Monday 30 November 2015

Brooklyn

Another year another Irish movie set in the 1950s. This one is about a young woman who moves from Wexford to New York, twice. Slight story but well made; it has several impressive and moving scenes. The problem (as usual with Irish cinema) is that it doesn't add anything to the story. It's rather bland and offers nothing new. The best scene was at the end when her former employer calls Ronan into the shop and informs her of what she knows. That's the best part because you're never really sure if she plans to return to America. The rest of the movie resembles most Hollywood nostalgic films from the 1980s: set in the middle of the 20th century; Coney Island beach; everyone well groomed in similar clothing and makeup; same extras in different scenes; a big deal made about the era but nothing that we didn't know or saw already. Ronan's character is so bland that she lets events happen to her and follows this path. Not as good as expected, very unoriginal, but one of the better home titles from this year.

Title: Brooklyn
Genre: Romance
New/old: New
Cinema/DVD: Cinema

Wednesday 18 November 2015

Hallow

A British couple and their baby move to rural Ireland. The locals and police are unfriendly and there's a forest that no-one's allowed visit. The house they buy is falling apart and strange things happen. Like a lot of this stuff it's remarkably unoriginal but well made. Certainly better than most other Irish movies in this genre. Based on the changeling legend; it's quite scary in parts. Interesting point about how unfriendly everyone is to the couple. What's missing is a long extended set piece that all good horror movies use.

Title: The hallow
Genre: Horror
New/old: New
Cinema/DVD: Cinema

Master of the world

Dated movie from the 1960s with Vincent Price trying to stop wars around the world. He uses an airship to attack from the sky. A group of ...