In Bruges

Director: Martin McDonagh

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780536/

Review: Very funny, superbly performed and beautifully crafted.

Rent it if: You can handle some graphic violence

And if you liked: Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

Bad Lieutenant

Director: Abel Ferrara

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103759/

Review: Well paced and nicely shot but feels a little aimless.

Rent it if: You're not easily offended.

And if you liked: Taxi Driver, There Will be Blood

Atonement

Director: Joe Wright

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0783233/

Review: Stunning looking and expertly crafted.

Rent it if: You can deal with an unhappy ending.

And if you liked: Rashomon, The Fountain, Big Fish

Weird Science

Director: John Hughes

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090305/

Review: Bizarre and ridiculous fantasy but lots of fun nonetheless.

Rent it if: You're not concerned with a film making a lick of sense.

And if you liked: Sixteen Candles, Better Off Dead

Punch-Drunk Love

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

IMDB: IMDB URL

Review: A gripping and arresting look into the nature of stress and rage.

Rent it if: You don't believe Adam Sandler can act well

And if you liked: One Hour Photo, Mulholland Drive, There Will Be Blood, the work of Stanley Kubrick & Wes Anderson

Sixteen Candles

Director: John Hughes

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088128/

Review: A bit silly, idealistic and even a racist, but very fun and entertaining nonetheless.

Rent it if: You've been 16 I guess?

And if you liked: The Breakfast Club, Ferris Beuller's Day Off, Superbad

The Producers

Director: Mel Brooks

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063462/

Review: Very funny and enjoyable if a bit strangely paced.

Rent it if: You want to see where it started

And if you liked: Young Frankenstein, The Ladykillers

Away We Go

Director: Sam Mendes

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1176740/

Review: A bit patchy and aimless but it's easy to lose yourself in and the first half is very funny.

Go see it if: You enjoy dry conversational humour.

And if you liked: Juno (only far dryer), Lars and the Real Girl

District 9

Director: Neill Blomkamp

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1136608/

Review: A refreshingly thought driven action film with fantastic characterization and special effects.

Go see it if: You have a strong stomach and can handle action with a brain.

And if you liked: The Fly, Robocop, the Resident Evil games, the Half-Life games

Check this out: Alive in Joburg

Up

Director: Pete Docter

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1049413/

Review: It is beautiful, heart-breaking and hilarious.

Go see it if: You're not distracted by squirrels

And if you liked: Monsters Inc, Star Wars, The Incredibles

Added cult bonus: Wilhelm Scream

Screamers

Director: Christian Duguay

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114367/

Review: An enjoyable story, let down a little by unconvincing visual effects and some poor acting.

Rent it if: You can handle a few obvious lifts.

And if you liked: The Thing, Leviathan, the Terminator films

Check this out: Second Variety