The interrelation between a group of people and the happenings for them on this marketing and consumer bonanza of a day tie a complicated knot, untangled throughout an entertaining romantic comedy.

Valentine’s Day involves a cleverly constructed plot, using simple but relatable life situations including adultery, virginity, single life, work, sexuality, national service and how can we forget, love. It’s a wonder how all of these themes are engaged without an equally busy screenplay, but a casual ‘fly on the wall’ approach gives the viewer the chance to look in on the excitement.

“The other day I cried”, mumbles Claireece ‘Precious’ Jones (Gabourey Sidibe) to the audience.

Fair enough, too. Precious is a morbidly obese, illiterate and pregnant African-American teen living in 1987 Harlem, surviving off the welfare collected by her disgustingly abusive mother. On occasion, her drug-addicted father drops in to rape her. He is also the father of both her children, the first of whom has Down’s Syndrome. If there were a checklist of all the issues a teenager could possibly have, it’s safe to say poor Precious would tick each and every box.

“But guess what…” snaps Precious in response to her earlier sentiment. “F*** that other day. That’s why God or whoever make new days.”

It’s this remarkably optimistic attitude present throughout Lee Daniels’ second feature that turns an otherwise traumatic take on the human condition into a surprisingly uplifting drama. No matter what unimaginable hurdles Precious must face, hope for her is never lost.

“But guess what…” snaps Precious in response

It’s in the natural order to see politicians lead journalists and the public in circles. Their job serves as spin to make the public feel good about who is representing them, and they are excellent in making us feel that we need whatever they provide. At the time of writing Adelaide sets a good example with their stadium debate: two parties promising different versions of the same outcome. Many think it’s the greatest prospect for the city yet; others think the money could be spent elsewhere. Either way it’s happening and it all comes down to who we vote into power. Because it’s these people who call the shots. And whatever democratic government you’re looking at it’s the same principle. But when the stakes are much higher, communication is the most important key.

If most have the idea that an Australian musical isn’t plausible, then most wouldn’t know what they’re talking about. After all, Muriel’s Wedding is arguably a loose musical; with the ABBA soundtrack used as an emotional outlet. You can throw Priscilla: Queen of the Desert in there too. But since Chicago, Hairspray and Mamma Mia! making the successful transition from Broadway to Hollywood, the musical has stepped up a notch to become a potential powerhouse genre. Look at what the High School Musical films did for Zac Efron. So what for the stars of Bran Nue Dae, the first dynamic Australian musical to ever hit screens? Yes, dynamic – because it actually pokes fun at social issues and everyone can hold a decent tune. Even Ernie Dingo. Quite simply, the fact that no other true musical made in this country comes to mind makes it a stand-out. It’s truly worth a watch.

Robert Downey Jr is a very busy man. He has a lot to uphold amongst his Hollywood comeback, first donning the Iron Man suit and now almost certainly entering a second franchise with one of fiction’s most beloved characters. It’s funny then that the character of Sherlock Holmes hasn’t been a favourite in cinema; the bumbling detective now has one of the most known falsely quoted lines in history. Sadly but rightly so, said line fails to actually be mentioned – but the 1800’s London setting gives Guy Ritchie the perfect opportunity to do what Guy Ritchie does best – show the gritty side of town with a bit of humour thrown in. More than a bit – this is his most family-friendly film to date. After all, it is a ‘blockbuster’.

Like the temptation of a big red button that reads ‘Do Not Push’, New Zealand director Peter Jackson simply cannot resist filming the so-called “unfilmable”. First it was J.R.R Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, and now it’s Alice Sebold’s bestseller The Lovely Bones; a dense thematic story of a teenage girl, who after being brutally murdered, watches over her broken family and sadistic killer from heaven.

While Jackson might have aced Rings, he only just manages to pull off Bones. This is a film that shines only in short, erratic bursts. It can be an emotional film, a disturbing film, a romantic film, a funny film and a breathtaking film, but never a seamless blend of each.

While Jackson might have aced Rings, he only just manages to pull off Bones. This is a film that shines only in short, erratic bursts. It can be an emotional film, a disturbing film, a romantic film, a funny film and a breathtaking film, but never a seamless blend of each.

The first feature film by director Shane Acker, based on his animation short of the same name, 9 delves into a post-apocalyptic world where a small group of little ragdoll people are the only living things that remain. For a first time venture with a feature, Acker’s CG animated film (never a thrifty undertaking) has received powerful backing and confidence from Tim Burton (Sleepy Hollow, Edward Scissorhands) and Timur Bekmambetov (Night Watch, Wanted), who serve as the film’s producers.

Steven Soderbergh’s had a busy 2009, first with the release of Che (parts One and Two), and then The Girlfriend Experience. His latest is The Informant!, different in style to both of these films but with a similar theme (of a human just trying to make their way in the world). To be a whistleblower and rat out your employers is a big ask on anybody; people like Erin Brokovich won their cases with no direct connection to the company they sued, but Mark Whitacre chose not to accept the behaviour of his workplace. Like Brokovich, he appeared to do it out of sheer goodwill – but this film tells us that even people that try to do the right thing often get caught up in something beyond their understanding.