10 films worth watching on TV this week

The Kite Runner  Sat   30/12   TG4 @ 21.30

 A decision made by a young boy in Afghanistan in the 1970's has repercussions for the next 3 decades of his life. A very well told tale about guilt and redemption seen in flashbacks and flash forwards and one that might be too harsh for some people in places. But if you can stick with it I think you'll like it a lot. The cast is mostly unknown but there isn't a weak link amongst them.

The Guest   Sat   30/12   Film4 @ 23.10

A family is totally changed when a war veteran claiming to have been a friend of their dead son turns up at the door and wiggles his way into their life. A thoroughly entertaining and knowing homage of 90's action films and home Invasion thrillers with a little splash of horror thrown in for good measure.  Funny, nasty and totally absurd. A super way to spend 2 hrs. Maika Monroe and Dan Stevens are perfect in the lead roles.

The Sting   Sun   31/12   RTE1 @ 14.20

One of the all time classics right here. Set during the great depression of the 1920's in Illnois, two grifters team up to pull off a massive conjob on a criminal who has wronged them. This is an absolute joy to watch as the intricate pieces of a genius plan fall into place. Funny, tense, thrilling and packed with superb acting from Robert Redford, Paul Newman, Robert Shaw and Eileen Brennan.

Into The Woods   Sun   31/12   BBC2 @ 20.00

Do you like the Grimm brothers fairy tales ye all read as a child? Ever wondered what a modern twist on them would be like? If so this is a film for you. A baker is tasked by a witch with collecting famous fairytale items for her evil purposes. A dark and fun film sprinkled with music and fine performances from Meryl Streep, Anna Kendrick, Emily Blunt and if you can take him, Jame Corden.

An American Werewolf In London   Sun   31/12   Film4 @ 23.35

Two American tourists ignore the warnings of locals and hike through the Yorkshire moors where they are attacked by something supernatural. In my opinion this is the best horror comedy ever made. A film that gets the balance just right. The comedic aspects are hilarious but the horror stuff is flat out terrifying. A brilliant movie with David Naughton and Jenny Agutter excellent as the leads.

Hugo   Mon   1/1   CH4 @ 13.10

Hugo is a young boy who lives in Paris with his father. A tragic incident then sees his life change for the worse and then the better. Martin Scorsese's first foray into family films is a fantastic watch, full of wonder and the occasion spot of darkness. It's also a love letter to cinema. Nerdier film fans will get a right kick out of this. Asa Butterfield as Hugo is spot on and leads a fantastic cast of recognisable faces.

Noah   Mon   1/1   BBC2 @ 22.00

Darren Aronofsky's telling of the famous biblical tale is unlike any other version you've seen. Or will probably ever see. It's the story of Noah and his ark by way of JJR Tolkien and much better than the reviews made it out to be. Well I think so anyway. It's certainly interesting. Russell Crowe does fine work as Noah with solid support from Jennifer Connelly, Ray Winstone and Emma Watson.

The Naked Spur   Wed   3/1   TCM @ 15.00

Whilst pursuing a killer, a bounty hunter is forced to hire partners who don't exactly rate highly on the trustworthy scale. A gripping, exciting and for the time, pretty nasty western that was yet another successful partnership between director Anthony Mann and star James Stewart. Western stalwart Robert Ryan is a great baddie and the climax of this 64 year old film is still influencing movies to this day

Albert Nobbs   Fri   5/1   TV3 @ 23.25

In 19th century Dublin a woman makes some choices considered unorthodox at the time to be allowed live the life she wants to live. Glenn Close is excellent in the lead role of this well acted, intriguing and deeply sad story. It's not a film to watch if you've got the post holiday blues but if you're able for it it's very rewarding. Along with Close, Mia Wasikowska, Maria Doyle Kennedy and Aaron Taylor Johnson give fine support. 

The Thing   Fri   5/1   Syfy @ 22.00

Something strange is going on at an Antarctic research base and no one knows what or who is responsible. John Carpenter's 1982 chiller is one of the best films of the 1980's. If you can stomach it that is. An exceedingly well made film, stuffed full of nail biting tension, visceral nastiness and some of the best practical special effects you'll ever see. While still finding time for memorable characters & a spot of comedy. Kurt Russell is great in the lead.

15 films worth watching over Christmas week + the perennial faves.

Love & Mercy   Sat   23/12   RTE2 @ 21.05

Brian Wilson, the brains and the heart behind 1960's supergroup The Beach Boys was the very definition of a troubled genius. This unique biopic is a look at his life in both the 1960's and the 1980's and the woman who could save him from the bad influences around him. Paul Dano (who I usually hate) & John Cusack but put in stunning performances as Wilson with Elizabeth Banks and Paul Giamatti offering fine support. 

