The Departed is a Martin Scorsese remake of the film Internal Affairs, a Hong Kong flick. It has all the classic hallmarks of a Scorsese film – gangsterism, a classy soundtrack and slick editing.

This film is on par with all his previous classics; Goodfellas and Casino spring to mind. The story revolves around a double-dealing police agent (Matt Damon), and a mole, working for the police – Leonardo DiCaprio, who is taken under the wing of Irish Crime Lord, Frank Costello (superbly played by Jack Nicholson). The cast is outstanding: Leonardo DiCaprio is in rare form, Matt Damon and Martin Sheen are stellar and some amusing scenes are provided for by Alec Baldwin and Mark Wahlberg.

You can visibly see the tension rising as the plot thickens and Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio become increasingly concerned that their identities are about to be revealed. Watch out for some hilarious one-liners.

To see for yourself – thedeparted.warnerbros.com

Verdict: 5/5

An unusual choice of cast makes The Holiday a ‘must see’ movie this Christmas and it conveniently provides us with a refreshing approach to the usual Santa Claus drivel, which is thrust upon us, at this time of year.

Both fed up with their man troubles, Iris (Winslet) and Amanda (Diaz) decide to take matters into their own hands and swap lives for the festive season. And of course, on their arrival, there is the man of their dreams just waiting to be snapped up!

Each take on the role you would expect; Jude Law, the dashing English gentleman; Kate Winslet, the hopeless English rose; Jack Black, the cheeky American fatty who always seems to win over the fantastic looking women and Cameron Diaz, the power-driven blonde American business woman (well maybe this one was a surprise and somewhat not actually that convincing). And with the exception of Cameron Diaz, all put on a cracking performance that keeps you smiling the whole way through.

This film will never be a classic and do not go in expecting miracles, but it is a humorous festive jolly that is ruined (slightly) by yet another fake performance put on by Miss Diaz.

To see for yourself – www.sonypictures.com/movies/theholiday

My verdict 3/5

It’s 2027. England. The world is on the brink of extinction and already descended into chaos. Sounds like an alien invasion or an asteroid headed for Earth? Think again.

Women have been unable to procreate since 2009 and the youngest person in the world has just died, aged at just 18 years. What ensues is Theo (Clive Owen) and Julian (Julianne Moore) trying to get miraculously eight-month pregnant Kee to safety. The sole hope for humanity lays upon her shoulder.

What seems like an absurd disaster story in fact manages to tackle difficult subjects like immigration, terrorism and police state control, all set to the bleak backdrop of a decaying, urban warfare-torn London. Despite the acting being both believable and engaging, the real stars are the harrowing war scenes. They are akin to a visceral sucker-punch, both in their scope and realness, made all the more disturbing as they happen in locations Londoners encounter daily. Your spine’ll tingle long after you leave the cinema.

To see for yourself – www.childrenofmen.net

My verdict 5/5