11 films on TV this week that are worth your time

L.A. Confidential   Sat   29/2   BBC1 @ 23.40

One of the best films of the 90's, a modern classic magnificently adapted & thankfully pared down from James Ellroy's labyrinthine novel. Three very different policemen find themselves up to their necks in dodginess in post WW2 Los Angeles. Thrillingly satisfying stuff with a storyline that demands you pay attention. Russell Crowe, Kim Basinger & Guy Pearce give career best performances too.

Summertime   Sat   29/2   BBC2 @ Midnight

France, the early 70's. Delphine is under pressure to marry but she's keeping the secret that she's gay from her farming parents. Until one day she meets Carole who introduces he to a way of life she never thought within her grasp. A beautiful looking and splendidly acted film about a dark period in a young life that starts in one place and ends rather differently. Izïa Higelin & Cécile de France both do wonderful work.

Citadel   Sun   1/3   Film4 @ 00.40

A young father must face his worst fears to protect his family from a gang of vile little bastards roaming the decrepit place they call home. Dublin born director Ciaran Foy's 2012 horror is a unique stunner and one of those films that gets under your skin and lingers in your brain. It's nightmarish, unnerving stuff and won't be for everyone though. Aneurin Bernard and James Cosmo as the leads do good work.

A Knight's Tale   Sun   1/3   RTE2 @ 14.35

An absolute chancer decides to make an name for himself and reinvents himself as a knight and expert jouster. One of the most entertaining films of the 21st century. This is just pure fun. Heath Ledger in the lead rocks and Shannyn Sossamon is lovely as the woman who catches his eye. Add in a killer soundtrack and your have a wicked way to pass a couple of hours. The use here of David Bowie's Golden Years is just perfect.

Stoker   Mon   2/3   CH4 @ 01.05

After her father dies, a young woman and her mother are visited by an uncle they never knew existed. Slowly she begins to realise that he's not what he seems. What a shocker! Mia Wasikowska is great as the lead in a slow burn thriller that breaks free of it's Hitchcockian roots to become something very compelling, lurid, darkly funny and quite unique. Matthew Goode is convincing as the mysterious man and Nicole Kidman gives solid backup.

Maudie   Mon   2/3   TG4 @ 21.30

Maudie, a sickly woman broken by arthritis struggles with her life in rural Canada. To prove herself independent she takes a job and discovers a new hobby. A film that will kick you in the gut while at the same time filling your heart. Sally Hawkins is amazing in the title role, an unshowy but astounding performance that will stay with you for an age. Backing her up is a very effective Ethan Hawke and assured direction from Aisling Walsh

Gifted   Tues   3/3   Film4 @ 21.00

In a small Florida town lives a little girl and that little girl is a genius. She lives with her uncle who provides her with a nice life. Until Granny sticks her oar in and muddies all the waters. This 2017 drama might be a predictable one but it's still a charming and heartfelt story worth your time. McKenna Grace as the lil prodigy is a joy and Chris Evans, Jenny Slate and Lindsay Duncan all put in a fine shift.

Crank   Wed   4/3   ITV4 @ 23.10

After he's poisoned by Chinese gangsters a man has to keep his heart rate up high to survive. This film is insane. And absolutely brilliant. Jason Statham plays Chev Chelios with gusto. Whether zapping himself with electric paddles, ODing on red bull, starting fights he can't win or having very very public sex, he'll do anything to stay alive. Hilarious stuff but stay away if you are squeamish or easily offended. This is not for the weak of heart.

My Friend Dahmer   Thur   5/3   Film4 @ 21.00

His family situation is fraught and tense. He doesn't fit in at school. He decides to develop a zany persona and he finally finds some buddies. His name is Jeffrey Dahmer and he's going to grow up bad. A haunting look at the formative years of one of America's most infamous serial killers. This one avoids the blood and guts you'd expect but lays on the creepy atmosphere thick ensuring you'll stick with it. Ross Lynch as the lead is one to watch.

Cool Hand Luke   Fri   6/3   TCM 16.55

Luke is a young man from the south with a serious attitude problem. He winds up in jail and realises quickly his failure to communicate is going to cause hassle. An honest to goodness masterpiece and one of the films that made Paul Newman a star. Packed full of classic moments and dialogue that you will recognise even if you haven't seen the movie. Newman in the lead is a star and George Kennedy as a fellow inmate is a force of nature.