High-Rise   Sat   23/12   Film4 @ 23.05

In an alternate version of 1975, the wealthy and bored inhabitants of an ultra modern tower block begin to lose the run of themselves. Ben Wheatley's adaption of the famous J.G. Ballard novel isn't always successful but it's very interesting, brutal, darkly comic and scary. The cast is fantastic though. Tom Hiddleston plays the lead with fine back up from Elisabeth Moss, Luke Evans and Sienna Miller amongst others.

Casablanca   Sun   24/12   RTE2 @ 15.45

A true classic right here. Humphrey Bogart plays Rick Blaine, a nightclub owner in World War 2 era Morocco who has his finger in a number of pies. When an ex-lover appears it throws him for six. This is one of those famous movies that lives up to the hype. You'll recognise scenes and dialogue even if you've never seen it. Ingrid Bergman and Bogie are at the top of their game here. Oh and the Marseillaise scene is an all time memorable one.

North By Northwest   Mon   25/12   RTE1 @ 07.45

One of Hitchcock's most entertaining and fast paced films. A case of mistaken identity leads to a innocent man fleeing for his life across the United States. Cary Grant is perfect in the lead role and Eva Marie Saint is great as the woman on the run with him. A cracking thriller, packed with suspense and fun. A perfect movie to open your Christmas presents too, especially if there's no kids around.

Toy Story 3   Mon   25/12   BBC1 @ 13.20

The Toy Story trilogy ends brilliantly as Andy leaves for college and Buzz and Woody and the gang find themselves trapped in a day care center full of terrifying babies. An emotion packed rollercoaster of a film. You'll laugh, you'll cry and you'll be flat out terrified in places. The best of film a trilogy is rarely the last one but this breaks that rule with aplomb. A masterpiece of animation and a flat out great film.

Brooklyn   Mon   25/12   RTE1 @ 21.35

A young woman finds herself torn between the modern ways of 1950's Brooklyn and her dull life in Enniscorthy. Which route will she choose? Saoirse Ronan is magnificent as the lead in this film adapted from Colm Toibin's novel. Your heart will break for her as she struggles to decide between taking one step forward or two steps back. Excellent stuff, well written & acted and looking superb. Domhnall Gleeson & Julie Walters are good as always too.

Les Miserables   Mon   25/12   More4 @ 20.00

Set in 19th century France, this musical is the story of a man on the run trying to create a new start for himself and the dogged policeman who'll never let him rest. Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe give their all in a tale that will rip your guts out. TBH, it's not very christmassy but it's still a cracking film that's well worth a watch. Anne Hathaway and Amanda Seyfried aren't too shabby either.

Song Of The Sea   Tues   26/12   CH4 @ 06.40

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 CH4 HD if you have it. It's just gorgeous looking.

Kingsman : The Secret Service   Tues   26/12   RTE2 @ 21.30

Have you ever wanted to see Colin Firth murder a room full of people in hideous ways? This is the movie for you. A teenage tearaway from South London finds himself inducted into a ring of gentlemanly spies and chaos ensues as they try to save the world. Brilliant fun but maybe one to miss if you are easily offended. It's quite rough. Taron Egerton and Samuel L.Jackson are good fun but this is Firth's film.

The Red Shoes   Wed   27/12   BBC2 @ 12.10

From the magical hands of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, this tale of a ballerina torn between the twin loves of her life, ballet dancing and her husband, is an absolute stunner. This should be watched even if the subject matter doesn't appeal. It's astounding and looks fantastic. It's a movie that has been influencing movie makers from nearly 70 years now. Moira Shearer and Anton Walbrook are excellent.

The Guard   Wed   27/12   RTE1 @ 21.30

In deepest darkest Connemara a strange type of policeman finds himself working with the FBI to stop a big drug deal going down. A brilliantly funny film shot through with that wonderful Irish darkness that will have you in tatters laughing one minute and upset the next. Brendan Gleeson is as good as he's even been and Don Cheadle supports him ably. Liam Cunningham is good craic as always as the baddie.

Birdman   Thurs   28/12   RTE2 @ 21.30

After his once glorious career has gone stale an actor decides to reinvent himself by staging a play on Broadway. Things don't go quite to plan. This is bonkers stuff but in the best possible way. Dark, funny, magical, smart and filmed in such a way so it appears to be done all in one go. Of course it wasn't but its still fun to watch how it comes together. Michael Keaton, Emma Stone, Edward Norton and Andrea Riseborough all rock.

