Cillian Murphy obtained one of acting’s most coveted achievements when he won an Oscar for his leading role in “Oppenheimer.” But his award season run for the acclaimed Christopher Nolan film didn’t end with his big night at the Dolby Theater. The Irish actor went on to receive his home country’s highest acting honor on Sunday at the Irish Film and TV Academy Awards when he won the Lead Actor — Film category for “Oppenheimer.”
The ceremony honored the best Irish film and television of 2023, with Pat Collins’ “That They May Face the Rising Sun” winning Best Film. Other notable winners included Paul Mescal taking Supporting Actor for “All of Us Strangers” and Alison Oliver winning Supporting Actress for “Saltburn.”
Keep reading for a complete list of winners from the 2024 Irish Film and TV Academy Awards.
Best Film
“Double Blind”
“Flora and Son”
“Lies We Tell”
“Lola”
“That They May Face the Rising Sun...
The ceremony honored the best Irish film and television of 2023, with Pat Collins’ “That They May Face the Rising Sun” winning Best Film. Other notable winners included Paul Mescal taking Supporting Actor for “All of Us Strangers” and Alison Oliver winning Supporting Actress for “Saltburn.”
Keep reading for a complete list of winners from the 2024 Irish Film and TV Academy Awards.
Best Film
“Double Blind”
“Flora and Son”
“Lies We Tell”
“Lola”
“That They May Face the Rising Sun...
- 4/20/2024
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
The 21st Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) Awards, which highlight Irish filmmakers, television creators and performers, saw Pat Collins’ That They May Face The Rising Sun win Best Film in an upset. Despite earning a second-best 11 nominations, the top award was its only win.
Lies We Tell all with three wins: for Director Lisa Mulcahy, Lead Actress Agnes O’Casey, and Best Script. It came in with 13nominations.
Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy repeated his Best Actor win at the Academy Awards for Oppenheimer with a win for Lead Actor. In the supporting categories, Paul Mescal won for All of Us Strangers and Alison Oliver topped all for Saltburn.
Oppenheimer was named Best International Film, Emma Stone was Best Actress, and Paul Giamatti won International Actor for The Holdovers.
In the television drama categories, Kin was the winner for series, directing, script, lead actress Clare Dune, and supporting actress Maria Doyle Kennedy.
Filmmaker...
Lies We Tell all with three wins: for Director Lisa Mulcahy, Lead Actress Agnes O’Casey, and Best Script. It came in with 13nominations.
Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy repeated his Best Actor win at the Academy Awards for Oppenheimer with a win for Lead Actor. In the supporting categories, Paul Mescal won for All of Us Strangers and Alison Oliver topped all for Saltburn.
Oppenheimer was named Best International Film, Emma Stone was Best Actress, and Paul Giamatti won International Actor for The Holdovers.
In the television drama categories, Kin was the winner for series, directing, script, lead actress Clare Dune, and supporting actress Maria Doyle Kennedy.
Filmmaker...
- 4/20/2024
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Cillian Murphy, Kin season two and Paul Mescal were among the winners of the Irish Film & Television Awards 2024, which were handed out during a ceremony in Dublin on Saturday.
Lies We Tell, about an orphaned teenage heiress in 19th-century Ireland who is forced to embrace the dark legacy of her family, led the nominations for the movie portion of the awards with 13 and went home with three. It was followed by That They May Face the Rising Sun, which took home the best film prize, and Double Blind, with 11 each. Rising Sun is an adaptation of John McGahern’s novel about passion, war and migration, while Double Blind is a horror film about an experimental drug trial that goes wrong.
Among the lead acting nominees were such big names as Murphy, Barry Keoghan, Andrew Scott, Pierce Brosnan, Saoirse Ronan, Eve Hewson and Jessie Buckley. Murphy took home the best actor...
Lies We Tell, about an orphaned teenage heiress in 19th-century Ireland who is forced to embrace the dark legacy of her family, led the nominations for the movie portion of the awards with 13 and went home with three. It was followed by That They May Face the Rising Sun, which took home the best film prize, and Double Blind, with 11 each. Rising Sun is an adaptation of John McGahern’s novel about passion, war and migration, while Double Blind is a horror film about an experimental drug trial that goes wrong.
Among the lead acting nominees were such big names as Murphy, Barry Keoghan, Andrew Scott, Pierce Brosnan, Saoirse Ronan, Eve Hewson and Jessie Buckley. Murphy took home the best actor...
- 4/20/2024
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Fresh from his Academy Award win for best actor, “Oppenheimer” star Cillian Murphy now has a chance to claim the same honor at his local awards.
The Irish Film and TV Academy (IFTA) has unveiled the nominees for its 2024 awards, with Murphy going up against “Saltburn’s'” Barry Keoghan and “All of Us Strangers” star Andrew Scott in the best actor category. Elsewhere, Jessie Buckley (“Fingernails”) and Saoirse Ronan (“Foe”) are among those nominated for best actress, while Paul Mescal (“All of Us Strangers”) and Kenneth Branagh (“Oppenheimer”) are in the running for best supporting actor.
But it was actually Irish features leading the pack of nominees, with Lisa Mulcahy’s “Lies We Tell” landing 13, followed by “That They May Face the Rising Sun” and “Double Blind.”
The IFTAs ceremony will be take place on April 20 at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre with Irish TV personality Baz Ashmawy on hosting duties.
The Irish Film and TV Academy (IFTA) has unveiled the nominees for its 2024 awards, with Murphy going up against “Saltburn’s'” Barry Keoghan and “All of Us Strangers” star Andrew Scott in the best actor category. Elsewhere, Jessie Buckley (“Fingernails”) and Saoirse Ronan (“Foe”) are among those nominated for best actress, while Paul Mescal (“All of Us Strangers”) and Kenneth Branagh (“Oppenheimer”) are in the running for best supporting actor.
But it was actually Irish features leading the pack of nominees, with Lisa Mulcahy’s “Lies We Tell” landing 13, followed by “That They May Face the Rising Sun” and “Double Blind.”
The IFTAs ceremony will be take place on April 20 at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre with Irish TV personality Baz Ashmawy on hosting duties.
- 3/14/2024
- by Alex Ritman
- Variety Film + TV
Cillian Murphy, Andrew Scott and Saoirse Ronan are among the nominees at the 21st Irish Film and Television Awards.
Fresh off his Oscar win, Murphy (Oppenheimer) is nominated for lead actor along with Scott (All Of Us Strangers). They are joined by Saltburn’s Barry Keoghan, The Last Rifleman’s Pierce Brosnan, That They May Face They Rising Sun’s Barry Ward and David Wilmot from Lies We Tell, the film with the most IFTA nominations on 13.
Lisa Mulcahy’s period drama is also up for best film, lead actress, supporting actor, director, script and seven craft awards. It had...
Fresh off his Oscar win, Murphy (Oppenheimer) is nominated for lead actor along with Scott (All Of Us Strangers). They are joined by Saltburn’s Barry Keoghan, The Last Rifleman’s Pierce Brosnan, That They May Face They Rising Sun’s Barry Ward and David Wilmot from Lies We Tell, the film with the most IFTA nominations on 13.
Lisa Mulcahy’s period drama is also up for best film, lead actress, supporting actor, director, script and seven craft awards. It had...
- 3/14/2024
- ScreenDaily
Nominations are out for the 21st Irish Film & Television Awards with Lisa Mulcahy’s thriller Lies We Tell leading the pack on the feature side at 13, and crime drama Kin heading up the TV fields with 11 (scroll down for the ful list of nominees). The Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) will hand out its prizes on April 20 in Dublin.
Alongside Lies We Tell in the Best Film category are Double Blind, Flora and Son, Lola, That They May Face the Rising Sun and Verdigris. Each of those films also scored a mention for their directors.
In what was a banner year for Irish talent, there are several awards season notables vying for Best Actor as well, including Oppenheimer Oscar winner Cillian Murphy, Saltburn’s Barry Keoghan and All of Us Strangers’ Andrew Scott.
The Best International Film race includes All of Us Strangers, Oppenheimer, Past Lives, Poor Things, Saltburn and The Holdovers.
Alongside Lies We Tell in the Best Film category are Double Blind, Flora and Son, Lola, That They May Face the Rising Sun and Verdigris. Each of those films also scored a mention for their directors.
In what was a banner year for Irish talent, there are several awards season notables vying for Best Actor as well, including Oppenheimer Oscar winner Cillian Murphy, Saltburn’s Barry Keoghan and All of Us Strangers’ Andrew Scott.
The Best International Film race includes All of Us Strangers, Oppenheimer, Past Lives, Poor Things, Saltburn and The Holdovers.
- 3/14/2024
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Lies We Tell, with 13, That They May Face the Rising Sun and Double Blind, with 11 each, are leading the nominations for the movie portion of the Irish Film & Television Awards 2024.
Lies We Tell is about an orphaned teenage heiress in 19th-century Ireland who is forced to embrace the dark legacy of her family when she becomes the ward of an uncle determined to marry her off. Rising Sun is an adaptation of John McGahern’s novel of passion, war, and migration. Double Blind is a horror film about an experimental drug trial that goes horribly wrong. Andrew Legge’s Lola, a science fiction drama set in 1940, received seven noms on Thursday.
Among the lead acting nominees are such big names as Cillian Murphy, Barry Keoghan, Andrew Scott, Pierce Brosnan, Saoirse Ronan, Eve Hewson, and Jessie Buckley. The best supporting film actor category, meanwhile, includes Kenneth Branagh and Paul Mescal.
And...
