Review: Breaking In almost had me breaking out!

Reviewing movies for traleetoday.ie on a weekly basis has seen me experience a large variety of films which in general have been enjoyable (some surprisingly so)  with the odd turkey rearing it's head now and again but not thankfully, not that often.
Breaking In the new feature from James McTeigue( the director behind the excellent V for Vendetta) sadly sits comfortably in the turkey category as a film that despite a decent premise and a talented lead actor never really ignites and is guilty of numerous cliches and pitfalls that result in a miss mash of a movie that had me yearning for the exit door well before the end credits rolled.
Gabrielle Union stars as a woman who will stop at nothing to rescue her two children being held hostage in a house designed with impenetrable security. No trap, no trick and especially no man inside can match a mother with a mission to rescue her children.
Pitched as a kind of  anti-Panic Room (an excellent thriller which saw Jodie Foster and Kirsten Stewart trapped in their high security home) plot wise,  Breaking In offers a different slant on the hostage scenario with a determined mother stopping at nothing to protect her children and in Gabrielle Union, director McTeigue has a formidable actress capable of the action thriller genre, yet never utilises her talents as he should.
The overlong ninety minutes is one crammed with wooden performances, cliche after cliche and shoddy action sequences which make this feature resemble a TV movie (and a bad one at that!)
It's not often I find myself bored in the cinema (entertained, thrilled, appalled but never bored!) but this trainwreck of a movie had me clock watching and losing interest long before it wrapped everything up!
With some highly entertaining features like Deadpool 2 and A Quiet Place still on show at Tralee Omniplex and the anticipation of Solo: A Star Wars Story to screen this week, Breaking In may well be one to avoid!
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This weeks Top Movies on the Telly

Good Night and Good Luck - (TG4 Monday 28th May 21:30)
Written and directed by George Clooney this compelling film set in 1950's McCarthy era America is another fine example of the fine film maker that Clooney has become and features some magnificent performances from a stellar cast. Highly recommended!

10 Cloverfield Lane - (Film Four  Wendesday 29th May 21:00)
Smart and solidly crafted highly tense thriller that makes the most of it's talented cast in a confined space this Dan Trachtenberg feature will have you gripping your seat up to the very last scene. Chilling!

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo  - (RTE 2 Friday 1st June 21:35)
Captivating adaptation of Stieg Larsson's novel by David Fincher with Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara in particular in fine form. Bleak and brutal at times, this dark thriller is nonetheless compelling and does justice to it's remarkable source material.

What movies to watch this weekend?

In the Cinema:

Solo: A Star Wars Story
Highly anticipated and enjoying fairly positive initial reviews this Han Solo origins tale has the benefit of a world class director in Ron Howard and a very talented cast so this is sure to be one for the fans to enjoy !




Streaming: 

Maze (Netflix)
This Stephen Burke directed film is inspired by the true events of the infamous 1983 prison breakout of 38 IRA prisoners from HMP, which was to become the biggest prison escape in Europe since World War II makes it's debut this week on Netflix. Starring the always excellent Tom Vaughan Lawlor this enjoyed favourable reviews on it's cinematic release last year. Read my full review here.



On Telly

Kenny (BBC One Saturday 26th May 22:35)
For the night that's in it for all LFC fans this intimate and revealing portrait of Kenny Dalglish - the player, the man, and the truth directed by Stewart Sugg dissects the life of a legend on and off the pitch and is a must watch for all Liverpool supporters!