The Beguiled   Fri   6/3   BBC2 @ 23.05

The pupils and staff of an all girls school in the state of Virginia are thrown into turmoil when they come across wounded Union soldier on the run from the Civil War. Sofia Coppola's hazy drama takes a while to get going but when it does......it's powerful, disturbing and torrid stuff. A superb cast that includes Kirsten Dunst, Nicole Kidman, Elle Fanning and Colin Farrell all do mighty work. A nice heady slice of American gothic to finish the week on.

Dark Waters

Did you make pancakes on Tuesday? It's deadly ain't it. The sizzle of the butter on the pan. The batter spreading out and bubbling as it cooks. The ease with which you can flip it once its ready. Nothing burnt, just the lovely brown of a perfectly cooked Shrove Tuesday feast. Those nonstick pans are something else aren't they. A modern miracle that makes cleaning up afterwards so simple. That Teflon coating is almost too good to be true. It's just a pity it's slowly killing us all. As you'll find out when you watch Dark Waters.

Parkersburg, West Virginia, 1999. There's something in the water and it's poisonng Wilbur Tennant's (Bill Camp) livestock rapidly and turning the remaining cattle crazed and dangerous. Wilbur suspects it's a nearby chemical company called Dupont Chemicals doing the damage and reaches out to Robert Billot (Mark Ruffalo), a corporate lawyer in Ohio for help. Robert's in a tough spot, Wilbur's a family friend making it hard to refuse him and Robert himself has just become a partner in a company who's main corporate client is none other than....Dupont Chemicals. Initially he's wary of rocking the boat but a trip to Wilbur's farm changes his mind rapidly.

We've got a real David v Golaith story here, one we've all seen before and the comparisons to Erin Brockovich are not without cause but there's something about the subdued, sincere way that director Todd Haynes and lead Mark Ruffalo tell the story that  ensures it will get under your skin. It's the polar opposite of Ruffalo's Marvel heroics and his lawyer with a conscience makes for a very solid lead but this film's secret weapon is Bill Camp. Camp's quiet rage as Wilbur is something to behold. Wilbur, the everyman, a real life character but still a composite of everyone who's been screwed over by corporate America. Watching him dealing with the hand he's been dealt is a big reminder that people on the ground never matter, they never get to win. And if they ever do, they'll never get to enjoy it.

It's this realisation that makes Dark Waters a very unsettling watch. There's no need for over egged drama or exaggerated corporation villainy. Everything we see actually happened. You'll shudder when you hear about DuPont's extreme lack of regard for the people it employed and used as de facto lab rats. The fact that they knew the damage their work was doing but that the almighty dollar mattered more. If you've ever worked for a large company you'll recognise the legalese that reduces humans down to little more than statistics. A lot of people were surprised when the news came out that Todd Haynes was directing this straight forward legal drama but like in his 2002 Douglas Sirk homage Far From Heaven he uses his story to get under the skin of the different strata's of society, to show what makes people that inhabit them tick.

Those people include Victor Garber's Phil Donnelly, more worried about the bottom line than the people who created it, Tim Robbin's snarly but essentially decent boss lawyer Tom Terp and Anne Hathaway as Sarah Billot, the wife left the carry the can when Robert's work starts to take it's toll. All do substantial, unflashy work in line with a substantial and unflashy film. When i say unflashy I mean it. Look at the pics above. A colour palette as subdued as you'll see but one that suits the tone perfectly. This is a film that should leave you feeling down about the state of the world we live in. But that doesn't mean you should avoid it. It's well worth your time.

In cinemas everywhere now.

Another pairing pairing of Sound & Vision - 8 mile. The final rap battle

This is it. The end of days. An underground club in Detroit. A cramped sweat box. B-Rabbit (Eminem) vs Papa Doc (Anthony Mackie before Marvel swallowed him up). The rap battle to end all rap battles. This white boy is about to get fucked up, punked out, finished off. He's like Casper in this room. He hasn't a chance. Papa Doc wins the coin toss and makes a fatal error.

He lets B-Rabbit go first. Oh shit.

