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It's not often you come across a simple story told well. A story that goes nowhere in the traditional sense and quite simply, doesn't need to.

From the opening credits, Baglands draws you into the lives of a group of teenagers taking their first steps on the ladder of independence and adulthood. Centered around the stunning lead actress, Stephanie León it's familiar stuff - experimenting with sex, drugs, racist undertones, battling with their parents and the older generation who don't take too kindly to finding their daughter or younger sibling having sex under their own roof.

Set in modern day Denmark, Baglands doesn't fall into the trap of that clichéd dark and desolate portrayal of social decay usually prevalent in movies dealing with teenagers and drugs.

It also doesn't fall into the trap of *having* to go somewhere. That's one of the things I really liked about this film.

So many films that deal with similar subjects will inevitably drag you down a path for the sake of going down a path. In an attempt to make some profound statement. Baglands doesn't do that. It tells a simple story, very well.

The colours, soundtrack, simplicity in direction and pace of Baglands along with the stunningly beautiful lead (Stephanie León), who completely steals the screen, makes it well worth watching.

Øyenstikker is a stick in the eye of big budget films.

An edge-of-the-seat thriller that delves deep into the dilemma of blind loyalty and how long that loyalty can last as it threatens to destroy all around you.

An ex-con stumbles across a long-lost, but not forgotten, partner-in-crime. As the chance encounter turns into a night of celebrated reunion "after 5 years....without even a visit", the subtle hints of debts unpaid begins to unravel in a sinister, yet, compelling fashion as Øyenstikker brilliantly contrasts the calmness and idyllic backdrop of the Norwegian countryside with the dark undertones of unbridled jealousy and bitterness.

If you liked Fargo you'll love this gem.

The first 30 minutes of Tinseltown had my finger teetering on the remote, poised to flick around to watch something else. The premise of two writers, down on their luck, living in a self-storage-space "bin" was mildly amusing, but, painfully bland.

The introduction of the character, played by Joe Pantoliano - the big deal movie guy, that lives in the park and sleeps in a lavatory, offered hope and I decided to give it a few more minutes. And then a few more until Kristy Swansons introduction as a budding film director & borderline nymphomaniac, added a bit of spice. Her solid acting performance raised her presence above and beyond just a very welcome eye-candy inclusion.

Ultimately, the obvious low-budget impacts on the film with poorly shot scenes, stuttured pace and slapstick handling of certain moments. Some of my favourite movies of all time have been low budget, Whithnail & I being one that also deals with 2 guys with a dream, but down on their luck.

However, for my money, the actors save Tinseltown from the "Terrible movie" archives and just about nudges it into the "could have been a cult movie" archives. I laughed out loud at some of the scenes involving Joe Pantoliano's character. In particular, the penultimate scenes in the terribly clichéd, but still funny, rich-but-screwed-up characters house, where the story unravels towards it's final moments.

I can see how Tinseltown was a great stage play and while the film-makers did their best to translate this to celluloid, it simply didn't work and while I laughed out loud at some of scenes and one liners, I think the first 30 minutes dulled my senses and expectations to such a degree I would have laughed at anything.

Unless you're stuck for a novelty coffee coaster, don't pick this up if you see it in a bargain bucket.