This week's new films

Submarine (15) (Richard Ayoade, 2010, UK/US) Craig Roberts, Yasmin Paige, Noah Taylor. 97 mins Ayoade evidently did his homework before stepping behind the camera, swotting up on everything from the French New Wave to The Graduate to Wes Anderson, but the result is a fresh and distinctly British-flavoured coming-of-ager, full of provincial frustrations and recognisable types. The story takes few risks – an intelligent Welsh schoolkid's quest for self-definition and sexual adventure – but Submarine works hard to earn our affections with a mix of sincerity, energy and impeccable comic timing. You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger (12A) (Woody Allen, 2010, UK/US) Anthony Hopkins, Naomi Watts, Gemma Jones. 98 mins The ever-scrappier Allen observes life's frivolities with a bemused but cheerless eye in a London comedy whose great cast compensates for the fatalistic outlook. Route Irish (15) (Ken Loach, 2010, UK/Fra/Ita/Bel/Spa) Mark Womack, Andrea Lowe, John Bishop. 109 mins Loach considers the physical and spiritual costs of private security work in Iraq, as a Liverpudlian's questions over the death of a comrade lead him into grim conspiracy-thrillerish territory. The Lincoln Lawyer (15) (Brad Furman, 2011, US) Matthew McConaughey, Marisa Tomei, Ryan Phillippe. 118 mins McConaughey plays a maverick LA lawyer who operates out of his car but strays out of his depth when asked to defend a shifty, powerful rape suspect. A courtroom climax beckons. Anuvahood (15) (Adam Deacon, Daniel Toland, 2011, UK) Adam Deacon, Femi Oyeniran, Jaime Winstone. 89 mins Rather than serious inner-city pressure, this Brit urban comedy goes for colour and caricature, and the result is refreshing, if hit-and-miss. Deacon is entertaining as a wannabe "badman" and the soundtrack is solid. Chalet Girl (12A) (Phil Traill, 2011, UK) Felicity Jones, Ed Westwick, Bill Nighy. 97 mins There's ripe material in the winter holiday habits of posh Brits but here they're more of a jumping-off point for a teen-girl wish-fulfilment romcom. Benda Bilili! (PG) (Renaud Barret, Florent de la Tullaye, 2010, Con/Fra) 86 mins Comparisons with Buena Vista Social Club are justified but this down-to-earth doc on disabled Congolese street musicians seeking the big time warms the spirit without cheating. Ballast (15) (Lance Hammer, 2008, US) Micheal J Smith Sr, JimMyron Ross, Tarra Riggs. 96 mins American indie with European social-realist values, as the plight of a trio of poor, damaged, black Mississippians is rendered through quiet observation and wintry landscapes. Les Diaboliques (12A) (Henri-Georges Clouzot, 1955, Fra) Simone Signoret, Véra Clouzot, Paul Meurisse. 117 mins Reissue for the delectably teasing and twisty murder thriller. Out next week Country Strong Gwyneth Paltrow battles the bottle and belts out the ballads in this all-American melodrama. Limitless Bradley Cooper trials an addictively effective new wonder drug in this cautionary thriller. Out on Wednesday The Eagle Roman-British relations tested in an epic boys' adventure thriller. Wake Wood New-generation Hammer horror set in an Irish village harbouring eerie secrets. Cave Of Forgotten Dreams Werner Herzog visits a subterranean prehistoric art exhibition, and brings his 3D cameras. Faster Dwayne Johnson drives, shoots and leaves on a macho revenge quest, with Billy Bob Thornton in hot pursuit. A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventure French-made underwater kids' movie in the Finding Nemo vein. Coming soon In two weeks... Duncan "Zowie Bowie" Jones's sci-fi thriller Source Code … Fantasy action heroines galore in Zack Snyder's Sucker Punch … In three weeks... A family animation face-off between space odyssey Mars Needs Moms and parrot odyssey Rio … In a month... Danny McBride and Natalie Portman in Arthurian stoner send-up Your Highness … Michelle Williams in frontier mini-epic Meek's Cutoff …