Lies We Tell is about an orphaned teenage heiress in 19th-century Ireland who is forced to embrace the dark legacy of her family when she becomes the ward of an uncle determined to marry her off. Rising Sun is an adaptation of John McGahern’s novel of passion, war, and migration. Double Blind is a horror film about an experimental drug trial that goes horribly wrong. Andrew Legge’s Lola, a science fiction drama set in 1940, received seven noms on Thursday.
Among the lead acting nominees are such big names as Cillian Murphy, Barry Keoghan, Andrew Scott, Pierce Brosnan, Saoirse Ronan, Eve Hewson, and Jessie Buckley. The best supporting film actor category, meanwhile, includes Kenneth Branagh and Paul Mescal.
And...
- 3/14/2024
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
We probably won’t see this week’s streaming debuts on the Oscars’ nomination roster come January, but they offer a variety of genres that will satisfy whatever mood you find yourself in this weekend.
The contender to watch this week: “Pain Hustlers“
The opioid epidemic has fueled a wave of movie and TV shows in the last few years, from “Dopesick” and “Ben Is Back” to the gorgeous Oscar-nominated documentary “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed.” Hollywood’s latest Big Pharma indictment is a star-studded dramedy directed by “Harry Potter” alum David Yates. Based on a book by journalist Evan Hughes, “Pain Hustlers” features Emily Blunt, Chris Evans, Catherine O’Hara, and Andy Garcia in a crime saga revolving around a pharmaceutical start-up whose founder served two years in prison. Reviews have been tepid, but “Hustlers” is now streaming on Netflix following a limited theatrical release.
Other contenders:
“My Sailor, My Love...
The contender to watch this week: “Pain Hustlers“
The opioid epidemic has fueled a wave of movie and TV shows in the last few years, from “Dopesick” and “Ben Is Back” to the gorgeous Oscar-nominated documentary “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed.” Hollywood’s latest Big Pharma indictment is a star-studded dramedy directed by “Harry Potter” alum David Yates. Based on a book by journalist Evan Hughes, “Pain Hustlers” features Emily Blunt, Chris Evans, Catherine O’Hara, and Andy Garcia in a crime saga revolving around a pharmaceutical start-up whose founder served two years in prison. Reviews have been tepid, but “Hustlers” is now streaming on Netflix following a limited theatrical release.
Other contenders:
“My Sailor, My Love...
- 10/28/2023
- by Matthew Jacobs
- Gold Derby
Stop Making Sense, the remastered concert film that sowed delight at TIFF, opens on 300 Imax screens in the U.S., Canada, U.K. and Ireland. Locations Stateside number 260 ahead of a nationwide release next week.
The 1984 Talking Heads extravaganza from Jonathan Demme is presented in its new iteration by A24 — meaning the decades-old movie can now extend its reach to a new, younger audience that is A24’s core fan base. Opening numbers are hard to gauge since there aren’t many comps but there are parties, discos, stars and sellouts with film looking at about $1.5 million, including Thursday previews.
A 40th anniversary large-format special premiere screening at the Toronto Film Festival earlier this month had people dancing in the aisles and broke Imax records. It was the company’s highest grossing live event, earning $640.8k and selling out 25 screens across 165 Imax locations in North America and the BFI Imax in London.
The 1984 Talking Heads extravaganza from Jonathan Demme is presented in its new iteration by A24 — meaning the decades-old movie can now extend its reach to a new, younger audience that is A24’s core fan base. Opening numbers are hard to gauge since there aren’t many comps but there are parties, discos, stars and sellouts with film looking at about $1.5 million, including Thursday previews.
A 40th anniversary large-format special premiere screening at the Toronto Film Festival earlier this month had people dancing in the aisles and broke Imax records. It was the company’s highest grossing live event, earning $640.8k and selling out 25 screens across 165 Imax locations in North America and the BFI Imax in London.
- 9/22/2023
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
August is here, and so is a brand new collection of additions from the ever-expanding Plex. The free streaming service is adding another two dozen titles to its library of over 50,000 TV series and movies, and whether you’re in the mood for a found-footage horror movie like “V/H/S” or an LGBTQ+ rom-com like “Life Partners,” your watchlist likely just got a little longer.
Check out our top picks for the coming month and the full list below!
Watch Now $0+ / month plex.tv What Are the Best Shows and Movies Coming to Plex in August 2023? “Shadow Dancer” | Aug. 1
The 2012 mystery-thriller set in 1990s Belfast stars Andrea Riseborough as an active member of the Ira who becomes an informant for MI5 in order to protect her son’s welfare. The spy drama also stars Clive Owens, Gillian Anderson, Aidan Gillen, Domhnall Gleeson, Brid Brennan, David Wilmot, and more.
Check...
Check out our top picks for the coming month and the full list below!
Watch Now $0+ / month plex.tv What Are the Best Shows and Movies Coming to Plex in August 2023? “Shadow Dancer” | Aug. 1
The 2012 mystery-thriller set in 1990s Belfast stars Andrea Riseborough as an active member of the Ira who becomes an informant for MI5 in order to protect her son’s welfare. The spy drama also stars Clive Owens, Gillian Anderson, Aidan Gillen, Domhnall Gleeson, Brid Brennan, David Wilmot, and more.
Check...
- 7/31/2023
- by Ashley Steves
- The Streamable
Jodie Comer has become the 100th performer to win a Tony Award for their Broadway debut for her performance in the play, “Prima Facie.”
She won Best Actress in a Play for portraying Tess, a lawyer who concentrates in providing legal defense for men who are accused of sexual assault but soon has the unthinkable happen to her. She is the 11th person to win the category for her first outing on a Broadway stage. She joins:
SEE2023 Tony Awards: Every winner (and nominee) in all 26 competitive categories
Martita Hunt, “The Madwoman of Chaillot” (1949)
Beryl Reid, “The Killing of Sister George” (1967)
Phyllis Frelich, “Children of a Lesser God” (1980)
Jane Lapotaire, “Piaf” (1981)
Joan Allen, “Burn This” (1988)
Pauline Collins, “Shirley Valentine” (1989)
Janet McTeer, “A Doll’s House” (1997)
Marie Mullen, “The Beauty Queen of Leeane” (1998)
Jennifer Ehle, “The Real Thing” (2000)
Deanna Dunagan, “August: Osage County” (2008)
Below are the Broadway debuts in the seven other...
She won Best Actress in a Play for portraying Tess, a lawyer who concentrates in providing legal defense for men who are accused of sexual assault but soon has the unthinkable happen to her. She is the 11th person to win the category for her first outing on a Broadway stage. She joins:
SEE2023 Tony Awards: Every winner (and nominee) in all 26 competitive categories
Martita Hunt, “The Madwoman of Chaillot” (1949)
Beryl Reid, “The Killing of Sister George” (1967)
Phyllis Frelich, “Children of a Lesser God” (1980)
Jane Lapotaire, “Piaf” (1981)
Joan Allen, “Burn This” (1988)
Pauline Collins, “Shirley Valentine” (1989)
Janet McTeer, “A Doll’s House” (1997)
Marie Mullen, “The Beauty Queen of Leeane” (1998)
Jennifer Ehle, “The Real Thing” (2000)
Deanna Dunagan, “August: Osage County” (2008)
Below are the Broadway debuts in the seven other...
- 6/12/2023
- by Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
Michiel van Erp’s Casanova drama ‘A Beautiful Imperfection’ stars Jonah Hauer-King and Dar Zuzovsky.
German sales outfit Global Screen has added two new titles to its busy Cannes market line-up.
The Munich-based company has taken on international rights, excluding Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Italy, for Michiel van Erp’s A Beautiful Imperfection, a romantic costume drama telling the story of the love affair between a young woman and the notorious Italian adventurer and womaniser Giacomo Casanova.
The project is in post-production and Global Screen will have a first promo for pre-sales at the Cannes Market.
Jonah Hauer-King stars as...
German sales outfit Global Screen has added two new titles to its busy Cannes market line-up.
The Munich-based company has taken on international rights, excluding Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Italy, for Michiel van Erp’s A Beautiful Imperfection, a romantic costume drama telling the story of the love affair between a young woman and the notorious Italian adventurer and womaniser Giacomo Casanova.
The project is in post-production and Global Screen will have a first promo for pre-sales at the Cannes Market.
Jonah Hauer-King stars as...
- 5/3/2023
- by Geoffrey Macnab
- ScreenDaily
The feature recently won best Irish film at the Dublin International Film Festival.
Germany’s Global Screen has sold the North American rights on Finnish filmmaker Klaus Härö’s English-language debut and Toronto International Film Festival premiere My Sailor, My Love to Music Box Films.
It stars James Cosmo, Bríd Brennan and Catherine Walkera, and follows a retired sailor and widower who falls in love with his home help. His adult daughter disapproves and feels she is losing the father she never had.
My Sailor, My Love has just been released in the UK and Ireland by Signature and will...
Germany’s Global Screen has sold the North American rights on Finnish filmmaker Klaus Härö’s English-language debut and Toronto International Film Festival premiere My Sailor, My Love to Music Box Films.
It stars James Cosmo, Bríd Brennan and Catherine Walkera, and follows a retired sailor and widower who falls in love with his home help. His adult daughter disapproves and feels she is losing the father she never had.
My Sailor, My Love has just been released in the UK and Ireland by Signature and will...
- 3/17/2023
- by Mona Tabbara¬Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Beautifully nuanced performances underpin an interesting drama that evolves from late-life romance into study of family trauma across generations
Shot on the misty Achill island off Ireland’s west coast, Finnish director Klaus Härö’s English-language debut grapples with the rough currents of late-in-life regrets and resentment. Cranky retired sea captain Howard (James Cosmo) – once content with shutting himself off from the outside world – is forced to open his disorderly home, and subsequently his heart, to Annie (Brid Brennan), a housekeeper hired by his overworked daughter Grace (Catherine Walker).
