A Royal Night Out (2015)

I'd been looking forward to A Royal Night Out's release since first seeing the trailer a few weeks ago. Now, after seeing the film, I'm happy to report that I wasn't disappointed. The action begins slowly, but once the royal sisters become enmeshed in London's VE night revelries I found myself being carried along by events in ways that were at times funny, at times exciting, at times emotionally moving - even at times with feelings of national pride - but always with interest and anticipation.

A simply delightful story that beautifully reveals the shared humanity of the British people as they celebrate the end of the war against Nazism. A fine script and excellent direction stunningly recreate the spirit and details of the era and the lives of the royal family are skilfully made real. The two young women in the leads certainly do well in bringing their characters to life and Rupert Everet is quite good as King George. However, it is Emily Watson who shines in her role as Queen Elizabeth, later to become the Queen Mother.

Black Sea (2015)

After 11 years of working for the marine salvage company Agora, Captain Robinson (Jude Law) is unceremoniously dismissed. The corporation claims they don't need a submarine pilot anymore – let alone a submarine. Having worked on U-boats for 30 years (and in the navy for 15), Robinson has no other skills and isn't content scraping by at the likes of a fast food restaurant. He's even lost his wife (Jodie Whittaker) and son to his demanding career. Several of his coworkers, including the perpetually tipsy Kurston (Daniel Ryan), have also been fired.

Black Sea is an independently funded British thriller, about a submarine with a hull full of gold and the captain who wants to reclaim it. You can tell where Black Sea plans to go from the outset, there is something clandestine about Roberson, his destiny is written in the stars and ultimately the film is about him. It's about his thirst for gold, his decisions and his want for redemption, all of which is perfectly articulated by Jude Law, who seems to be getting more talented with every film he makes.