Gomorrah
Call it a responsible crime movie for portraying the mafia as they really are — sleazy, badly dressed, not nice — but this fine thriller surveys Neapolitan society with both documentary-like rigour and cinematic flair.

Hunger
Brit artist Steve McQueen makes his feature debut with a brutal, disturbing but aff ecting drama set during the 1981 IRA hunger strike. Rising star Michael Fassbender is outstanding as the determined Bobby Sands.

I've Loved You So Long
Kristin Scott Thomas shines (in two languages) in a powerful French drama with a chilling undercurrent. When she comes to stay with her sister after a long absence, the skeletons come tumbling out.

Quantum Of Solace
The Bond flick finally sheds its cosy image with a sequel to Casino Royale that sets Bond on a rampage of revenge. The story and set pieces may disappoint, but Daniel Craig's performance is perfect.

Of Time And The City
Terence Davies' visual poem about his early life in Liverpool is not as rose-tinted as you might believe, but his trademark miserabilism is leavened by the enchanting archive clips and music.