This week's new films

Life In A Day (12A) (Kevin Macdonald, 2011, US) Compiled from amateur submissions of what people all over the world did on 24 July 2010, this documentary sets itself an almighty challenge. It's fashioned into some sort of narrative order, with recurring themes and music, and moments of emotion and illumination, which saves it from becoming a random global channel-surf. But you could say the subjective "direction" and homogenising technical treatment are at odds with the democratic intentions. The Beaver (12A) (Jodie Foster, 2011, US) Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, Anton Yelchin. 91 mins Having crucified Jesus, Gibson now nails himself to the cross in a bizarre talk-to-the-hand family drama that feels more like the actor's own public therapy session. Green Lantern (12A) (Martin Campbell, 2011, US) Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard. 114 mins Like banks, summer superhero movies are now too big to fail. But will Reynolds's charm, a virtual costume and some interplanetary effects be enough to distinguish this one from the crowd? Bad Teacher (15) (Jake Kasdan, 2011, US) Cameron Diaz, Lucy Punch, Jason Segel. 92 mins Nowhere near as bad, or as likable, as Bad Santa, Diaz's slapdash, gold-digging tutor doesn't quite make the grade here, though the support is classy. The Messenger (15) (Oren Moverman, 2009, US) Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson, Samantha Morton. 113 mins The home impact of the Iraq war is for once the focus, as a pair of army officers notify US families of casualties. Potiche (15) (François Ozon, 2010, Fra) Catherine Deneuve, Gérard Depardieu, Fabrice Luchini. 103 mins Feminist bite gives weight to what could have been a retro farce, as 1970s trophy wife Deneuve takes the reins at her husband's factory. Putty Hill (NC) (Matthew Porterfield, 2010, US) Sky Ferreira, Cody Ray. 85 mins Striking indie experiment mixing everyday drama with documentary interviews, as a poor Baltimore community responds to a young man's death. It works a treat. The Round Up (NC) (Rose Bosch, 2010, Fra/Ger/Hun) Jean Reno, Mélanie Laurent, Gad Elmaleh. 115 mins The grim wartime rounding up of French Jews for the death camps is retold with reverence and earnestness. Stake Land (15) (Jim Mickle, 2010, US) Connor Paolo, Nick Damici, Kelly McGillis. 98 mins Technically classy but narratively overfamiliar, this post-apocalyptic horror is like The Road with vampires. Swinging With The Finkels (15) (Jonathan Newman, 2010, UK/US) Martin Freeman, Mandy Moore. 85 mins Excruciating British sex comedy with very little of either, and too much of Angus Deayton's bum. Got To Run (12A) (Robbie Moffat, 2011, UK) Suzanne Kendall, John-Paul Gates. 109 mins Laughably amateurish drama about a woman who jogs around Britain. Always Kabhi Kabhi (NC) (Roshan Abbas, 2011, Ind) Giselle Monteiro, Zoa Morani, Satyajeet Dubey Indian-style musical, set in a posh boarding school filled with new Bollywood faces. Born To Be Wild 3D (U) (David Lickley, 2011, US) 40 mins Elephants and orangutans make for all-round cuteness. Out from Friday Viva Riva! A glimpse of little-seen Kinshasa in this rough-edged Congolese crime thriller. Bridesmaids The ladies' version of The Hangover? Or something better? Countdown To Zero Disturbing documentary on nuclear proliferation. The First Grader An 84-year-old Kenyan man decides to get an education. Ghosted John Lynch and Martin Compston in a British prison drama. Incendies Siblings trace their family roots in an Oscar-nominated Middle East drama. Cutter's Way Welcome reissue for a neglected 1980s classic. Akira Re-release for the stylish, door-opening Japanese manga. Love's Kitchen Chef drama already famed for its Gordon Ramsay cameo. The World Of The Dead: The Zombie Diaries Survivors vs shuffling undead in another low-budget British horror. Double Dhamaal Sequel to the Hindi caper comedy. Talihina Sky: The Story Of The Kings Of Leon Self-explanatory rock doc. Coming soon In two weeks … Metal machine mayhem in Transformers: Dark Of The Moon … Robert Redford's The Conspirator tackles Lincoln's assassination … In three weeks … Terrence Malick's Cannes-winner The Tree Of Life … Jean-Luc Godard's latest essay, Film Socialisme … In a month … School's out forever in Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 … Rutger Hauer is a Hobo With A Shotgun …