A week of movies to keep an eye out for.

Sat/Sun 26th BBC1 @00.20

Shifty. A cracking London set drama about a drug dealer struggling with friends, family and rivals. A harsh yet likeable film that's superbly lead by Riz Ahmed and one of my favourite British actors; Daniel Mays. Well worth staying up for. Made for pennies and better than most films with a 1000 times the budget.

Sat/Sun 27th TV3 @00.20

Borstal Boy. A ropey Irish accent from Shawn Hatosy aside this is a good little biopic of the early stages of the life of Brendan Behan from his part in the IRA, through the time he spends in borstal after he is arrested, to where he finds himself making friends with people he once claimed to hate. Plus (trust me on this) a decent, non annoying performance from Danny Dyer.

Mon 28th TCM @18.25

The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre. A true classic. The type of film where you'll recognise the story and dialogue even if you haven't seen it. 3 Americans band together in Mexico to find a buried treasure but problems inside and outside their little group cause major trouble for them. Humphrey Bogart and Walter Huston are just fantastic in this thrilling little film.

Tues 29th Film 4 @21.00

Horns. A young man wakes up one morning with horns growing from his head and the ability to get people to admit their darkest secrets. Daniel Radcliffe is well able to shake off his Harry Potter persona to star in this gory and surreal tale that will upset you in places and make you snort laughing in others.

Wed 30th BBC4 @22.00

Starter For 10. Thoroughly entertaining and charming comedy drama about a young man feeling out of place in a UK college who finds himself on a University Challenge team. Great cast in this with fun early performances from James McAvoy, Rebecca Hall & Dominic Cooper.

Thur 1st E4 @21.00

Salt. Angelina Jolie kicks ass in this twisty, turny and fast moving spy thriller about a CIA operative who has to go on the run after she is accused of being a Russian sleeper agent. Great turns from Jolie & Liev Schreiber help make this a very entertaining and action packed film.

Fri 2nd TV3 @22.00

Clear & Present Danger. There has been 5 film adaptions of Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan novels and this is by far the best. Harrison Ford stars in a thrilling, complex and intelligent tale of government dodginess and Colombian drug cartel nastiness loosely ( very loosely ) based on the story of Pablo Escobar. Joaquim de Almeida steals the film with a great slimy performance plus it contains one of my all time favourite action scenes.

7 films worth seeking out for the week ahead.

Sat 19th BBC2 @22.45

Boyz In The Hood. A 90's classic about a young man trying to live a normal life in a neighbourhood where life is cheap. The film that brought Black cinema back to life in the early 90s. A brilliant, brutal, funny, upsetting film thats well acted by everyone especially Laurence Fishburne. 

Sun 20th RTE1 @01.15

They Shoot Horses, Dont They. Disclaimer. This film will traumatise you. A dance contest held during the depression attracts a group of desperate people. The rules, you stop dancing and you lose. Sounds fun right? Its not. Jane Fonda gives an amazing performance in a role that made her famous. A bleak but rewarding watch.

Mon 21st TG4 @21.30

This Boys Life. A baby faced Leonardo DiCaprio plays a young man who's turbulent life takes a bad turn when his mother marries a bully and moves them to a small town. Ellen Barkin is super but the film belongs to Robert De Niro who plays a hateful bastard to a tee. A tough going but very good little film. Keep an eye out for a young Tobey Maguire and Eliza Dushku too.

Tues 22nd Film4 @16.50

The Hound Of The Baskervilles. The quintessential version of the famous Sherlock Holmes tale about the famous detective investigating a family curse. Starring Hammer Horror's 2 greatest stalwarts, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee as Holmes & Sir Baskerville respectively. A fabulous looking film, with great acting and as per usual with Hammer productions, bucketloads of atmosphere.

