Film Reviews index (full reviews on following pages)

POLLOK
Ed Harris' brave attempt at disentangling the enigma of the troubled action painter Jackson Pollok.

INSOMNIA
This summer's first real unmissable rivetter from Christopher "Memento" Nolan with a stellar performance from Al Pacino and a worthy contribution against type from Robin Williams.

ABOUT A BOY
Hugh Grant moves up a couple of thespian cred notches in this third adaptation of a Nick Hornby novel.

BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM
Worthy if predictable female-footy tosh - a pleasant enough diversion, even if the ensemble acting is well below par.

WAKING LIFE
Pseudo esoteric piffle notable for tiresome Mac-friendly animated fx....very poor fare if the truth be told.

KATE AND LEOPOLD
Meg Ryan, desperately nearing the sell-by date on her 'vulnerable-but-nice' characterisation, hits the skids again, but Hugh Jackman deserves acknowledgement for a zippy performance in this time-travel piffle.

DOGTOWN AND THE Z BOYS
Brillantly constructed and hugely informative documentary on skateboard culture - genuinely sussed and original - ace soundtrack too!

THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS
Gene Hackman is totally the business here as flawed but delighful Royal Tenenbaum, daddy of a bunch of misfits. Hugely inventive and delicious entertainment.

THE EXPERIMENT
Reality-inspired analysis of the power of uniform, brutality and insurrection of the human psyche.

I AM SAM
Sean Penn - where art thou now? Insipid, sentimental tosh - mentally retarted father, no wife, young child, arrival of Michelle Pfeiffer - you know you could write the script (and probably do it better) don't you?

THE SHIPPING NEWS
Kevin Spacey-by-numbers vehicle - he teams up with Julianne Moore in austere Newfoundland fishing town, works as 'Shipping News' journalist for local rag. Unsatisfying.

CHARLOTTE GRAY
War-time, well-meaning saga with a decent performance from Cate Blanchett.

THE SON'S ROOM
Oustanding analysis of the trauma of bereavement. Uniformly excellent in every way.

OCEANS ELEVEN
Ultra swish, cool and in command heist caper - a joyful treat from the supreme Steven Soderberg.

ALI
Will Smith floats like a butterfly and just about gets a bee-sting into the title role in this intensely focussed Michael Mann epic.

IRIS
Oscar winner Jim Broadbent cares for the disintegration of novelist wife Iris, excellently portrayed by the ubiquitous Judi "Dame" Dench.

GOSFORD PARK
All star Britcast in stately home drama of murder, illicit flings and not forgetting our old staple pal - intrigue! - in Robert Altman's hugely satisfying latest.

MONSTERS INC .
Outstanding techno-animated thrill/laugh-a-minute humdinger.

VANILLA SKY
Cameron Crowe's unfairly over-criticised remake of "Open Your Eyes" featuring Cruise and Cruz - try it, you might even like it!

BLACK HAWK DOWN
Dismal premise, but visually stunning Ridley Scott war opus.

LAST ORDERS
Blissful casting, superb performances - they do make 'em like this still - thank goodness.

MADE
Nifty street-gangster flick - entertaining and well written.

A BEAUTIFUL MIND
The garlands of awards are ultimately deserved - this is a terrific biopic - and should not be missed.