What begins as a lighthearted autumnal romance gradually evolves into a thorny study of familial grievances. Troubled by her own unhappy marriage, Grace grows increasingly bitter about her father’s new relationship. The reasons for her disturbing, self-destructive behaviours spring from a traumatic childhood, the details of which are revealed late in the film – too late, really, to fully flesh out her character.
Shot on the misty Achill island off Ireland’s west coast, Finnish director Klaus Härö’s English-language debut grapples with the rough currents of late-in-life regrets and resentment. Cranky retired sea captain Howard (James Cosmo) – once content with shutting himself off from the outside world – is forced to open his disorderly home, and subsequently his heart, to Annie (Brid Brennan), a housekeeper hired by his overworked daughter Grace (Catherine Walker).
What begins as a lighthearted autumnal romance gradually evolves into a thorny study of familial grievances. Troubled by her own unhappy marriage, Grace grows increasingly bitter about her father’s new relationship. The reasons for her disturbing, self-destructive behaviours spring from a traumatic childhood, the details of which are revealed late in the film – too late, really, to fully flesh out her character.
- 3/6/2023
- by Phuong Le
- The Guardian - Film News
To Annie (Brid Brennan), Howard (James Cosmo) is an ageing man who retains his mental faculties but can no longer manage without a bit of help around the house. To his daughter Grace (Catherine Walker), he’s the source of a lifetime of woes, but is also somebody for whom she is responsible and about whose true needs she knows best. To the village children, he’s an invincible old sea captain who once strangled an angry gorilla with his bare hands. Who is the real Howard? Though this sweet tale of late life love may seem to chart a simple course, there are deeper currents at play. He’s every bit as difficult to fathom as Grace herself.
Under pressure at work, where she looks after elderly hospital patients, and at home, where her husband complains that they never talk, Grace feels overwhelmed by her worries about her father,...
Under pressure at work, where she looks after elderly hospital patients, and at home, where her husband complains that they never talk, Grace feels overwhelmed by her worries about her father,...
- 3/3/2023
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
"I'll tell you a secret - I'm actually quite enjoying myself." Signature Ent. in the UK has revealed an official trailer for an indie film titled My Sailor, My Love, an Ireland-Finland co-production from director Klaus Härö. This old age romantic drama premiered at TIFF 2022 last year, and just played at the Palm Springs Film Festival in the US earlier this year. Howard, a retired sea captain, refuses any help from his daughter Grace. When she hires Annie as domestic help for him, Howard unexpectedly falls in love. He gives all his affection to Annie and her family, but rejects his own daughter. My Sailor, My Love is a story about a guilt-affected daughter-father relationship. But it's also a love story between two elderly people, proving a new beginning is never too late. James Cosmo co-stars with Brid Brennan, joined by Catherine Walker, Nora-Jane Noone, Aidan O'Hare, & Molly McCann. Early...
- 2/13/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
I was still dressed as a mummy when I sat down to watch TV after trick-or-treating on Halloween night in 1992. I was a skinny lad, so binding my limbs tightly in bandages made me look more like a weird spindly white insect than King Tut. Self-conscious of this, I wore my Adidas bench coat over the costume, which completely ruined the effect.
I couldn't tell you what my costume was 12 months earlier or the following year, but Halloween of '92 remains so clear in my mind because that was the night of "Ghostwatch." I loved anything related to the supernatural, so I just couldn't wait: The BBC was conducting a live paranormal investigation into poltergeist activity! It was a big event heavily publicized in the run-up to Halloween, and 11 million viewers tuned in that night. The next day the whole country was talking about it.
"Ghostwatch" wasn't a real live ghost hunt,...
I couldn't tell you what my costume was 12 months earlier or the following year, but Halloween of '92 remains so clear in my mind because that was the night of "Ghostwatch." I loved anything related to the supernatural, so I just couldn't wait: The BBC was conducting a live paranormal investigation into poltergeist activity! It was a big event heavily publicized in the run-up to Halloween, and 11 million viewers tuned in that night. The next day the whole country was talking about it.
"Ghostwatch" wasn't a real live ghost hunt,...
- 10/31/2022
- by Lee Adams
- Slash Film
Global Screen strikes key territory sales on Finnish box office hit ‘My Sailor, My Love’ (exclusive)
Romance has grossed more than Euros 618,000 in three weeks through Nordisk Film.
Global Screen has licensed further key territories on Klaus Haro’s English-language debut My Sailor, My Love, which recently opened top of the box office in Finland and will continue selling at the AFM.
Rights have gone to Kismet for Australia and New Zealand and Twelve Oaks for Spain following a recent deal announced in Screen with Signature for the UK and Ireland. Global Screen’s SVP international sales and acquisitions Klaus Rasmussen is engaged in ongoing conversations for the US and further territories.
Haro’s (The Fencers...
Global Screen has licensed further key territories on Klaus Haro’s English-language debut My Sailor, My Love, which recently opened top of the box office in Finland and will continue selling at the AFM.
Rights have gone to Kismet for Australia and New Zealand and Twelve Oaks for Spain following a recent deal announced in Screen with Signature for the UK and Ireland. Global Screen’s SVP international sales and acquisitions Klaus Rasmussen is engaged in ongoing conversations for the US and further territories.
Haro’s (The Fencers...
- 10/19/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Buyer plans early 2023 theatrical release.
Germany’s Global Screen has reported a strong response in Toronto to Klaus Haro’s TIFF Contemporary World Cinema selection My Sailor, My Love and has struck a deal with Signature for UK & Ireland.
Härö’s English-language debut premiered last Friday (September 9) and stars James Cosmo and Bríd Brennan as a retired sea captain and the home help he falls for, much to the chagrin of his grown-up daughter who feels she has never truly known her father. Catherine Walker also stars.
Jimmy Karlsson and Kirsi Wikman wrote the screenplay. Haro’s 2015 Finnish drama The Fencer...
Germany’s Global Screen has reported a strong response in Toronto to Klaus Haro’s TIFF Contemporary World Cinema selection My Sailor, My Love and has struck a deal with Signature for UK & Ireland.
Härö’s English-language debut premiered last Friday (September 9) and stars James Cosmo and Bríd Brennan as a retired sea captain and the home help he falls for, much to the chagrin of his grown-up daughter who feels she has never truly known her father. Catherine Walker also stars.
Jimmy Karlsson and Kirsi Wikman wrote the screenplay. Haro’s 2015 Finnish drama The Fencer...
- 9/16/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Finnish director Klaus Härö makes his English-language debut with Toronto Film Festival premiere “My Sailor, My Love.” A gentle drama about a retired sea captain falling in love one last time will be spotlighted at the Helsinki-based event Finnish Film Affair next. Global Screen is handling the sales.
Härö, an experienced filmmaker behind Golden Globe-nominated “The Fencer,” didn’t feel “desperate” to make a movie in English, he says.
“I hope it doesn’t feel forced. With English, there is always this thought that maybe this way, it will reach more people. But it just felt natural to set it in Ireland.”
“I love the loneliness of this landscape, its proximity to the sea. Also, ‘The Fencer’ was shot in Estonia and my next film will be in Finnish, German, Hebrew and Yiddish.”
Produced by Kai Nordberg and Kaarle Aho for Making Movies, as well as David Collins for Ireland...
Härö, an experienced filmmaker behind Golden Globe-nominated “The Fencer,” didn’t feel “desperate” to make a movie in English, he says.
“I hope it doesn’t feel forced. With English, there is always this thought that maybe this way, it will reach more people. But it just felt natural to set it in Ireland.”
“I love the loneliness of this landscape, its proximity to the sea. Also, ‘The Fencer’ was shot in Estonia and my next film will be in Finnish, German, Hebrew and Yiddish.”
Produced by Kai Nordberg and Kaarle Aho for Making Movies, as well as David Collins for Ireland...
- 9/14/2022
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Howard (James Cosmo) lives what appears to be a hermitic life of unwavering obstinance. He doesn’t even open the door when his daughter Grace (Catherine Walker) and her husband Martin (Aidan O’Hare) arrive—a seemingly inconsequential fact until you realize it’s his birthday and she’s there to ready for the celebration. It would be easy to dismiss his demeanor as immovable then. Why would he act like this with his loved ones if that wasn’t how he acts with everyone? Except attending the local bar afterwards to celebrate more inexplicably sees Howard suddenly sparkling to life. He regales the children with tales at sea, enjoys a slice of their cake (not Grace’s), and seems a decade younger. Where then is the disconnect? What are we missing?
While Jimmy Karlsson and Kirsi Vikman’s script keeps the particulars of Howard’s relationship with his family hidden for a short while,...
While Jimmy Karlsson and Kirsi Vikman’s script keeps the particulars of Howard’s relationship with his family hidden for a short while,...
- 9/9/2022
- by Jared Mobarak
- The Film Stage
Myles Frost became the latest addition to the list of people who have taken home a Tony Award for their Broadway debut. His win makes him the 98th member of this particular winners’ club.
Frost, who won Best Actor in a Musical for playing Michael Jackson in “Mj,” is the 13th person to win that category for their first time stepping into a character on a Broadway stage. He joins:
Ezio Pinza, “South Pacific” (1950)
Robert Alda, “Guys and Dolls” (1951)
Robert Lindsay, “Me and My Girl” (1987)
Brent Carver, “Kiss of the Spider Woman” (1993)
Alan Cumming, “Cabaret” (1998)
Hugh Jackman, “The Boy From Oz” (2004)
John Lloyd Young, “Jersey Boys” (2006)
Paulo Szot, “South Pacific” (2008)
David Álvarez, Trent Kowalik and Kiril Kulish (joint nomination), “Billy Elliot” (2009)
Douglas Hodge, “La Cage aux Folles” (2010)
See 2022 Tony Awards: Every winner (and nominee) in all 26 categories
Below are the Broadway debuts in the seven other acting categories that have...