Wed 23rd BBC4 @22.00

My Week With Marilyn. A week in the life of Marilyn Monroe while she was shooting a film in London as seen through the eyes of a young film student. Eddie Redmayne is grand as the student but Michelle Williams is luminous as Marilyn Monroe. A real starmaking role, she brings the screen legend to life. Kenneth Branagh has a ball playing Laurence Olivier too. 

Thur 24th Film4 @16.50

The Sons Of Katie Elder. 4 brothers come together to get some good old fashioned family revenge in this classic western with John Wayne & Dean Martin. A highly enjoyable and lovely looking technicolor western shot in Colorado and Mexico, it just looks BIG. A perfect film to record and watch on a rainy sunday beside the fire.

Fri 25th TV3 @21.00

Shooter. Mark Wahlberg plays an ex army sniper who gets caught up in a massive government conspiracy and finds himself on the run. An entertaining and exciting thriller that a lot of people look down their nose at for some reason. If it had been made in the 80's and starred Arnie it would be considered an action classic by now.

7 films worth seeking out for the week ahead.

Sat 12th BBC2 @22.00

Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom. A biopic of Nelson Mandela spanning 6 decades from his childhood in South Africa, through his politicization and incarceration and eventually his release. Superb acting from Idris Elba and Naomie Harris as Nelson & Winnie. A big important film, warm in places and brutal in others but one that should be watched.

Sun 13th Film4 @23.00

The Last King Of Scotland. A young Scottish doctor played by James McEvoy finds himself wildly out of his depth when he enters into a friendship with the infamous Idi Amin. Forest Whitaker is masterful as Amin. A deservedly oscar winning performance in a film that's exciting, disgusting, funny and tense as hell. 

Mon 14th TG4 @21.30

South Central. The story of a man in South Central Los Angeles trying to stop his son making the same mistakes he did as a young man. Released in the early 90's when black cinema underwent an amazing resurgence, this film was overlooked but is more thoughtful and well acted than some of its contempories. Glenn Plummer is top notch in the lead role.

Tues 15th Film4 @13.00

The Black Narcissus. The story of frustrated nuns in a Himalayan convent and the effect their surroundings and a man in their midst has on some of them. Sounds like a dodgy porn film but its an absolute masterpiece. A fantastic looking film that's sensual in places and terrifying in others. Technically astonishing for the time too and highly influential.

Wed 16th Syfy @23.00

Strange Days. Made in 1995 but based in a dystopian and frankly horrifying version of 1999. Ralph Fiennes is a ex cop turned criminal who finds himself drawn into a wide criminal conspiracy. Super supporting cast in this with Angela Bassett being brilliant as always. Heart-pounding, violent, scary stuff that is not for everyone. Also for a film made 20+ years ago it's surprisingly topical in places too.

Thur 17th CH4 @02.00

Silent Running. Compelling and intelligent drama set aboard a spaceship holding whats left of the earth's plant life. When the order comes through to come home one astronaut doesn't take it very well. Bruce Dern is at his best in this and has a brilliant supporting cast of 3 robots. Yes, i know it sounds terrible but it's a remarkable little film, funny and sad.

Fri 18th TG4 @21.05

The Missouri Breaks. A dark and strange and stunning western starring Jack Nicholson as a rustler who steals the cattle and daughter of a rancher and Marlon Brando as the regulator hired to kill him. Violent, funny and surreal with a career best performance (IMHO) from Marlon Brando as a character you will enjoy with while simultaneously hating. Nicholson as always rocks.

7 films worth seeking out for the week ahead

Sat 5th RTE2 @21.50

The Town. Excellent Boston set crime drama with Ben Affleck and Rebecca Hall. A bank robber tries to go straight but circumstance and old acquaintances wont let him. Affleck acts and directs with skill, is supported by a great cast and it's full of tense action set pieces. If your tv has a subtitles option turn it on because the Boston accent is a tough one to follow.

Sat 5th TG4 @23.45

The King Of Comedy. One of Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro's finest films and one you will watch through your fingers while trying not to die from cringing. A failed comic goes to extreme lengths to achieve success. A superb black comedy. But one you'll need to be in the right mood to enjoy.

