacular and kinetic as a blockbuster, Chronicle will win over geeks and the popcorn-eating masses alike. Loner Andrew (Dane DeHaan), his cousin Matt (Alex Russell) and popular kid Steve (Michael B.

Modern classic brings back old Hollywood

Throw any reservations about seeing a dusty old silent film out the door: The Artist is a toe-tapping, heart-tugging, laugh-inducing spectacle, both an ode to old Hollywood and a beguiling love story with a knowing wink at 21st century audiences.

Ledge doesn't have the edge

Charisma and the promise of adventure are the joys of heist movies and so we forgive their unbelievable coincidences and implausible scenarios. Man on a Ledge is light on both charisma and adventure despite an intriguing premise and a solid cast, and therefore every improbable, formulaic moment glares on screen.

Vampire fourquel kicks serious butt

Before Twilight, there was Underworld. Underworld Awakening is the fourth instalment of this classic vampire action franchise, filmed in glorious 3D and rebooted for 2012, and my, it's a force to be a reckoned with.

Flawed biopic still fascinates

Clint Eastwood set himself a hard task from the outset by picking to make a biopic about a notoriously slippery figure of American history: the founder of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover. While the 81-year-old director's latest effort is definitely no Gran Torino or Million Dollar Baby, it's still a compelling yarn about a deeply flawed and conflicted individual.

Quietly powerful universal love story

Let's get the obvious out of the way first: Weekend could be categorised as a "gay film" given its topic of a romance between two men over the course of a weekend. But that label really shouldn't deter open-minded audiences going to arthouse cinemas to see a slice of beautiful cinema that stirs the heart, engages the mind and fills the senses.

A few laughs short of a Hangover

Four hazard-prone mates, a gunshot wedding, a random animal and illicit substances: no, it's not The Hangover, it's the Australian equivalent A Few Best Men. Treading the same line of gross-out boys-gone-wild humour, this raucous comedy tries hard, but the sense of deja vu is all too obvious.

Mean girl gets her comeuppance

Young Adult has the temperament of a young adult: bratty, confused and emotionally stunted. It sits somewhere between a dark comedy and a misery-guts drama, edgy without ever going over the edge, despite a game performance from Charlize Theron and some irreverent moments.

All-star spy flick has the smarts

Have you found going to the movies lately just too ... easy? Then try Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, the new, all-star spy flick adapted from a John Le Carre novel that's as complex as it is thrilling.

Scorsese's foray into the family-friendly

When I heard that Martin Scorsese was directing a 3D children's film, I wondered: what's next? David Lynch directing a romantic comedy? But the end result, Hugo, is a mostly successful departure from Scorsese's usual world of tough cinema.

Scorsese's foray into the family-friendly

When I heard that Martin Scorsese was directing a 3D children's film, I wondered: what's next? David Lynch directing a romantic comedy? But the end result, Hugo, is a mostly successful departure from Scorsese's usual world of tough cinema.

Muppets give you the warm and fuzzies

There's plenty of people who remember the Muppets with fondness, but haven't thought about them much since childhood. So it's a bit like reuniting with an old friend to see them again in their first big-screen outing in years, The Muppets.

A-grade masterpiece for both fans and first-timers

From the visually and sonically arresting opening credits alone, it's clear that The Social Network and Se7en director David Fincher isn't going to sanitise this much-anticipated Hollywood remake of Stieg Larsson's literary and Swedish film phenomenon The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Near-perfect comedy-drama from Clooney and co

If a filmmaker can create a scene that reflects a brutally sobering reality, it's a sign of true talent. Same goes if they can make a moment of side-splitting hilarity. In one particular scene in The Descendants, writer-director Alexander Payne manages both.

It's a home away from Holmes

Guy Ritchie's 2009 action-adventure Sherlock Holmes was a fun thriller about an eccentric detective solving crimes in 19th century London. But it wasn't Sherlock Holmes — and the 2011 sequel Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows is more or less the same.

Fine family fare let down by plot

Cameron's Crowe's latest film, his first in six years, yearns to be the poignant, life-affirming drama its source material asks for. Instead, We Bought a Zoo only halfway gets there with a muddled plot that distracts from the emotional punches it could pull.

Sweeping saga with Spielberg's classic touch

In true Spielberg style, War Horse is epic in every way. At its heart lies a classic tale, compelling for its simplicity and touchingly winsome. Based on the British children's novel of the same name by Michael Morpungo and the Tony award-winning Broadway adaptation, the film is a universal story of friendship, loyalty and bravery set against the backdrop of World War I.

Glenn comes close but it's a bit of a drag

Gender-bending has often been shown on screen with flair and ingenuity. From the delicious stage antics of Shakespeare in Love to the crass twin-sister premise of Adam Sandler's recent Jack and Jill, the concept is rife with intriguing possibilities.

Streep's spectacular capture of Thatcher

The Iron Lady could have easily have been a creaky, by-the-numbers political biopic recounting the career of Britain's first and only female Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. Thankfully, this excellent film opts for a more rewarding and less clear-cut examination of the junction between the public and private personas of the said "Iron Lady", played spectacularly by Meryl Streep.

Murphy steals Stiller's movie

Tower Heist is a crime comedy whose crime isn't quite clever enough, and whose comedy isn't quite funny enough. The film follows a group of blue-collar workers, led by Ben Stiller's Josh, as they attempt to rob the Penthouse apartment of a Wall Street swindler (Alan Alda) who stole their money in a fraudulent Ponzi scheme.

That rare package: a movie for all ages

Rip-roaring adventure? Tick. Ground-breaking animation? Tick. Cute CGI dog? Tick. The Adventures of Tintin covers every base and then some, delivering that rare cinematic package: a movie for all ages.

That rare package: a movie for all ages

Rip-roaring adventure? Tick. Ground-breaking animation? Tick. Cute CGI dog? Tick. The Adventures of Tintin covers every base and then some, delivering that rare cinematic package: a movie for all ages.

Stunning graphics fail to save a waddling plot

Pirouetting penguin Mumble (Elijah Wood) has grown up and is now a father. The insecurities we came to adore in the franchise's first film, which raked in a near $400 million worldwide and won an Oscar for Best Animated Feature, have been passed on to his equally awkward son Erik (Ava Acres).

Fish adventure is fun for the whole family

In recent years, Pixar has redefined the animation genre and proved that films of this kind can be accessible to audiences of all ages. After setting the benchmark with "Toy Story 2", Pixar matches it with "Finding Nemo", an extremely well written, highly entertaining and visually stunning humanisation of aquatic life.