Frost, who won Best Actor in a Musical for playing Michael Jackson in “Mj,” is the 13th person to win that category for their first time stepping into a character on a Broadway stage. He joins:
Ezio Pinza, “South Pacific” (1950)
Robert Alda, “Guys and Dolls” (1951)
Robert Lindsay, “Me and My Girl” (1987)
Brent Carver, “Kiss of the Spider Woman” (1993)
Alan Cumming, “Cabaret” (1998)
Hugh Jackman, “The Boy From Oz” (2004)
John Lloyd Young, “Jersey Boys” (2006)
Paulo Szot, “South Pacific” (2008)
David Álvarez, Trent Kowalik and Kiril Kulish (joint nomination), “Billy Elliot” (2009)
Douglas Hodge, “La Cage aux Folles” (2010)
See 2022 Tony Awards: Every winner (and nominee) in all 26 categories
Below are the Broadway debuts in the seven other acting categories that have...
- 6/13/2022
- by Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
James Cosmo, Catherine Walker, Brid Brennan star.
Germany sales agent Global Screen has acquired worldwide sales rights to Finnish filmmaker Klaus Haro’s English-language debut My Sailor, My Love.
The film shot last year in Ireland. It stars James Cosmo, Catherine Walker and Brid Brennan.
My Sailor, My Love tells the story of a retired sea captain who falls in love with his home aid; but his middle-aged daughter does not approve of the relationship.
The film is written by Jimmy Karlsson and Kirsi Wikman.
It is produced by Kai Nordberg and Kaarle Aho for Finland’s Making Movies ; and...
Germany sales agent Global Screen has acquired worldwide sales rights to Finnish filmmaker Klaus Haro’s English-language debut My Sailor, My Love.
The film shot last year in Ireland. It stars James Cosmo, Catherine Walker and Brid Brennan.
My Sailor, My Love tells the story of a retired sea captain who falls in love with his home aid; but his middle-aged daughter does not approve of the relationship.
The film is written by Jimmy Karlsson and Kirsi Wikman.
It is produced by Kai Nordberg and Kaarle Aho for Finland’s Making Movies ; and...
- 2/13/2022
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Paul Marquess and Susanne Farrell, who worked together on long-running British cop drama The Bill, have teamed up on a new British crime drama for the BBC and BritBox North America.
They have created Hope Street, set in the fictional town of Port Devine on the Northern Ireland coast.
It stars The Night Of’s Amara Khan as English Detective Constable Alimah Kahn, the first Muslim police officer in the town’s history.
Combining a long-running serial narrative with self-contained crime stories in each episode, the cast also includes Brid Brennan (Brooklyn), Des McAleer (The Crown) and Ciaran McMenamin (Primeval).
It will air exclusively on BritBox North America in the UK and Canada and on BBC Daytime and BBC Northern Ireland.
Created by Farrell and Marquess, Farrell writes alongside Jess Lea, Christine Murphy, Stuart Drennan, and Shazia Rashid. It is exec produced by Donna Wiffen and Marquess for Long Story TV.
They have created Hope Street, set in the fictional town of Port Devine on the Northern Ireland coast.
It stars The Night Of’s Amara Khan as English Detective Constable Alimah Kahn, the first Muslim police officer in the town’s history.
Combining a long-running serial narrative with self-contained crime stories in each episode, the cast also includes Brid Brennan (Brooklyn), Des McAleer (The Crown) and Ciaran McMenamin (Primeval).
It will air exclusively on BritBox North America in the UK and Canada and on BBC Daytime and BBC Northern Ireland.
Created by Farrell and Marquess, Farrell writes alongside Jess Lea, Christine Murphy, Stuart Drennan, and Shazia Rashid. It is exec produced by Donna Wiffen and Marquess for Long Story TV.
- 3/4/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
BritBox North America, the BBC Studios and ITV-backed SVOD service specializing in British content, and the BBC have commissioned crime drama “Hope Street.”
The ensemble serial is set in the fictional town of Port Devine in Northern Ireland, and will focus on its police department, and the mysterious arrival of English detective constable Alimah Khan, the first Muslim police officer in the town’s history.
The cast includes Brid Brennan (“Brooklyn”), Des McAleer (“The Crown”), Ciaran McMenamin (“Primeval”) and Amara Karan (“The Night of”).
The show is created by Susanne Farrell (“Dirty God”) and Paul Marquess (“London Kills”), and written by Farrell, Jess Lea (“Eastenders”), Christine Murphy (“Emmerdale”), Stuart Drennan (“Hollyoaks”), and Shazia Rashid (“Eastenders”). It is executive produced by Donna Wiffen (“The Bill”) and Marquess for Long Story TV.
“Hope Street” will be made with the support of Northern Ireland Screen. It will premiere exclusively on BritBox in the U.
The ensemble serial is set in the fictional town of Port Devine in Northern Ireland, and will focus on its police department, and the mysterious arrival of English detective constable Alimah Khan, the first Muslim police officer in the town’s history.
The cast includes Brid Brennan (“Brooklyn”), Des McAleer (“The Crown”), Ciaran McMenamin (“Primeval”) and Amara Karan (“The Night of”).
The show is created by Susanne Farrell (“Dirty God”) and Paul Marquess (“London Kills”), and written by Farrell, Jess Lea (“Eastenders”), Christine Murphy (“Emmerdale”), Stuart Drennan (“Hollyoaks”), and Shazia Rashid (“Eastenders”). It is executive produced by Donna Wiffen (“The Bill”) and Marquess for Long Story TV.
“Hope Street” will be made with the support of Northern Ireland Screen. It will premiere exclusively on BritBox in the U.
- 3/4/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
For only the third time this decade, none of the acting winners at this year’s Tony Awards did so for their Broadway debut. This is the 21st time that this has happened over the 73-year history of these top theater honors. Most of the winners were actually on the opposite end of the spectrum, winning for the first time after years of Broadway experience and several nominations to their name including André De Shields, Celia Keenan-Bolger and Stephanie J. Block. Check out the complete list of winners here.
The previous instances of Broadway debuts being shut out at the Tonys were in: 1948, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1959, 1960, 1970, 1971, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1982, 1990, 1991, 1994, 2001-2003, 2012 and 2017.
Below, you can see the names of all 96 people who have won Tonys for their debut on the Great White Way.
SEE2019 Tony Awards: Best Musical ‘Hadestown’ sweeps with 8 wins, ‘The Ferryman’ takes Best Play
Best Actor In A Play: 16 winners
Paul Scofield, “A Man for All Seasons” (1962)
Cliff Gorman,...
The previous instances of Broadway debuts being shut out at the Tonys were in: 1948, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1959, 1960, 1970, 1971, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1982, 1990, 1991, 1994, 2001-2003, 2012 and 2017.
Below, you can see the names of all 96 people who have won Tonys for their debut on the Great White Way.
SEE2019 Tony Awards: Best Musical ‘Hadestown’ sweeps with 8 wins, ‘The Ferryman’ takes Best Play
Best Actor In A Play: 16 winners
Paul Scofield, “A Man for All Seasons” (1962)
Cliff Gorman,...
- 6/10/2019
- by Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
Ari’el Stachel became the latest person to take home a Tony Award for their Broadway debut. This victory puts him in a freshman club that now has 96 members. Watch him discuss his victory in the Tonys press room in the video above.
Stachel, who won Best Featured Actor in a Musical for playing Haled in “The Band’s Visit,” is the ninth person to claim that particular honor for his first Broadway outing. He joins:
Harry Belafonte, “John Murray Anderson’s Almanac” (1954)
Sydney Chaplin, “Bells are Ringing” (1957)
Frankie Michaels, “Mame” (1966)
Wilson Jermaine Heredia, “Rent” (1996)
Dan Fogler, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” (2005)
Levi Kreis, “Million Dollar Quartet” (2010)
John Larroquette, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” (2011)
Daveed Diggs, “Hamilton” (2016)
Sign UPfor Gold Derby’s free newsletter with latest predictions
Below are the Broadway debuts in the seven other acting categories that claimed Tony Awards.
Best Actor In A Play: 16 winners
Paul Scofield,...
Stachel, who won Best Featured Actor in a Musical for playing Haled in “The Band’s Visit,” is the ninth person to claim that particular honor for his first Broadway outing. He joins:
Harry Belafonte, “John Murray Anderson’s Almanac” (1954)
Sydney Chaplin, “Bells are Ringing” (1957)
Frankie Michaels, “Mame” (1966)
Wilson Jermaine Heredia, “Rent” (1996)
Dan Fogler, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” (2005)
Levi Kreis, “Million Dollar Quartet” (2010)
John Larroquette, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” (2011)
Daveed Diggs, “Hamilton” (2016)
Sign UPfor Gold Derby’s free newsletter with latest predictions
Below are the Broadway debuts in the seven other acting categories that claimed Tony Awards.
Best Actor In A Play: 16 winners
Paul Scofield,...
- 6/11/2018
- by Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
Craig Lines Oct 31, 2016
24 years after infamous UK horror TV event Ghostwatch aired on the BBC, we chat to its director Lesley Manning...
Although Ghostwatch aired in 1992 and was never shown again on TV, its legacy endures. From the excellent Behind The Curtains documentary to its frequent appearances on “Scariest Moments” lists, people love to talk about what still remains the most controversial drama in broadcast history (and retains the record number of viewer complaints).
