Last of the high kings (second review!)

Well-made but boring movie about a young man waiting for his Leaving Certificate results (which are out today!). He lives in posh Howth back in the '70s and his family are crazy; as in actor crazy. Then he gets mixed up with a few Protestant and American girls. Some problems with this movie include: the lead (singer with famous rock band 30 seconds to Mars!) is too good looking to be shy with women, the mother is a nutcase and anti-Protestant, and there are too many famous actors in smaller roles. The story is slight and it's too tame with no real humour, lame rock songs on the soundtrack, and a general blandness which characterised most Irish cinema of the '90s.

LAST OF THE HIGH KINGS!

Just picked up a rare DVD of this movie. Nothing to do with the Clancy Brothers copycats High Kings folk act. This is a forgotten Irish movie from the '90s. Review to follow!

Last of the high kings

Over a decade before 32A this film also captured the youth culture of late '70s Dublin. It's a far better and more entertaining movie too. Set mostly on a beach it's about a young man's relationship with a Protestant girl while he awaits his exam results. Starring the singer of rock band 30 seconds to Mars (!) and lots of famous Hollywood faces. This is the kind of commercial movie that should get made more often here instead of the embarrassing efforts we call Irish cinema.