Slow West   Thurs   28/12   Film4 @ 23.25

Set on the wild frontier of 19th century America this is the story of a young man travelling west to see the woman he loves and the people he meets on the way. A deep and thoughtful movie, more so than your usual western, about the good and bad that people are capable of. But one that still delivers the goods the genre is known for. Kodi Smit-McPhee & Michael Fassbender as the leads are both very convincing,

Rango   Fri   29/12   TG4 @ 17.00

Rango is a pet chameleon who gets lost in the desert and eventually finds himself in a lawless town called Dirt. And Dirt is in need of a new sheriff. This is a creative,smart and lovingly made CGI homage to the westerns we all grew up watching. It's a joy spotting all the movie references inbetween the fun performances and exciting set pieces. A film for children and adults. Really worth a go.

Gone Girl   Fri   29/12   BBC1 @ 21.45

On the day of the wedding anniversary a woman disappears off the face of the earth and suspicion falls on her husband. Is he guilty? David Fincher's adaption of Gillian Flynn's best selling novel is a good one. A stylish film, full of darkness and twists and turns that you won't see coming at all if you haven't read the book. Rosamund Pike, Ben Affleck and Carrie Coon are all give A+performances and really help sell a pretty silly but entertaining tale.

Now for the usual suspects ( Lil Casablanca nod there)

Miracle On 34 Street   Sat   23/12   RTE1 @ 13.10

Home Alone   Sun   24/12   RTE1 @ 14.10

Jingle All The Way   Sun   24/12   RTE2 @ 13.05

ET   Mon   25/12   RTE 2 @ 16.15

Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory   Mon   25/12   RTE2 @ 18.05

Scrooged   Mon   25/12   CH4 @ 14.35

Back To The Future   Tues  26/12   RTE1 @ 13.35 (Parts 2 & 3 are on 27th & 28th)

Raiders Of The Lost Ark   Tues   26/12   RTE1 @ 15.40 (2,3 & 4  27th,28th & 29th)

Mary Poppins   Tues   26/12   BBC1 @ 15.45

Oliver!   Wed  27/12   RTE1 @ 08.20

The Man Who Would Be King   Thur   28/12   RTE1 @ 08.15

Dr Zhivago   Fri   29/12   RTE1 @ 07.25

Up   Fri   29/12   BBC1 @ 14.25

10 things I loved about The Last Jedi

HUGE SPOILERS BELOW

I loved The Last Jedi even though it had some major problems. I'm under no illusion about that. One whole story strand was pretty much pointless. But what it did right was fantastic. And I won't lie, my right eye might even have had a moisture overload at one point. There was just so much goodness in it. So much of it hit the spot. Here's 10 things I loved.

(1) The fact that the opening scene is a film all of its own. A ridiculous plan coming together. A decision to bring down a huge piece of Imperial hardware. Hard choices being made. Desperate tension. Huge sacrifices. Rogue fighters going against direct orders and causing more death. More action and a bigger body count in 10 minutes than most films pack into their entire running time. All this and it manages to cram in a wicked bit of comedy involving General Hux.

(2) BB8 being a bad motherfucker. First off literally using his/her head to solve a problem for Poe in the opening scene and therefore saving the fleet. Then tying up prison guards to help rebels escape in a scene that's never explained and is all the funnier for it. And lastly commandeering and using an AT-ST to decimate a battalion of stormtroopers to rescue Finn and Rose. And then getting his belly tickled by Poe when they reunite. BB-8 is a true hero that never gets any credit.

(3) The lightsaber battle that was as brutal as anything in the saga so far. Snoke first getting bisected and then Rey and Kylo taking on his guards. Heads are lopped off. Throats are slashed. Faces are impaled. It's vicious stuff. After all the warnings about how grim Rogue One was going to be and it ended up being not a patch on this scene. A real FUCK YEAH!! moment for the bloodthirsty audience members.

(4) Kylo Ren telegraphing Luke's death. People are complaining about Luke's passing, that it came out of nowhere but Kylo clearly explains it earlier in the film. Kylo thinks Rey is projecting herself to him and then says the effort will kill her. Luke projects himself to Crait to face Kylo at the end of the film. The effort is immense. Luke is old. It sucks but it didn't come out of nowhere.

(5)  The fact that Rey's strength is her own. People got angry about this one and I've no idea why. Kylo tells her that her parents were nothing. She somehow already knows the truth. Her mastery of the force comes from within. She didn't inherit it, no one passed it down to her. It's hers. Could she be the most powerful Jedi yet? Is she full of mega midichlorians? *runs away*

(6) Vice Admiral Holdo's self sacrifice to save the remaining rebels answered a question I've wondered for years. What exactly happens if there's a collision between ships at light speed? Destruction on a massive scale is the answer. Star Destroyers are cut through like a hot knife through butter. I'm disappointed Laura Dern won't be returning but goddamn what an exit.

