The London Film Festival rolled up the red carpet behind Brad Pitt and his Fury last night, after 12 days and 248 films which provided a cultural summary of the year in cinema — and a throw forward to the hot tips for the Oscars.
Getting their first British airing and leaving audiences salivating for their autumn-winter releases were a series of films that all seemed to be showcases for the best actor Oscar: first Benedict Cumberbatch as Alan Turing, the Second World War codebreaker: a massive, unconventional performance in The Imitation Game, a rather conventional film. Then Timothy Spall knocked the spots off everyone else (and puckishly added spots of paint to gallery masterpieces) in Mr Turner, a rollicking role full of