Mon 7th TCM 23.50

Excalibur. A stylish, sexually charged and bloody retelling of the story of King Arthur and the knights of the round table. Parts of this were filmed in Wicklow and Tipperary and it's full of Irish actors in the supporting roles. Keep an eye out for a very young Liam Neeson. Helen Mirren is the star of the show as Morgana Le Fey. A very entertaining film.

Tues 8th ITV4 23.15

From Dusk Til Dawn. A gory and hilarious mish mash of crime thriller and splattery horror. A pair of scumbags on the run from a crime spree take hostages and end up in a bar that makes them look like a pair of angels. Of course all hell breaks loose. Not for the squeamish. Salma Hayek is very memorable in a small role. Plus it was once banned in Ireland!

Wed 9th Film4 @01.25

Mona Lisa. An ex con gets work driving a prostitute from job to job and finds himself disgusted by what he sees. Bob Hoskins and Cathy Tyson are excellent in this dark blend of love story and crime drama and surprisingly enough there's even a few laughs in here too. Directed by Neil Jordan. Plus its good to see the vile side of Michael Caine.

Thur 10th 3e  @23.00

2 Guns. Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg have a whale of a time as two criminals who get into shady dealings with mexican drug dealers. The plot is very convoluted but good fun. Washington is great though and on the strength of his performance in this I'd love to see him in more comedies.

Fri 11th Film4 @21.00

The Guest. A thoroughly entertaining and knowing homage of 90's action films and home Invasion thrillers. A war veteran turns up a a family's doorstep and changes their lives. Funny, nasty and totally absurd. A super way to spend 2 hrs. Dan Stevens is perfect in the lead role.

7 films worth seeking out for the week ahead

Sat 29th BBC2 14.00

Vertigo. A big statement but i think this is Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece. An intense story of obsession as James Stewart is hired to investigate a woman and becomes consumed by her. Superbly acted by Stewart & Kim Novak with assured direction from Hitchcock, full of complexity and twist and turns. 2pm is an odd time for it though, this is a film for a dark evening with a glass of something strong.

Sat 29th TV3 @23.20

Layer Cake. Daniel Craig is ice cold as a drug dealer looking to move up in the criminal underworld in this very good, stylish, bloody and action packed gangster film set in London. Great support from Colm Meaney and Michael Gambon. The best English gangster film of this century in my opinion. Plus this is the film that got Craig the role of James Bond.

Sun 30th TCM @16.50

The Searchers. One of the finest, most thoughtful westerns ever made in my opinion. John Wayne searches for years for his niece who has been kidnapped by a Comanche war party. But what are his intentions? A gorgeous looking and highly influential western (one shot of Wayne framed by a doorway has been homaged in dozens of films and shows), well acted by all especially Wayne and Vera Miles.

Mon 31st Film4 @22.45

Fright Night. A really fun vampire flick for Halloween night. Charlie's new neighbour is dodgy, and no one will believe him but his friend Evil Ed. Made in 1985, its a little bit dated but its still hilariously creepy gory gooey thrilling fun. Chris Sarandon is perfect as the smooth as hell baddie but Stephen Geoffreys absolutely steals the film as Ed with a bizarre and very memorable performance.

Tue 1st ITV4 @22.00

Double Jeopardy. Ashley Judd is in top form as a woman who's life is thrown into turmoil after she gets betrayed by her husband in the worst possible way. It's a fairly straight forward thriller and you can see the ending coming a mile away but its definitely worth a watch. Nice chemistry between Judd and Tommy Lee Jones who plays his usual grumpy persona well as always.

Thurs 3rd E4 @21.00

Chronicle. A very underrated superhero film from 2012. No wait, come back, its a far cry from the Marvel (I love Marvel btw) and DC films inundating the cinemas at the moment. 3 young chaps find themselves with otherworldly powers. Its mad fun at first but then.....? A fast moving, scary, funny, sad and exhilarating film. Dane DeHaan & Michael B Jordan are excellent as 2 of the leads.

