What to see from London Film Festival

London Film Festival is over for another year.

While it will never reach the status of Venice, Toronto or Cannes, this year shows that London is still able to attract a wealth of talent from across the board. At festivals, as you would expect, there are inevitably the arty, self-absorbed ego projects which are of no interest to anyone other than "real" film fans. However, there were numerous stand out films this year, which no doubt will reach a wider audience as well as becoming inevitable Oscar runners in the new year's reward season.

While none of the films on offer are comparable to the Marvel films or Tom Cruise for mass appeal, those included below should be of interest, even if it is a LoveFilm purchase rather than a full-on cinematic excursion.

The big hitters at this year's festival were uniformly well received.
Black Swan, Aronofsky's new film about the rivalry between two ballerinas who eventually form a twisted alliance, continues the director's rise into the public awareness, further solidified by rumours that he is set to direct the new Wolverine film (new direction is an understatement!).
127 Hours, the true story of Aron Ralston who became trapped under a boulder in the Utah mountains, is perhaps best known for the now infamous scene where Ralston has to cut his own arm off, the camera never leaving the spectacle for a second - Danny Boyle ladies and gentlemen!
Speaking of Boyle, Africa United has been much touted as Slumdog set in Africa, following the adventures of a group of Rwandan children who walk 3000 miles to the World Cup in South Africa, with adventures and feel-good factor aplenty.

Never Let Me Go, Mark Romanek's follow-up to the brilliant One Hour Photo, is an excellent film about children growing up to discover what it really means to live an ordinary life, despite the extraordinary circumstances surrounding them.
The King's Speech has already garnered much Oscar attention for Colin Firth as King George VI, portaying his fascinating relationship with his speech therapist.
Added A-list weight comes in the form of George Clooney in the slow burning but interesting spy thriller The American, Matt Reeves' Let Me In, a study of coming of age within the context of a vampire story, and The Kids Are Alright starring Annette Benning and Julian Moore in a funny story of modern family life.

European films were present in force this year.
Carlos, the story of the infamous assassin Carlos the Jackal, received wide praise, thoug also tested patience with it's running time of nearly 6 hours!
Perhaps the biggest surprise hit of the festival was Catfish, a provocative documentary about the effect of social media, getting almost universal praise from critics.
Other international highlights included Leap Year, an examination of social alienation, Blue Valentine, and Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, a mysterious and slightly odd film which defies categorisation.

The British house was also well represented.
Submarine, a coming of age comedy following a young boy's attempts to win the girl, is genuinely funny and original.
From the old guard of British cinema comes Another Year, Mike Leigh's new film, starring the wonderful Jim Broadbent and Ruth Sheen, examining family, friendship and ageing.
Brighton Rock was the surprise film (though actually no surprise at all) at this year's festival. Starring Dame Helen Mirren, John Hurt and Andy Serkis, it charts the fall of a disadvantaged teenager with a death wish.

Please comment below and let me know which films you are excited about or which ones you will probably give a miss.