Questions of freedom, the law, and existence are put forth in the powerful Far From Men – a film that is not to be missed. Documenting a moment at the start of the 1954 Algerian war for independence, it follows schoolteacher Daru as he must deliver a prisoner to the closest French garrison to receive justice. Caught between the two warring factions, the men must struggle for their lives and their freedom – throwing into sharp relief the choices they still possess within a world of randomness and contingency. Shot as a thrillingly tense western, the film slowly reveals a magnificent political and philosophical punch.

Schumer and Apatow’s Trainwreck takes on the careworn genre of the romantic comedy and loses, becoming a funny but recycled series of sketches arranged around the dullest plot imaginable. You may not be convinced that these two lovers are destined for each other, or that marriage and family contain all happiness, but you’ll hear some crackerjack jokes along the way. You’ll also see a lot of material that has already been used to better effect in Inside Amy Schumer. Also, LeBron James splits a bill. 

There’s jizz, jizz jokes, Chekhov’s jizz storage facility, Tom Brady’s jizz, a Mark Wahlberg covered in jizz photo posted to Facebook, black cock jizz, white cock jizz, indeterminate cock jizz, a dick-shaped bong that totally looks like you’re trying to get the jizz contained within, Winnie-the-Pooh unforgivably associated with a quest for jizz, and romance that probably ends in jizz. It’s a Seth MacFarlane film, or more accurately an extended episode of late-run Family Guy, and so you already know it’s terrible. It is going to make a ton of money and there’ll be sequels. That’s the world we live in now.

Results is a sincere and interesting attempt at reworking the traditional rom-com, bringing emotional depth and individuality to its central characters. Focused on a directionless millionaire trying to get in shape, and his developing relationship with both his trainer and her boss, the film attempts to grow interesting dilemmas out of fully formed characters in organic ways. Part satire on fitness culture, part investigation into combating modern alienation, the film is not as successful as it could be but is certainly worth watching.

Big Hero 6 can only be described as a bland disappointment; squandering a beautiful backdrop on a child wish-fulfilment fantasy that even four-year-olds will find predictable. That the film refuses to take a risk at any point is symptomatic of the Disney way of making animated features by committees, and aptly represents why more adventurous studios such as Pixar and Studio Ghibli have become more successful and celebrated.

Securing an interview with the most secretive dictator in the world, lightweight TV host Dave Skylark and his loyal producer Aaron Rapaport head to North Korea and to the lair of Kim Jong Un. But not before the CIA knocks on the door, coercing them into an assassination attempt on the young tyrant’s life. The abundant lack of competence the two demonstrate does not give the CIA pause for a minute, and as a result the film documents the pair’s numerous fuck-ups on the way to a typically worst of both worlds conclusion.

Charting the tragic course of an obsession, Foxcatcher is a powerful and all-consuming film that will leave audiences deeply unsettled. Questioning the nature of power and priviledge, as well as the sacrifice involved in competing at the highest sporting levels, what starts out as a simple sports-meets-true-crime story is transformed by director Bennett Miller into a stinging critique of class and influence. Steve Carrell’s astonishing performance as almost-billionaire John du Pont is reason enough to see this film.

The Drop is a high school essay in heavy-handed symbolism; taking up the age old theme of crime and punishment but daringly choosing to do nothing particularly interesting with it. Penned by successful airport novelist Dennis Lehane it is a stirring reminder that not only can you not be good at everything, but that it is entirely possible to be hugely successful and not good at anything (perhaps he has a beautiful singing voice). The film is a poor send-off for the effortlessly talented James Gandolfini, and only worth seeing for his performance alone. 

With a big name and a photocopied script, longtime-smalltime producer Theodore Melfi makes his debut with St. Vincent – a comedy that is tolerable enough, but unlikely to leave an impression. Trading on Bill Murray as Oscar the Grouch, and his age-inappropriate friendship with a young boy, the film runs through a series of wacky and dishevelled antics before hitting a plethora of predictable speedbumps. Everything is sorted out with an on-the-nose saint motif and a school assembly that tells Murray ‘you’re alright, kid.’ 

Robert McCall makes an honest living at a local hardware store, doing whatever small acts he can to atone for a mysterious past. But he is pushed over the edge when a young girl he meets in a late night diner is beaten up by her pimp. Trying to buy her way out, McCall is mocked by her Russian handlers and takes violent action to settle the score. The result brings the mafia’s fixer into town, and a game of cat and mouse begins.