Fri 4th TV3 @21.00

Man On Fire. Cracking thriller from the late great Tony Scott. Denzel Washington is never better as a bodyguard with an awful past who is tasked with protecting a young girl in Mexico City. A lovely friendship blossoms and then of course gets ruined. Dakota Fanning is lovely as his young ward and there's a very effective cameo from Christopher Walken too. Brutally violent in places but a very absorbing film.

7 films worth seeking out for the week ahead

Sat 22nd Rte 2 @21.25

Shutter Island. A very good mystery thriller from Martin Scorsese. 2 cops investigate a disappearance in a psychiatric hospital and of course nothing is what it seems. DiCaprio is solid as always, its tense, full of disturbing imagery and its atmospheric as hell. Plus my favourite actress Patricia Clarkson turns up in a small role and she is always worth watching.

Sun 23rd Film4 @21.00

Master And Commander : The Far Side Of The World. Russell Crowe stars in this brilliant adaption of the Patrick O'Brian book as the captain of a ship tasked with chasing a French battleship during the Napoleonic wars. A cracking story full of tension and action, gorgeous scenery and great acting. This is still Crowe's finest role (imo) but Paul Bettany more than holds his own as the ship's doctor. Really worth a watch.

Mon 24th TG4 @21.30

Once Upon A Time In America. Sergio Leone's last masterpiece is problematic in places and magnificent in others and totally baffling in yet others but is always worth watching. An epic gangster film, a story of 4 friends spanning 5 decades. Robert De Niro and James Woods are great as a pair of absolute scumbags.

Tues 25th ITV4 @22.00

Tremors. Giant underground worms attack a small desert town. So so much better than it sounds. An affectionate throwback to 1950's creature features, it's great, gooey and inventive fun. Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward are the lead pair and have a whale of a time doing it. The ropey special effects all add to the charm.

Wed 26th Film4 @23.15

Wake In Fright. The craziest Australian film you'll ever see. A teacher gets stranded in a small outback town and finds himself drowning in alcohol and rapidly going insane. A film that will leave you feeling very grubby after you watch it. Oh, do not watch if you were a fan of the tv show Skippy.

Thurs 27th 3E @22.00

Goon. Doug is a friendly dope who is good with his fists and he finally finds his way in life when he ends up playing ice hockey. A funny comedy that manages to be very sweet despite being brutally violent in places. Seann William Scott is great in the lead role.

Fri 28th ITV4 @00.25

Death Wish 3. One of the most entertainingly trashy films of the 80's. New York city is overrun by gangs and Charles Bronson and his ridiculous gun have had enough. But this time around the citizens have had enough too. All out war occurs. Its as subtle as it sounds but its great splattery fun. Plus the main baddie is played by an Irish actor too ( Gavin O'Herlihy ).  

7 films worth seeking out for the week ahead

Saturday 15th Oct RTE 1 @13.45

The Bridges Of Madison County. The story of a fleeting romance in middle America in the 1960's between a photographer and an unhappy housewife. A different type of film for Clint Eastwood but he's very good in it. Meryl Streep as always though steals the show. She's just brilliant. 

Sunday 16th Oct BBC2 Midnight

The Magdalene Sisters. A film about religious repression and hypocrisy that will disturb and upset you and rightly so. The story of young women sent to a Magdalene laundry in 1960's Ireland and the appalling treatment they receive at the hands of the catholic church. Mighty acting all around but Eileen Walsh as Crispina will break your heart.

Monday 17th Oct TG4 @21.30

Heaven & Earth. The 3rd of Oliver Stones loose Vietnam trilogy. A harsh and grim but ultimately rewarding story of a woman fleeing the Vietcong during the Vietnam war. Hiep Thi Le is good in her 1st film role as the star of the film. Not a film to watch if you've had a crappy monday.