(7) In 40 years of Star Wars we've never got to see where they get their grub from. This time we do. Graphically. Luke does a spot of death defying fishing and milks big lazy aliens, that look like the lovechild of a seal lion and Watto, for a hideous looking green fluid. Chewie though chooses to chow down on the inhabitants of Atch-To, the lovely little Porgs. And being the tactless fellow he is he kills, cooks and almost eats one in front of the others who watch sadly and ruin his wookiie appetite.

(8) Rey saving the Jedi texts. Yup, you might have missed it but Rey fleeced the sacred books before she left Luke. They are visible in a blink and you'll miss it moment onboard the Millennium Falcon near the end. People think she was looking at Finn and Rose wistfully but her knowing smile showed us she was looking at the books stored under them. Good woman Rey. She's not going to let the Jedi religion die out just yet.

(9) The reappearance of Yoda. Admit it. You did a little whoop and a fist pump when he appeared on Atch-To. He may be a ghost but the force is still strong with him. Thunderbolts of lightning, very very frightening etc. And he can still make Luke feel like a young trainee apprentice on Dagobah. It's a great scene. The last time we saw them together was 34 years ago. Oh man the nostalgia. 

(10) People are whining that the ending was tacked on. No it wasn't. It was a pretty blunt hint what's to come. It's another ray of hope. Laying the seeds for another trilogy maybe? That young barn hand had the power of the force that I only copped on my second viewing. Watch what he does with his broom. And then there's the final scene of him looking up at two stars that look suspiciously like....

I can't wait for Episode IX.

Jumanji : Welcome To The Jungle

Sequels are mostly unnecessary. One or two aside most of them are pointless. They are usually lazy, a rehash of former glory. Sequels made two decades after the original are especially pointless. But that doesn't mean they can't be someway fun.

Four teenagers (two nerds, the school jock and a selfie queen) for various reasons find themselves in detention in the basement of their school. While they are supposed to be cleaning they find an old games console and out of boredom plug it in to play it. Something magical happens and they find themselves sucked into the game's jungle setting. And inhabiting very different bodies. To escape and get home they must pool their strengths and beat the game.

Jumanji : Welcome To The Jungle is exactly what you'd expect it to be. Big loud silly fun. It will give you a few laughs, you'll be wowed by the special effects and you'll have it forgotten 3 hrs after you leave the cinema. It's pure candy floss. Some of it works though. Dwayne Johnson is great craic when he's in comedy mode and he's on form here. It's fun seeing him playing against type while at the same time doing exactly the things we expect of him. Fun Dwayne is way more watchable than the serious Dwayne of the Fast And Furious films.  Bobby Cannavale makes a suitably menacing baddie and he'll make the more insect phobic members of the audience squirm in their chairs. Karen Gillan is good too as a wallflower who slowly comes out of her shell due to her new found powers and it's fun seeing her put those powers to use with a 90's soundtrack. The film makers have their cake and eat it too with her character. She spends the film in skimpy clothes because that's how female computer game characters, with very few exceptions, are depicted in games. It's a sneaky way of getting around complaints of sexism.

The makers of Jumanji owe the Uncharted series of games a huge debt of gratitude. Opening and closing bookends aside this film is an Uncharted game. Look at the picture above for example. The jungle setting. The exotic bazaar's heaving with people. The hints of mysticism. The climbing for jewels. The fist fights. Baddies on motorbikes. The cliff edge paths with certain death drops below. It would be borderline litigious if both the film and game weren't the property of Sony. If you are anyway into gaming you'll garner some enjoyment. Jokes are made about the tropes and cliches of gaming. Respawning. Skimpy pointless clothing. The backpack that can contain everything. An especially fun one is made about the limitations of non playable characters repeating their lines constantly. Oddly though for what is ostensibly a family film parts of it seem to be aimed at gamers in the 30-40 age range. For example when was the last modern game to offer characters a finite amount of lives? That went out with Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog. It has a whiff of a script that's been lying around for a long time that was given a modern polish.

A big bombastic film can be fun but it usually means spectacle at the expense of soul. There's no real bit of charm to this. There's no one to really care about. The original wasn't a classic by any means but it did have Robin Williams. An actor who could create empathy out of thin air. Actors like Jack Black and Kevin Harte can't do this. They are pretty terrible here. Black especially totally misses the mark and comes off like a bad 1970's joke. Harte is small and angry. Harte plays small and angry in everything. This stopped being funny a long time ago. The man needs a new schtick.

If you look closely you'll see the underlying story is about using your inner strength. What's inside matters more than the outside. How being a loner isn't good for you. But this is buried beneath layers of CGI, punch ups and and knob jokes. Yup. There's a surprising amount of those in a family film.

If you want to be entertained for 2 hours it's not bad but if you are looking for anything else you won't find it here. Maybe watch the original instead.

A perfect pairing of Sound & Vision. The finale of The Good, The Bad And The Ugly.

