Film Review of the Year Part 3 of 8

In a year which saw Hollywood films reach new heights, some truly brilliant world cinema and a fair few great european outings, British cinema did not feel left behind. Well certainly not in the quality stakes anyway.

The Escapist was an outstanding prison drama, well acted, well scripted and fantastically well directed. Happy Go Lucky was a sweet, endearing tale but lacked the punch one usually associates with Mike Leigh films. Terence Davies returned to the cinema with Of Time and the City. A beautiful portrait of Liverpool narrated by the director himself. James Bond leap back into action, in a confused, convoluted action adventure with no story and a lack of inspiration. Of course Bond is only English in history and not so much production. Most of the profits line the pockdets of an American studio. Shane Meadows turned a Eurostar advert into one of the loveliest, and moat charming films of the year depicting the blossoming friendship of two lovelorn youngsters in North London. The best british film of the year bar none though was Hunger, Steve McQueen's debut cinematic effort. stark, elegiac, beautifully shot and composed with a stunning script from Enda Walsh. It tells of the last days of Bobby Sands, the IRA prisoner who went on hunger strike in 1980.

Steve McQueen was also fortunate enough to receive the Golden Camera Award at Cannes. He is certainly a director to keep a close eye on in the future.