Submarine
Dir: Richard Ayoade
2011
*****
Who knew that the IT Crowd's Moss (Richard Ayoade) was such a brilliant director! He was a big part of the creative force behind The Boosh though for many a year, the style is different but is still as impressive and just as creative. This film is very much a love letter to French new wave really, its influence is a whose who of great directors and movies. I vaguely remember Ayoade saying in an interview that Submarine was largely influenced by his favourite film, Louis Malle's Zazie dans le Metro but it's easy to spot Truffaut's 400 Blows among many other classics. The well established actors such as Paddy Considine and Sally Hawkins are on great form but the two young actors, Craig Roberts and Tasmin Paige are the real reasons to watch. They both steal each scene away from each other, not in a competitive way but with such a natural and exciting playfulness. Both should have a long and successful career as should Ayoade and I look forward to seeing more films from him. One of my favourites of 2011.

The Double
Dir: Richard Ayoade
2013
****
Richard Ayoade has said in interviews that his favorate film is Zazie dans le métro. Indeed, Louis Malle and a few other French New Wave directors have obviously been an influence as well as surrealists such as Terry Gilliam and early Luc Besson. That's fine though, Ayoade does bring something of his own to the mix and after only two films is an accomplished director of real talent. Bringing Fyodor Dostoyevsky's The Double to life over 150 years after it was first published is no mean feat and he seems to do it effortlessly. Seriously, is this really only his second feature? Getting Noir right is a tricky thing, here he seems to achieve it effortlessly. I'm pretty far from being Jesse Eisenberg's number one fan but I thought he was perfectly cast as the good guy and the bad guy. It's lovely to see Ayoade include past collaborators (both from his work in front of and behind the camera) and friends as well. I think he's going to be a big player in the future, I certainly think he deserves it anyway.