WHERE'S THE CLASSICAL MUSIC IN IRISH CINEMA?

One major failure with Irish movies is that the music is sh-te. From some crap Dublin indie band to a tosser with a synth to an orchestra-lite score to some pretentious piano riff the films are let down time and again. Most major filmmakers from Woody Allen to Jacques Rivette use classical music in their films. Why won't Irish directors do so? Is it because they don't listen to the stuff or are only into popular culture? What they don't realise is that it's all related: art, music, cuisine, architecture, literature, and cinema. It's all connected. Having amazing cinematography, crisp editing, stunning scenery, good script, quality acting is not enough. The best filmmakers either use no music or choose stuff from a quality composer. That's what they do. It's a shame no Irish director has the skill or intellectual ability to use existing music from a serious composer? Even the early short films from the French New Wave used classical music. Irish cinema will never be taken seriously when its music is identical to television.

Ek tha tiger

After all the hype this movie is quite impressive. Mixing action, music, and romance it runs for almost 2½ hours and is set in Ireland/Turkey/Cuba. Most of the movie is filmed in Ireland but it's all action scenes so there's little room for admiring the locations. There's a dance scene in TCD, a disaster on the Luas, and a shoot out in Temple Bar. However, the movie is derivative of older action and couple on the run films. The leads have good chemistry and some of the stunt scenes are impressive while others silly. Doubt many Irish people will sit through this Bollywood movie but it's far more enjoyable and commercial than most IFB efforts.

Shadow dancer

This is rubbish! It's the Veronica Guerin school of filmmaking again with a TV style, lots of familiar faces, serious tone, confusing storyling, handheld camerawork that doesn't, shock ending, and lots of mundane dialogue. Actors appear and then disappear for twenty minutes. No-one has a background role - they all get their spotlight scene in this film. Only good scene: the IRA funeral. This movie could have been made back in the 1990s without many changes. It's terrible and aimed at the small screen. Of course all the recent hype about this picture from complete tools but when it gets released it's below average. Don't waste your money on this crap!

CATALYST ROUNDUP!

With all the fuss about these three Catalyst scheme films a few years back here are some points:

None of these titles were particularly good. They certainly weren't new styles of filmmaking or voices discovered. Two titles were derivative of mainstream cinema but done cheaply. The other (Eamon) was just an expansion of a short film. What was interesting were the stripped-back filmmaking techniques but this has been done better with other stuff. So what was the whole point of the Catalyst scheme? I'm not sure. They certainly didn't bring new talented directors to our attention. In fact, I can't see any of the three filmmakers doing anything interesting in the future. The only film that did stand out was Eamon but it was badly made. The other two were a bit naff and resembled straight-to-DVD material from other countries. How did these three films get selected from the others is a mystery. I know the brilliant Snap got rejected by the scheme but maybe it was too expensive? Also, where is the follow up to Catalyst? What's the point in having this scheme and then not building on it? The first three films were a start but there is certainly room for better stuff to get made with this scheme? We should be regularly be producing feature films on these low budgets that get a release to the public.

One hundred mornings

Awful movie about a group of dull people stuck in a cabin where they fall out with a few neighbours. Supposed to be set in the future where some disaster occurred this movie is just sh-t. Yes, there is a piano on the soundtrack! How did this crap get made? Maybe they thought it resembled Tarkovsky? In fact it's similar to Assault of darkness! Easily the worst of the Catalyst films and that's quite an achievement.

SEEMS SILENCE IS STILL ON RELEASE

In Kerry! No sure why they release Irish films in Dublin and then down the country but one thing's for sure: no intention of travelling outside the capital to watch this. Same thing happened with Wake Wood. There's some distribution policy where some Irish titles get a Dublin release first and then they are moved to other parts of the country. Are there only one or two prints available? Why don't they release these films around the country in the same week?

Grabbers

Impressive and enjoyable comedy-horror about squid-like creatures invading an Irish island. Well-made and easy to follow with some good performances. What lets down the movie is the well-trodden path of its story as it resembles dozens of previous horror movies: the escape to the car, the baby monsters, the predictable ending, and the disbelieving locals. With stunning scenery and some good one-liners this movie is recommended.

My brothers

Disappointing coming of age drama set in Cork and Kerry. It's about three young men who go on a trip in a bread van to Ballybunion. Too talky for a road movie and though it's set in the 1980s by the time they arrive at the amusement arcade the games are all present-day ones! Charlie Casanova director turns up as a sex pest and the movie is let down by not being sure what it's supposed to be. None of the characters are likeable and the movie says nothing. Good performances and music but unfortunately that's not enough. This film had a lot of potential (especially with the running gag of the van falling apart) but it's a big let down. Best scene: the dying whale.

Title: My brothers
Genre: Road
New/old: New
Cinema/DVD: Cinema

Steamin' and dreamin' the Grandmaster Cash story

Likeable but poorly-made mockumentary about a feud between two Cork rappers. The usual fare with spoof music videos, lots of crude language, braggings, and tourist locations. Some good parts including the scene where Cash reveals he got bullied in school, the serious researcher, and the final impressive gig. Like most non-IFB films made here this one has lots of creativity but is let down by an amateur/student execution.

PICKED UP A FEW MORE DVDS!

In the local charity shop. Two Irish movies: Steamin' and dreamin' and Magical legend of the leprechauns. No doubt they'll be as interesting as their titles?

MISSED SILENCE?

The new Irish movie that got mixed reviews and seems to have been relesed only in the IFI? No doubt its DVD will be out next year for about €20 but sure it will be worth the wait?

THE SEARCH FOR A CHEAP 100 MORNINGS DVD IS OVER!

Only €10 in HMV. Review to follow.

FOUND THE 100 MORNINGS DVD!

In the IFI bookshop for €15. Too expensive for this blog so not buying it yet.

CHANGED THE COMMENTS' SETTINGS

So that Anonymous can't post any more stupid comments. Strange that as soon as the latest follower signed up these stupid comments appear?

ONE HUNDRED MORNINGS OUT ON DVD!

Can't find it anywhere but it's supposed to now be available on DVD. Can't be any worse than the other two Catalyst films?

EK THA TIGER OUT SOON!

In a few weeks. Forget all that Film Board crap on the way this is the first Irish-Bollywood movie and can't wait to see this one.

NO IRISH FILMS IN THAT SIGHT AND SOUND LIST!

Puts it into perspective when even the classic British films are so far down? We have about as much weight in international cinema as we do in the current Olympics! The sad fact is that an Ozu/Bresson/Dreyer/Fellini would have got nowhere in Ireland. Of course maybe if we had been making films on a regular basis before 1970 there might have been one or two entries? What's really sad is that no Irish filmmakers seems to be influenced by these world-class names? Despite all their acclaim Sheridan and Jordan are light-flyweight directors!