With Slade, Wizzard, and bloody Bob Geldof dominating the office playlist, and the rivers of mulled wine flowing at previously unprecedented levels, at Best For Film Christmas is definitely upon us. Every family has their own take on the Christmas traditions. Charades or the Queen’s Speech? Presents before or after lunch? Turkey and sprouts at lunchtime or at dinner? But one tradition that we know remains the same in all households is the Christmas film. In honour of this cinematic contribution to the festival of merriment, we have for your delectation: The Christmas Film Drinking Game. ‘Tis the season to be jolly well drunk.

On the third day of Christmas, attention is turned from the most overrated of seasonal poultry to the most unheralded; the noble hen. In the spirit of international racial equality, we open up this celebration of the pluckiest of birds to all, non-restricted by national identity. We know what you’re thinking: how could you, mere mortals that you are, Best For Film, condense the entire cinematic oeuvre of our feathered friends into only a triad? And the truth is, we couldn’t. But don’t get yourselves into a flap, the Three French Hens that we have chosen are, most definitely, something to crow about.

Best For Film’s Favourite Flicks returns with a festive offering from our newest recruit. Will Imogen’s paean in defence of The Muppet Christmas Carol thaw your heart, drape your soul with tinsel and generally baste all your tingly private areas in cranberry sauce, or are you determined to stay as dour as Scrooge and insist that, even at Christmas, 8½ is the best comedy ever? Bah! Humbug!

It’s Day Two of our Christmas countdown, and after the improbable success of yesterday’s paean to Ross Partridge we’re combing the length and breadth of Hollywood to find our top two turtle doves. That probably sounds quite easy, particularly if you have a proper job, but actually we don’t know what the fuck a turtle dove is. Is it a bird? Is it a reptile? Is it some sort of brilliant cross-over, living in a sewer? Actually, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Doves would be completely brilliant – if you want us we’ll be working on a pitch.

Even as Christmas spirit swells in our hearts, the hallowed halls of Best For Film are tinged with sadness at the imminent prospect of another mass exodus. Yes, our sturdy intern team is very close to leaving us forever (until they pop in next week), and all the imminent Hobbity adventures in the world won’t make up for it. Do your worst, cinema, we’re already shattered.

Christmas is coming, and here at Best For Film Towers we think you deserve a little more effort than a supermarket Advent calendar and a holly-wreathed credit card statement. Delving into the darkest recesses of cinema, we’ve amassed a list of our favourite seventy-eight (you’ll see) unexpectedly Christmassy actors, directors, films and more to bring you a unique (and completely incorrectly timed) version of the Twelve Days of Christmas. All together now…

Russell Crowe is many things; part owner of the Australian rugby team South Sydney Rabbitohs, Oscar-winning actor, champion Phone Hurler, singer/songwriter, father, lover and an utter enigma. To celebrate his reemergence into acting after his 1 year hiatus (to work on his music) with The Man With The Iron Fists, Best For Film has compiled this lovely Cheat Sheet to explore his Beautiful Mind. Make sure you are never without a Russell Crowe fact ever again! ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!?

Are you tired of long, cold, wintry nights with nothing to do? Are you thinking that it’s about time somebody appreciated your extensive and totally useless knowledge concerning Spaghetti Westerns of the 1970s? Then you, my friend, are going to love the iconic pub-film-quiz, You’re Gonna Need A Bigger Boat. YGNABB, as we like to call it, has been running since 2003, and tomorrow sees their annual Review of the Year quiz hit the Hackney Picturehouse like an H.G. Wells invasion. Look, it’s the perfect opportunity to show off your movie trivia surrounded by friends and drinks! Not that you don’t do that already, you cheeky monkey…

With the home video release of King of Devil’s Island, one of the most astonishing films of the year, we at Best For Film were lucky enough to be invited to the top of a very tall building in London to interview Norwegian director Marius Holst. Thankfully, his English is superb, and he has plenty of insight into the stark, unforgettable story of the Bastøy Boys.

With the teaser trailer for Star Trek Into Darkness finally out, let’s look back at one of the most successful reboots of one of the most successful franchises in history. No one could have predicted how good J.J. Abrams would make Star Trek. For our tribute, let us drink as if we’ve just failed the Kobayashi Maru for the 10th time!