Magnificent. Rabbit owns his flaws, owns his weaknesses and weaponises them. Papa Doc's face when he knows he's beaten is priceless. All his ammo gone in a flash. All his raps pointless, carefully designed verses blown up in his face. He's ruined with nary a punch thrown. He's lost his credibility. In this room the worst thing you can be is a half way crook.

A perfect pairing of sound & vision. If you haven't seen this film and haven't a clue what's going on I recommend you hunt it down. It hasn't aged well in places but when it comes to the music side of things 17 years later the lyrical genius on display will still floor you.

Previous pairings

Wheels On Meals
The Office (UK)
Do The Right Thing
Se7en
Mad Men
The Colour Of Money
Rules Of Attraction

Jackass II

Game Of Thrones 

Apocalypse Now

Blade

Big
Miller's Crossing

The Blues Brothers

Straight Outta Compton

The Princess Bride

American Honey

Snake In The Eagle's Shadow

On Her Majesty's Secret Service

The Untouchables

Airplane!

Dazed And Confused  

Kickboxer                                  

Grosse Point Blank

Mean Streets

Watership Down

Casablanca

Zodiac

Jackie Brown
The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
Deliverance
The Omen
Copland
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
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

This week's library finds

I love my local library. A fantastic resource and all of it free. Nowadays you can rent out 12 films a time but that's absolute gluttony so I usually stick to 4 guaranteeing I'll get them all seen before they're due back. It's a great way to fill in the gaps in your viewing without having to resort of illegal means or ropey pan and scan copies uploaded to youtube in 10 minute chunks. The selection is mighty, New and old and from across the world. Plus if you can't find what you want, they'll order it in for you. TBH it pisses all over netflix.

This week's brace is below. A nice mix of foreign and homegrown classics

I used to own this on DVD a long time ago but before I could watch it someone decided to borrow it and never return it. #Rage Curtis and Lancaster though. What a pairing. I can't imagine not loving this.

I thought I'd seen these years ago but a bit of imdb'ing told me the film I'd seen was another Depardieu movie called Germinal. I've heard super things about these 2. Plus I love films with a rural setting.

An Irish one I've wanted to see for years back could never get my hands on a copy of it. Neil Jordan's debut. I caught the first 10 minutes on tv years ago and always wanted to see how it panned out.

This one looks astonished. A 96 minute film shot in one unbroken take. No tricky editing splicing together multiple shots ala 1917, but a film done in one single shot. I'm going to have to try not to blink and break the illusion. Sellotape at the ready.

Like A Boss

I died a little inside on Friday evening. The 4pm screening of Like A Boss was the catalyst and Salma Hayek was the cause. She's so bad as the antagonist of the movie that she........sorry, I have to compose myself here......she may have ruined cinema forever for me. Yes, that is most likely hyperbole but you'll be hard pressed to find a worse performance in a film this year. And with it being only February that's saying a lot.

Mia and Mel are best friends and business partners. Together since childhood they've built their make up company from the ground up and both are justifiably proud of themselves and their creation. Mia (Tiffany Haddish) is the face of the company, outgoing, outspoken, happy in her own skin. Mel (Rose Byrne) is behind the scenes, stressed, the worrier. They fit each other perfectly, both tempering and lifting the other. Life's a breeze until Mel admits the company has some rather large debts they'll go broke trying to pay off. In swans Claire Luna (Salma Hayek), a cosmetics queen with designs on their company and when she offers to pay off their debt in return for a large share of their business Mia and Mel's relationship becomes strained. Which is all part of Claire's cunning plan.

First off, Tiffany Haddish and Rose Byrne are two brilliant comic actors. Great timing, never afraid to look silly or be crude and both can deliver a killer punchline perfectly. Their agents need a slap though for letting them star in this dull, painfully unfunny, retrograde, nonsensical piece of piss. You know a film is bad when you walk out of the cinema in the second month of the year knowing what you've just watched will be high on your top 10 shit list for 2020. Poor writing and overuse of horrible cliches spill off the screen giving the film a very dated sheen that no amount of references to social media and memes can save. Even it's big comic setpiece feels cogged from a 90's Farrelly brothers movie. For a story that claims to be all about female empowerment there sure is a lot of tropes abounding about women's friendships being all about competition and backstabbing.

