Invictus (out 14 June 10, Cert. 12)

Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon, directed by Clint Eastwood, 2009, cert 12

Monkey Score: 95%

Newly elected Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) inherits a divided nation when he takes office. Black South Africans, enthused by their electoral win and newly found freedom, are keen to move on and remove all signs of the Apartheid regime. Mandela realises that touching the Springboks, the national rugby team, would destroy his chance of unifying the country by alienating the white population. With South Africa about to host the 1995 Rugby World Cup, Mandela seeks the support of Springbok captain Francois Pinaar (Matt Damon), and tasks him with winning the competition against all odds.

Shot entirely on location in South Africa, Invictus has a rare feel of authenticity. Injected with the skill, sensibility and story-telling genius of director Clint Eastwood, the film gives Morgan Freeman's Mandela a chance to let the world on to this incredible true story. For it to work, though, it needed more than the right decor and director. It needed a credible Mandela, which Morgan Freeman managed to portray to perfection. His intonations and accent are spot on, never impersonating yet true to the great man. Whether or not he gets to add to his statuette collection on Oscar night, this is a superb performance. He is helped in carrying the film by a buffed up Matt Damon in the role of rubgy captain Pinaar. Damon's Pinaar is the catalyst who helps Mandela realise his dream of uniting the country and restores pride to all South Africans. Mandela saw the 1995 Rugby World Cup as once in a lifetime opportunity to unite a nation ravaged by years of Apartheid. Rugby in general, and the Springboks in particular, where always a white man's sport - indeed Black South Africans had been known to cheer for their opponents. Whether you like rugby or even know nothing about it, the final sequence is exhilarating. Talking to South African friends after seeing the film, its significance became clear. Whereas they could recall exactly where they watched the final, and the party at the end of the match, it's the fact that both blacks and whites cheered and celebrated together for the first time that stuck to their mind. Yet, until this film most outside South Africa had no idea of just how a seemingly insignificant sporting event could impact the destiny of a nation. Morgan Freeman gives the performance of his life - his Mandela will give you goosebumps. Clint Eastwood has managed to make yet another unmissable film.

The African Queen - The Restoration Edition (out 14 June 10, Cert. PG)

Katherine Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, directed by John Huston, 1951, cert. PG

MonkeyScore: 88%

In Africa during WW1, Charlie Allnut (Humphrey Bogart) the Canadian gin-drinking captain of The African Queen, is persuaded by strait-laced English missionary Rosie Sayer (Katherine Hepburn) to use his boat to attack the Louisa, a German warship patrolling Lake Albert and blocking their safe return to British-controlled colonies.

There are few films in Hollywood's colourful history that can pretend to rival The African Queen: both the film and how it came to be made have entered mythical territory over the years. Directed by the legendary John Huston, the film was nominated for 4 Oscars in 1952, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actress in a Leading Role and Best Actor in a Leading Role - winning Bogey the only statuette of his illustrious career. The film was adapted from the C.S. Forester novel, and a number of changes were made, including Allnut's background: the book calls for a Cockney riverman, but as Bogart wasn't able to produce a convincing accent his nationality was changed to Canadian. The shoot has become rather infamous, with most cast and crew falling ill throughout the filming with the exception of Huston and Bogart. They were said to have avoided illness by essentially living on imported Scotch. Bogart was later quoted as saying "All I ate was baked beans, canned asparagus, and Scotch whiskey. Whenever a fly bit Huston or me, it dropped dead." Hepburn, put off by her co-star and director's drinking, protested by sticking to water throughout, which most likely caused the severe bout of dysentery she suffered. The result is an essential piece of Hollywood: Hepburn and Bogart produce incredible performances throughout, and Huston's direction makes the most of the day's available technology to deliver. The Restoration Edition offers as pristine a picture and sound quality as one was hoping for, but sadly no new extras. The commentary by cinematographer Jack Cardiff is rather entertaining, but the still-based biographies are a bit of an embarrassment. MovieMonkeys are not known for being great fans of bonus features, but this is one case where we would have loved to see a proper Making Of. One of Huston's best-loved films finally restored gloriously. Hepburn plays a superb spinster opposite Bogart's drunken riverboat captain. A treat.

Crazy Heart (out 14 June 10, Cert. 15)

Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, James Keane, Ryan Bingham, directed by Scott Cooper, 2009 , cert. 15

MonkeyScore: TBC%

Bad Blake (Jeff Bridges), a minor country music legend way beyond his best before date, is forced to reconsider his alcoholic, chain-smoking, overweight life style when Santa Fe journalist and single mother Jean Craddock (Maggie Gyllenhaal) interviews him, sparking a doomed if inspiring romance.

REVIEW COMING SOON

American Dad - Season 5 (out 14 June 10, Cert. 15)

Created by Seth MacFarlane, Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman, featuring the voices of Seth MacFarlane, Mike Barker, Scott Grimes, Rachael MacFarlane, Wendy Schaal, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Patrick Stewart, aired in the US between September 2008 and May 2009, cert. 15

Episodes list: Phantom Of The Telethon, Chimdale, Stan Time, Family Affair, Live An Let Fry, Roy Rogers McFreely, Jack's Back, Bar Mitzvah Shuffle, Wife Insurance, The DeLorean Stor-An, Every Which Way But Lose, Weiner Of Our Discontent, Daddy Queerest, Stan's Night Out

Monkey Score: 75%

The random escapades of Stan Smith (voiced by Seth MacFarlane), an extreme right wing CIA agent dealing with family life and keeping America safe, all in the most absurdist way possible.

Like with Seth MacFarlane other creation Family Guy, American Dad is best avoided if you crave politically correct comedy. If you're in the mood for something a bit more out there, then American Dad is rude, crude and really quite hilarious. Series 5 pokes fun at all the usual suspects, and features regular guest stars Eddie Kaye Thomas and Patrick Stewart. Most episodes in series 5 feature extras, and there's also a bunch of deleted scenes on the third disc for an additional fix. Also on disc 3 is a bonus version of Bar Mitzvah Shuffle entitled Bar Mitvah Hustle, with more facts, anecdotes and general silliness about the series and its creators that you could ever wish for. Season 5 of American Dad is a joyous trip through the warped mind of grown-ups cartoons king Seth MacFarlane.

Father & Son (out 14 June 10, Cert. 15)

Dougray Scott, Reece Noi, Sophie Okonedo, Stephen Rea, Ian Hart, directed by Brian Kirk, 2009, cert. 15

MonkeyScore: 69%

Ex-con Michael O'Connor (Dougray Scott) has left Manchester gangland behind him, and is desperate for a fresh start in Ireland with new girlfriend. When his estranged son Sean gets caught up in a shooting and is accused of murder, Michael is the only one who can help, but this involved coming back to Manchester and his past.

Broadcast as a four parter on the BBC last summer, Father & Son is a powerful TV drama. The format is perfectly suited to the material as it allows to explore the characters and their relationships in depth, without being too diluted. Dougray Scott, who went on to star in a new adaptation of The Day Of The Triffids, is suitably dark and dangerous to bring a nasty edge to Michael. By no means a popcorn watch, but a strong story with solid performances from the cast.