Young Adult (2011) **

Paradise Lost 3 Purgatory (2011) **

The third film in the series. Profoundly depressing, no matter what the actual truth is.

Beginners (2011) **

So-so comedy/drama about an aging bachelor (Ewan McGregor) and his gay father (Christopher Plummer). Its misleading trailer promises a quirky comedy of manners, but the film is actually pretty depressing and drab. Not for every taste, but definitely intelligent and original.

The Ides Of March (2011) **

Quite a rarity - a political film directed by a leftist liberal, George Clooney, which nevertheless presents the Democratic Party as hopelessly corrupt and cynical, and - SPOILER ALERT - an idealistic leftist politician as immoral and sexually irresponsible. Fittingly, the politician in question (played by Clooney himself) seems to combine the best qualities of Barack Obama and the worst vices of Bill Clinton. It's not a bad movie - the actors are great and the dialogue is memorable - but the ending is very awkward (from a narrative, not a political, point of view) and visually the film is nowhere near as innovative as Clooney's previous directorial efforts ("Confessions Of a Dangerous Mind" and "Good Night And Good Luck").

The Debt (2011) **

Routine political thriller about an Israeli hit team that kidnaps a Nazi war criminal in East Berlin

Limitless (2011) **

Uneven, but often exciting film about a failed writer who turns his life around thanks to a new experimental drug.

Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011) **

Excellent kung fu action scenes, but otherwise a routine and unexceptional sequel to the 2008 animation hit.

Carnage (2011) **

A great cast - Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, Christopher Waltz and John C. Reilly – in a so-so movie directed by Roman Polanski. Very theatrical, and weakened by a abrupt and unsatisfying ending.

Transformers Dark of the Moon (2011) **

Probably the best of all Transformers movies.

Puss In Boots (2011) **

A “Shrek” spin-off starring a brave little kitty.

Hanna (2011) **

A cross between "The Bourne Identity" (a fast-paced action movie full of fights and chases) and "The Sheltering Sky" (a leisurely paced existential road movie set in such exotic places as Morocco). The film switches from one mode to another - essentially, the first and the last acts are mostly action, while the second act is all about feelings, ambiance, perception and other mushy stuff. One gets a distinct impression that the director Joe Wright isn't really interested in action scenes - he just goes through the motions - and it's the existential stuff he's really after, but it just doesn't fit together properly.

A Decent Arrangement (2011) *

An Indian-American man comes to India to get marry.

A Better Life (2011) *

Basically a remake of "The Bicycle Thief", about an illegal immigrant in Los Angeles whose truck is stolen. Predictable story, weak direction.

Real Steel (2011) *

Alternative titles: "Million Dollar Robot", "Steel Rocky", "Torre-robot"... Mediocre boxing film, except the boxers are robots.

The Adjustment Bureau (2011) *

Tedious thriller about destiny and love,

Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark (2011) *

Rather predictable horror film about tiny (and evil) creatures kidnapping little children in a haunted mansion.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) *

War Horse (2011) *

Dated, old-fashioned, emotionally manipulative war melodrama from Steven Spielberg. Not as bad as "Always" (1989), but almost.

The Tree Of Life (2011) *

Unbelievably boring, excruciatingly pretentious ego trip of a movie.

We Need To Talk About Kevin (2011) *

A depressing film about an evil child who makes Damien from "The Omen" look like an angel.

The Adjustment Bureau (2011) *

Weird sci-fi/romance hybrid starring Matt Damon as a Senate candidate who falls in love with a dancer.

Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close (2011) *

… and inexplicably nominated for a Best Picture Oscar.

Apollo 18 (2011) *

Ever wondered why nobody went to the Moon after the Apollo 17 mission in the early 1970's ? This “Blair Witch Project on the Moon” has the answer, allegedly consisting of found footage of a secret Apollo mission that found – SPOILER ALERT – extraterrestrial – and deadly - life forms on the Moon. Predictable science-fiction horror flick that isn't even campy enough for a laugh.

Top 10 Films of 2010

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Top Musical of 2010

"Gainsbourg" (Joann Sfar, France)