Then Salma Hayek appears and drags the whole thing down another notch. She has comic chops, we've seen them in film and on TV in Ugly Betty but she's godawful here, a ghastly pit of painful one liners tied together by a terrifying wig and pout. Honestly, every time she appears you could feel the life being sucked out of the cinema. She doesn't even try. You'll not see a more blatant "I'm doing this one for the cash" performance this year. In an era where we're treated to brilliant women led comedies like Booksmart, Spy, The Heat, Extra Ordinary, Late Night, Girls Trip, Metal Heart, Ibiza, Blockers etc everything about this feels like a step back. When you have a dreaming pairing like Haddish and Byrne backed by proven actors like Hayek and Jennifer Coolidge you wouldn't be wrong to expect something special but you'd be far from getting it.

If you like your comedies humour free and predictable as hell then go for this. Everyone else should wait for Netflix so you can play it in the background and talk to your friends over it. In cinemas now if you hate yourself enough to go.

The Call Of The Wild

CGI can be great. The liquid metal killer from Terminator 2. The folding cities of Inception.The Tyrannosaurus Rex from Jurassic Park. Davy Jones from The POTC movies. Paddington. The ruined Las Vegas vista from Blade Runner 2049. Groot from The Avengers. Everything from The Force Awakens. What it hasn't been able to replicate yet are the living breathing people and animals we see every day. There's always something sightly off about them and Buck the leading good boy from The Call Of The Wild is no exception. But when you see the hardships he faces throughout the film you'll be glad he's made of ones and zeros.

In the latter part of the 19th century in an opulent Californian house lived a big St Bernard/Collie mix called Buck. Buck had the run of the town being the property of a judge and was loving life until the night he got stolen and taken to the Yukon in Canada, a place where strong dogs were always in demand to work in the gruelling gold rush conditions. Taken from a carefree lifestyle and forced to exist in the harshest conditions on Earth put Buck in touch with a part of himself domesticity had long since buried.

Yes, a CGI dog is hard to take seriously but if you can put this aside (a tough call for many, more on that later) and go with the flow, The Call Of The Wild is a solid piece of old fashioned entertainment. Funny in places, exciting, filled with glorious vistas, tense enough to put the smallies on edge but never even to traumatise them. The rougher edges of Jack London's famous story have been smoothed off (the fate of most dogs up there is conveniently ignored) there's still plenty here to convey the harshness of that snowy life. Two heartfelt turns from Omar Sy as the sleigh riding postman and a craggy looking Harrison Ford as a man running from tragedy keep things grounded when the story verges on the silly side but this film is all about the Woof. Buck is a lovely fella, mad to please but a fella who marches by the beat of his own drum. Seeing him slowly breaking free from human bondage will make you look wistfully at your own dog and ensure you never deign to dress them up again. Because that.....it's just wrong.

A few years back Disney made the decision to stop using animals in it's productions and go the all CGI route. In theory it's an admirable decision and one that lets audiences enjoy animal endangering thrills guilt free but technology and morality aren't quite on a level pegging just yet. On rare occasions you'll forget that the animals onscreen aren't real and you'll marvel at the action unfurling before you, a close encounter with a wolfpack or an escape from an avalanche but when Buck's in close up and you can see just how artificial he is the spell of the movie is broken fast. Some people will be able to get past that but many won't I feel, especially when Buck pulls off a wrestling move on a pack rival. Yeah, that really happens. A silly decision.

For what is a children's film there's some surprisingly weighty themes laid on throughout the story. Humanity's brutality towards animals, behaviour that makes us more primitive than they are. Just how close to the edge of civilisation people live and how it doesn't take much at all to push us towards a vicious existence. The whole nature vs nurture debate with Buck torn between how he was brought up and what he actually is gives us plenty of food for thought but (sorry to keep going back to this) everything is tempered by Buck's artificiality. The film's heart is in the right place though and that alongside it's sense of adventure means this one is going to become a fixture on holiday tv in years to come.

In cinemas now everywhere.

11 films on TV this week that will please you

Cadillac Records   Sat   22/2   TG4 @ 21.15

Chicago. The 40's. A Polish immigrant called Leonard Chess enters the music business and soon opens a record label for Black artists. Things get turbulent. A stirring look at the lives and times of artists who were critically adored but who still had the wrong skin colour and the white moneymen who took advantage of time. Beyonce Knowles, Eamonn Walker, Adrien Brody and Jeffrey Wright do fine work and the music is, of course. superb.

