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Nowhere Boy (Sam Taylor Wood, 2009): It's been about five months since I saw this, so I can't remember too many details apart from being surprised at how conventional it is. Wood comes from the world of art, so you'd be forgiven for expecting something a bit more ambitious than this. Still, it's not too bad, but the family dramas involved will be familiar to anyone who's seen Hollyoaks, despite excellent turns from Kristin Scott Thomas and Anne Marie Duff. Also, I don't think John Lennon was nearly that good looking. [50]

Sherlock Holmes (Guy Ritchie, 2009): This will likely be painful for Doyle purists, though it could have turned out much worse. My biggest gripe is that there's just too much comedy, the homoerotic interplay between downey Jr and Law reaching uncomfortably bizarre levels. Also there's much great design but little atmosphere in the period recreation of London. Holmes is a bit smarmy, rather than bruskly intelligent, though Downey Jr is likeable enough in the role, even Jude Law is bearable, though Rachel McAdams and Mark Strong (both usually talented) leave little lasting impression. As big budget spectacle goes this is passable, but this character deserved a less 'crowd-pleasing by numbers' approach. [49]

It's Complicated (Nancy Meyers, 2009): I can't complain at the prospect of more Meryl, though she's been slumming it with her film choices lately. This is actually more bearable than Meyers' last couple of interior design pornos, though by now the fact she can't write any characters apart from disgustingly rich women who are absurdly over-praised for their aging bodies. Streep and Baldwin are great fun to watch though, and although the film fails to hit a single note of emotional honesty, they suggest something in their relationship that the script sorely lacks. [51]

Er, thought I'd do more, but I've gotta go.