Handsome Devil set for Netflix release

Great news for Netflix subscribers and fans of Irish film, as the wonderful Handsome Devil is set to make it's debut with the service on 20th July.
Handsome Devil is John Butler's second feature following on from his success with The Stag and has received a host of awards since it's world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September 2016, including Best Irish Feature at ADIFF’s Dublin Film Critics’ Circle Awards earlier this year, as well as scooping the Best International Feature at the Gasparilla International Film Festival in Tampa, Florida.
The film had a very successful theatrical release performing well in the box office and gaining high critical acclaim in Ireland in particular.
With a strong cast including Moe Dunford, Amy Huberman,  Ardal O'Hanlon and the scene stealing Andrew Scott, the film tells the tale of the unlikely friendship of boarding school roommates Ned (Fionn O'Shea) and Conor (Nicholas Galitzine). Despite taking an immediate dislike to each other, they are encouraged by their English teacher Dan Sherry (Scott) to find their own voices and defy the status quo of their rugby-obsessed school. As the two bond over music, an unlikely and inspiring friendship begins to blossom.

My full review is taken from my column on www.traleetoday.ie is available here and I would urge all Netflix subscribers to take this opportunity to catch yet another great Irish film on the streaming service.
We are right in the middle of a creative boom film making wise in this country and Handsome Devil is a prime example of this. A sweet, funny, heartfelt movie with a strong message, which is soon to be available to view at the touch of a button. Enjoy!

Another outstanding line up for this years Galway Film Fleadh

The Irish premiere of Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk, Stephen Burke's Maze,which deals the mass breakout from the Maze prison in 1983 and stars Tom Vaughan Lawlor and a rare original feature project from Colm Toíbín are just some of the highlights of what promises to be a superb Galway Film Fleadh.
The festival which runs from July 11th-16th is in it's 29th year and has gone from strength to strength with a programme this year that according to festival programmer Gar O'Brien has "something for everyone across the six days"!
Also included over the jam packed six days of cinematic delights are masterclasses in screenwriting featuring the writer/director of cult classic Donnie Darko, Richard Kelly as well as a masterclass in acting featuring the legendary Michael Smiley.
Add in the world premieres of films like Maze, Limbo, Penance, The Silver Branch, The Drummer & the Keeper, and Michael Inside together with a bountiful collection of short films, documentaries and much more besides and it's not difficult to understand why the Galway Film Fleadh is such an important date on this cinematic calendar and a festival that should simply not be missed!
For full details of the wonderful events featured throughout these action packed six days see http://www.galwayfilmfleadh.com

5 Hilarious Will Ferrell Performances

On the release of his latest film "The House" I've decided to gather what I feel are 5 of Will Ferrell's top performances in film. Such is the talent of this guy that this list could have been a lot longer but these 5 will have to do for now. (Feel free to add your own favourites in the comment box or via social media)

Here are 5 crackers from this quality comedic actor and some of his funniest lines:

5. Ron Burgundy (Anchorman)
Adam Mckay's silly overload comedy sees Ferrell deliver some of the most hilarious and constantly quoted lines ever delivered on the big screen! His superb supporting cast help Ferrell produce simply one of Hollywood's funniest comedies. Demands repeated viewing.
Funniest line: "It's so hot (drinks milk) Milk was a bad choice.!"

4. Brennan Huff (Step Brothers) 
The perfect pairing of Will Ferrell and John C Reilly make this over the top immature comedy work really well as both actors constantly bid to outdo each other as scene stealers in another Ferrell/McKay collaboration. Hilarious!
Funniest line: "I have had a belly full of white dog crap in me , and now you lay this s**t on me?"

3.Buddy (Elf)
A seasonal hit, Ferrell abandons the gross out humour for a performance filled with charm and hilarity in a film that proved a big hit with all members of the family and is a frequent resident on audiences favourite Christmas movies!
Funniest line: "This place reminds me of Santa's workshop. Except it smells like mushrooms and everyone looks like they wanna hurt me!"

2.Det Allen Gamble (The Other Guys)
Another comedy cracker sees Ferrell link superbly with Mark Wahlberg in a clever cop movie parody that soars due to the high class action sequences and excellent comedic chemistry between the two leads.
Funniest line:"Do you wake up in the mornin' and say, "I'm puttin on my big boy pants. Look, I'm wearin' a belt. I got big boy pants on."

1.Frank the Tank (Old School)
Always near the top of my favourite comedies list, this Todd Philips directed film announced Ferrell as a real tour de force on the movie Hollywood scene as he simply chews up very scene he's in. Classic!
Funniest line:" You my boy Blue!!!"

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

There are three new releases for your consideration for this weeks Tuesday Treat at Tralee Omniplex. One is a third venture into family film franchise, the next is a hilarious comedy and finally there is a high speed car chase film, so surely something for all tastes all for the giveaway price of €6!

Despicable Me 3:
Being touted as the weakest of the three Despicable movies thus far, there should however be enough entertainment here to keep fans of the franchise happy and ensure a fun day out for all the family!

Baby Driver:
Edgar Wright's first bug budget Hollywood blockbuster is being hailed by critics and audiences alike for it's high energy and superb soundtrack. Entertainment guaranteed in a week that sees plenty of choice for Omniplex customers!

The House:
Not enjoying the best of receptions from the critics but a comedy starring Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler  and directed by Andrew Jay Cohen can't be that bad surely and is bound to contain enough laughs to keep it's audience entertained over the ninety minute running time!