Marvel Movie of the Month No.1 - Ironman

As a celebration of 10 years of Marvel Movies at our cinemas, I've decided to revisit each Marvel film once a month and discuss it's highs and lows and see if they have aged well or badly within those ten years of CGI, brash heroes, fearsome enemies and lots of high thrills adventures.
First up this month is Iron Man, the first in what is now a series of films with 18 entries.
The relevance of this film cannot be understated as it's style and success paved the way for a billion dollar franchise that has just gone from strength to strength.
It also features an unlikely lead actor in Robert Downey Jnr , who after battling his own personal demons would not have been most people's choice to play Tony Stark aka Ironman yet it is a role that he has more than made his own. His charismatic personality and humour also introduced a more human and likeable superhero, one that was not afraid to poke fun at himself and others  - a style that was repeated throughout the Marvel series.
Directed by Jon Favreau Iron man deals with billionaire engineer Tony Stark, who after being held captive in an Afghan cave, creates a unique weaponized suit of armor to fight evil.
Aided in no small part by highly impressive visuals, it is the career resurrecting performance of Downey Jnr that makes this superhero movie stand out from the crowd and widens it's appeal to include not only fans of the genre but all lovers of a good action adventure blockbuster.
The snappiness of the script is matched by the high octane action sequences in a film that is nicely paced and holds the viewers attention throughout.
The supporting cast of the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges and Terrence Howard add their considerable talents to assist in creating the near perfect superhero blockbuster and one that would change the form that these type of films would now take.
Overall, it holds up to repeated viewing with the plot, action and performances still looking fresh ten years after it's initial release. Whereas the visual sequences may have improved in the subsequent Marvel movies thanks to advancement in technology, Ironman remains a very enjoyable superhero movie that will bring as much joy from it's tenth viewing as it did on it's first!
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New Study from Wide Eye Media proves that us Irish are still head over heels for cinema!

As new study by Wide Eye Media named FAME, the Film Audience Measurement and Evaluation research, has taken an in-depth look at Irish cinema goers and has come up with some very interesting results that once again highlights our strong love of cinema in this country.
The research involved a survey of almost 1,700 cinema goers across the Republic of Ireland, to examine their cinema habits, attitudes and motivations.
What the report has also shown is that even though online streaming has changed the way we now consume film, the big screen is still king with large numbers flocking to our cinemas, travelling distances to do so and enjoying the cinema as a shared experience with family and friends.

Among some of the extremely informative statistics were:

• Ireland has the highest per capita visits to the cinema in the EU at 3.4 compared to the EU average of 1.7
• They will travel 9.2 kilometres on average to see a movie on the big screen and spend €16.81 while they are there
• 69% of respondents agreed that there is no better place to watch films than the cinema
• Frequency of attending the cinema is high. 45% of all respondents who had been to the cinema in the past 6 months were heavy cinema goers going at least once a month.
• While 75% of heavy online streamers agreed that seeing a film in a movie theatre gives you a unique experience that online streaming services cannot match.
• The cinema is very much a shared experience, 99% of those surveyed went with at least one other person to the cinema. 1 in 3 people go with their partners, while 44% of 35-44 year olds last went to the cinema with their child.
• 81% are less distracted watching ads in cinema than elsewhere.

So there you have it - us Irish sure like the big screen experience, especially as a shared outing and we are prepared to endure long distances and big screen advertisements to savour that special enjoyment that can only be captured by a trip to the cinema!

This week's Top Movies on the Telly

Slow West - (Film Four Monday 21st May 23:20)
Written and directed by John M.Maclean this old school Western features some impressive performances from a stellar cast that includes Michael Fassbender, Ben Mendehlson and Kodi Smit-McPhee. Visually stunning with a haunting tone, this may be worth a look especially for fans of the genre.

Pulp Fiction - (Film Four  Tuesday 22nd May 21:00)
Hard to believe that this film is now 24 years old but any opportunity to view Quentin Tarantino's masterpiece again should not be passed up! A career resurrecting turn from John Travolta along with incredible performances from Samuel L. Jackson and Bruce Willis along with a razor sharp script and a kick ass soundtrack makes this film one that can be enjoyed over and over again!

The Blues Brothers - (ITV4 Friday 25th May 00:00)
Another chance to catch this timeless classic which contains arguably the greatest soundtrack ever produced for a motion picture. Farcical to the highest degree and helped by a formidable cast this is one worth viewing over and over again. May be one for the Sky+ however as it kicks off in the early hours. Classic!

Review: Deadpool 2 - A sequel to please the die hard fans and maybe earn a few new ones!

