This week marks a rare occasion in that the vast majority of new releases are home grown. What's more, most of them look pretty good... just don't look so surprised.

Nationwide from Tuesday 2/2/2010

Oil City Confidential; Julien Temple

Our first film and our first film to watch this week. The prequel to conclude this excellent alt-rock-doc director's trilogy of films looking at British music during the 1970s following from his exploration of the Sex Pistols (The Filth and the Fury) and Joe Strummer (The Future Is Unwritten). This time the band in question- Canvey Island's punk-ish prophets Dr. Feelgood- aren't as well-known as the previous artists, a fact that should not discourage anyone from giving this the time it deserves. Expect the usual Temple treatment, combining a mixture of archive footage, montage and atmosphere to tell the story of a band that most people have forgotten influenced as many as they did. Good job we're about to be reminded then.

Nationwide from Thursday 4/2/2010

Malice In Wonderland; Simon Fellows

The second homegrown film this week marks the first of two re-imaginings of Alice In Wonderland to be released in the next two months, with Burton's fantasy for gothic fantasists looming in March. Alice, an American law student in London, is run down by a black cab driver and wakes to find herself in wonderland. More of an underworld than the colourful landscape offered by Lewis Carroll, the barrister in the making is escorted through the odd alternate reality by the guilty taxi driver, Whitey, as she attempts to work out who she is and essentially what's going on.

Nationwide from Friday 5/2/2010

Astro Boy; David Bowers

This week's CGI release may well slip under the carpet for many without children given the forthcoming and preceding peers in the genre, despite a voice cast including Samuel L Jackson, Charlize Theron and Nicolas Cage. It's a coming of age story for the modern world, concerning a robot boy powered by 'blue energy', fuel with a name in keeping with the tone of the franchise's title.  This positive force affords him superhuman strength and abilities, but not acceptance by society in general. Obviously then the only thing he can do is go on a journey, meet a plethora of strange, family-friendly characters and return to his home in Metro City to 'save everything he cares about'.

Holy Water; Tom Reeve

Another offering from our fair isles and our second pick of the week comes in the shape of an Irish comedy centred on the town of Kilcoulins Leap. Once a thriving spa town its seen better days, with little to offer visitors and even less for the downtrodden residents, many of who are plagued by perpetual unemployment. Podger Byrns, a local postman, hits on the idea to hijack a shipment of Viagra and sell it in Amsterdam, oblivious to the repercussions. When the company and cops finally hit back the hapless have-a-go and his loyal friends decide to hide their spoils in the only place it should be safe- the town's holy well.

Invictus; Clint Eastwood

Love him or hate him, though few can be said to think the latter, it's impossible not to appreciate Eastwood's direction, and the air of patient ownership that comes with it. This latest from the veteran sees Morgan Freeman take on the role of a freshly elected Nelson Mandela, earning himself an Oscar nomination for Best Actor in the process. As South Africa's society struggles with social integration and racial tolerance its national rugby side get to the 1995 World Cup final, partly a result of the new leader's policy of focusing on sport to unite the segregated people. The result is an inter-racial connection that builds between the fans, President and team captain, played by Matt Damon who joins Freeman in the 2010 nominations thanks to this performance resulting in a chance at Best Supporting Actor. 

The Island; Pavel Lounguine

The distributors, world cinema stalwarts Artificial Eye, describe this as a 'parable', and the basic narrative is not far from that. In deepest, no doubt darkest Northern Russia a resident member of an Orthodox monastery tries to come to terms with his past. Visitors tell tales of the troubled man's ability to heal, predict the future and exorcise demons whilst his fellow monks look on in amazement at his confounding behaviour. A story of religion, sin and remorse set in a landscape best described as physically and emotionally barren.

Tony; Gerard Johnson

Marking the feature debut of a British director who seems to have a few filmies in a flutter, with press quotes such as 'compelling and creepy', 'raw and powerful' and even a 'remarkable' being banded around. Comparisons have been made to Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, and it's hardly surprising. Loner Tony is rejected by society, and incapable of doing much about it thanks to his less than adequate inter-personal skills. Spending his days avoiding getting a job his only real love is VHS action movies, and killing people. Peter Ferdinando plays the psychotic lead in a film that might finally break the deadlock in quality native horror.

Youth In Revolt; Miguel Arteta

Friday's final film centres on American teens, sex and comedy although the names Steve Buscemi, Ray Liotta and Michael Cera (Superbad) suggest it may be one of the few worth checking out. Nick Twisp is a trailer park kid, living with his trailer park family. Awkwardness and inexperience do not deter the no-hoper from pursuing his neighbour, Sheeni, an activity that ends with a case of 'so close but so far'. Frustrated by rejection Nick invents the alter-ego Francois Dillinger, a character the eager adolescent hopes will impress the object of his unrequited passion. With the new personality comes a fresh thirst to rebel in a bid to secure her affection and lose his virginity.