5 Broken Cameras – political documentary shot by a Palestinian farmer, chronicling the increasing encroachment on West Bank land by an Israeli settlement. The official website tells more about the makers’ aims; listed only as being shown in the West End and ‘selected locations’ (mysterious!)

Beasts of the Southern Wild – tipped for big things at next year’s Oscars and already garlanded with film festival awards from Cannes and Sundance, this whimsical drama follows Hushpuppy (Quvenzhané Wallis) who must deal with her father’s fading health and her bayou home being deluged with water after the ice caps melt, as she learns the ways of courage and love.  Looks like a huge crowd pleaser. Official site has the details here, but showing at key cities only.

Flying Swords of Dragons Gate – haven’t we heard this title of film from star Jet Li before? Very similar to anything else in the Crouching Tiger… vein, this new addition to the martial arts genre has an added visual interest in that it is set in a barren desert. Official site is here, showing at key cities only. 

Ginger & Rosa – I have followed Sally Potter’s eclectic career ever since seeing her gorgeous, witty Virginia Woolf adaptation Orlando (1992). It’s been an up and down affair for her critically and commercially since that film captured international attention and launched the worldwide career of Tilda Swinton. Here, Potter nabs another top flight star cast (Elle Fanning, Alessandro Nivola, Christina Hendricks) for this WWII drama about impressionable teen Fanning’s friendship with  Alice Englert being compromised by her nuclear activist father’s unconventional lifestyle. The official site is here.  Showing at key cities only.

Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (3D) – Dreamworks have constructed a fun and impressive website to launch this 3rd addition in the animated series. The characters from the previous films are still trying to get back to New York, this time hitching a ride with and reinventing a travelling circus in order to do this. Showing nationwide.

Student of the Year – Bollywood High School drama featuring an almost hilariously beautiful cast. Official site is here. Key cities.

And on Monday next week…

Dark Tide – this seems to have been in post-production for ages. Halle Berry and current off-screen squeeze Olivier Martinez star in this thriller about shark experts reuniting for another dive after a member of their crew is savagely mauled by a Great White. Amazingly, that’s about all that seems to happen and my synopsis is a tad more succinct than the waffle on the official site. Incredibly, with these stars, it’s showing at key cities only – possible distribution problems, methinks?

Hello Quo – The official Facebook page promises a “no holds barred” insight into the career of ‘Dad’s favourite’ rockers Status Quo over the past 50 years. Does that include Francis Rossi’s hair transplants episode?

And on Wednesday next week…

Chakravayuh –  Bollywood political thriller. Official Facebook page is here. Showing nationwide.

Bhoot Returns (3D) – sequel to Bhoot that sees Bollywood take on Hollywood style horror thrills. The tagline is: “Some people can’t wait to move into their new house. Some houses can’t wait for new people to move in”. Official site with trailer is here. Key cities only.

Hit & Run – bank robber Dax Shepard’s former life catches up with him when his old colleagues turn up and demand the money he stole from them before going into witness protection. Kristen Bell is the girlfriend he has to drag along, as he evades Bradley Cooper et al. Official site is here. Showing nationwide.

Hotel Transylvania – Sony 3D animated comedy, with the voices of Adam Sandler and Steve Buscemi, about a hotel where monsters go to get away from it all. Official site is here and, of course, it is showing all over the UK.

On the Road – based on the Jack Kerouac novel this teenagers road movie stars Kristen Stewart as the liberated and seductive Marylou who cuts the ties with her former life to head off with husband Garret Hedlund and writer Sam Riley. Official site is here. Showing at key cities only.

Private Peaceful – Michael (War Horse) Morpurgo’s novel about two brothers falling in love with the same girl and going off to fight in WWI stars George McKay, Jack O’Connell and Maxine Peake. Official Fluidity Films site is here. Showing at key cities only.

Pusher – Drama starring Richard Coyle as the (drug) pusher of the title who finds his life spinning out of control over one week. Model Agyness Deyn is his girlfriend. Official site (yet to open!) is here. It’s being pushed nationwide.

Radioman – interesting sounding documentary about the real-life homeless man whose obsession with the movies has seen him cycling around film sets in New York and bagging small parts in over 100 movies. Official site is here. Key cities only.

Ruby Sparks – writer Paul Dano’s over-active imagination conjures up the beautiful character Ruby (Zoe Kazan) he has created in this adorable looking comedy drama, perhaps not surprising when it comes from Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, the directors of Little Miss Sunshine. Official site is here.

