THE FIVE BEST FILMS

Sideways (15, Alexander Payne, 123mins)

Two men go on a trip to sample the Californian vineyards before one of them gets married in this cracking, beautifully toned movie. Nationwide

2046 (12A, Wong Kar-Wai, 129mins)

The director delivers a fantastically seductive sequel to his swooning 2000 psychodrama, In the Mood for Love. Nationwide

Million Dollar Baby

(12A, Clint Eastwood, 137mins)

Hilary Swank gives a Golden Globe-winning performance as a white- trash contender in the ruthless world of women's boxing. Nationwide

ZTeam America: World Police (15, Trey Parker, 98mins)

The makers of South Park send up the War on Terror (and those who oppose it, too), in a funny, very vulgar puppet-show. Nationwide

Vera Drake (12A, Mike Leigh, 125mins)

A film of remarkable quality, with Imelda Staunton as the 1950s Londoner who helps out women with their unwanted pregnancies. Nationwide

AND ONE TO AVOID...

Without a Paddle (12A, Steve Brill, 99mins)

Without much of a clue, either, given that the idea behind this so-called comedy is a replay of Deliverance - with laughs.