Palookaville - I had very high hopes for this film. It should be one of those films inclusive of the line 'with hilarious consequences' included in the byline. The idea of three guys who know nothing attempting crime should be easy enough to be well executed. Unfortunately aside from an accidental bakery robbery instead of the jewelery store next door and a mix up at the end there's very little to be amused at in this film. The acting is by no means at fault, the movie just seems unsure of the tone it wishes to take at times. Unfortunately in its effort to spike both humour through human idiocracy and real personal moments it never quite reaches either successfully. That is not to say that this film is not worth viewing entirely, just more background watching than anything else.

Sixteen Candles - Now I have to admit to never having seen Sixteen Candles before. Blasphemy I know, but maybe it means more as a restrospective than it would have at a younger age. If I had seen this in high school then it may have been a movie that gave me false hope for what, or should I say who, I aspired to have. This movie hits perfectly on the sheer embarassment of everything high school had to offer without ever going overboard enough to make it seem unrealistic. I know I'm a little late on the bandwagon with this one but it was definately worth the wait to understand and appreciate every little nuance whilst associating characters with people I once knew. See if you can spot the number of songs in the soundtrack which have appeared in movies since with similar settings....

Kicking and Screaming - No no no, not the Will Ferrell atrocity. Noah Baumbach of Squid and the Whale, and Margot at the Wedding. Already being a huge fan of his other works, maybe my expectations were a little high. The tagline of characters who talk a lot and never do anything after graduation says it all really. There are some great moments in this movie and it was enjoyable to watch but nothing ever really changed. All the way through the characters spoke and behaved exactly as in the initial scene taking place during their College graduation party. It is definately interesting to watch as it is indicitive of Baumbachs more recent work. I fully applaud a man who so constantly creates characters that we have no reason to like, yet cannot help watching.

Anvil! The Story of Anvil! - My favourite film at this years Sxsw festival, it received a standing ovation with not a single person leaving before the end of the credits. It didn't matter where I had to be at that moment in time, everything inside me was caught up applauding with all my might for those we had all spent the last hour and a bit getting to know. This is a documentary of a band who should have made it big a long time ago, but missed their chance somehow. It is sadly a representation of what most bands in the music industry go through for their dream. However, few want it as much as Anvil who have been going for 30 years and are now in the stages of recording their 14th studio album. Every time they play, even if only to 15 people, they give everything inside of them in case their opportunity is in that moment. Robb Reiner and Lips are the two founding members of the band. You may be mistaken for thinking it is a new version of This is Spinal Tap at first but by the end there is no doubt that these are heartwarming people and with all your might you will want them to suceed. These two guys know each other so well that they break up the band and put it back together every five minutes because they are as close as brothers where the argument never lasts long. The humour finds place in an amp which really does go to 11 and a conversation about their first song they wrote along with the concept for another called thumb hanging. It doesn't matter if you like metal music or despise it. This documentary shows two people who give every single part of themselves to achieving their dream, something which many of us in todays society are too gutless to attempt, for this alone they should receive success. If you see one documentary this year make sure it is this one.