IN SEARCH OF A MIDNIGHT KISS [15] - 1 hour 30 mins

Director: Alex Holdridge
Cast: Brian McGuire, Katy Luong, Sara Simmonds, Scoot McNairy
This is a charming, quirky, romantic comedy with some wonderful acting that is well worth seeing, despite its slightly cumbersome title. It is very funny at times and the evolution of the relationship of the two excellent leads is entirely believable. Wilson (Scoot McNairy) is a neurotic and lonely would-be script writer who is facing the prospect of spending New Years Eve alone in Los Angeles. His friend persuades him to place an advert on an internet dating service and he finds himself spending an evening walking around the city with the chain smoking, feisty, equally neurotic, Vivian (Sara Simmonds) exchanging frank theories of love and life. Vivian informs Wilson that she has already seen several men that day and will spend New Year Eve with the most promising, and, of course, this turns out to be him. They bitch, flirt and get to know each other as they travel on the subway and wander about the historic theatres and art deco architecture of downtown Los Angeles; a view of the city that is rarely portrayed on film.

This is a "sparkling black and white gem" (Nicholas Barber - Independent) and "easily one of the best films of the year" (Matthew Turner - View London)

REVOLUTIONARY ROAD [15] - 1 hour 59 mins

Director: Sam Mendes
Cast: David Harbour, Kate Winslet, Kathryn Hahn, Kathy Bates, Leonardo DiCaprio
Sam Mendes' beautifully crafted film is a perceptive tale of a relationship in meltdown, as two people start to unravel the ties that bind them together and end up wondering what they ever had in common in the first place.
Based on a novel by writer Richard Yates and describing with great subtlety the breakdown of a 7 year marriage between Frank (DiCaprio) and April (Winslet), a handsome young middle class couple living in 1955 America, the excellent cinematography convincingly recreates the period.
April once had ambitions to be an actress but now feels stranded in her nice middle class home, while Frank is bored and discontented with his job in the city. A plan to move to Paris briefly restores their relationship but all comes to nothing when Frank is offered a promotion he cannot refuse.
Kate Winslet is outstanding and gives a confident and harrowing performance. Her stillness and coiled reserve are countered by DiCaprio's rage and frustration.
This is "a deeply felt, moving and genuinely tragic study of a marriage tearing itself apart" (Peter Bradshaw - Guardian) exploring the dark side of the American dream.

THE RED SHOES [U] - 1 hour 53 mins
New Restored Version - 2009 Cannes Film Festival

Directors: Emeric Pressburger, Michael Powell
Cast: Anton Walbrook, Marius Goring, Moira Shearer
This deeply moving film is a complex romantic tragedy about the power struggles in an international ballet company. Moira Shearer is the young unknown dancer who is catapulted into the position of prima ballerina. She and her ruthless, but charismatic, producer have a sensational worldwide success with their ballet, but then everything begins to go wrong when she falls in love with the composer who has written the music for the ballet. The ballet sequence is 20 minutes long and nothing short of brilliant.
"This is one of the greatest pictures by one of the greatest of all film making teams" (Phillip French - Observer)

THE PAGE TURNER [15] - 1 hour 25 mins [subtitled]

Director: Denis Dercourt
Cast: Catherine Frot, Deborah Francois, Jacques Bonaffe, Pascal Greggory
This elegant psychological thriller, full of suspense is a treat for lovers of intelligent cinema.
Melanie was psychologically damaged by an incident in her childhood when she failed an important music exam and blamed her examiner and concert pianist Ariane who distracted her at a vital moment. A decade later Melanie obtains a position in Ariane's household. She becomes indispensible to Ariane, who is attempting a comeback. Melanie becomes her page turner, and has a secret plan to destroy Ariane and get her revenge.
"A devastating, subtly reticent thriller that matches Hitchcock twist by twist" (Phillip French - Observer)

BRIGHT STAR [PG] - 1 hour 59 mins

Director: Jane Campion
Cast: Abbie Cornish, Ben Whishaw, Kerry Fox, Paul Schneider, Thomas Sangster
This is an exquisite piece of film making about the doomed love affair between John Keats and Fanny Brawne.
They met when they became neighbours, and their slow burning love affair continued for the next 3 years until John's tragic death aged only 26. Fanny is a spirited but sensitive young woman passionately in love but constrained by the social mores of the time. There is only ever one kiss. Don't miss a fine reading of "Ode to a Nightingale" as the credits roll
"Jane Campion's calm, subtle and measured film is the best of her career" (Peter Bradshaw - Guardian)

AN EDUCATION   (2009)   [12A] - 1 hour 40 mins

Director: Lone Scherfig
Cast: Alfred Molina, Carey Mulligan, Dominic Cooper, Emma Thompson, Olivia Williams, Peter Sarsgaard, Rosamund Pike

This highly enjoyable and very funny film tells the true story of how a clever 16 year old school girl, destined for Oxford, is seduced by an older man. He introduces her to glamour, travel and excitement and somehow manages to seduce her parents with his wit and worldly charm. Despite the subject matter this film is not remotely prurient and is great fun to watch.
Carey Mulligan, who plays the part of Jenny gives a wonderful performance that won her the best actress award at the 2010 BAFTA's
"Offers plenty to enjoy and admire and is full of first rate performances." (Cosmo Landesman - Sunday Times )