See related Marvel's Luke Cage episode 13 viewing notes: You Know My Steez The Punisher: 5 new cast members and 2017 release confirmed
To celebrate the BBC releasing it, at last, through their online store, Den Of Geek talked with director Lesley Manning about making the programme and its enduring influence…
How does it feel that every few years, so many people want to talk to you about Ghostwatch?
Well, because Stephen [Volk, writer] and I felt like lepers for a few years afterwards,...
24 years after infamous UK horror TV event Ghostwatch aired on the BBC, we chat to its director Lesley Manning...
Although Ghostwatch aired in 1992 and was never shown again on TV, its legacy endures. From the excellent Behind The Curtains documentary to its frequent appearances on “Scariest Moments” lists, people love to talk about what still remains the most controversial drama in broadcast history (and retains the record number of viewer complaints).
See related Marvel's Luke Cage episode 13 viewing notes: You Know My Steez The Punisher: 5 new cast members and 2017 release confirmed
To celebrate the BBC releasing it, at last, through their online store, Den Of Geek talked with director Lesley Manning about making the programme and its enduring influence…
How does it feel that every few years, so many people want to talk to you about Ghostwatch?
Well, because Stephen [Volk, writer] and I felt like lepers for a few years afterwards,...
- 10/30/2016
- Den of Geek
The story of a brave, innocent immigrant gets a glorious re-telling. Never fear, for this emotional but unsentimental tale of an Irish lass making big decisions features a breakout performance by Saoirse Ronan, an actress who melts hearts with one flash of her blue eyes... Brooklyn Blu-ray 20th Century Fox 2015 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 111 min. / Street Date March 15, 2016 / 39.99 Starring Saoirse Ronan, Jim Broadbent, Emory Cohen, Domhnall Gleeson, Julie Walters, Brid Brennan, Maeve McGrath, Emma Lowe, Fiona Glascott, Jane Brennan, Eileen O'Higgins, Peter Campion, Eva Birthistle, Emily Bett Rickards, Eve Macklin, Nora-Jane Noone, Mary O'Driscoll, Jessica Paré. Cinematography Yves Bélanger Film Editor Jake Roberts Original Music Michael Brook Written by Nick Hornby from the novel by Colm Toibin Produced by Finola Dwyer, Amanda Posey Directed by John Crowley
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
2015 brought us dynamic films about post-apocalyptic horrors, child molestation in Boston, a sex-change pioneer, and the 2009 economic meltdown. How happy it is then,...
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
2015 brought us dynamic films about post-apocalyptic horrors, child molestation in Boston, a sex-change pioneer, and the 2009 economic meltdown. How happy it is then,...
- 3/29/2016
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Beautifully portrays a very universal experience — not only of immigration but of growing up — via an elegantly nuanced performance by Saoirse Ronan. I’m “biast” (pro): love Saoirse Ronan
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
I have not read the source material
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
In 2011, I moved from New York to London. I can make free video phone calls to my friends and family, and I can be home in a few hours; planes go back and forth between the two cities with the regularity and frequency of a bus schedule (if, alas, for quite a bit more than bus fare). But still: it was hard. It remains an emotional challenge to be separated from people I love back home even as I get more and more emotionally connected to a new home.
So I cannot even imagine what it must have...
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
I have not read the source material
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
In 2011, I moved from New York to London. I can make free video phone calls to my friends and family, and I can be home in a few hours; planes go back and forth between the two cities with the regularity and frequency of a bus schedule (if, alas, for quite a bit more than bus fare). But still: it was hard. It remains an emotional challenge to be separated from people I love back home even as I get more and more emotionally connected to a new home.
So I cannot even imagine what it must have...
- 11/11/2015
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
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Fancy checking out one of the best films of the year? Here's our review of Brooklyn, starring Saiorse Ronan.
In amongst the showier performance-led movies to come this awards season, it's reassuring to see an unassuming coming-of-age story like Brooklyn receiving its fair share of plaudits too. Based on Colm Tóibín's novel of the same name, Brooklyn follows an immigrant's trans-Atlantic love song, set between south-east Ireland and New York City.
In the 1950s, Eilis Lacey (Saiorse Ronan) is a young Irish woman living in Enniscorthy who gets the opportunity of a lifetime when kindly priest Father Flood (Jim Broadbent) arranges for her to travel to Brooklyn and take up a job at a department store. Of course, Eilis jumps at the chance, but leaves behind her elder sister Rose (Fiona Glascott) and her mother Mary (Jane Brennan) for the glamour of America.
She becomes desperately homesick,...
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Fancy checking out one of the best films of the year? Here's our review of Brooklyn, starring Saiorse Ronan.
In amongst the showier performance-led movies to come this awards season, it's reassuring to see an unassuming coming-of-age story like Brooklyn receiving its fair share of plaudits too. Based on Colm Tóibín's novel of the same name, Brooklyn follows an immigrant's trans-Atlantic love song, set between south-east Ireland and New York City.
In the 1950s, Eilis Lacey (Saiorse Ronan) is a young Irish woman living in Enniscorthy who gets the opportunity of a lifetime when kindly priest Father Flood (Jim Broadbent) arranges for her to travel to Brooklyn and take up a job at a department store. Of course, Eilis jumps at the chance, but leaves behind her elder sister Rose (Fiona Glascott) and her mother Mary (Jane Brennan) for the glamour of America.
She becomes desperately homesick,...
- 11/9/2015
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
Last night, the glitz and glamour of the 10th annual Irish Film and Television Awards came to Dublin, with a who's who of Irish Talent gathering to celebrate an absolutely fantastic year in Irish film and television (seriously, it was one of the best in recent memory. This current crop is a really talented bunch). Surprising just about nobody, What Richard Did proved to be the big winner, netting 5 awards, including Best Film, and Grabbers, which should have done better than it actually did, bagging Ruth Bradley a Best Actress award. A full list of winners, in all categories, is below: Film Best Film: What Richard Did Best Director: Lenny Abrhamson (What Richard Did) Best Script: Malcolm Campbell (What Richard Did) Best Actor: Jack Reynor (What Richard Did) Best Supporting Actor: Domhnall Gleeson (Anna Karenina) Best Actress: Ruth Bradley (Grabbers) Best Supporting Actress: Bríd Brennan (Shadow Dancer) Special Irish Language Award: Lón Sa.
- 2/10/2013
- by noreply@blogger.com (Tom White)
- www.themoviebit.com
Shadow Dancer
Stars: Clive Owen, Andrea Riseborough, Gillian Anderson, Aidan Gillen, Domhnall Gleeson, Brid Brennan, David Wilmot, Stuart Graham, Martin McCann | Written by Tom Bradby | Directed by James Marsh
Director James Marsh, best known for his critically acclaimed documentaries Man on Wire and Project Nim, dabbles once more with fiction with Shadow Dancer, a tense and engaging thriller set against the backdrop of the Troubles in early nineties Belfast.
Andrea Riseborough plays Collette, a mother, daughter, sister and member of the Ira. After she is captured by MI5 during an unsuccessful London bombing attempt, Clive Owen’s bullish agent ‘Mac’ convinces her to act as an informant rather than go to prison and face separation from her son. The danger to Collette gradually increases as her precarious position becomes ever more untenable and Mac grows more and more conflicted over his actions as the narrative progresses.
Backing up the...
Stars: Clive Owen, Andrea Riseborough, Gillian Anderson, Aidan Gillen, Domhnall Gleeson, Brid Brennan, David Wilmot, Stuart Graham, Martin McCann | Written by Tom Bradby | Directed by James Marsh
Director James Marsh, best known for his critically acclaimed documentaries Man on Wire and Project Nim, dabbles once more with fiction with Shadow Dancer, a tense and engaging thriller set against the backdrop of the Troubles in early nineties Belfast.
Andrea Riseborough plays Collette, a mother, daughter, sister and member of the Ira. After she is captured by MI5 during an unsuccessful London bombing attempt, Clive Owen’s bullish agent ‘Mac’ convinces her to act as an informant rather than go to prison and face separation from her son. The danger to Collette gradually increases as her precarious position becomes ever more untenable and Mac grows more and more conflicted over his actions as the narrative progresses.
Backing up the...
- 1/7/2013
- by Jack Kirby
- Nerdly
Check out the final French poster for James Marsh 's Andrea Riseborough, Clive Owen and Gillian Anderson thriller Shadow Dancer. There's no U.S. release date set for the film distributed by Ato Pictures, after the film made its Stateside film fest debut at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. Cast also includes Aidan Gillen, Domhnall Gleeson, Brid Brennan, David Wilmot, Stuert Graham and Martin McCann. Shadow Dancer originated as a novel, written by Tom Bradby during his time as a TV correspondent in Northern Ireland in the 1990s. Tom Bradby adapted his novel for the big screen and this marks his first feature film.
- 12/20/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Check out the final French poster for James Marsh 's Andrea Riseborough, Clive Owen and Gillian Anderson thriller Shadow Dancer. There's no U.S. release date set for the film distributed by Ato Pictures, after the film made its Stateside film fest debut at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. Cast also includes Aidan Gillen, Domhnall Gleeson, Brid Brennan, David Wilmot, Stuert Graham and Martin McCann. Shadow Dancer originated as a novel, written by Tom Bradby during his time as a TV correspondent in Northern Ireland in the 1990s. Tom Bradby adapted his novel for the big screen and this marks his first feature film.