The finale of The Good, The Bad And The Ugly sees sneaky Tuco (The Ugly) arrive at Sad Hill cemetery by the skin of his teeth. It's a huge place. An arena of death. He races around to the sounds of Ennio Morricone's Ecstasy Of Gold. Will he ever find what he's looking for? The scene stretches on inexorably. The camera loses control of itself. It can't keep up with him. Then Tuco suddenly stops. The camera does a crash zoom. There it is. The grave of Arch Stanton and the promise of riches. But things are never quite that easy in the world of Spaghetti westerns. Angel Eyes is still around after all.

Without the music this scene would be ridiculous but the combination of the two turns it into something very special. That music would give a corpse goosebumps.
It's a perfectly named piece too. What's happening onscreen matching the song title. The promise of gold turning a grown man into a giddy fool.





Cinema just doesn't get better than this.

Previous parts

Deliverance
The Omen
Copland
Buffy The Vampire Slayer - Once More With Feeling
The Mission
Before Sunset
Carlito's Way
A Knight's Tale
Platoon
Before Sunrise
Rushmore
An American Werewolf In London
Dazed And Confused
Boogie Nights
Raging Bull
Almost Famous
Once Upon A Time In The West
Goodfellas
Last Of The Mohicans

11 films worth watching on TV this week

Before Midnight   Sat   16/12   RTE2 @ 21.00

While on a holiday in Greece a couple begin to question the decisions that brought them together and to this place in their lives. This is the third in the Before Trilogy and it's an excellent way to finish the story of Jesse & Celine. It's a sharp and exceedingly well written story that feels painfully real. Julie Delpy & Ethan Hawke are magnificent as the leads and Richard Linklater's direction is the icing on the cake.

Universal Soldier : Day Of Reckoning   Sat   16/12   ITV4 @ 23.20

After his family is tragically killed in an attack a man sets out for revenge that brings him into contact with a strange warrior cult. The 3rd official sequel to the 1992 film is far better than it has any right to be. The action scenes are immense, fantastically choreographed and vicious. Scott Adkins plays the lead and while his acting mightn't be the best, he definitely looks the part. Jean Claude Van Damme & Dolph Lundgren make welcome appearances.

Shadow Of The Vampire   Sun   17/12   BBC2 @ 00.45

During the making of the horror film classic 'Nosferatu', actors on the set start to wonder if the person playing the film's vampire is in fact the real thing. A curious film, an indepth look at the process of film making crossed with a genuinely unnerving horror film and you know what, it really works due to two cracking performances from John Malkovich and Willem Dafoe. Funny in places and terrifying in others. Well worth a watch.

Cardboard Gangsters   Mon   18/12   TV3 @ 21.00

Four young men with dreams of grandeur decide to try and take over the drug trade in Darndale. But the existing dealers don't suffer newcomers gladly. Mark O'Connor's thriller is  fantastic stuff. A terrifying,tense and unforgiving look at the underbelly of modern day Ireland. John Connors headlines the film and gives an immense performance. You can check out my review of this here. Film of the week for me.

Up In The Air   Mon   18/12   TG4 @ 21.30

A man who spends his life travelling from place to place makes a connection with a woman who does the same and for the first time in his life thinks about settling down. George Clooney and Vera Farmiga lead this drama that's equally funny and sad. A film about people who think they have it all and have nothing at all. A film about the silliness of valuing your work life above all else. Well worth a watch.

The Hurt Locker   Mon   18/12   TCM @ 22.45

Kathryn Bigelow directs this story of an unorthodox soldier who joins a bomb disposal unit during the second Iraq war. This is mighty stuff and it's definitely not for the faint of heart. Packed full of nail chewing tension and meaty performances from a cast that includes Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, David Morse and Ralph Fiennes. A film that shows both the hell and the mind numbing boredom of battle.

Carol   Tues   19/12   Film4 @ 21.00

In 1950's New York, two women of very different social status meet and fall in love. But the social mores of the day are a major barrier to their happiness. A magnificent film that fully deserves the critical acclaim it received. It's a compelling and utterly heartbreaking watch that contains two fantastic performances from Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. Kyle Chandler in support adds a touch of class too.

The Descent   Wed   20/12   The Horror Channel @21.00

Six female friends go on a potholing expedition into an underground cavern. Things of course go absolutely arseways. First off, if you are claustrophobic don't even bother with this. You'll be terrified and out of breath before the horror elements of the film even hit. If you are able for it you're in for a treat though. A terrifyingly intense treat. Shauna McDonald and Natalie Mendoza are excellent and Neil Marshall's direction is first class.