The Midwife   Sat   22/2   BBC4 @ 22.45

Claire is the perfect midwife, caring, thoughtful, empathic. Her personal life is a bit of a disaster though and a face from her past is bringing back a lot of bad feeling. There's a pair of Catherine's in this 2017 French production (Frot and Deneuve) and both are excellent in this story of redemption and letting go. The chemistry between them is the kind of movie magic we all love.

Kisses   Sat    22/2   RTE1 @ 23.55

One day a young boy and a girl run away from their troubled family life and escape into the city centre of Dublin for an adventure that is both exciting and terrifying. A film that finds a strange type of beauty in inner city Dublin, going from black and white to colour as the kids experience their first bit of independence. Kelly O'Neill and Shane Curry as just perfect as the leads. A gritty, warm, scary and appealing Irish film.

Red Army   Sun   23/2   Film4 @ 02.20

All the best sporting documentaries entertain even when you don't know about the sport. The same is true for this doc about the Russian ice hockey team that dominated globally during the cold war. The Red Army team had the weight of a nation on their shoulders and they delivered in spades. A very interesting and absorbing watch that turns into a nice history lesson too.

Noah   Sun   23/2   BBC2 @ 23.15

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 J.J.R. Tolkien and much better than the reviews made it out to be. Well I think so anyway. It's certainly very interesting. Russell Crowe does powerful work as Noah with solid support from Jennifer Connelly, Ray Winstone and Emma Watson.

American Gangster   Mon   24/2   TG4 @ 21.30

Frank Lucas was the heroin king of New York City in the 1970's. A mean feat for an African American in a time when Italian crime families were in charge of narcotics. Ridley Scott's 2007 epic crime drama is muscular watch bolstered by a fantastic turn from Denzel Washington and a fun showing from Russell Crowe as the cop on his tail. An intriguing look at a very sordid business. 

Copland   Wed   26/2   ITV4 @ 22.30

Garrison, New Jersey is where New York City cops make their home. Freddy Heflin is the sheriff who looks after the town. Usually he looks the other way when they mess up but now he has to make a stand. One of the best films of the 90s. A complex tale of rights and wrongs with a cast for the ages. Sly Stallone is the best he's ever been and he gets mighty back up from Annabella Sciorra, Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel and Ray Liotta. 

120 BPM   Wed   26/2   Film4 @ 23.05

AIDS is decimating the gay population of Paris and a group of activists called ACT UP decides to push the  government into action. One of them knows he's dying and he wants his death to mean something. A unique and very moving look at an underserved community. It sounds grim but it really isn't. Nahuel Pérez Biscayart & Arnaud Valois lead a young cast that crackles with energy.

This Happy Breed   Thur   27/2   Film4 @ 12.50

From the pen of Noel Coward comes a story of an ordinary English family and how the events of history between World War 1 & 2 had an effect on them. An agreeable little film which when you get used to it's episodic structure becomes an informative history lesson seen through the eyes of a family that feels real. Robert Newton, Celia Johnson and John Mills do lovely work.

Pilgrimage   Thur   27/2    VM3 @ 21.00

In the 13th century a group of Irish monks have to transport a relic across a wild countryside filled with danger. This 2017 action drama is a gripping watch. It's also one of the more unusual Irish films you'll see with it's bloody action scenes woven around a script of Gaelic and Latin dialogue. It's gruesome violence (seriously) won't be for everyone but it's worth the watch. Tom Holland, Hugh O'Connor, John Lynch and Jon Bernthal put in fine work.

The Big Sick   Fri   28/2   BBC2 @ 23.05

Kumail and Emily fall in love but his Indian family do not approve. When Emily falls seriously ill Kumail is forced to decide what is truly important to him. This is a really enjoyable watch, heartfelt and charming in a way that will leave you beaming after it. Kumail Nanjiani and Zoe Kazan make a fine pairing and Holly Hunter and Ray Romano in back up do all sorts of good work.

Lil' actors

Guess the baba's. 20 of the most famous actors and actresses around. See how many you get.

The first one is easy. Other's aren't.

He hasn't changed a bit

He was big for a while in the 90's

He's still exactly the same. Except in this year's film.

