With Christmas fast approaching the week’s new releases are noticeably few but if you think I’m going to cover Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, well, you must be an idiot! It’s time for this week’s (not especially) festive, Knotted Fur – HoHoHo!

Wreckers
Director: Dictynna Hood
Running Time: One hour & twenty-five minutes
Certificate: 15

Wreckers is the first film directed by Dictynna Hood. Hood’s first foray into filmmaking is a drama which examines the fragile relationship between intimacy, truth and betrayal. David (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Dawn (Claire Foy) decide to move back to David’s childhood village, presumably to settle down and squirt out smaller versions of themselves. But when David’s brother unexpectedly arrives in the village, his presence reignites their sibling rivalry and exposes the lies at the heart of David and Dawn’s relationship.

I hope there’s a bit of the old ‘brother-loving’ going on here, otherwise this will be a clichéd case of the wife having a fling with her husband’s brother. It’ll be a more interesting film if it’s the former – an incestuous relationship of unbridled passion – but it’s more likely to be the latter. The trailer features the piano tinkling away, so expect a weighty pretentious piece. The piano naturally equals pretentious twaddle.

Dreams of a Life
Director: Carol Morley
Running Time: One hour & thirty-five minutes
Certificate: 12A

Carol Morley’s documentary Dreams of Life is about the death of Joyce Vincent, who died alone in her North London bedsit, in 2003. What makes the story so interesting is that her death wasn’t uncovered for three years. When the unusual case was eventually reported in the media, there wasn’t even a photo of the young woman to accompany the stories. So Morley’s documentary is about piecing together the life and death of Joyce Vincent; who was this mysterious woman, why did she die alone and why did nobody look for her sooner? This should prove to be a very interesting documentary.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
Director: Guy Ritchie
Running Time: Two hour & nine minutes
Certificate: 12A

And so in a week of limited releases I find myself choosing a Guy Ritchie movie, as my film of the week. However, if Mr. Ritchie’s sequel is as enjoyable as his first Sherlock film, then Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, should be a bloody good, steam-punk-influenced romp, as the detective does battle with his arch nemesis, Professor James Moriarty. The film’s second trailer, however, looks far less impressive than the first, with the comedy oddly toned down. This is surprising, considering it was the bickering between Holmes and Watson that made the first film so pleasant (and surprisingly good).

My one real reservation about Ritchie’s newest film, is his refusal to abandon his reliance upon slow-motion during sequences of action, but that really is me nit-picking. Whilst I have never been the biggest fan of Robert Downey Jr or Jude Law, the duo – together and in these roles - certainly demonstrate their charisma. Sheesh! Did I just write something positive about the gangly, penis-handed, Jude Law? Right, I’m off to scoff some mince pies and regain my senses.