Code Name: The Cleaner – 2007 – Les Mayfield

A stupid movie full of racist cliches about a cleaner who gets amnesia from a blow to the head leading him to believe that he is a super spy. Carries on in the vein of a Martin Lawrence movie, but with very little wit. The only respite is Lucy Liu. Brian Murray

Pink Floyd The Wall – 1982 – Alan Parker

I guess it’s the fallout of the vanity project that struck the 60s/70s super groups. Simply egostrokin’, proving that they can do it better than The Song Remains the Same, Sympathy For The Devil, and the appalling Tommy. Just another long music video, with a point (possibly) that escapes me. Brian Murray

Happy-Go-Lucky – 2008 – Mike Leigh

This is so unlike Mike Leigh’s previous work. It’s also the best British feel-good movie in a while, but somewhere underneath Leigh’s dark and ironic tone definitely lurking. Sally Hawkins in the lead role is so delightful, and Eddie Marsan gives a great performance. Omid Nikfarjam

Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead – 2007 – Sidney Lumet

Families can save you or break you. Lumet’s classic (in every sense of the word) about two dysfunctional brothers, played brilliantly by Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke, who go to extraordinary and violent lengths to rescue their sorry-ass lives by robbing from their parents. A Shakespearean masterpiece. JJ

Mamma Mia! – 2008 – Phyllida Lloyd

The silliest, clumsiest musical ever! I think the director was busy dancing behind the camera. I’ve never seen a thing as unsightly as Pierce Brosnan singing and dancing. BUT… Meryl Streep is absolutely gorgeous. I could write a book about her, 50 words isn’t enough. Omid Nikfarjam

The Thing – 1982 – John Carpenter

Kurt Russell as a boozing anti-hero pits his wits against alien most foul. Full marks for the monster, and the effects especially as this movie was made a quarter of a century ago. John Carpenter at his best. Watch out for the “crazy Norwegian.” Brian Murray

The Walker – 2007 – Paul Schrader

Paul Schrader tries to capture the deceit, disloyalty, ruthlessness, pretentiousness and ambition of the Washington chattering classes with this pseudo political murder mystery. As the title suggests it’s a slow film. Big on ideas but a rather dull affair. JJ

Couscous – 2007 – Abdel Kechiche

Much in the vein of Arau’s Like Water for Chocolate and Hallstrom’s Chocolat, but deeper, livelier, and much darker. One can’t help feeling that Tunisian-born Kechiche thinks that all is futile. This is an uncut diamond. A new cut and 30 minutes less wouldn’t hurt this a bit. Omid Nikfarjam

There Will be Blood – 2007 – Paul Thomas Anderson

A charismatic but solitary oil tycoon uses his adopted son to charm his way to success. Underneath his professionalism, Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) is a madman and a ruthless opportunist. Day-Lewis’ execution is off the charts, it’s hard to discern if he’s evil or just a tortured soul – something a more prominent sub-plot could have shed light on. Cristina Pittelli

Piety meets the pipeline in this epic tale of oil, greed and false prophets. Daniel Day Lewis is hypnotic as an entrepreneurial ‘oil lord’ – his voice, his ruthlessness, his unnerving grin and manic tendencies. The lesson to be learned; oil men are mad men. JJ

The Visitor – 2007 – Thomas McCarthy

One of the best post-9/11 dramas, The Visitor is a subtle, heart-warming story about a lonely American professor whose passion for music leads him to find compansionship with the most far-fetched people. Jenkins, in the lead role, truly deserves an Oscar for best actor. Omid Nikfarjam