- 12/20/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Check out Andrea Riseborough in the new poster for James Marsh's Shadow Dancer thriller with Clive Owen starring. Tom Bradby writes the script, adapted from his own novel which is set in Belfast in the 90s, following an active member of the Ira who becomes an informant for MI5 to protect his son. The cast also includes Gillian Anderson, Aidan Gillen, Domhnall Gleeson, Brid Brennan, David Wilmot, Stuert Graham and Martin McCann. Chris Coen, Andrew Lowe and Ed Guiney produce Shadow Dancer, which is executive-produced by Brahim Chioua, Joe Oppenheimer, Rita Dagher, Vincent Maraval and Norman Merry. Shadow Dancer Plot: Shadow Dancer originated as a novel, written by Tom Bradby during his time as a TV correspondent in Northern Ireland in the 1990s. Tom Bradby adapted his novel for the big screen and Shadow Dancer is his first feature film. Single mother Collette McVeigh (Andrea Riseborough) is a Republican...
- 12/5/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Check out Andrea Riseborough in the new poster for James Marsh's Shadow Dancer thriller with Clive Owen starring. Tom Bradby writes the script, adapted from his own novel which is set in Belfast in the 90s, following an active member of the Ira who becomes an informant for MI5 to protect his son. The cast also includes Gillian Anderson, Aidan Gillen, Domhnall Gleeson, Brid Brennan, David Wilmot, Stuert Graham and Martin McCann. Chris Coen, Andrew Lowe and Ed Guiney produce Shadow Dancer, which is executive-produced by Brahim Chioua, Joe Oppenheimer, Rita Dagher, Vincent Maraval and Norman Merry. Shadow Dancer Plot: Shadow Dancer originated as a novel, written by Tom Bradby during his time as a TV correspondent in Northern Ireland in the 1990s. Tom Bradby adapted his novel for the big screen and Shadow Dancer is his first feature film. Single mother Collette McVeigh (Andrea Riseborough) is a Republican...
- 12/5/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Check out the poster for James Marsh's Shadow Dancer movie starring Clive Owen Adapted by Tom Brady from his own novel, Shadow Dancer is set in 1990s Belfast where an active Ira member becomes an informant for MI5 in order to protect his son. Also in the talented cast are Andrea Riseborough, Gillian Anderson, Aidan Gillen, Domhnall Gleeson, Brid Brennan and David Wilmot. Dancer is produced by Chris Coen, Andrew Lowe and Ed Guiney while Joe Oppenheimer, Brahim Chioua, Rita Dagher, Vincent Maraval and Norman Merry serve as executive producers.
- 12/1/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Check out the poster for James Marsh's Shadow Dancer movie starring Clive Owen Adapted by Tom Brady from his own novel, Shadow Dancer is set in 1990s Belfast where an active Ira member becomes an informant for MI5 in order to protect his son. Also in the talented cast are Andrea Riseborough, Gillian Anderson, Aidan Gillen, Domhnall Gleeson, Brid Brennan and David Wilmot. Dancer is produced by Chris Coen, Andrew Lowe and Ed Guiney while Joe Oppenheimer, Brahim Chioua, Rita Dagher, Vincent Maraval and Norman Merry serve as executive producers.
- 12/1/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
James Marsh's gripping thriller takes us deep into the bitterly divided world of 90s Northern Ireland
The director of the gripping Belfast-set thriller Shadow Dancer, James Marsh, and its screenwriter, Tom Bradby, both have one foot in fact and the other in fiction. Marsh is best known for his imaginative feature-length documentaries, Man on Wire, which won an Oscar in 2009, and Project Nim, as well as his TV film Red Riding: 1980. The TV journalist and novelist Bradby reported from Northern Ireland for ITN in the 1990s, the setting of Shadow Dancer, the first of his six thrillers. Their film centres on the perennially interesting relationship between the spy or informer or undercover agent and the person in authority who controls them. The characters are trapped between the complicated moral realities around them and the fictions that fate imposes on them, and the situation goes back at least as far...
The director of the gripping Belfast-set thriller Shadow Dancer, James Marsh, and its screenwriter, Tom Bradby, both have one foot in fact and the other in fiction. Marsh is best known for his imaginative feature-length documentaries, Man on Wire, which won an Oscar in 2009, and Project Nim, as well as his TV film Red Riding: 1980. The TV journalist and novelist Bradby reported from Northern Ireland for ITN in the 1990s, the setting of Shadow Dancer, the first of his six thrillers. Their film centres on the perennially interesting relationship between the spy or informer or undercover agent and the person in authority who controls them. The characters are trapped between the complicated moral realities around them and the fictions that fate imposes on them, and the situation goes back at least as far...
- 8/25/2012
- by Philip French
- The Guardian - Film News
Andrea Riseborough excels as a republican activist, as Man on Wire director James Marsh tackles the Troubles
Something in this gloomy conspiracy thriller set in 1990s Belfast reminded me of an exchange between Ivor Claire and Guy Crouchback, in Evelyn Waugh's Officers and Gentlemen. Ivor asks Guy what he would do if challenged to a duel. Guy replies: "Laugh", but Ivor responds thoughtfully: "One hundred and fifty years ago, we would have to fight if challenged. Now we'd laugh. There must have been a time when it was rather an awkward question." In the 1970s, an Ira man knew it was his duty to attack the British with every violent means, but in 2012, with Martin McGuinness shaking hands with the Queen, the idea is laughable. In 1993, the era of the Downing Street declaration and the Good Friday agreement, republican footsoldiers found themselves confronted with Ivor Claire's "awkward question".
This...
Something in this gloomy conspiracy thriller set in 1990s Belfast reminded me of an exchange between Ivor Claire and Guy Crouchback, in Evelyn Waugh's Officers and Gentlemen. Ivor asks Guy what he would do if challenged to a duel. Guy replies: "Laugh", but Ivor responds thoughtfully: "One hundred and fifty years ago, we would have to fight if challenged. Now we'd laugh. There must have been a time when it was rather an awkward question." In the 1970s, an Ira man knew it was his duty to attack the British with every violent means, but in 2012, with Martin McGuinness shaking hands with the Queen, the idea is laughable. In 1993, the era of the Downing Street declaration and the Good Friday agreement, republican footsoldiers found themselves confronted with Ivor Claire's "awkward question".
This...
- 8/23/2012
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
Shadow Dancer
Stars: Clive Owen, Andrea Riseborough, Gillian Anderson, Aidan Gillen, Domhnall Gleeson, Brid Brennan, David Wilmot, Stuart Graham, Martin McCann | Written by Tom Bradby | Directed by James Marsh
Director James Marsh, best known for his critically acclaimed documentaries Man on Wire and Project Nim, dabbles once more with fiction with Shadow Dancer, a tense and engaging thriller set against the backdrop of the Troubles in early nineties Belfast.
Andrea Riseborough plays Collette, a mother, daughter, sister and member of the Ira. After she is captured by MI5 during an unsuccessful London bombing attempt, Clive Owen’s bullish agent ‘Mac’ convinces her to act as an informant rather than go to prison and face separation from her son. The danger to Collette gradually increases as her precarious position becomes ever more untenable and Mac grows more and more conflicted over his actions as the narrative progresses.
Backing up the...
Stars: Clive Owen, Andrea Riseborough, Gillian Anderson, Aidan Gillen, Domhnall Gleeson, Brid Brennan, David Wilmot, Stuart Graham, Martin McCann | Written by Tom Bradby | Directed by James Marsh
Director James Marsh, best known for his critically acclaimed documentaries Man on Wire and Project Nim, dabbles once more with fiction with Shadow Dancer, a tense and engaging thriller set against the backdrop of the Troubles in early nineties Belfast.
Andrea Riseborough plays Collette, a mother, daughter, sister and member of the Ira. After she is captured by MI5 during an unsuccessful London bombing attempt, Clive Owen’s bullish agent ‘Mac’ convinces her to act as an informant rather than go to prison and face separation from her son. The danger to Collette gradually increases as her precarious position becomes ever more untenable and Mac grows more and more conflicted over his actions as the narrative progresses.
Backing up the...
- 8/1/2012
- by Jack Kirby
- Nerdly
After the borderline-disastrous 2011 Festival, the 66th Edinburgh Film Festival seems to have found its feet again – to a degree. The awards were reinstated, the guests lent a touch of class, there were a broader range of venues and, in terms of the films I saw at least, the quality of the programme improved. These adjustments (last year, the phrase ‘This was always our intention’ was repeated like a mantra) gave the sense – absent last year – that a proper film festival was taking place.
That doesn’t mean the Festival was perfect; improving over last year wasn’t going to be terribly difficult, but generally things took a step in the right direction. I do not know to what extent this was down to the appointment of a new artistic director, Chris Fujiwara, but he brought to the Festival a depth of film knowledge coupled with a hands-on enthusiasm. There is,...
That doesn’t mean the Festival was perfect; improving over last year wasn’t going to be terribly difficult, but generally things took a step in the right direction. I do not know to what extent this was down to the appointment of a new artistic director, Chris Fujiwara, but he brought to the Festival a depth of film knowledge coupled with a hands-on enthusiasm. There is,...
- 7/3/2012
- by Adam Whyte
- Obsessed with Film
Scotland looks magnificent in Eiff closing night film Brave — lots of mountains, mystical spaces and torrential waterfalls. Strangely though, it doesn’t rain in the movie. Not once. This decision must have been overseen by the Scottish tourist board, for there are few places as rainy as Scotland. When it rained in Cannes this year, it was all the trades could talk about — but it’s just not news when it happens in Edinburgh. The last two weeks in Edinburgh we have all been dashing from cinema to cinema in raincoats, umbrellas up, wavy hair getting frizzier by the minute. The only thing to be said for the rain is that it’s great movie-watching weather.
