Sub-Lynchian culinary nightmare for pre-teens. Surprisingly dark for what it is if a bit dialogue heavy given the film's target audience.

One of the great strengths of independent film ? possibly the greatest strength ? is that the lower budgets and greater creative control enjoyed by the film-makers in this sector allow for some genuinely original stories to be told. It has been a long, long time since I have seen anything as original as Road to Victory, a sports drama that deals with ambition, choices, drugs... and impotence.

Road to Victory is a powerful and genuinely moving film and one that draws you in slowly and keeps you hooked right up to the end. Although the subject matter is certainly uncomfortable, it is handled with real sensitivity and serves to address a a deeper and more universal question: Just how much would you sacrifice to achieve your dreams. And would the sacrifice be worth it?

Full review here

Following a mercenary act of heroism, Price (Tom Sizemore), a former hitman, finds himself drawn back into his old job. Unfortunately, for Price, he's been away from his work a little too long and, as he prepares for his hit, he finds himself becoming more involved with his target than he intends.

The Last Lullaby is a film of few surprises but one that is strongly scripted and populated with complex and engaging characters, all of whom are superbly brought to life by the cast. It is this combination of script, character and performance that is utterly engrossing and will keep you hooked right up to the end of the film.

A fuller review is here

Angry and compassionate without becoming hysterical, The Magdalene Sisters is a damning indictment not only of the Catholic Church, but also of the hypocrisy and fundamentalism that, even now, leads to far too many people being repressed in order to preserve an unjustified status quo.