LFF3: The right ones

Writer-director Matt Reeves (Cloverfield) escorted his eerily mature young stars Chloe Grace Moretz (Kick-Ass) and Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Road) down the Leicester Square red carpet last night for the London Film Festival premiere of Let Me In. The film has a double challenge at the box office: overcoming vampire fatigue and the fact that it's a remake of the great Let the Right One In. Fortunately, it's a strong film all its own.

Here are some other festival highlights on Friday and Saturday...

Everything Must Go

dir Dan Rush; with Will Ferrell, Rebecca Hall 10/US ****

Based on a Raymond Carver story, this is a slice-of-life film about an extraordinary situation. There isn't much drama, which might put off some moviegoers, but it's a nicely observed film with a terrific performance by Ferrell... MORE >

Blue Valentine

dir Derek Cianfrance; with Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams 10/US ****

This portrait of a strained relationship is often difficult to watch, simply because it feels so real. Fortunately, the screenplay includes plenty of raw humanity, which gives us a chance to laugh and sigh as well... MORE >

Of Gods and Men

dir Xavier Beauvois; with Lambert Wilson, Michael Lonsdale 10/Fr *****

With very little action, this film builds almost unbearable tension by carefully examining some moral questions in a precarious situation that's based on true events. And in the process, it becomes one of the most important films in recent memory... MORE >

Leap Year

dir Michael Rowe; with Monica del Carmen, Gustavo Sanchez Parra 10/Mex ****

From Mexico, this bold and yet subtle film is so bracingly realistic that at times we begin worrying about the central actress. Without ever making things easy for us, it also has a lot to say about modern life in a big city... MORE >