1. Tulpan: Remarkable romantic comedy set among a nomadic tribe in Kazakhstan.
2. An Education: Nick Hornby's sensitive adaptation of journlaist Lynn Barber's excellent memoir of her first boyfriend.
3. The White Ribbon: Michael Hameke's Palme d'Or winner at Cannes is set in a German village just before the start of the First World War.
4. 2012: Roland Emmerich's thrilling apocalypse movie with John Cusack as the hero.
5. Fantastic Mr Fox: Wes Anderson’s take on Roald Dahl is full of quirky magic — with a sly George Clooney voicing Mr Fox.

Critics' Choice

Film

Andrew O'Hagan

quote New Moon is nothing if not an international advertisement for the hungry virtues of virginity and young people can’t get enough of it quote

The Twilight Saga: New Moon Theatre

Henry Hitchings

quote A smart, prickly and rewarding view of sexual and emotional confusion quote

Cock Restaurants

David Sexton

quote Kitchen W8 is a bargain for this area, if such sophistication is what you crave quote

Kitchen W8

Reader reviews

Film

Adam, Harrow

quote Too long and drawn out but very entertaining with excellent special effects quote

2012 Theatre

Rob, London

quote This is a peculiar play and does not work for me. Some of it is very funny but there are real flaws quote

The Habit Of Art Music

Bernard, London

quote Alex has a strong powerful voice and was faultless, she is far better now than she was on the X-Factor quote

Alexandra Burke

Films to rock your world

By Zenat Alkayat, Metro 27.09.06

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Festival highlight: Luke and Harry Treadaway play conjoined twins Tom and Barry Howe in Brothers Of The Head

Look here too

Only film fans with staying power need apply for the whole 14th annual Raindance Film Festival: it promises 90 screenings of movies, shorts and documentaries in just 12 days.

As the self-proclaimed "voice of indie film", Raindance prides itself on supporting first-time film-makers, touting independent films and digging up the cream of budget movies: the premiere of The Blair Witch Project and the discovery of Memento are just two of the feathers in its cap.

This year looks to be an equally enlightening programme, kicking off with a screening of the Edinburgh Film Festival winner Brothers Of The Head, a fictional account of a 1970s music promoter who pushes conjoined twins into rock'n'roll stardom.

The opening week also includes a screening of A Clockwork Orange to mark the 35th anniversary of the release of Stanley Kubrick's notorious film and Mark Hammond's Johnny Was, starring Vinnie Jones; week two features the world premiere of British budget comedy Scenes Of A Sexual Nature.

This year's festival leans toward the rockumentary, with Neil Young: Heart Of Gold, and Too Tough To Die: A Tribute To Johnny Ramone among several films that offer exclusive footage of live gigs and explore the onstage persona of musicians.

The best thing about this British festival is that, unlike Cannes and its ilk, it's open to the public and, though there is a jury (including the venerable Lou Reed, Judi Dench and Marky Ramone), the emphasis is firmly on fostering unknown talent, rather than celebrating glamour.

Tonight until Oct 8, opening and closing nights at Cineworld Haymarket, 63-65 Haymarket SW1, otherwise Cineworld Shaftesbury Avenue, The Trocadero, 7-14 Coventry Street W1, various times, £6 to £8.90. Tel: 0871 200 2000. www.raindancefilmfestival.org Tube: Piccadilly Circus

Reader views (1)

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Film: Black Dahlia.

This film is terrible! The music is way over the top. There is no substance to it. No feeling for the actors. So many twist and turns, you are fighting to stay awake!

Don't Bother!

- Steven Kingett, Fulham