This weeks top movies on the Telly

Total Recall - (ITV4 Monday 3rd July 22:00)
Paul Verhoeven's cult classic,undoubtedly deserves repeated viewing in this Arnold Schwarzenegger driven vehicle that is fast paced and jam packed with action, violence and Arnie's infamous corny humour! Great fun!

The Imitation Game - (FilmFour  Wednesday 5th July 21:00)
Fueled by an incredible turn by Benedict Cumberbatch in the lead role, this fascinating biopic is both informative and entertaining dealing with a segment in world history that some of us would have been unaware of! Excellent!

X-Men: Days of Future Past - (RTE 2  Thursday 6th July 21:00)
In my humble opinion, the strongest film of the franchise sees Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy and co. return in this fast paced and action packed superhero movie. Highly enjoyable!

A Tribute to Barry Norman (1933-2017) - And Why Not?

The sad passing of film critic and journalist Barry Norman has led to a flood of tributes among his peers for someone whose gentle demeanour, encyclopedic knowledge and unassuming wit has left a legacy that will never be matched in his field in modern times. The fact that he his one of only two film critics to  have gained a certain class of celebrity themselves (Roger Ebert being the other) tells us everything about Barry Norman's contribution to cinema.
Born in 1933 to Leslie Norman – a producer and director who worked on The Cruel Sea (1953) and Dunkirk (1958) – and Elizabeth (née Crafford), who was employed in the cutting room at Ealing Studios, Norman had been a gossip columnist at the Daily Sketch and later showbusiness editor at the Daily Mail after working in journalism in South Africa.
After being made redundant he began writing film reviews for the Guardian, before landing his role on the BBC’s Film 1972, where he would stay, with interludes, until 1998.
His cosy armchair, familiar jumpers and catchphrase "and why not?" over these 26 years, along with his pleasant style , knowledge and obvious enthusiasm for his subject matter saw Norman become a household name in Britain and Ireland and even saw him parodied in Spitting Image (a real sign that you had arrived!)
His 2002 biography aptly titled "And Why Not?", tells of some of his more interesting encounters with Hollywood celebrities such as John Wayne and Robert De Niro that he may have seen eye to eye with in the past, demonstrating a principled stance behind that often diplomatic and friendly approach.
On his passing, several of his fellow film critics were at pains to point out the influence that this great man had on their careers and indeed how all of us viewed cinema.

Watching Barry Norman review films was a pleasure, an education, and an inspiration. Wit, knowledge & wry enthusiasm. He was the Master.

— Mark Kermode (@KermodeMovie) July 1, 2017

Very sad to hear that Barry Norman has left us. A great critic and a lovely, lovely man.

— Jonathan Ross (@wossy) July 1, 2017

His genteel style, approach to his craft and consideration for all is a lasting lesson from this admirable journalist and gentleman as to how all critics can treat their subjects and earn praise and respect along the way.
Below is a list of the great mans 10 favourite films:

Barry Norman’s 10 favourite films (BFI Sight and Sound poll)
1. Battleship Potemkin (1925) (Sergei Eisenstein)
2. Bringing Up Baby (1938) (Howard Hawks)
3. Citizen Kane (1941) (Orson Welles)
4. Paths of Glory (1957) (Stanley Kubrick)
5. Rashomon (1950) (Akira Kurosawa)
6. La Règle du jeu (1939) (Jean Renoir)
7. The Searchers (1956) (John Ford)
8. The Seventh Seal (1957) (Ingmar Bergman)
9. Singin’ in the Rain (1952) (Gene Kelly, Stanley Donen)
10. Some Like It Hot (1959) (Billy Wilder)

Review: Baby Driver - Close but no cigar!

Long time labour of love for the director of the superb Cornetto trilogy Edgar Wright, Baby Driver sees the British film makers first venture in to the big budget Hollywood movie sphere.
The film tells the tale of  talented, young getaway driver (Ansel Elgort) who relies heavily on the beat of his personal soundtrack to be the best in the business. But after being forced into working for a hard nosed crime boss (Kevin Spacey), he must face the music when a doomed heist threatens all he holds dear.
With an opening sequence that resembled early Tarantino and an introductory car chase that made the famous Blues Brothers car chase scene look like something from Driving Miss Daisy the initial signs were very promising that Wright would indeed crack this particular Hollywood nut.
That coupled with an extraordinary soundtrack and stellar cast added to what seemed to building to a memorable and unforgettable film.
Unfortunately though, that opening energy, zest and coolness did seem to fade as the film progressed, as the potential shown at the beginning never really materialised and in some cases the film descended into farcical proportions.
What appears like a very interesting premise driven by some great scenes and a mesmerising soundtrack in this instance seems to be a case of the whole not being greater than the sums of its parts as all components don't quite add up to make this film as great as it could undoubtedly have been.
There is a lot to admire about this film too however, as the entertainment value is relatively high and the stunt scenes are among the best you'll see on screen this year with added touches of humour that hit more often than miss with Jamie Foxx stealing most of the best lines.
Ansel Elgort also does a sterling job as "Baby", a role that may have been less convincing (and possibly more annoying)  in the hands of a lesser talent.
In the end though, it just all seems that bit fruitless and yet whilst it doesn't hit the heights that this brilliant director has shown he can achieve in the past it still remains a most gallant effort!
3.5/5