And on Monday 15 October…

B.B. King: The Life of Riley – Documentary about the life of the titular blues legend, with contributions from such disparate fans, admirers and collaborators as Bono, Bruce Willis and Bill Wyman. Narrated by Morgan Freeman. Official site is here. Key cities only.

And on Wednesday 17 October…

Frankenweenie – Tim Burton updates his original short film from the 80’s into a full length Disney animation about a young boy who brings his beloved and recently departed dog back to life, in a Frankenstein way. Official site is here. Showing all over the UK.

Paranormal Activity 4 – the things that go bump in the night franchise stretches on and on with a fourth instalment. Official site is here. Showing across the UK.

And on Thursday 18 October…

Rolling Stones: The Crossfire Hurricane – Brett Morgan’s documentary, which will be broadcast live from the BFI British Film Festival, features previously unseen archive footage of the group and chronicles their rise to stardom. Official site is here. Key cities only.

English Vinglish – drama in the Shirley Valentine vein as a belittled Indian housewife seeks emancipation when she enrols on an English course. View the trailer here. Showing at key cities only.

Everything or Nothing : The Untold Story of 007 – documentary, smartly being released just ahead of the new Bond Skyfall. Again, key cities only.

The Knot – billed as the British Bridesmaids meets The Hangover...so you know just what to expect from this comedy! Official Facebook page is here. Key cities only.

Liberal Arts – Josh Radnor is the writer/director/lead actor in this campus romance, as a man down on his job who is given the opportunity to relive his College days. He meets the beautiful sophomore Elizabeth Olsen and finds direction once again. Official IFC website is here. Key cities only.

Sinister – Ethan Hawke is the true crime novelist who comes across a box of sinister home movies. From the makers of Paranormal Activity. Official site is here. Showing all over the UK.

Some Guy Who Kills People – the title more or less sums this up; a newly released mental hospital patient (Kevin Corrigan) sets about killing the people he deems are responsible for his miserable life. The official site is here. Key cities only.

Sparkle – Mowtown era musical starring Jordin Sparks as the musical prodigy struggling to set up a girl group with her sisters. The ghoulish amongst you may want to take note; this is the last film Whitney Houston (starring as Sparks’ mum) made before her death. Official site is here. Key cities.

Babymakers – oh Lord, this sounds wrong on all levels. Jay Chandrasekhar’s comedy about a bank heist. Except it’s a sperm bank, as Paul Schneider realises he can’t get his wife pregnant and needs to nab the deposit he gave years before. Can cinema get lower than such concepts? Funniest thing about it seems to be the name of one of the writers: Gerry Swallows. Official site is here. Thankfully, listed as ‘London screenings only’ – is our capital not worth more?!

Barbara – Nina Hoss plays a doctor in 1980’s East Germany, suddenly relocated to a rural hospital. Official site (for those who understand German) is here. If you don’t, you’re stuck with IMDb. Key cities.

The Campaign – Jay Roach, who gave us some of the Austin Powers movies, gives us a timely, comical insight into American politics. Trailer looks funny; let’s hope not all of the best gags have been used to make it. Starring Will Ferrel. Official (US) site is here. Will be playing nationwide.

Cross of Honour – WW2 drama as English and German bomber pilots find themselves holed up in a mountain top cabin and having to work together in order to survive. Rupert Grint is one of the English guys. IMDb site has some more details, listing the film as Into the White, here.

Holy Motors – French film-makers can certainly throw out some original films. Leos Carax directs Denis Lavant as a man who takes on many different guises during one day, in a story generated by the director’s own interest in the after hours life of stretch limos. Kylie Minogue and Eva Mendes are among those making cameos. Official site: click here. Key cities only.

Husbands – John Cassavetes 1970 drama follows three friends embarking on a nihilistic journey after the sudden death of an old friend. Showing at key cities. The film is being re-released by the company Park Circus; you can read more about their work here.

Looper – Rian Johnson’s complicated Inception style thriller, with Bruce Willis is a mob enforcer sent back from the future to kill his younger self (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). Emily Blunt co-stars. Official Sony Pictures site is here. Showing all over.

Resident Evil: Retribution 3D – enough already! Haven’t the RE zombies finished us all of yet? Come on guys, team-work! It’s only Milla Jovovich! Official nonsense (and crazily presented nonsense too) is here.

On Wednesday…

The Perks of Being a Wallflower – teen romance, based on Stephen Chbosky’s book. Co-starring Harry Potter‘s Emma Watson. Showing nationwide. Official site is here (love the OTT CV’s of the actors).

On Thursday…

Taken 2 – Liam Neeson signs on for a sequel to his 2008 mega-hit. This time around, he just gets to warn his daughter she is about the kidnapped. Official site is here.