Aye, it's tough oop north--again. In Liam, screenwriter Jimmy McGovern takes us into well-mined territory: working-class Liverpool during the Depression years of the early 1930s, and into the bosom of a poor but proud Catholic family. But then Tom, the father, loses his job at the local dockyards; teenage daughter Teresa, working for the rich Samuels family who own the yard, finds herself unhappily used as a go-between in Mrs Samuels' extra-marital affair; and seven-year-old Liam is being scared witless by hellfire sermons from his priest and his schoolteacher. Things get worse when the embittered Tom, deciding the Jews are to blame for his workless state, joins the Mosleyite fascists.

No startling revelations here, then--but the film is fuelled by McGovern's affection for his characters and his passionate anger at their plight. Stephen Frears' vivid and atmospheric direction makes the world of cramped grey terraced houses real and tangible, and skilfully builds the tension toward the final inevitable outburst of violence. And from his cast he draws performances of rare urgency. As Teresa, Megan Burns touchingly conveys the confusion of a young woman torn by conflicting loyalties and witness to emotions she can't quite grasp. But the film is held by Ian Hart as Tom, with his raw vulnerable face and indignant ears, crushing down his own gentler instincts as he's drawn towards fascism. As he marches down the street in his black shirt his twitchy strut--half guilty and half defiant--says it all. --Philip Kemp

Jim Carrey is back in top form after his disastrous outing in The Cable Guy. As a lawyer who becomes physically unable to tell a lie for 24 hours after his son makes a magical birthday wish, Carrey learns a few brutal truths about the real meaning of life. There is very little plot, but Carrey's rubbery contortions and slapstick trickery provide just enough humour to keep you interested in this breezy bit of escapism. Not aided in Liar Liar by pets or animation, Carrey manages to do amazing and unique things with very simple props. He is also more in control of his acting than before. He is still over the top, but remains believable in some of the lower-energy scenes. An added plus is that the comedy is not as coarse as we've come to expect from him. --Rochelle O'Gorman

Overly sentimental, but appealing characters and richly atmospheric evocation of the times offer much to drama buffs.

1.Liberty is in for a big time adventure. It starts off with her answering a call on the mobile phone.2. Banned for its controversial screenplay, this flick is finally out. The storyline is inspired from the 90s Mickey and Mallory's killings that rocked America. 3. A high tension gang war forms the main plot.

Filmed in March 2003 at the Cardiff International Arena, this is an exalting concert performed live by Liberty X.