Hailed as part of the continuing renaissance of Matthew McConaughey, Mud is an odd reflection on turbulent adolescence and the death of naivety. Mud leaves little room for interpretation and the story isn’t the most memorable, but it certainly deserves all the accolades plastered over the posters. Surprisingly nuanced performances, even from the younger cast members, a fantastical score, beautiful camera work and a boat in a tree lead to a great drama lacking the usual schmaltzy tosh.

Matt Damon makes an early bid for Oscar glory in Promised Land, a gentle yet compelling drama about a small farming town facing an economic and industrial meltdown. While the financial difficulties faced by its characters will resonate with a lot of people, it feels a little out of date and we never get a sense of why this particular story is being told now.

A wide-reaching crime drama from the director and star of intimate relationship study Blue Valentine seems an unusual prospect on paper, but in practice the transition isn’t as big as you might expect. Bold and sweeping as The Place Beyond the Pines may be, it still revolves around family – it’s just a shame Derek Cianfrance tries to spoil his child a little too much.

Good Vibrations isn’t your average biopic, but then again Terri Hooley isn’t your average man. After watching this film I guarantee you’ll want to do a John Peel and listen to Teenage Kicks on repeat, then stick on the entire back catalogue of The Outcasts really loud and have a really good, life-affirming jump around.