2. The Help
It sugar coats the sordid elements of small town strife in the racially segregated '60s Deep South but is nonetheless an absorbing and engaging drama with wonderful performances from the ensemble cast. Terrific.

3. The King's Speech
This beautifully crafted Oscar winner was fully deserving of all the accolades it received. Smart, engrossing and eminently satisfying.

4. We Need To Talk About Kevin
This is not a movie to recommend warmly. It's a gruelling experience that gets under your skin, with a remarkable turn from Tilda Swinton that makes it unforgettable.

5. The Ides of March
A solid, traditional political drama, full of sharp lines and classy acting, delivered with good old fashioned Hollywood know- how. Rivetting.

6. Perfect Sense
I loved this one but it sank without trace. It's a lyrical love story cum sci-fi parable about the imminent end of the world through the loss of one's senses. Touching work from Ewan McGregor and Eva Green as ill-matched lovers.  Seek it out.

7. Rise of the Planet of the Apes
The best of the summer blockbusters. It's done with real verve and the CGI work is fab. The human actors take a back seat to the apes and who can argue with that?

8. Never Let Me Go
This superb drama never got the attention it deserved. It's a quasi-sci- fi tale with top notch work from the 20-something cast. Depressing to be sure but but immensely moving.

9. Crazy, Stupid, Love
A delightful confection about intermingling relationships performed with infectious charm by the first rate ensemble. Unpredictable, persuasive and very funny.
 
10. The Lincoln Lawyer
Matthew McConaughey surprised everyone this year by appearing in a good movie. This scrappy but involving courtroom potboiler weaved its convoluted narrative with great skill and was a most rewarding popcorn thriller.