The Page Turner
This is an intriguing French film, directed by Denis Dercourt. Revenge lies at ther heart of this thriller, set in the refined circles of the classical musical world. A former child prodigy whose ambition to join the Paris Consevatoire is thwarted, as she sees it, by the thoughtless behaviour of a celebrated concert pianist. The plot centres on her campaign to exact retribution and the shattering consequences. The lead roles are played by Deborah Francois and Catherine Frot. The latter, who plays the victim : Ariane, makes her vulnerability supreme, which adds to the tense atmosphere of the film. It's definitely worth seeing.

Angel-A, Luc Besson's latest film, is magnificently set in Paris. It is shot in black and white; and the effect is to capture the city's atmospheric quality with a beguiling deftness of touch. It's inspired by Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life, and begins with a suicidal conman (Jemel Debbouze) about to leap off a Parisian bridge. He is saved, at the critical moment, by the appearance of a beautiful woman - who turns out to be his guardian angel (played by Rie Rasmussen). Despite the superb cinematography, compelling Parisian scenes and charismatic performances, this film lacks the depth of the original.

In the Lake House, Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock, fall in love while living in the same house. The problem is that one of them lives in 2006 and the other in 2004. So, naturally, communication takes place via the letterbox- a portal in the space-time continuum. Despite it's plot flaws, ponderous pace and plain madness at times, the film works and makes some profound comments about the nature of separation and loss.

The Lake House - Dir: Alejandro Agresti, 1hr 35 mins

Offside
Dir: Jafar Panahi - 2006

An insightful film about football, pop culture and the status of women in modern Iranian society. It's a comedy drama, which takes place during a 2005 football match between Iran and Bahrain. Until quite recently, Iranian women were banned from football stadiums; thus, Offside recounts the story of a group of women who are rumbled by officialdom as they try to get in to see a match. It's an interesting film, especially in the intelligent way it holds up a mirror to Iranian society.

Brick
Dr: Rian Johnson
1hr 50mins

This is an unusual, stylish , exhilarating and dark thriller - reminiscent of the classic noir thrillers of the 1940s and 50s. It stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Brendan, a high school student, who embarks on an investigation into the death of his ex-girlfriend. He evokes memories of Raymond Chandler's famously hardboiled gumshoe: Philip Marlowe.

Hell
Directed: Danis Tanovic
1hr 42 mins.

This is a French drama made from a script co-written by the brilliant Polish filmaker Krzysztof Kieslowski. Before his death in 1996, he collaborated on three scripts based on Dante's Divine Comedy. Hell is the second film to emerge from here, and follows on from the tepid thriller, Heaven, starring Kate Blanchett. Hell is the story of three neurotic sisters, who are drawn together by a family tragedy. The film is worth seeing from the point of view of its slick arthouse
feel, however it lacks substance and the profundity usually associated with Kieslowski.