Some great acting in this gripping, exciting film but I am unsure why the film itself has been celebrated more than, for example, IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH which seemed to me a much more important film to come out of America - and both featuring excellent performances from Tommy Lee Jones. The ending of OLD COUNTRY is so abrupt, you realise you've just watched a frightening, taught thriller, but regretably it doesn't add up to more than that, which you somehow hope it would. Among an excellent cast, it's the performance of Javier Bardem which will remain utterly memorable.

This week we have four different shows performing around the country. Thank goodness for the extremely strong stage management, wardrobe and technical teams which are looking after these shows so well.