Two years after the blockbuster smash that was Deadpool, the highly anticipated sequel posed many questions to it's eager audience prior to it's release. Would the sequel hold the same charm and appeal now that the element of surprise of the first film had been removed? Would the endless gags grow tiresome or would the the sharpness and quick wit delivery and charisma of Ryan Reynolds hold up to another outing? What would Josh Brolin, in what until recently, would be a vast role change bring to the production?
On departing Tralee Omniplex at the end of it's screening I'm pleased to report that all fears were unfounded and Deadpool 2 delivers once again for what is sure to be record box office crowds in it's own unique and highly entertaining way!
Deadpool 2 again follows the exploits of foul-mouthed mutant mercenary Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds who brings together a team of fellow mutant rogues to protect a young boy of supernatural abilities from the brutal, time-travelling mutant, Cable (Josh Brolin).
All the ingredients of the first film that worked so well are here to enjoy once again in Deadpool 2. The breaking of the fourth wall, the vulgarity and hilarity, the queasy violence and stunning visual effects make up all that is great about this film and like all good sequels, it  has those extra elements added with the new characters and awesome set pieces elevating this movie to a higher level that is bound to please all fans of the first film and may gather a few new ones along the way.
It does come with a warning however, some scenes are extremely graphic and it may not be a film for everyone but fans of the franchise and highly entertaining blockbusters will love it and immediately start counting the days until Deadpool 3.

Josh Brolin - King of the Summer Blockbuster 2018

For those few that are not Josh Brolin fans, cinema theatres this summer may not be the place for you! Following on from his powerful performance as the mighty Thanos in the Avengers: Infinity War, audiences are soon to see Brolin conquer the summer blockbuster market in Deadpool 2 in which he plays Cable and he also returns to his role as Matt Graver in the Sicario: Day of the Soldado, the sequel to Denis Villeneuve's critical and box office hit, making it three potential high grossing movies that will feature the California native.
It's been an interesting journey for Brolin, who after success with Goonies, spent the next twenty years threading the boards, featuring in a lot of low key rather underwhelming TV and feature films before 2007 saw him explode on to our screens again as Planet Terror, No Country for Old Men and American Gangster announced the arrival of Brolin:Part 2.
In the years to follow Brolins work tended to fluctuate critically and commercially as he often followed the very good - Milk (a role for which he was Oscar nominated), W., True Grit, Hail Caesar with the very bad - Men in Black 3, Labour Day, Oldboy and Gangster Squad to name a few.
His no nonsense demeanour and incredible range has always made him one of Hollywood's consistent and at times underrated actors and this transition to box office stalwart and popcorn cinema idol is one that can only benefit the viewing public.
With a sequel to Avengers:Infinity War on the way and the movie X-Force in production with Brolin again reprising his role as Cable, this box office giant isn't going anywhere anytime soon so non believers may have to spend the next few summers avoiding the local omniplex as we are just now witnessing the box office re-birth of Brolin and I for one, can't wait!

Our Village is Our Screen - Schulls's Fastnet Short Film Festival packed with quality programming to celebrate it's 10th year!

Beginning on the 23rd and running until 27th May, the Fastnet Short Film Festival celebrates it's 10th year in operation with an quality filled programme of short and feature films as well as lots of incredible events for all ages!
With over 200 films screened over the 5 days there is something for everyone at this prestigious event with some incredible film and interesting guest speakers on show throughout.
Strong feature films such as Michael Inside, Black 47, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Noble, The Breadwinner and Breakfast on Pluto as well as some excellent Q&A's with such renowned film figures such as Jim Sheridan, Lenny Abrahamson, Frank Berry and Nick Kelly together with a collection of exceptional short films will undoubtedly make this picturesque village in West Cork the place to be come the 23rd May.
Workshops featuring the likes of casting director Maureen Hughes and stunt actor Peter Dillon are among the long list of exclusive events available over the five day festival.
Younger members of the audience are also adequately catered for with The Enchantment Under the Sea Dance, a live band and fancy dress extravaganza among the many events over the course of what seems to be a film festival that simply goes from strength to strength.
With lots of events free of charge and more heavily subsidised there is no reason not to get yourself to West Cork on May 23rd to enjoy what promises to be another superb Fastnet Film Festival.
For further details on all events please check http://www.fastnetfilmfestival.com/ or download the festival programme here

Tralee Omniplex Tuesday Treat - What movie deserves your €6 this week?

There are no less that four new releases for viewers to choose from for this weeks Tuesday Treat at Tralee Omniplex. A big budget superhero movie, a tense thriller, a hilarious comedy and an animated family feature are what's on offer. Something for everybody this week at Tralee Omniplex  with all shows today just €6!

Breaking In
V for Vendetta director James McTeigue serves up the anti-Panic Room feature as Gabrielle Union stars as the mother that will stop at nothing to rescue her two children being held hostage in a house designed with impenetrable security. Should be interesting!