And happily Eiff 2012 has been all about watching, and celebrating, movies. I think we can safely say the disaster of 2011 is well behind us thanks to Artistic Director Chris Fujiwara‘s intelligent, international, inclusive programming.
And happily Eiff 2012 has been all about watching, and celebrating, movies. I think we can safely say the disaster of 2011 is well behind us thanks to Artistic Director Chris Fujiwara‘s intelligent, international, inclusive programming.
- 7/2/2012
- by Hope Dickson Leach
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Penny Woolcock scoops best British feature for One Mile Away while international prize goes to Chinese film Here, Then
The 66th edition of the Edinburgh film festival wrapped up on the weekend with a high-profile screening of Pixar's Scots-themed animation Brave, and took the opportunity to dish out a handful of awards – a practice that had been abandoned for last year's controversy-mired event.
The Michael Powell award for best British feature film went to One Mile Away, Penny Woolcock's documentary about the attempt to forge a truce between two London gangs. This follows the Sheffield Doc/Fest's bestowal of its Inspiration award on Woolcock, best known for the opera film The Death of Klinghoffer and the urban musical 1 Day.
Winner of the award for best film in the international feature competition was Here, Then, a study of alienated youth in contemporary China from director Mao Mao, while special mention was given to documentary Papirosen,...
The 66th edition of the Edinburgh film festival wrapped up on the weekend with a high-profile screening of Pixar's Scots-themed animation Brave, and took the opportunity to dish out a handful of awards – a practice that had been abandoned for last year's controversy-mired event.
The Michael Powell award for best British feature film went to One Mile Away, Penny Woolcock's documentary about the attempt to forge a truce between two London gangs. This follows the Sheffield Doc/Fest's bestowal of its Inspiration award on Woolcock, best known for the opera film The Death of Klinghoffer and the urban musical 1 Day.
Winner of the award for best film in the international feature competition was Here, Then, a study of alienated youth in contemporary China from director Mao Mao, while special mention was given to documentary Papirosen,...
- 7/2/2012
- by Andrew Pulver
- The Guardian - Film News
The first trailer has been issued for upcoming thriller Shadow Dancer, starring Clive Owen, Andrea Riseborough and Gillian Anderson.
Directed by James Marsh and scripted by Tom Bradby, Shadow Dancer will be released by Paramount Pictures on August 25, 2012.
The cast also includes Aiden Gillen, Domhnall Gleeson, Brid Brennan, David Wilmot, Stuart Graham and Martin McCann.
Shadow Dancer is the new film from Oscar-winning director James Marsh (Man on Wire, Red Riding, Project Nim) starring Andrea Riseborough (W.E, Made in Dagenham), Clive Owen and Gillian Anderson.
The project originated as a novel, written by Tom Bradby during his time as a TV correspondent in Northern Ireland in the 1990s. Tom adapted his novel for the big screen in what will be his first feature film.
The story sees single mother Collette McVeigh (Andrea Riseborough) as a Republican living in Belfast with her mother and hardliner Ira brothers.
When she is...
Directed by James Marsh and scripted by Tom Bradby, Shadow Dancer will be released by Paramount Pictures on August 25, 2012.
The cast also includes Aiden Gillen, Domhnall Gleeson, Brid Brennan, David Wilmot, Stuart Graham and Martin McCann.
Shadow Dancer is the new film from Oscar-winning director James Marsh (Man on Wire, Red Riding, Project Nim) starring Andrea Riseborough (W.E, Made in Dagenham), Clive Owen and Gillian Anderson.
The project originated as a novel, written by Tom Bradby during his time as a TV correspondent in Northern Ireland in the 1990s. Tom adapted his novel for the big screen in what will be his first feature film.
The story sees single mother Collette McVeigh (Andrea Riseborough) as a Republican living in Belfast with her mother and hardliner Ira brothers.
When she is...
- 6/7/2012
- by David Bentley
- The Geek Files
Paramount have sent over the first trailer for their new movie, Shadow Dancer which is set to premiere this evening at the Belfast Film Festvial and will show later on in the month at the Edinburgh Film Festival. If all goes well, one of our awesome chaps will get a review of it up as soon as possible.
In the meantime, have a watch of this first trailer which comes from Director James Marsh and screenwriter Tom Bradby. Shadow Dancer stars Clive Owen, Andrea Riseborough, Aidan Gillen, Domhnall Gleeson, Brid Brennan, David Wilmot, Stuart Graham, Martin McCann and Gillian Anderson. It’ll be with us 25th August.
Single mother Collette McVeigh (Andrea Riseborough) is a Republican living in Belfast with her mother and hardliner Ira brothers. When she is arrested for her part in an aborted Ira bomb plot in London, an MI5 officer Mac (Clive Owen) offers her a...
In the meantime, have a watch of this first trailer which comes from Director James Marsh and screenwriter Tom Bradby. Shadow Dancer stars Clive Owen, Andrea Riseborough, Aidan Gillen, Domhnall Gleeson, Brid Brennan, David Wilmot, Stuart Graham, Martin McCann and Gillian Anderson. It’ll be with us 25th August.
Single mother Collette McVeigh (Andrea Riseborough) is a Republican living in Belfast with her mother and hardliner Ira brothers. When she is arrested for her part in an aborted Ira bomb plot in London, an MI5 officer Mac (Clive Owen) offers her a...
- 6/6/2012
- by David Sztypuljak
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Irish writer / director Conor McDermottroe (A Woman's Hair, Squaddie) will introduce his feature film debut to audiences on Friday, September 10th when 'Swansong: Story of Occi Byrne' receives a limited theatrical release across the country. The film portrays the life of Austin 'Occi' Byrne who is brought up in Sligo by his alcoholic mother and who suffers traumatic bullying at the hands of a local gang because he has no father. Iftn spoke with Martin McCann, the Belfast actor who takes on the central role. Occi grows up plagued by anger, confusion and pain. In the hopes of unlocking his own identity and overcoming the past that haunts him, he sets out to find his father and discover the secret of his birth. The emotional film stars Martin McCann (The Sound of People, Killing Bono) in the title role alongside Jodie Whittaker (Perrier's Bounty), Marcella Plunkett (Once), Gerard Mc Sorley...
- 9/8/2010
- IFTN
Not as original or compelling a film as his 1997 prize-winner "The Sweet Hereafter", Atom Egoyan's latest Cannes contender is still a well-crafted, superbly acted work of restrained horror as a young Irish woman on a sad quest is helped and then threatened by a sinister Englishman played brilliantly by Bob Hoskins.
An upcoming Artisan Entertainment release domestically, "Felicia's Journey" was greeted enthusiastically by the press in general, but with such big expectations -- and with the 1994 source novel by William Trevor widely admired -- the critical reception will be mixed and it's doubtful the movie will go far commercially.
Expect Egoyan to take flack in some circles for making key alterations to the book, such as in the character of Hoskins' mother and the truncated final coda, but the film is nonetheless satisfying. Indeed, such an unsensationalistic take on a grim subject, with no violent scenes and a repressively evil lead, calls for the biggest effort on Hoskins' part and the actor comes through with one of his best efforts.
With perhaps too much emphasis on portly caterer Hilditch (Hoskins), a congenial chap to his employees but living alone in his family home/museum, Egoyan dilutes a great deal one's sympathies for pregnant, lovesick Felicia, although Elaine Cassidy ("The Sun, The Moon and The Stars") is just fine in the role.
Daughter of a Republican (Gerard McSorely) who curses her for sleeping with a local boy turned British soldier (Peter McDonald), Felicia is naive but determined to find her lover. She travels on her own from Ireland to the English midlands where she believes he's gone to work in a lawnmower factory.
In a ploy that brings some crowd-pleasing laughs to the otherwise uneasy atmosphere, Egoyan has mild-mannered Hilditch cook gourmet meals with the help of videotapes of his TV chef mother (Arsinee Khanjian). With a horrid French accent, she even employs the youngster in her shows, but these preserved moments are not always pleasant for Hilditch, a serial befriender of needy girls on the road.
He is also a lonely planter of corpses in his backyard, as becomes apparent. Hilditch has more tapes in his collection -- of his past victims -- which provide some of the usual half-dozen narrative threads that Egoyan cuts between in his trademark non-linear style. But more often than not, Egoyan is more literal than he's been in the past and the results are less complex characters and motivations and more predictable cinematic flourishes than in his best works.
The scenes in Ireland with pre-journey Felicia cooing over her handsome beau and then getting the cold shoulder from his mother (Brid Brennan) are more expedient than evocative. Likewise the interlude where Felicia seeks shelter with a Christian mission headed by Jamaican zealot Miss Calligary (Claire Benedict) does not contribute much until the somewhat botched climax.
Paul Sarossy's widescreen cinematography is striking and the sound work is superb, but Mychael Danna's score is often oppressive and the use of songs by Malcolm Vaughn and Kate Bush is disappointingly mundane.
FELICIA'S JOURNEY
Artisan Entertainment
An Icon production
In association with Alliance Atlantis Pictures
CREDITS:
Writer-director:Atom Egoyan
Producer:Bruce Davey
Executive producers:Paul Tucker, Ralph Kamp
Director of photography:Paul Sarossy
Production designer:Jim Clay
Editor:Susan Shipton
Music:Mychael Danna
Costume designer:Sandy Powell
Color/stereo
CAST:
Hilditch:Bob Hoskins
Felicia:Elaine Cassidy
Johnny Lysaght:Peter McDonald
Gala:Arsinee Khanjian
Felicia's Father:Gerard McSorley
Mrs. Lysaght:Brid Brennan
Miss Calligary:Claire Benedict
Running time:114 minutes...