One of the more unusually named actresses in the States.

One of the all time greats.

Another of the all time greats.

Is that chess? Or Bingo?

Creator of a couple of the most famous movie franchises ever.

A lot less scary as a child than he was as a grown up

The clue is in the eyes

You'll genuinely never guess this one

Last time we saw her on TV she was missing an arm.

The newest Oscar winner of the lot.

She grew up and went to Rome.

The highest grossing actor of all time.

This is an easy one.

He misses that hair now.

Another American Oscar winner.

Yer wan on the right is one of the best.

The most dangerous man on this page.

Lob yer answers in the comment box below.

The winner gets......well....nothing.

The never ending to-watch list

630 films now fill my to-watch list.

630. Fucking madness. Ill never get to see them all.

Sorry, 629, because i just finished Roman Holiday earlier.

You might think it's possible to get through them all but as soon as I remove one from the list I add another 5.

It never ends.

A true first world problem.

Black And Blue

Alicia West (Naomie Harris) is caught between a rock and a hard place. Back in the world after 2 tours of Iraq she's taken a job she doesn't want because it's the only one she can get. She's a black woman in the New Orleans police department. She's called an Uncle Tom by the citizens she polices and mistaken for a criminal by her fellow cops when she's out of uniform. Respect for her is lacking on all sides and it's making her first weeks in the force a horrible experience. But what really kicks things off is a murder she witnesses in a run down New Orleans parish and within minutes she has killers on both sides of the law chasing her for the footage her body camera has recorded. She wants to do the right thing but what side will she fall on.

Black And White is formulaic stuff laden with a storyline that's been done to death but it's post Katrina setting and it's asides about what it's like to be both black and blue in a country that despises both turn it into a interesting watch. Add in an impressive turn from a hard as nails Naomie Harris and solid support from Tyrese Gibson as shopkeeper Milo & a venal and seedy Frank Grillo as a fellow blue and you have a film that will quickly pass a couple of hours for you. At no time will you be surprised though. You can see the bad guys and every plot point coming from a mile away and it's this that takes away from the story especially in the second half. Any bit of tension created in the first half dissipates when you realise you know exactly how it's going to finish. Always a nuisance when that happens. 

But as said, there's enough good going on to keep you watching. The opening moments of Alicia out jogging are a horribly jarring reminder of the world African American's find themselves living every day. Imagine leaving the house every day and worrying about not making it home? Christ no. Then imagine having to work 10 times as hard in your job as your co-workers just to be taken seriously. Then as the icing on the cake picture working a job where everywhere you go people look at you with fear and suspicion. Wouldn't it be an awful way to get through your day. Black and Blue paints the life of a minority in a role mostly filled by the majority as hell and as such the film becomes a microcosm of the minority experience in America.

It's not set in New Orleans randomly. A majority black city that was infamously given up on. Set mostly in the flood ravaged 9th ward it's a city still struggling. Throughout the movie we hear how FEMA and the President let the city down. The cops have given up and only answer calls there when a fellow blue is in trouble. It's quite a biting commentary on the state of U.S. affairs but it's muscular themes are sadly let down by a story not fresh enough to prop them up. Had the script been more willing to stray into greyer areas this could have been pretty memorable. 

Naomie Harris is a strong lead and hopefully her first leading role will carry her onto bigger and better things. Black And Blue will be out to buy on disc and to stream online soon.

More please

I watched Parasite on the big screen again today. It was as good the 2nd time as it was the first. It was an afternoon showing and the place was hopping, packed full of students and older cinema goers. Usually the place is dead as a dodo around 4pm but not today. It seems Limerick does have a taste for subtitled films. You'd think we were all terrified of those little words on the screen from the way we're constantly denied access of foreign movies on their cinema release. The last foreign film that got a proper run (not a one off screening) down here was Takashi Miike's Blade Of The Immortal which came out in December 2017 and before that was Toni Erdmann in 2016. That's just dreadful really.

Too many people think of foreign films as arty, pretentious & impenetrable but they really aren't. They're the films we watch all the time except in a different language and about a different culture. They're as funny and action packed as you want while giving you an insight into lifestyles you don't lead. Parasite is a perfect example. It's a resolute crowdpleaser. Never dull or confusing, just darkly funny and eventually bonkers. It's a Korean take on all those home invasion thrillers we adored in the 90's. I hope it does big business in the regional cinemas it's been released too and I really hope those cinemas take note of that business and finally cop on to the fact that there are big appetites out there for movies other than American blockbusters. If they show them we will watch them. We shouldn't have to travel to Galway or Dublin for a look around the world. At least give them a chance.

