“While it might never quite settle on a consistent tone between the drama & the comedy, Lady Gaga’s performance means it’s certainly never dull”

My definitive top ten of 2021’s movie releases

“An unexpectedly fun crime caper that the whole family can enjoy, carried by Emma Stone’s fourth-wall-breaking performance”

“An intellectually engaging & emotionally impactful noir thriller with a great cast, that delivers plenty of thrills & twists”

“It may not be the film that anyone was expecting, but it’s arguably all the better for it – a bold swing for the fences that has paid off”

A selection of my favourite bits and pieces from 2021

“It’s rare to see a film that is firing on all cylinders as well as this one – an absolute joy from start to finish”

“Despite its flaws, as a put-your-brain-in-neutral popcorn action flick, there is still fun to be had”

“A time-loop action-comedy with inventive, well-choreographed action scenes & a darkly comic tone that’s a lot of fun”

“For fans of the TV series, it’s not only a comedic masterpiece, but also a touching & unexpectedly emotional swansong for these characters”

“An enjoyable prequel, even if it lacks the humour & inventiveness of the earlier films”

“Arguably the most personal film of the series, this explores interesting philosophical themes against the backdrop of an action-packed sci-fi blockbuster”

“Not only a hugely crowd-pleasing blockbuster, but also arguably the best Spider-Man movie of them all”

“A tense & gritty crime thriller with an interesting premise, a great cast, and well-staged action sequences”

“A great character-driven thriller with some amazing performances – even if it’s not at all what you may have been expecting”

“Arguably a film made mainly for fans of the videogames, for the uninitiated this reboot is still a fairly enjoyable zombie horror film”

“A historic character study exploring issues like perception & institutional misogyny, that’s sadly just as applicable today”

“An enjoyable & entertaining mid-tier comic-book movie, and a marked improvement on the first film”

“A heartfelt & affectionate tribute which recapture the tone & spirit of the original films, while telling new characters’ stories”

“The movie equivalent of junk food – full of empty calories, but the stars are fun to watch on a globetrotting adventure full of double-crosses, action & comedy”

“This millennia-spanning cosmic fantasy about galactic space-gods & immortal beings may divide audiences, although it benefits greatly from repeat viewings”

“A stylised western with an all-star cast, that should appeal even to those who think they don’t like cowboy movies”

“An epic sci-fi blockbuster that deserves to be seen on the big screen”

“A chilling, but utterly gripping, original supernatural horror”