Steve McQueen’s sophomore film is too strong to be called a slump, but Shame, like its protagonist, could do with a little more heartbeat under its magnificently sculpted skin.

Steven Spielberg’s oft-cited 1977 sci-fi landmark may lack the storytelling panache of his very finest work, but is imbued with that same sense of childlike wonder which few directors before or since have been able to evoke from their audience.

Tomas Alfredson’s adaptation of John Le Carré’s bestselling novel is superior filmmaking on every level, a beguiling combination of artistic vision and popcorn excitement. It’s a slow-burner, but one of the finest movies of the year.

John Michael McDonagh’s fantastic black comedy mixes the heartfelt with the hilarious, and features Brendan Gleeson turning in the best comedic performance you’ll see for quite some time. You’ll be hard pressed to find a more enjoyable, relentlessly inventive comedy anywhere this year.

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