An Ideal Husband   Fri   22/12   BBC2 @ 13.20

A rising politician is bribed into a move he doesn't want to make and attempts to correct things see him getting further and further into trouble. Based on an Oscar Wilde play and containing all the wit and cleverness he was famous for, this is a seriously entertaining watch. A story that's over 120 years old that's still relevant to this day. Jeremy Northam is a perfect lead and gets great back up from Minnie Driver and Rupert Everett.

True Grit   Fri   22/12   TG4 @ 21.05

After her father is murdered a young woman hires a US marshall to hunt down his killers. The Coen Brother's fiercely entertaining remake of the classic John Wayne western is a rare beast. A remake that surpasses the original. Funny, quirky and in places quite touching. The cast is top notch too with Hailee Steinfeld superb in her debut acting role & Matt Damon in fun form but the film belongs to Jeff Bridges as Rooster Cogburn. He's so good.

The Outlaw Josey Wales   Fri   22/12   TCM @ 23.50

A man loses his family to Union soldiers during the America Civil War and whilst out for revenge ends up gaining another. My favourite western of all time. It's a pretty much perfect movie. Epic in sweep, action packed and laced with understated humour, immensely quotable and just full of super performances. Clint rocks it and John Vernon & Sam Bottoms are at their best. Give it a go. It's poetry in motion.

The Last Jedi.

That title scene gets me every time. When those yellow letters pop up on screen and the music kicks in I feel a catch in my throat. Every time. I've grown up with Star Wars. Been watching it for 33 years now. On the basis of this film I'll probably be watching for the next 33 years as well.

After the events of Episode VII, the rebel alliance is in trouble. The First Order is on a seek and destroy mission led by Kylo Ren, General Hux and Supreme Leader Snoke. Finn, Poe and Leia try to outrun certain death while Rey has gone in search of Luke Skywalker to try and convince him to return and fight. The force works in mysterious ways though.

I thoroughly enjoyed this installment of the series. Sure it has it's issues but Jesus it hit the spot. You'll laugh, cry and if you're a fool like me, cheer out loud at regular points throughout the film. It's absolutely exhilarating in places while finding plenty of time for quieter introspection too. The last hour of this is as good as anything in the saga so far. it's jawdropping, heartbreaking and surprising, very surprising. It gets very dark too but there's enough flashes of fun to keep us laughing. One scene of a furry fella eating dinner will give you a deliciously dark giggle. In fact between that and Dameron Poe's punking of a certain character this could be the funniest installment yet. And thankfully the humour isn't forced either. The balance between light and dark is pretty much perfect. We get the saga's most violent kill and it's best laugh. It's visually stunning too. Luke's refuge Ahch-To is a wild, beautiful place. The salt planet of Crait gives us the best looking battle scene so far as salt blows away revealing the blood red soil under it. And speaking of red, the lair of Snoke is a stunning bit of design.  

Like The Force Awakens it just feels right. Like an addition to the original story in a way the prequels never did. The dogfights, force chokes, the light sabre fights, the sounds, the little whirrs, a few welcome callbacks to the originals ( The term Rebel scum will always makes me laugh). But director Rian Johnson brings a freshness to proceedings too. Certain visual cues like the one during a vision of the force felt new and exciting. He's also done away with the screenwipes. At least I think he did. Rashomon style flashbacks appear. Trippy visions of finger clicking. Moments that deepen and darken characters and that might piss off the die hard purists but to me felt like a breath of fresh air. You gotta keep it fresh folks.

It's Luke Skywalker's film. With him missing from Ep VII until the last scene you'd nearly forget how good a character Luke is. He brings a gravitas to the film no other character can match. The weight of the world has always been on his shoulders and its no different here. It's just so goddamn cool to see him back in action. He gets some humorous scenes too which was deadly because his scenes in the original trilogy were always serious. On the flipside it's heartbreaking seeing Leia knowing Carrie Fisher's real life fate. You'll be nervous for her every second she's onscreen. She has a big part thankfully. It's great seeing her in action, all regal, dignified, majestic, powerful and brave. Rey grows in this too. We knew she was strong but this strong? The film gives her more depth too. We find out more about her background, the reason she has her powers, her naivete. Dameron Poe is far more of a presence here as well, not just a hotshot X-Wing pilot. And a bit of a mansplainer too in a fun scene that sees him get swatted down. We see other sides to Kylo Ren. He's a very troubled boy. But maybe he has a reason to be. Finn, out of them all gets the most unmemorable storyline but gets a fight scene near the end that feels very satisfying. We meet a few new characters too. Rose Tico, a maintenance worker for the rebel who turns out to be extremely handy and in need of vengeance against the First Order and Vice Admiral Holdo who is initially anoying but she's really just doing her job and she gets a brilliant scene that answers a question I've asked for decades about the specifics of light speed travel. Finally we get to meet Snoke. Yeah, he's a CGI character but he feels far more substantial in the flesh, a bit Emperor-ish dare I say. The power and danger of the dark side radiates from him.

