Dark lies the island

Routine and lifeless movie set in Ireland's North West; has the look and feel of a stage play. A middle-aged man remarries a younger woman while his sons crack up living in a small town. None of these characters are remotely likeable and the story is boring. Everyone argues and drawls their lines. Comedian Tommy Tiernan is in it but doesn't do much. Lots of tension and acting but it goes nowhere. Pretentious title, sinister music on the soundtrack, based on a story by an award-winning writer, well-known cast  - ticks all the boxes our Film Board requires for 'quality' cinema. You won't care what happens and the stylish establishing shots get tedious. With a bit of luck that crap town will be housing a hundred asylum seekers soon!


Title: Dark lies the island
Genre: Drama
New/old: New
Cinema/DVD: Cinema

Bump along the way

Set in Derry, a middle-aged woman gets pregnant while her teenage daughter gets bullied in school. Not exactly a comedy but not social realism either. There's little reference to Northern Ireland other than establishing shots and the accents; could be set anywhere. Some parts are funny, others sad but it's routine and predictable. Unusually for these type of films  there are no pop/rock songs on the soundtrack. The father was right to demand a paternity test. Picture is feminist, most of the male characters are jerks. The daughter's scenes are more interesting than the mother's; some of her school scenes are funny but sad. Watchable but should have been better.

Title: A bump along the way
Genre: Drama
New/old: New
Cinema/DVD: Cinema