Casting for William H. Macy’s directorial debut is well underway.

After intriguing us with his enigmatic presence in Winter’s Bone, then quietly disturbing us as the maniacal cult leader in Martha Marcy May Marlene, the increasingly versatile John Hawkes now reveals his softer side in endearing comedy drama The Sessions. That rare thing, a populist movie that also happens to be a good one, audiences will rightly flock to see The Sessions – and so should you. Just one word of warning… if Mr. Hawkes wants you to start crying in public, you will start crying in public.

This week we’re celebrating a man whose mere presence in a film adds an extra star to the rating, as written in BFF’s many by-laws. Starring alongside Toni Collette in this week’s Mental, Liev Schreiber proves himself as reliable as ever, being the best thing about a film that isn’t likely to inspire many ‘the best thing about that…’ conversations. He can do no wrong even when all around him brings new definition to the word. It’s a rare effect to have on films, and we wait with bated breath for the day he finally appears in something genuinely brilliant. For now, cast an eye back and remember why Scream 3 was any good.

He’s only just gone and directed universally foamed-about The Hunger Games, hasn’t he? But did you know he also wrote Big? And Pleasantville? And LASSIE (sort of)? And that he only got his break because he won a pot-load of cash on a game-show? JEEPERS you’ve got a lot to learn about man of the moment Gary Ross. CHEAT-SHEET, I choose YOU.

In any trial, anywhere, someone’s gotta represent the bad guy, right? Matthew McConaughey is brilliantly tortured in The Lincoln Lawyer; a tense and twisty courtroom thriller that showcases the wrinkly best of some veteran acting talent. Essentially a clever little tale let down by some silly plot-points and a baggy ending, The Lincoln Lawyer still does just about enough to keep you guessing until its final (slightly ridiculous) moments.