My favourite Irish film of this century. It's a story leading up to and the aftermath of a night out in Dublin that goes very very wrong. A story of how privilege will ruin you and still protect you. An excellently acted film about a part of Irish society that we rarely see in film. Jack Reynor is great in the title role and is surrounded by a cracking cast of fresh faces we'll be seeing more and more of.
The Heat Sat 24/2 E4 @ 21.00
Whilst on the trail of a big time drug dealer an uptight FBI agent gets paired with a Boston cop who couldn't possibly be more different to her. Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy make a brilliantly mismatched pair in this entertaining and profane comedy thriller. It's broad, crude and will offend some but it's well worth a watch.Jane Curtin and the always solid Michael Rapaport are fun in support.
American Mary Sat 24/2 Film4 @ midnight
A broke medical student discovers an unusual way to make extra money and finds herself in some very very dark places as a result. This 2012 dark drama/horror film starring Katherine Isabelle is a highly effective piece of work. Be warned though, it should probably only be watched by those with a strong constitution but if you can go with it you discover a very unique little story that will open your eyes to a whole other world.
Clouds Of Sils Maria Sun 25/2 BBC4 @ 21.30
An actress revisits the play that made her career 20 years ago. But this time she's taking an older role and it forces her to re-evaluate things. Juliette Binoche is an actress that just makes it all look effortless and is sublime in the lead role here with some fantastic back up from Kirsten Stewart and Chloe Grace Moretz. A beautiful looking movie too that was filmed on location in the Alps. A proper grown up, emotional psychological drama.
Valerie Mon 26/2 TCM @ 17.15
Set during a murder trial in the old west, 3 very different testimonies are heard but which one is the truthful version? A strange film, a mystery western noir with a touch of Rashomon would be one way to describe it. Sterling Hayden and Anita Ekberg as the leads are superb, Hayden his usual briary persona and Ekberg as a woman who isn't what she seems. OR is she? A bleak, compelling and surprising film.
Black Swan Tues 27/2 Film4 @ 23.25
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.
Pitch Black Wed 28/2 Syfy @ 21.00
A transport ship crashes on a barren desert planet. Onboard is a murderer. The survivors are busy worrying about him and finding water and little do they realise at nightfall that their problems are just beginning. This Vin Diesel starring sci-fi horror is a cracking watch. A full on nail biter of a watch filled with characters you'll actually give a shit about. Super cast in this including Radha Mitchell, Keith David and Cole Hauser.
Cherry Falls Fri 2/3 The Horror Channel @ 21.00
A serial killer is targeting virgins in a small town. The only way to survive? Lose your virginity as fast as possible. Sounds crass doesn't it? It's far from it. A funny, intelligent and subversive satire on modern horror that really works if you go with the concept. The late Brittany Murphy is very solid in the lead and gets fine support from Michael Biehn and Jay Mohr. Totally ignored on it's original release but worth a re-evaluation.
A Hijacking Fri 2/3 BBC2 @ 23.55
The crew of a Danish ship is taken hostage by Somalian pirates and they find out exactly what they are worth when negotiations kick off between the hijackers and the ship owners. This 2012 thriller is knuckle chewingly tense and far more subtle than you'd think it would be. Pilou Asbæk from Game Of Thrones is great in the lead. An excellent and very unsettling look at what people under pressure will do.
The Squid And The Whale Fri 2/3 RTE1 @ Midnight
Two boys in 1980's Brooklyn are effected by their parent's messy divorce and find themselves beginning to act out in strange ways. A cutting, cynical but poignant film that's in places very funny and full of amazing acting from a lovely cast. The always superb Laura Linney and Jeff Daniels bring weight to proceedings and Jesse Eisenberg in an early role is spot on.
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