Zero Dark Thirty Sat 8/4 RTE2 @ 21.15
Kathryn Bigelow's tremendous tale of the hunt and eventual take down of Osama Bin Laden. Jessica Chastain is perfect as the woman who planned and executed the entire operation. I found some of her methods problematic but the story neither glorifies or condemns and just tells it like it was. A tense & superbly acted film which will grip you even when you know the ending.
Dredd Sat 8/4 Ch4 @ 22.45
A brilliant and bloody adaption of the cult British comic strip and one thats a million miles for the homogenous family goodness of the recent Marvel comic book films. Judge Dredd and his new rookie have to take down a gang who have taken over a huge block of flats. Chaos ensues. Karl Urban plays Dredd in a perfectly grumpy & deadpan fashion & Lena Headey is good fun as his nemesis. Great gory fun. Don't watch if you are any way wimpy.
Goldfinger Sun 9/4 ITV @ 13.45
The quintessential Bond film. This one sees the 007 agent taking on a crazed megalomaniac who plans to destroy America's gold reserve. A perfect distillation of everything you think of when you think of a classic Bond movie. The car, the gadgets, the Girl ( one of the best, Honor Blackman rocks it as Pussy Galore ), the unique henchman, laserbeams and of course the title song. Sean Connery is, as always a perfectly suave killer.
Mammal Sun 9/4 TV3 @ 21.00
An unusual and absorbing Dublin set drama about a woman coping with the loss of her estranged son through unorthodox means. A story of motherhood that is quite tough to watch at times but really worth sticking with. Rachel Griffiths (Brenda from TV's Six Feet Under) is super as the lead and is supported by a cracking Irish cast including Michael McElhatton and Barry Keoghan.
A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night Mon 10/4 Film4 @ 23.35
A lovely little oddity right here. An Iranian horror film with a slight whiff of a western about a lonely female vampire who stalks the men of her desolate town. There's not much going on story-wise in this film but its a fantastic exercise in style and atmosphere. Definitely worth watching if only to broaden your cinematic horizons. A beautiful looking film too.
Song Of The Sea Tues 11/4 Film4 @ 14.45
An undisputed Irish animated masterpiece. Imagine a Studio Ghibli film shot through with a huge dose of celtic mysticism. A brother and his little sister set off on a quest when sis falls ill. An enchanting, magical and in places heartbreaking exploration of grief and love that will make you cry, laugh and drop your jaw with awe in places. Watch on Film4 HD if you have it. It's just gorgeous looking.
What's Up, Doc? Wed 12/4 TCM @ 19.10
Usually i'd run a mile from any Barbara Streisand film but this one is an utter hoot. Set in San Francisco this is a proper old fashioned screwball comedy all set in motion by a luggage mix up. It feels like an old 30's comedy and i mean that in a good way. The cast is led by Ryan O'Neal and Streisand and both are in top form, charming and just good fun. Record this for when you have a crap day & need something to cheer yourself up.
Black Swan Thurs 13/4 Ch4 @ 01.05
Darren Aronofsky's blackly funny and utterly terrifying tale of obsession and jealousy in the world of ballet. Natalie Portman plays a career best role as a Ballerina who's success is threatened when a younger Ballerina played by Mila Kunis appears on the scene. The perfect film to watch when you want to break your brain and feel squeamish, uncomfortable, nauseous and disorientated all at once. Magnificent stuff.
The Homesman Fri 14/4 TG4 @ 21.35
A harsh and starkly realistic depiction of how life was for women during the pioneering days of the American west. 2 people, a man and a woman escort 3 women in need of help across the country. This is a dark film, shot through with a vein of darker comedy and aided by some superb acting from Hilary Swank and Tommy Lee Jones ( who also directed it ). Really worth a watch but make sure you are in the right mood for it.
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