Tuesday 18th Oct Film4 @11.00

Double Indemnity. A classic slice of Film noir from master director Billy Wilder. An affair between a salesman and a married woman takes a murderous turn.  Barbara Stanwyck & Fred MacMurray are at the top of their game in this one but imo Edward G. Robinson robs the film out from underneath them as the man who wont let things go.

Wednesday 19th Oct Syfy @23.00

Planet Terror. A highly entertaining and gooey tribute to the ott horror and sci-fi b-movies of the 70's and 80's as a small town in Texas is overrun by monsters. Super cast in this one too. Squeamish folks should avoid this like the plague. Rose McGowan rocks as the heroine who overcomes her injuries with aplomb.

Thursday 20th Oct TCM @23.40

Three Kings. A group of US soldiers decide to rob a stash of gold during the 1st Gulf War. All goes well until pesky consciences rear their heads. George Clooney, Ice Cube & Mark Walhberg are all on form in this funny, violent and tense little thriller. Nice to see a US film with a somewhat sympathetic view of middle eastern characters too.

Friday 21st Oct Film4 @18.55

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower. A teen movie with actual substance that will stick with you for a long time. Charlie is a young man with mental health issues who finally makes a connection with his schoolmates in 1980's Pittsburgh. A cracking film full of great performances (Emma Watson & Ezra Miller especially), characters you'll care about and a superb soundtrack. 

7 films worth seeking out for the 7 days ahead

Saturday 8th ITV4 @21.00

Cliffhanger. The early 90's were a great time for action films and this is one of the best. Sly Stallone is a mountain rescue climber who faces off against a team of murderous thieves in the Rocky Mountains. Some super action and scenery and John Lithgow at his hammy best as Stallone's nemesis.

Sunday 9th UK Gold @21.10

Passport to Pimlico. Wonderful gentle comedy from Ealing studios about the explosion of an old WW2 bomb in Pimlico and the discoveries made after it. Really captures the charm and grit of post war London. Dame Margaret Rutherford is hilarious here and the supporting cast is full of faces you'll recognise.

Monday 10th TG4 @ 21.30

Crazy Stupid Love. A lovely little comedy about the intertwined love lives of a group of folks in Los Angeles. Not my usual type of film but it's so charming that it hooks you in. Emma Stone is great and Ryan Gosling's usual smug git act works very well in this.

Tuesday 11th 3E @23.00

An Everlasting Piece. A thoroughly enjoyable oddity from Northern Ireland about 2 chaps from opposite sides of the fence getting together for a bit of business. Its not often you see a comedy set during the troubles and its well worth watching. Brian F O'Byrne is great in this.

Wednesday TCM @23.00

Se7en. A maniac is killing people and 2 detectives are out to catch him. Magnificently dark thriller that still lands a fair few gut punch's even if you have seen it before. If you haven't, prepare to have your jaw drop. Morgan Freeman is super as the weary detective who realises he hasn't seen it all.

Thursday 13th Film4 @23.25

Hanna. Ireland's own Saoirse Ronan stars as a girl who has been brought up by her Da to do one thing. And she's very good at that one thing. Excellent action thriller full of surreal little moments with good support from Eric Bana and Cate Blanchett.

Friday 14th Syfy @21.00

The Mist. A heavy mist enshrouds a small town in Maine. And inside that mist is......Ill leave that to ye to find out. Based on the Stephen King short story, this is a cracking sci-fi/horror hybrid. Marcia Gay Harden is the MVP in this film, she's terrifying as a religious fanatic who reacts very badly to the whole situation. And the ending. Well you won't forget the ending for a long long time.

7 films worth seeking out for the 7 days ahead

Saturday 1st RTE 2 @19.25

Raiders Of The Lost Ark. Magnificent piece of escapism as archaeologist Indiana Jones tries to find the Ark of the Covenant before the nazi's can use it for evil. Brilliant fun, hilarious, vicious, suspenseful and terrifying in places. Might be a bit too much for younger children though. Probably the nastiest PG film ever made. But nasty in a fun way!