Fingers crossed. And toes.

Sonic The Hedgehog

1991. Green Hills Zone act 1. Sonic starts off slow, jumping up to grab a few rings floating above him and to avoid the big wheeled ladybird trundling towards him. Then a tree top springboard launches him into the sky for more rings and over the laser equipped blue bottle taking aim. A quick spin through the air later and he's on a bridge avoiding the piranhas jumping to bite him and the strange crabs chucking fireballs at him. A smooth leap into the sky sees him bounce atop a baddie and then zoom through the balloon save point which leads onto the ring filled loop the loop. Flying through that he lowers his head and assumes the roll position as he enters the long twisting tunnel. Seconds later he emerges and zips across the sky as the timer hits the minute mark. All there's left to do now is spring into the giant ring but in his haste he lands in a pit of spikes and loses everything. Feck. Back to the last save point. Does this ring a bell? If it does you might enjoy this film. Some bit anyway.

Sonic is a little blue alien hedgehog who's immensely fast. Like speed of sound fast. Because of this power he's constantly chased across the galaxy by others who want to study him and use his energy for nefarious means. He settles on Earth and starts to live life. But his lonely existence gets to him and his only contact with humans is from afar. Until the day he finds himself chased once again, this time by a government scientist named Doctor Robotnik and he has to ask for help, help in the form of the Doughnut Lord.

Yup.

Sonic the Hedgehog is aimed squarely at two camps. People in their late 30's - mid 40's who feel a major pang of nostalgia when they see the Sega logo and small children who go bananas for anything CGI. It's hard to see a film aimed at two such disparate groups working but it kinda does and Sega being the crafty feckers that they are have snared the family market for the next week at least. It's fun in places, it's silly, it's beginning and end are delightful recreations of the beloved game and it's depictions of Sonic and his enemy, Doctor Robotnik are perfect. It's just a pity everything in the middle is bland and dull and not remotely connected to anything in the games. You'll keep the kids in the audiences interested but it's here the nostalgia seeking generation x-er's will want to tap out.

What works works well though. Jim Carrey's Robotnik is a suitably demented creation and the very unexpected musical moment halfway through is a solid reminder of why he became so famous 25 years ago. Expect aghast stares from your kids throughout. Ben Schwartz's Sonic is fun too, exactly how you'd imagine him to be. All rapid fire chat and joyful exuberance and happily he stays just on the right side of annoying, unlike Schwartz's other famous creation, the unbearable Jean Ralphio from TV's Parks and Recreation. It's his quieter little moments that give some welcome respite from the speedy chaos onscreen, his happiness at some long needed human interaction, his first meeting with a fluffy Golden Labrador, the charming moment where he gets his famous red sneakers. Here asides on the importance of friendship and kindness abound. Sonic looks exactly like his video game counterpart too, with the look of the character thankfully changed back after the social media uproar when the first trailer came out. The days of Bob Hoskin's Super Mario are far in the past.

Everything else is beige though, beige as the Doughnut lord's uniform. The Doughnut lord is what Sonic calls Tom, the cop who's land he's been hiding on and who becomes his travel companion while on the run. James Marsden is a nice lead but he's saddled with such a sincere character that he's impossible to take seriously. Even the big bar fight set-piece that livens up the mid section is beige. If you've seen any of the latter day X-Men movies with Quicksilver you'll find it fierce familiar. With such an iconic lead creation and dozens of games to fall back on for ideas you'd think director Jeff Fowler and writer Josh Miller could have went in a more creative, exciting direction. For a film with such a big budget you'll be hard pressed to see where the money went. The fact that the opening scene and the final battle hark back to the games so much just deepens the frustration with the middle section.

Sonic The Hedgehog is fleeting fun but it could have been a lot better. In cinemas now.

