You know those times when you have no idea what the fuss is all about? I had that experience last night, when I saw Hidden, which has had a series of rave reviews. Mark Lawson called it "the first great film of the 21st century", and Peter Bradshaw wrote that "Hidden is Michael Haneke's masterpiece: a compelling politico-psychological essay about the denial and guilt mixed into the foundations of western prosperity, composed and filmed with remarkable technique. It is one of the great films of this decade".

Hmmm. Hidden is one of the most boring films I have ever seen. I spent two hours watching the cinematic equivalent of paint drying - nothing of any purpose happening to people who weren't even interesting enough to be loathsome. The dialogue was trite, and the plot, such as it is, manages somehow to be both stupid and nonexistent.

I had chosen the film because it had been so well reviewed. I wondered if, when I turned to my friend afterwards, he would tell me how wonderful it was and how enthralled he had been. Nope. He looked blankly at me and said he had been bored stiff for 2 hours.

I cannot begin to understand why it has been so lauded. Utter rubbish with literally nothing to commend it. Save two hours of your life, and give it a miss.