Mixed blessings | 7 January 2012

Firstly, my review of 2011, which I was going to do in photographs until I realised I didn’t take any, and then in animal thumbprints, but they are quite rubbish. My dog, for example, looks nothing like a dog. So I will spare you my review of last year — my giraffe is getting there, but still needs work — and, instead, will give you our first film of 2012, Mother and Child, which is terrifically acted and affecting in part, but also peculiarly pat and unsatisfying. If you haven’t yet seen The Artist, I would put that way, way, way ahead in the queue, and if you’ve yet to see it, I would further ask you this: something wrong with you? My recommendations not good enough for you all of a sudden? Tell you what, why don’t I just stay at home and work on my giraffe in future? Might as well.