Deadpool 2
Highly anticipated sequel to the 2016 box office hit with Ryan Reynolds returning as the wise cracking Deadpool with the added bonus of Josh Brolin as the formidable Cable. This is sure to be another rollercoaster ride that will undoubtedly light up the

Life of the Party
Melissa McCarthy returns with a "back to school" type comedy written and directed by real life husband Ben Falcone in a film that has been earning favourable reviews and may not be the worst choice of film this week! Read my full review here

Sherlock Gnomes
A star studded cast add their voices to this John Stevenson directed animated feature that whilst may not earn the same plaudits as the likes of Peter Rabbit should have enough in it to keep kids of all ages entertained!

This weeks Top Movies on the Telly

Saving Private Ryan - (Sky One Monday 14th May 21:00)
Realistic and redefining war feature from iconic director Steven Spielberg, complete with yet another incredible Tom Hanks performance, this 1998 production is both a visual and emotional masterpiece and once that needs to be revisited from time to time to remind us how powerful the medium of film can be!

Singin in the Rain - (TCM  Wednesday 16th May 09:30)
Another chance to see a bona fide classic as Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds combine to deliver simply Hollywood's best ever musical in a film that is brimful of humour, energy and classic tunes this definitely gets categorised under the mandatory repeated viewing file!

Sherlock Holmes - (TCM Thursday 17th May 20:00)
Guy Ritchie adds his own unique touch to the legendary detective in a film that benefits from his original style and two strong performances from the lead actors Jude Law and the ever impressive Robert Downey Jnr in a role he was born to play as Sherlock Holmes. Highly entertaining!

Review: Life of the Party - Cheesy yet charming comedy with Melissa McCarthy on top form!

After Deanna Miles (Melissa McCarthy) gets a divorce from her husband Dan (Matt Walsh) and decides to go back to college, she ends up in her daughter's class who's not comfortable on the idea. Deanna, now known as Dee Rock, plunges head first into the campus experience and embraces college life on her own terms and finds her true self in a senior year no one ever expected.
In what is their third collaboration together, Life of the Party (The Boss and Tammy being the other two) sees husband and and wife team of Ben Falcone and Melissa McCarthy pen this familiar "back to school" tale with Falcone also taking on directorial duties.
Rather snobishly panned by the critics on first view, this feature does have numerous pitfalls throughout with cliches and sentiment being two of the chief ingredients in this comfortable cheesy comedy. It is however, very funny in parts also and sees Melissa McCarthy in fine form and unlike many other Hollywood comedies not having to gross out humour for laughs.
The whole production is held together magnificently by a wonderful central performance from  McCarthy who's likability and charm runs through the whole film.
The strong ensemble comedic cast also add their considerable talents to this feature with the always dependable Maya Rudolph, Matt Walsh and Gillian Jacobs certainly enriching the movie with their efforts.
Their is one extremely low point however, towards the end of the film and whilst not giving too much away plot wise, an ill advised cameo almost derails the whole production with the film sinking to farcical levels of cheese that makes you almost forget the good scenes that have preceded it!
Overall, as formulaic and safe as this movie may be it is the heart and charm that permeate through it along with a lot of gags that hit the mark (and many that don't) that will ensure a snappy ninety minutes of entertainment for those who are willing to leave their brains at the door and enjoy this movie for what it is - an entertaining non-taxing and charming comedy!
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What movies to watch this weekend?

In the Cinema:

Life of the Party
Written by husband and wife team of Ben Falcone and Melissa McCarthy, this "back to school" comedy has earned relatively positive reviews with McCarthy's charm (with the help of a strong supporting cast) just about getting this one over the line!




Streaming: 

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (Netflix)
One of Will Ferrell's more underrated yet still hilarious comedy where the funnyman again pairs off with Step Brothers co-star John C.Reilly to side splitting results. Featuring an exceptionally funny performance from Sacha Baron Cohen and Ferrell on top form this is one that is definitely worth another look!



On Telly

Shaun of the Dead (RTE 2 Friday 11th May 21:30)
First in the Edgar Wright Cornetto trilogy, this superb horror/comedy works due to the smart writing, clever tricks and strong on screen chemistry between Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. One to watch over and over again, this is simply a film that never appears tiresome. Simply brilliant!.