One of the main criticisms of The Force Awakens was that it was a rehash of A New Hope. Thankfully The Last Jedi isn't a rehash of The Empire Strikes Back like a lot of people assumed it would be. People will point to the similarities like Jedi training or AT-AT's but they are clutching at straws. It's a whole new story and one that goes in ways you'll never imagine. Those theories the net has been hypothesizing for the past two years are all out the window with this one. All bets are off.

Th acting is top notch. It's always nice when there's no weak link. Of the large cast, two dominate. Mark Hamill as Luke is in great form and Daisy Ridley more than holds her own in her scenes with him. The little bits of awkwardness she displayed in the previous film are gone. I'd have happily watched two hours of them on a cliff edge talking about the Jedi religion. New additions to the cast Kelly Marie Tran and Laura Dern slip into the cast seamlessly. Tran especially. Her character Rose is a lovely addition. 

Now for the downsides. The cutting between storylines has always been a problem for me in Star Wars and it continues here. It's necessary when you have a film about characters millions of miles from each other but it does disjoint the tale in places. Especially when it cuts away during an action sequence. It's too long as well. 153 minutes is a bit mental. A casino set sequence felt like a rejigged Cantina scene. An excuse to pack more wacky aliens into a film already packed with wacky aliens. The aftermath of this same sequence again feels like a reason to pack more action into a film already full of it. And all in aid of a storyline that really when you think about it, goes nowhere. It makes the middle of the film feel bloated and sluggish. It's like the Kanjiklub sequence in Ep VII. It's extraneous. Plus it adds a pretty crappy new character who I've a feeling we'll be seeing again. That said it does lay the groundwork for a sequence of hope at the end of the film. A new hope.

For all it's death and darkness though it's a hopeful film. It's optimistic. It's full of people seeing the best in others. Hoping for the best in others. Every moment in it feels earned too. It's an emotional rollercoaster. If you're a lifelong fan you won't get through this without a bit of dust in your eye.

It's really good. It's not excellent but it's really good. 

BTW 

BB-8 rocks.

The Disaster Artist

"The Dean won't come to you. You have to go to the Dean." 

Two men stand at the site of James Dean's fatal car crash. One of them has been meaning to visit for years and the other impulsively drives him there as soon as he mentions it. The meaning of the scene couldn't be clearer. If you really want something you have to do something about it.

The rich, eccentric and very mysterious Tommy Wiseau wrote, directed and starred in The Room, a film released in 2003 and one widely regarded as one of the worst films ever made. This film is the story of his complicated friendship with co-star Greg Sestero and of how it all happened.

It's a joy. Mostly. It's a hilarious, bizarre, sincere and oddly touching love letter to the power of self belief. Like the film it's about it's directed by James Franco who also takes the lead role. Franco somehow nails Wiseau's look and mannerisms while making the role his own. It's a hell of a turn. Creepy as feck but also fragile and needy, a man you should be scared of but who you end up feeling sorry for and eventually pleased for. The film lives or dies on this performance and James totally sells it. His Streetcar Named Desire reenactment has to be seen to be believed. And best of all it doesn't make of mockery of anyone. Wiseau is obviously a strange individual but the film doesn't take the piss out of him, well it does a little bit but it's clear the filmmakers have a lot of respect for him.

I've seen people debating whether or not you need to see 'The Room' before this. You don't really but you'll get far more enjoyment out of this if you do. Nods to the film are scattered through. Pizza. Football. The name of Tommy's apartment building in Los Angeles. There's probably dozens more I missed. Without the knowledge and context of the The Room Wiseau might just seem too weird and out there as well. But for me the main reason to watch it is to enjoy the side by side reenactments of scenes at the end of the film. It's a scream to see just how accurate they are.

The Room is amazingly popular in Hollywood so it's no surprise that The Disaster Artist is chockablock with cameos. Actors must have been queueing up for parts. We see Sharon Stone in a 30 second role as a Hollywood agent, Josh Hutcherson in a godawful wig as Denny, Ari Graynor as LISA!!! Seth Rogen as the script supervisor who says the things others dare not say, Zac Efron unrecognisable as Chris R, Bryan Cranston playing himself before Breaking Bad was a thing, Jacki Weaver as an actress who enjoys her work no matter how bad she thinks it is and so on. James Franco's real life brother plays Tommy's best friend and co-star Greg. He's one of my only issues with the film. He's flat and bland and boring. You'd have a hard time understanding what about him attracts Tommy to him. But I suppose beside Tommy everyone would seem flat and boring. 

