Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (12A)
(Apitchatpong Weerasethakul, 2010, Thai/UK/Fra/Spa/Ger/Neth) Thanapat Saisaymar, Jenjira Pongpas, Sakda Kaewbuadee. 113 mins
Not for nothing was this dubbed "Uncle bong hit" when it took the top prize at Cannes this year. With its non-linear plot and fantastical elements – ghosts, ape-men, talking catfish, etc – woven into a story of a dying farmer in modern-day Thailand, it sounds like a far-out 1960s head-trip. But in reality (if that's the right word), it's a calm, sensual, captivating daydream of a movie that wears its weirdness without affectation. It makes the world feel like a rich and mysterious place. More of a natural high, then.
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part I (12A)
(David Yates, 2010, UK/US) Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint. 146 mins
Given the choice between giving their audience a treat and milking them as much as possible, the keepers of the Potter franchise have opted for the latter, with an interminable, unengaging exercise in clock-running-down before the big finale.
Chico & Rita (15)
(Javier Mariscal, Fernando Treuba, 2010, Spa/UK) Eman Xor Oña, Limara Meneses. 93 mins
The path of true love runs from 1940s Havana to New York and back, with switchbacks and musical interludes in this animation, whose bebop score and loving craftsmanship to history elevate what could otherwise be a straight showbiz romance.
Robinson In Ruins (U)
(Patrick Keiller, 2010, UK) Vanessa Redgrave. 101 mins
A breath of fresh, if rarefied, air, as Keiller continues his cine-essay investigations into the state of Britain. Images are still and silent while the narration flits from the banking crisis to meteorites, from lichens to Lidl.
Adrift (12A)
(Heitor Dalia, 2009, Bra) Vincent Cassel, Laura Neiva, Camilla Belle. 102 mins
A Brazilian teen grows up quickly after discovering her heroic father is cheating on her mum (who's no saint either). Emotional turmoil clashes with gorgeous seaside visuals.
Dream Home (18)
(Pang Ho-cheung, 2010, HK) Josie Ho, Anthony Wong Chau-sang. 96 mins
The property ladder leads down into savagery and psychosis in this uneven but agreeably nasty Hong Kong horror, following a woman's apartment obsession to the bitter, gory end.
Broken Sun (15)
(Brad Haynes, 2008, Aus) Jai Koutrae, Shingo Usami. 92 mins
Resourceful 1940s drama remembering the first and second world wars through a prolonged encounter between an escaped Japanese prisoner of war and a solitary Aussie veteran.
Fathers Of Girls (15)
(Ethem Cetintas, Karl Howman, 2009, UK) Ray Winstone, Chloe Howman. 76 mins
Big Ray plays a provincial solicitor on the trail of his daughter's killer in this unspectacular thriller.
Peeping Tom (15)
(Michael Powell, 1960, UK) Carl Boehm, Anna Massey, Moira Shearer. 102 mins
The unfairly maligned slasher-voyeur classic finally gets the treatment it deserves – a restoration and unanimous critical praise.
Out next week
Unstoppable
Chris Pine and Denzel Washington versus a runaway freight train.
Out from Wed
The American
George Clooney communicates the loneliness of the career assassin.
The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest
The Stieg Larsson trilogy reaches its climax and spills its beans.
Machete
Danny Trejo slashes his way to vengeance in this pulp actioner.
Leap Year
Frank Mexican study of a sadomasochistic relationship.
London Boulevard
Brit crime drama starring Colin Farrell and Keira Knightley.
An Ordinary Execution
French, fictional account of Josef Stalin's last days.
The Scar Crow
A lads' camping trip turns into low-budget witchcraft horror.
Waiting For Superman
Documentary looking into America's broken education system.
Tere Ishq Nachava
Punjabi love-triangle starring Mannat Singh.
Break Ke Baad
Indian romcom starring Deepike Padukone and Imran Khan.
Coming soon
In two weeks... Will Ferrell voices cartoon baddie Megamind … Finnish horror Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale sees Santa on a slay ride …
In three weeks... Sofia Coppola's portrait of LA ennui, Somewhere … Scandalous torture-porn shocker A Serbian Movie …
In a month... Long-awaited tech fantasy Tron: Legacy … Christina Aguilera and Cher in stage drama Burlesque …
