Somewhere between The Dark Knight and Inception Christopher Nolan became the people’s auteur. Walking the tightrope between critical dismissal and commercial unviability with near-impeccable balance, he’s mastered the art of..

It’s that time of year again! As the seasons turn, our adamant gaze pierces the mists of the future to tell you what you should be seeing next year. And, as usual, it’s mostly superheroes (not our fault the interesting little indie films don’t publicise themselves a year in advance, is it?). This year’s list is in order of release rather than assumed quality, because we keep putting crap films in the top 5 and then regretting it.

As our Christmas countdown edges into double figures and you realise that you have, what, three days left to do your shopping (don’t forget about Susan in Marketing, because you know she’ll get you something even if you’ve already done Secret Santa and it’s always awkward), what better way could there be to fritter a few minutes of our last pre-apocalypse day than by reading our tenth successive holly-draped blog about nothing much?

Gender bending is one of the lost arts. There was a period in the 90s when you couldn’t move in Hollywood for transvestism. It sort of became the default mode for any comedic scene. Chuck in a corset and a couple of fake boobs and BAM! You’ve got cinema gold. Although the subject of emotional turmoil, sexual identity and gender reassignment has been covered sensitively and dramaticly by some amazing films, you’re not going to find The Crying Game on this list. No, we’ve cobbled together our favourite horrifying gender bending scenes from film. Get out the fishnet stockings, folks!

With Romney taking on America’s no-good, tax-dodgin’, health-care expectin’ 47%, Mrs Michelle doing the majority of the sweet talking and everyone trying to figure out just what a ‘legitimate rape’ actually is, there’s never been a more perfect time for a slicing satire of the USA’s governmental boxing ring. The Campaign isn’t it, sadly. But who needs game-changing home truths when the dog from The Artist is being punched in the face?

With both bicycle courier nightmare Premium Rush and bonkers sci-fi feast Looper on the horizon, Joseph Gordon-Levitt is fast becoming one of Hollywood’s premier leading men. But what of the man himself? What do we really know? One thing’s for sure… we have to go deeper.

We pledge allegiance to the flag, and to the United States of Will Ferrell.

You thought 2011 was big for film? It aint got nothing on 2012. We present our top 20 films to see in 2012; whether you’re looking for the likes of Spider-Man, Batman, epic quests, romance, aliens, Shakespeare, or Russell Crowe doing some very loud singing, the coming year will have something to delight and/or baffle you.

In series 5 of cult US drama Dexter, the serial serial killer killing forensic blood spatter analyst (and serial killer, but it doesn’t do to pigeonhole) is on full form with fresh challenges, unexpected emotions and probably some more serial killers to kill. Serially. All in a day’s work, eh?

43 years on from Charlton Heston’s first encounter with a society of talking apes, this origin story finally explains exactly why monkeys started wearing helmets. And what a story it is. Unknown director Rupert Wyatt has effortlessly gold-plated his CV with this intelligent and engaging blockbuster, which may well see Andy Serkis win the first ever Oscar awarded for a motion capture performance. A triumph.