The other is the mystery of Tommy. A big theme of the film is his enigmatic past. Where is he from. Where did he get his bottomless riches? What exactly is he?? Stuff is hinted at but none of it is answered. These are questions I'd hoped would get some kind of answer. But alas no. 

Some people might see this as pointless, a big Hollywood in-joke and maybe it is. But it's also a well made and exceedingly well acted film. It's about what you can do when you set your mind to it. To quote Field Of Dreams, "If you build it, they will come." And come they still do.

Blade Of The Immortal

The Omniplex near me is a grand place. Clean, tidy, friendly staff. The only bad thing about it is the choice of films. If it isn't a blockbuster or a CGI cartoon for kids or at least have a big well known actor in it, it probably won't get shown there. If you are looking for a foreign film then you are shit out of luck. So you can only imagine my surprise when I heard the new Takashi Miike film, Blade Of The Immortal, was being shown there. A 2.5 hr long subtitled Japanese samurai film from a master of extreme cinema. Oh yes.

Manji is a Samurai with a difference. Mortally wounded in pursuit of vengeance, he was given the gift of immortality by a witch (stay with me). He can be wounded in battle but he'll never die of his wounds. They heal but he will be left with the scars of war. Manji lives an aimless life until one day he is approached by Rin Asano, a young girl who has lost her parents to the lawless denizens of the Ittō-ryū dojo. She requests his help in getting revenge and it gives him a new lease of life.

I loved this. It had me glued to the screen and the running time which would usually be an issue for me flew by. It's led by two characters you'll genuinely come to care about and the interplay between them is fun and later becomes almost familial. Takuya Kimura as Manji & Hana Sugisaki as Rin are great. They really sell the desperation and pain they suffer but the quieter scenes between them are lovely and lighten the film. Character moments aside it rarely stops for breath at all. It's full of amazing fight scenes and despite the sheer amount of brutality on display it still manages to find time for a lot of comedy. Some of it albeit very black. One scene sees so many limbs lopped off that it brought to mind Monty Python ("tis but a scratch"). The ridiculous weaponry on display is a goldmine of laughs too, every battle sees weaponry that could only have been created by a psychopath being unsheathed. Your enjoyment of this film will depend on your ability to handle onscreen bloodshed though. It's amazingly violent. The first 10 minutes alone has a body-count that will rival the entirety of most Hollywood actioners. It's quite breathtaking. Actually it's so over the top that it tempers the violence and makes it almost comic and easier to take.

If you are used to the film work of Takashi Miike you'll find it curiously old fashioned too. And yes I know the above picture looks anything but old fashioned but the extremes of his earlier work like Fudoh, Ichi The Killer and Dead Or Alive have been rounded off. One horrible scene earlier in the film is played out only through sounds and screams and it's one earlier Takashi would have shown in every grimy detail. Thankfully for his 100th film, yes 100th, he has taken the higher ground. Sort of. 

One thing I loved about Miike's movies is the lack of concession to Western viewers. You get dropped right in the middle of everything. Very little explanation is given. Aspects of Japanese culture and folklore will seem very alien to you if you haven't seen much Japanese cinema. The supernatural elements and scenes of seppuku and the importance of honour and Rōnin culture might throw some people but it's really all just dressing on a very straightforward tale of revenge. It's a story that's been done a million times but when it's this stylish and exciting who cares.

Give it a go if it comes to a cinema near you. It's rare a film like this gets a release outside of Dublin and it's good to let the cinema chains know there's interest for movies like it. It's a bloody good time at the pictures.

A perfect pairing of sound & vision. The banjo duel in Deliverance.

Four men decide to go on a canoeing trip down a Georgian river before the valley is flooded for a dam & reservoir. They come from the city and carry all the superior smugness that comes with city living. They stop to get petrol at a rickety petrol station and look down on the locals serving them. Drew steps away to stretch his legs and pick at his Banjo. His chord is copied by a boy sitting above them on a porch. What happens next has gone down in cinematic history. A piece of music that you'll know even if you've never heard of this film. A tune that has wormed it's way into your consciousness. The kind of thing hummed when you go for a drive and find yourself in the middle of nowhere.



It's a great foreshadowing of what's to come. The "hillbillies" they look down on and laugh at are as good and skillful as the city boys. They can give as good as they get. But the boy's shun at the end gives it a sinister edge. Are these blokes even welcome here? Do the locals who are about to lose their homes see them as enemies?

It's a stunning scene.

Previous parts

The Omen
Copland
Buffy The Vampire Slayer - Once More With Feeling
The Mission
Before Sunset
Carlito's Way
A Knight's Tale
Platoon
Before Sunrise
Rushmore
An American Werewolf In London
Dazed And Confused
Boogie Nights
Raging Bull
Almost Famous
Once Upon A Time In The West
Goodfellas

Last Of The Mohicans