We Need to Talk about Kevin (2011)

We really need to talk about We Need to Talk about Kevin, because it is truly an exceptional film with a central performance that will put many to shame. Coming off a wave of postivie buzz, the film was a critical hit at this year's Cannes - so much so that it looked like it would walk away with all the big gongs. Sadly, it wasn't so. Perhaps as a consolation, it won the top prize at this year's London Film Festival - an event that despite all the local hoopla fails to draw as much attention as Cannes, Toronto, Berlin or Venice. Regardless, the film's victory is not to be underestimated. We Need to Talk about Kevin is a brilliant film.

Cedar Rapids (2011)

Director Miguel Arteta has a knack for capturing the endearing eccentricities of Middle America. You can see it in his television work, in shows like Freaks and Geeks and The Office. But it’s even more evident in his film career, where the likes of Chuck and Buck, The Good Girl and Youth in Revolt bolster his resume. Whereas the majority of pop culture tends to focus on the accessibility of city life and suburban dreams, Arteta’s work mines the people, stories and towns that slip through the cracks. There’s something honest and sort of charming in that choice… something peculiar and engaging.