Oblivion - 2013 **

I'm sorry, but Tom Cruise is past it, and no matter how many weird sci-fi type films he is put in, he will still be the same. He's washed out now, and nowhere was it more clear than 'Oblivion', a head tripping, post apocalyptic head **** that centres around Cruise cruising around (see what I did there..??) in a type of time travelling spaceship/plane and shooting at metal UFO's that look like they have been taken out of a Star Wars film. Then we have his incredibly English and very red-haired partner/friend/lover sitting at a massive computer clicking buttons and directing him. What fun. Then we have him going back in time and getting tangled up with characters there, as well as trying to get back to his present time. And to top it all, this riveting pile of gunk is nearly two hours long.

Abigail's Party - 1977 ***

I was expecting this to be far funnier than it was. Alison Steadman is great and to be honest there was nothing actually wrong with the characters, it was just such a bleak and awful drama that you finished watching it with a sigh of relief. Mike Leigh isn't exactly known for cheerful and positive playwriting but even so I wasn't expecting to be depressed for the rest of the evening. Abigail's Party is not the actual get together that we see in the film, it's the party of the daughter of one of Beverley's (Steadman) guests that is happening below. It's weird and rather ominous, with a lot of loose ends that don't get resolved and a horrible ending.

Wuthering Heights - 2009 ***

I am a huge fan of the Laurence Olivier version of this story. Therefore any tv drama of this was going to be closely compared to it. I thought this was a sumptuous drama and incredibly well done. Tom Hardy is a very versatile actor and puts his all into the role of Heathcliff who falls desperately in love with wild and carefree Cathy (played by his wife to be Charlotte Reilly). Certain parts of this were changed and I was disappointed (yet again comparing it to the 1939s version) because one of the most potent parts of the story was switched around, leaving me feeling a bit hollow. *SPOILERS* When Cathy dies in the book, Heathcliff is by her side, but in this version he is loitering outside in the garden without knowing what is going on. And also, when Heathcliff dies in the earlier film, he does so because of ill health and a broken heart, here he goes crazy and shoots himself. I can't deny that the acting was very good but for continuity and screenplay I have to side with the 1930s film.

White men can't jump - 1992 ***

I got this mistaken with 'Boyz in the Hood' ( don't ask me why!) and so felt I had to watch it because it was in my must see movie book. It was moderately funny but in all honesty both lead characters are intensely unlikeable (Snipes less so than Harrelson I must add) and seem to have no morals or responsibilities other than teaming up and beating other 'macho' men at basketball. The whole film actually revolves around this, whilst making sure to point out every other scene that Woody Harrelson is white and therefore cannot play basketball. That is the only concept if this film.

(NOIR) Loan Shark 1952 **

A rather weak noir with George Raft fronting as an ex-con who is infiltrated into a group of vicious loan sharks in order to put a stop to the attacks and threats made to the people who can't pay up. He of course falls in love with a beautiful woman and has to decide whether his morals are more important than his romantic life. Wouldn't watch again.

Shock - 1946 **

One of those films that you imagine is going to be better than it actually is. 'Shock' doesn't really deliver, but is still fairly entertaining for it's length and cast. Lynn Bari plays a young wife who goes to a hotel to await her husband who is coming back from the war. After falling asleep she wakes up in the middle of the night and goes to the balcony where she witnesses something horrific in the adjoining room. A murder! Going into shock, she is taken to a psychiatric hospital where she is treated by a menacing Vincent Price who she soon realises is the murderer she saw through her window. Will anyone believe her? Sounds a good story doesn't it, but it comes across like its been done before.
Not a strong contender and despite it's labelling as a noir I don't think it can really be called one.