10 films for you on TV this week

Straight Outta Compton   Sat   15/2   RTE2 @ 21.15

N.W.A. were the most notorious rap group of the 1980's and this film charts their meteoric rise from the mean streets of Compton to their spectacular and egotistical fall. A big, brash, profane film that skips over a lot of the more troubling aspects of the group but still manages to be very enjoyable. Great showings from Jason Mitchell, Corey Hawkins and O'Shea Jackson Jr ( as his Da Ice Cube) make it all work.

Pilgrim Hill   Sat   15/2   TG4 @ 23.45

Jimmy's a struggling farmer in Kerry and life isn't being kind to him. Money is tight, his father is very sick and even getting out for a pint has become a source of hardship. Gerard Barrett's 2013 drama is an undeniably tough watch but it's an essential one about an aspect of Irish life that rarely makes it into the spotlight. An upsetting and in places desperately tense watch. Fierce well acted too, Joe Mullins as Jimmy is superb.

Captain Fantastic   Sat   15/2   BBC2 @ midnight

Living in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest, Ben and his family have been away from the grid for a long time. A tragedy forces him and his 6 kids back into civilisation and everyone struggles to adapt. A different kind of family film but a warm and absorbing one driven by a couple of wonderful performances from George Mackay and Viggo Mortenson as a well meaning father who you'll want to kick.

Roxanne   Sun   16/2   RTE2 @ 15.00

Take the classic French story of Cyrano De Bergerac and transplant it into anywhere USA. Add Steve Martin as a man with a killer personality who's ashamed of his physical side. Throw in a love interest and a love rival. Sprinkle it with a dash of whimsy, a whiff of loneliness, a side order of belly laughs and you get a perfect Sunday afternoon movie. Martin, a luminous Daryl Hannah and a charmingly clumsy Rick Rossovich all do good work.

Love Is Strange   Mon   17/2   CH4 @ 01.05

Ben and George are a gay couple who've been together for nearly 4 decades. One day the law finally allows them to get married but all of a sudden circumstances force them to live apart for a while. Things get stressful and rather awkward. John Lithgow and Alfred Molina are their usual excellent selves in this graceful, profound, warm and funny film. Marisa Tomei and Manny Perez add to the enjoyment.

The Look Of Love   Mon   17/2   Film4 @ midnight

Paul Raymond. Father, business man, porn baron. When he's hit by the biggest tragedy a person can suffer he decides to look back over his life and how he came to be in his place. The always deadly Steve Coogan brings a human touch to the seedier side of London life. The film itself is slightly unfocussed as it tries to fit too much in but splendid work from Imogen Poots, Tasmin Egerton and Anna Friel aongside Coogan will keep you watching.

The Void   Wed   19/2   The Horror Channel @ 22.50

A sheriff finds a man covered in blood on a lonely lane and brings him to hospital. Things get crazy fast. And gory. Oh so gory. This low budget 2016 horror thriller is a fun watch filled with inventive scares and some lovingly created practical special effects. If you are anyway squeamish please do not watch this. Or challenge yourself and go for it Things happen to eyeballs and intestines that you'll never forget. The unknown cast do impressive work too.

Young Adult   Thur   20/2   CH4 @ 01.25

When her life goes awry Mavis decides to go back to where it all started to see some old acquaintances. She hasn't been home in a long time. Mavis is a bit of a gowl though. A brilliantly acted feel bad comedy drama about life's disappointments. It won't be for everyone but if you can stick with it there's plenty to enjoy. Charlize Theron is flawless as the lead and Patton Oswalt and Patrick Wilson are solid back up.

With Or Without You   Thur   20/2   Film4 @ 01.25

A young couple called Rosie and Vincent living in Belfast are struggling in their marriage. Their struggle is heightened by the sectarian aspect of their relationship and a man who's just turned up on the door. Michael Winterbottom's take on romantic comedy is as realistic as you imagine and he brings his story to places you won't expect. Christopher Eccleston and Dervla Kirwan both nail their leading roles.

In The Heat Of The Night   Fri   21/2   BBC2 @ 23.45

Mr Corbett has been killed. Mr Tibbs arrives to investigate his murder. Mr Corbett died in the Deep South. Mr Tibbs is Black. The Deep South doesn't like Mr Tibbs. This is a classic that lives up to the name. Draped in a sweltering atmosphere this crime drama will hook you from the off with 2 stunning turns from Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger. Sadly it's still a very topical watch that will enrage you as much as it entertains you.