An upcoming Artisan Entertainment release domestically, "Felicia's Journey" was greeted enthusiastically by the press in general, but with such big expectations -- and with the 1994 source novel by William Trevor widely admired -- the critical reception will be mixed and it's doubtful the movie will go far commercially.
Expect Egoyan to take flack in some circles for making key alterations to the book, such as in the character of Hoskins' mother and the truncated final coda, but the film is nonetheless satisfying. Indeed, such an unsensationalistic take on a grim subject, with no violent scenes and a repressively evil lead, calls for the biggest effort on Hoskins' part and the actor comes through with one of his best efforts.
With perhaps too much emphasis on portly caterer Hilditch (Hoskins), a congenial chap to his employees but living alone in his family home/museum, Egoyan dilutes a great deal one's sympathies for pregnant, lovesick Felicia, although Elaine Cassidy ("The Sun, The Moon and The Stars") is just fine in the role.
Daughter of a Republican (Gerard McSorely) who curses her for sleeping with a local boy turned British soldier (Peter McDonald), Felicia is naive but determined to find her lover. She travels on her own from Ireland to the English midlands where she believes he's gone to work in a lawnmower factory.
In a ploy that brings some crowd-pleasing laughs to the otherwise uneasy atmosphere, Egoyan has mild-mannered Hilditch cook gourmet meals with the help of videotapes of his TV chef mother (Arsinee Khanjian). With a horrid French accent, she even employs the youngster in her shows, but these preserved moments are not always pleasant for Hilditch, a serial befriender of needy girls on the road.
He is also a lonely planter of corpses in his backyard, as becomes apparent. Hilditch has more tapes in his collection -- of his past victims -- which provide some of the usual half-dozen narrative threads that Egoyan cuts between in his trademark non-linear style. But more often than not, Egoyan is more literal than he's been in the past and the results are less complex characters and motivations and more predictable cinematic flourishes than in his best works.
The scenes in Ireland with pre-journey Felicia cooing over her handsome beau and then getting the cold shoulder from his mother (Brid Brennan) are more expedient than evocative. Likewise the interlude where Felicia seeks shelter with a Christian mission headed by Jamaican zealot Miss Calligary (Claire Benedict) does not contribute much until the somewhat botched climax.
Paul Sarossy's widescreen cinematography is striking and the sound work is superb, but Mychael Danna's score is often oppressive and the use of songs by Malcolm Vaughn and Kate Bush is disappointingly mundane.
FELICIA'S JOURNEY
Artisan Entertainment
An Icon production
In association with Alliance Atlantis Pictures
CREDITS:
Writer-director:Atom Egoyan
Producer:Bruce Davey
Executive producers:Paul Tucker, Ralph Kamp
Director of photography:Paul Sarossy
Production designer:Jim Clay
Editor:Susan Shipton
Music:Mychael Danna
Costume designer:Sandy Powell
Color/stereo
CAST:
Hilditch:Bob Hoskins
Felicia:Elaine Cassidy
Johnny Lysaght:Peter McDonald
Gala:Arsinee Khanjian
Felicia's Father:Gerard McSorley
Mrs. Lysaght:Brid Brennan
Miss Calligary:Claire Benedict
Running time:114 minutes...
- 5/18/1999
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- An adaptation of the hugely acclaimed Brian Friel play, "Dancing at Lughnasa" demonstrates the risks of transferring poetic theatrical material to the big screen.
Although intelligently adapted, beautifully acted and gorgeously photographed, the movie never quite soars the way the theatrical production did, and it is unlikely to reap the same kind of critical success. The presence of Meryl Streep -- who gets to deliver an Irish accent -- should help, as will the film's pedigree, but boxoffice prospects don't look particularly green.
Adapted by famed Irish playwright Frank McGuinness ("Someone Who'll Watch Over Me"), "Lughnasa" is a memory piece set in rural Ireland in 1936 about the five unmarried, Catholic Mundy sisters, who live in a small house in the hills outside the Donegal village of Ballybeg. Together, they take care of Michael Darrell Johnston), the 8-year-old love child of Christina (Catherine McCormack). The other sisters are Kate (Streep), a teacher at the local Catholic school who is about to lose her job because of falling attendance; Agnes (Brid Brennan, the only holdover from the original theatrical cast), who has assumed the role of caretaker; Rose (Sophie Thompson), gentle, sweet and mentally impaired; and Maggie (Kathy Burke), irrepressibly cheerful and profane.
The plot, such as it is, mainly revolves around a pair of arrivals -- the sisters' long-absent and rather addled older brother Jack (Michael Gambon), fresh from a decades-long stint as a missionary in Africa, and Gerry (Rhys Ifans), Michael's father, who is on his way to fight for anti-Franco forces in Spain. The title refers to an annual pagan ritual that is the town's social highlight of the year.
In its translation to the screen, "Dancing at Lughnasa" has somehow lost something, and it's hard to say exactly what. Certainly, the play's highly poetic language doesn't fully translate. And the much-heralded episode in which the sisters spontaneously burst into a joyous dance -- the highlight of the stage version -- falls flat on screen. Here, the story comes across as simply a series of minor but picturesque episodes, with the chief attributes being the excellent performances and gorgeous photography of the Irish countryside.
Streep has been so good for so long that it's easy to take her for granted, but she delivers another excellent performance as a curmudgeonly character who in lesser hands would be lessened to caricature. McCormack is luminous as the sensual Christina, and the three other female leads deliver superbly nuanced work. Ifans is highly appealing as a young man so high-spirited that he whoops and hollers at the prospect of going to war. Although one misses Gambon's usual mesmerizing intensity, he gives a well-modulated, quiet performance that is perfectly apt.
Director Pat O'Connor obviously knows his way around Ireland, but his command of the material is less sure, resulting in awkward tonal shifts and passages. The excellent soundtrack is provided by composer Bill Whelan, best known for the worldwide "Riverdance" sensation.
DANCING AT LUGHNASA
Sony Pictures Classics
Credits: Director: Pat O'Connor; Producer: Noel Pearson; Screenplay: Frank McGuinness; Director of photography: Kenneth MacMillan; Editor: Humphrey Dixon; Music: Bill Whelan. Cast: Kate Mundy: Meryl Streep; Father Jack Mundy: Michael Gambon; Christina Mundy: Catherine McCormack; Maggie Mundy: Kathy Burke; Rose Mundy: Sophie Thompson; Agnes Mundy: Brid Brennan; Gerry Evans: Rhys Ifans; Michael Mundy: Darrell Johnston. MPAA rating: PG. Color/stereo. Running time -- 94 minutes.
Although intelligently adapted, beautifully acted and gorgeously photographed, the movie never quite soars the way the theatrical production did, and it is unlikely to reap the same kind of critical success. The presence of Meryl Streep -- who gets to deliver an Irish accent -- should help, as will the film's pedigree, but boxoffice prospects don't look particularly green.
Adapted by famed Irish playwright Frank McGuinness ("Someone Who'll Watch Over Me"), "Lughnasa" is a memory piece set in rural Ireland in 1936 about the five unmarried, Catholic Mundy sisters, who live in a small house in the hills outside the Donegal village of Ballybeg. Together, they take care of Michael Darrell Johnston), the 8-year-old love child of Christina (Catherine McCormack). The other sisters are Kate (Streep), a teacher at the local Catholic school who is about to lose her job because of falling attendance; Agnes (Brid Brennan, the only holdover from the original theatrical cast), who has assumed the role of caretaker; Rose (Sophie Thompson), gentle, sweet and mentally impaired; and Maggie (Kathy Burke), irrepressibly cheerful and profane.
The plot, such as it is, mainly revolves around a pair of arrivals -- the sisters' long-absent and rather addled older brother Jack (Michael Gambon), fresh from a decades-long stint as a missionary in Africa, and Gerry (Rhys Ifans), Michael's father, who is on his way to fight for anti-Franco forces in Spain. The title refers to an annual pagan ritual that is the town's social highlight of the year.
In its translation to the screen, "Dancing at Lughnasa" has somehow lost something, and it's hard to say exactly what. Certainly, the play's highly poetic language doesn't fully translate. And the much-heralded episode in which the sisters spontaneously burst into a joyous dance -- the highlight of the stage version -- falls flat on screen. Here, the story comes across as simply a series of minor but picturesque episodes, with the chief attributes being the excellent performances and gorgeous photography of the Irish countryside.
Streep has been so good for so long that it's easy to take her for granted, but she delivers another excellent performance as a curmudgeonly character who in lesser hands would be lessened to caricature. McCormack is luminous as the sensual Christina, and the three other female leads deliver superbly nuanced work. Ifans is highly appealing as a young man so high-spirited that he whoops and hollers at the prospect of going to war. Although one misses Gambon's usual mesmerizing intensity, he gives a well-modulated, quiet performance that is perfectly apt.
Director Pat O'Connor obviously knows his way around Ireland, but his command of the material is less sure, resulting in awkward tonal shifts and passages. The excellent soundtrack is provided by composer Bill Whelan, best known for the worldwide "Riverdance" sensation.
DANCING AT LUGHNASA
Sony Pictures Classics
Credits: Director: Pat O'Connor; Producer: Noel Pearson; Screenplay: Frank McGuinness; Director of photography: Kenneth MacMillan; Editor: Humphrey Dixon; Music: Bill Whelan. Cast: Kate Mundy: Meryl Streep; Father Jack Mundy: Michael Gambon; Christina Mundy: Catherine McCormack; Maggie Mundy: Kathy Burke; Rose Mundy: Sophie Thompson; Agnes Mundy: Brid Brennan; Gerry Evans: Rhys Ifans; Michael Mundy: Darrell Johnston. MPAA rating: PG. Color/stereo. Running time -- 94 minutes.
- 11/17/1998
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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