Sunday 2nd Film4 @15.45

Tea With Mussolini. A lovely little film about a group of English women living in pre-war Florence soaking up the culture. Their idyllic life is soon disrupted when World War 2 takes hold of Europe. Its pretty slight stuff but carried by 3 powerhouses of acting, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith and Joan Plowright. Plus Florence just looks fantastic.

Monday 3rd TCM @17.20

Rio Bravo. A highly influential western starring John Wayne and Dean Martin as a sheriff and the town drunk who team up to take on the baddies. You'll recognise the story-line straight away but its so well done you won't care. Has been remade and homaged a number of times over the years but none of them hold up to the original. A super film with some great tunes courtesy of Dean Martin.

Tuesday 4th ITV4 @22.00

American Gangster. Denzel Washington is magnetic as Frank Lucas, the biggest heroin importer of the 60's and 70's in New York City. Russell Crowe is the cop who is tracking him down. A very underrated Ridley Scott drama with a great supporting cast included Chiwetel Ejiofor, Josh Brolin and Carla Gugino.

Wednesday 5th 3E @22.00

Blitz. Jason Statham versus Aiden Gillen. A different film for Statham, no martial arts, no epic gun battles, just a cop versus a serial killer. Violent but entertaining and worth watching just for Statham's explanation of hurling in the opening scene alone.

Thursday 6th Film4 @01.25

The Player. Robert Altman's cracking Hollywood satire about a young studio executive and a disgruntled script writer. Tim Robbins is at the top of his game in the main role. The supporting cast is insane, chock full of great little cameos. Plus the ending is hilarious.

Friday 7th Ch4 @01.45

Ek Tha Tiger. India's top spy travels to Ireland to observe and report on a scientist suspected of sharing information with Pakistan. Ok confession time, i haven't actually seen this but its a Bollywood action film partly set in Dublin so has to be worth a watch! 

7 films worth seeking out in the next 7 days.

Saturday/Sunday 24th BBC4 @00.20

Bicycle Thieves. A man's bicycle is stolen and he needs to get it back. A simplistic synopsis for a heartbreaking story of poverty & honour in World War 2 Italy. Once voted the best film ever made and its certainly a contender. The type of movie that when you bring it up in conversation you instantly look like a cineaste.

Sunday 25th RTE2 @21.00

Up In The Air. George  Clooney & Vera Farmiga are top notch in this comedy/drama about two people who make a connection while living very lonely lives due to work. Cracking supporting cast in this too.

Monday 26th TG4 @21.30

Contagion. A star studded, intelligent and terrifyingly realistic depiction of what happens during and after a deadly pandemic decimates the human population. This one will make you hesitate the next time you reach for the antibiotics to cure your cold.

Tuesday/Wednesday 27th Film 4 @0.55

Synecdoche, New York. In a nutshell, a theatre director becomes obsessed with his work. Philip Seymour Hoffman is immense in this. It won't be for everyone but its a very rewarding watch and even better on the second viewing. Touching, humane and ambitious and with a superb supporting cast.

Wednesday 28th ITV4 @23.15

Bullitt. Steve McQueen. That car. That car chase. That music. A witness is killed. A cop sets out to take down the killer. A simple story done with style and verve. You'll recognise parts of this classic thriller even if you've never seen it.

Thursday 29nd 3E @22.00

Bullet To The Head. Sylvester Stallone plays an aging hitman out for revenge in New Orleans. Not well received by critics but very enjoyable stuff. Perfect film to record for some day when you are in a vile mood and want to see numerous baddies get bloodily gunned down.

Friday 30th Film4 @11.00

Forty Guns. Barbara Stanwyck as a tough as nails rancher facing off against the law. For the time (1957) this was an unusual but very good little western. Certainly different from the films of the time, it has a pretty straight forward story line but it full of surreal and odd 
touches. Stanwyck is great plus it looks fantastic.