Based on The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, a 10th century Japanese folktale, the film follows Princess Kaguya as she is found in a forest of bamboo by a humble bamboo cutter, and is raised as his daughter. Recognising that she is a princess, and suddenly finding riches within the forest, he takes her to the capital where she grows up into the most beautiful young woman in Japan. Courted by the most powerful nobles, she sends them on a quest to prove their love – all the while yearning to return to the countryside, and the simple peasants she knew.

Aspiring drummer Andrew wants to be more than good, he wants to be the next Buddy Rich. Catching the eye of distinguished teacher and bandleader Fletcher, Andrew is elated that success is opening up for him. But Fletcher is more than a perfectionist; he is an abusive, demanding teacher who strips down his students and demands they rebuild themselves into better performers. The two engage in a riveting battle of wills, as Andrew works harder and harder – physically destroying himself – to meet Fletcher’s expectations.

Matthew Scudder is a recovering alcoholic and former cop, earning an honest and low key living as a private eye. Approached by a colleague in an AA meeting, Scudder is persuaded to do some dubious work for a local drug dealer; namely, locating the killer of his wife, after a ransom gone bad. What Scudder uncovers is a unique and twisted criminal ring, and the man’s convictions are firmly put to the test as he must confront old wounds over leaving the police force.

Hank Palmer is a soulless criminal defence lawyer, the best and most expensive in the country, but hit hard by the sudden death of his mother and a need to return to the country town he left behind for her funeral. Once there he is quickly embroiled in old feuds; particularly with his larger-than-life father and local judge, Joseph. But things take a turn, when Joseph is accused of falling off the wagon and mowing down a local criminal in his car one night. Hank has to stick around, and do his best to protect his self-destructive father.

Egg is an orphaned boy, raised underground by a group of ingenious, trash-collecting creatures call the Boxtrolls. Never having experienced life above ground, he is startled to discover that the lovable Boxtrolls are being hunted by the ambitious Archibald Snatcher, on the authorisation of the incompetent and cheese-obsessed Lord Portley-Rind. Luckily, Portley-Rind’s brave daughter Winnie is on hand to get to the bottom of Snatcher’s mysterious plans for the Boxtrolls, and in the process foil them.

Ewa is newly arrived from Poland, as a refugee from the turmoil created by the now ended First World War. Huddled with her sister at Ellis Island, they are quickly separated and Ewa is successful in smuggling herself out with the help of the mysterious Bruno. But she is quick to realise that Bruno is a pimp, running a group of immigrants turned prostitutes like herself that must do everything they can to survive. Ewa must make some hard choices, in an attempt to save her sister and herself, and fend off the attentions of Bruno’s rival, Orlando.

Our hero, Dusty, is a plane that is somehow sentient and has feelings. Apparently he was famed for winning a race around the world with other sentient planes, but now he has discovered that his gearbox is worn out and he can’t race any more. “Feeling” sad, he comes up with a plan to save his small town and its airport through becoming a certified fire rescue plane. The remainder of the plot follows his travails as he learns how to fight fires, and even saves a few “lives” along the way.

Vlad is a local, peaceful warlord looking after his people and administering justice throughout the land. But things are not well, as the Turkish sultan Mehmed II’s armies are on the march again, demanding that Vlad give up 1,000 boys and his own son to aid the cause. Vlad remains defiant, making a pact with the local demonic vampire to gain superpowers for three days and fend off the armies of the sultan sent to collect their bounty. Can Vlad save his people, and at what cost?

Assembled from five parts, with four loosely interlocking plots, the film follows a drunken bouncer on a killing rampage, a cocky young gambler in search of revenge, an honest gumshoe looking to save a former lover, and a stripper out to kill a crook. Some characters cross over, helping or obstructing one another, and Miller’s trademark hyper-noir meets comic style is given the full workout.

Fraternal twins Maggie and Milo have been estranged for ten years, and reunite after a suicide attempt. Reunited in their despair at where their lives have ended up, they attempt to recapture a point where they were happy and rebuild from there. Milo attempts to reconnect with a mysterious older man from his past, while Maggie attempts to find satisfaction in scuba lessons and a meaningless affair. All of this, including Maggie’s domestic bliss with husband Lance, is quick to fall apart.