One of the remarkable things about the otherwise so-so Sex and the City is the way its secrets have stayed hidden. Sarah Jessica Parker appeared at the London premiere with a plea for everyone present not to divulge too much of what they were about to see to others. The same happened at the British press screening this week, although the message wasn’t delivered by SJP in person this time. A pity: some of us would like to have seen what the well-dressed girl about town wears on a dreich Tuesday in London.


Apart from a few internet spoilers, everyone seems to have played the game with SATC - largely because it’s one worth playing. There are few things less annoying than reading a review of a movie and being told every detail of the story and how it pans out. It is the first rule of reviewing, and those who break it rightfully earn the wrath of readers.


You’d be amazed how often it happens, though not usually among critics. Some bloggers take a perverse delight in being the first to tell all, even if what they are punting is not entirely accurate. The rumour business has become so big studios now actively exploit it as a cheap way of generating hype about a film. Viral marketing for Cloverfield managed to make it seem like the scariest thing since The Exorcist. As it turned out, Matt Reeves’ schlocker was about as terrifying as Enchanted.


The best kept movie secret of recent years was the one at the heart of The Sixth Sense. M Night Shyamalan’s film was a genuine word of mouth hit, but those who recommended it to others were careful, almost to the point of paranoia, not to reveal the twist in the tale. Spookily enough, a similar buzz has started to form around Shyamalan’s new movie, The Happening, starring Mark Wahlberg. Whether that’s because it’s a genuine jaw-dropper or an out and out stinker along the lines of Lady in the Water, we shall see.


Coming soon
Next week: the Affleck boys, Ben and Casey, come of age in the compelling crime drama Gone Baby Gone.
June 13: The Happening. All will be revealed. Or will it?
June 20: horror on the tourist trail in Mexico in action-adventure The Ruins.
June 27: David Walliams, Eddie Izzard and Liam Neeson are among the stellar voice cast turning out for The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. disney.go.com/disneypictures/narnia
July 4: Will Smith returns as a less than perfect superhero in Hancock.


Pick of the week
Terror’s Advocate: not the paciest documentary ever made, but it has a fascinating subject in French lawyer Jacques Verges.