7 films worth seeking out in the next 7 days. Couple of bona fide classics included this week.

Saturday 17th  BBC 2 @23.25

A Serious Man. A Jewish man's life goes into a downward spiral in 1960's Minnesota in this pretty black comedy. Far more interesting than it sounds. Full of typical Coen Brothers quirkiness. You mightn't enjoy this but you'll be glad you watched it.

Sunday 18th Syfy @21.00 

Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind. A heartbroken man undergoes a procedure to remove his memories of his ex-girlfriend. That's a very simple explanation for this bizarre and beautiful little film. Kate Winslet is good as always but Jim Carrey is superb, a career best ( so far) performance in a film you wont want removed from your head.

Monday 19th TG4 @21.30

Sweeney Todd. Tim Burton's beautiful looking and spectacularly bloody musical version of the Victorian tale of murder and cannibalism and haircuts. Depp is good but the star if this is imo, Helena Bonham Carter. She steals the show. Not for the faint of heart or the squeamish, this is the polar opposite to musicals like The Sound Of Music.

Tuesday 20th Film 4 @11am

High Noon. 85 minutes of pure tension as an about to be married sheriff has his past come back to haunt him and has his friends and colleagues let him down when he needs them most. Gary Cooper got an Oscar for his role in this classic western and thoroughly deserved it.

Wednesday 21st ITV 4 @22.00

Jaws. Cinematic perfection. Man vs nature. If you've seen it you know its a masterpiece, if not i'm jealous because you are in for a massive treat. Brilliant characters, some great tension & scares and some lovely little moments of comedy to relive the suspense.

Thursday 22nd Film 4 @14.40 

For Whom The Bell Tolls. A wartime romance, once again starring Gary Cooper as an American soldier fighting in the Spanish civil war who falls in love with Ingrid Bergman, a guerrilla fighter with a horrific past. Its a long film, nearly 3 hrs but the acting, both from the leads and the super supporting cast, the scenery and the score make sure the time flies by.

Friday 23rd RTE 2 @22.00

Heat. A crime masterpiece. Pacino & De Niro plus a glorious supporting cast. Cops and robbers on an epic scale. Couldn't get with this at all when i saw it first but i love it now. Everything about this film is quality. Best bank robbery scene ever too. IMHO.

A Date For Mad Mary. A lovely little Irish gem.

Mary has no place in the world. She's just out of jail and her friends are leaving her behind, turning into adults and getting married and all she wants to do is dance and have a few laughs. The wild teen has grown into a wild woman and her friends are ashamed of her. Now she has 3 weeks to find a date to her best friend's wedding and is out to prove she can gets herself one to spite her friends who have wrote her off as undateable.

From the tone of the trailers and what i'd heard i was expecting a full on comedy but this was much better than that. Yes, there's a lot of laughs but there's also a bucket-load of heart. Sad in places, poignant in others and even room for a spot of tenderness. Its a film that's not afraid to wear its heart on its sleeve.

Seana Kerslake is fantastic in the title role. Hardy but fragile. She makes you genuinely care for Mary. Also Denise McCormack as Mary's Mam Suzanne is top notch too. Doesn't have much screen time but still manages to show us that she loves yet is frustrated by her daughter and that she has her own romantic issues. Actually the cast is all round good, not a dud note. Even the bit parts seem lived in. Loads of familiar faces from Love/Hate and Moone Boy on show. Even that chest shaving eejit from a recent McDonalds ad shows up.

A thoroughly entertaining film. No big flashy plot-line and nothing we haven't seen before but it's so well done that it doesn't matter. You'll laugh and probably get a little misty eyed. Plus it's just great to go to the cinema and see an Irish film with accents and places you'll recognise. 

Finally as the icing on the cake, it's only 82 minutes long. Perfect length for a film like this. Manages to do more in that time than a Judd Apatow film can do in twice the time.