WHY DO SO MANY IRISH FEATURE FILMS RESEMBLE TV MOVIES?

If there's one thing almost certain when a new Irish movie gets released it's that it will probably resemble a telefilm. Is this a bad thing?

The general

It's a brave man who will criticise this movie! Easily the best of the films based on Cahill's story it's filmed in black and white and stars Gleeson. Sadly these are only two good parts of the film. The rest is like a TV movie with all the good scenes removed. Everything interesting in the story happens off screen. Then the next scene cuts to a new location or character. This happens over and over. Most scenes are kept to the minimum and after a while it gets tiresome. Yet another 'classic' Irish movie that's not up to much. Give me Buster Keaton's film anyday!

The boys and girl from County Clare

Your reputation is on the line if you admit to seeing this! Yet another movie set in the '60s that should have been made back then (it would have been much better). There's an Irish music competition and a group travel over from England. Old rivalries surface and a touch of romance develops. The girl is that Corr and she didn't win an IFTA for the role! A big deal is made out of her - one scene has Andrea appear soaked from the rain so that you can admire her. The only good part was the grim era it was set it and the travel involved. Diddly aye indeed!

IS IRISH CINEMA LIKE OUR OLYMPICS?

It's a bit early to be thinking about the 2012 Olympics but does anyone really expect us to do well? We consistently underperform, get disqualified, do well in sports such as boxing which is not actively encouraged in schools (!), and generally expect too much of our athletes. Irish cinema is a lot like this. Good films happen more by accident than by design (Once, Pavee Lackeen) and are underfunded by the IFB. The films that receive all the support (and hype) do badly at the box office (or get poor reviews), we rely too much on international talent to make our stuff, we claim British films as our own, and we fail to reach our potential. Am I reading too much into this or is the set-up for the Olympics here similar to the filmmaking setup? Other countries our population size (New Zealand, Georgia, Finland) do much better in the Olympics than we do. Other countries with our population size produce more impressive films than we do. Is the Irish film industry obsessed with making certain kinds of films that are done much better in other countries. Should we be concentrating on other kinds of films that would stand out? Look at the British Olympics setup. They saw a gap in certain kinds of sports (where competition was not intense) and focused on these. Then they win big time in China. Should Irish cinema be focusing on a new kind of filmmaking that's not done too much elsewhere. Or should we keep on making stuff like Perrier's Bounty?

TEN GREAT INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORS WHO HAVE MADE FILMS IN IRELAND

Several world-class international directors have made films in Ireland.

The field

Based on a play this is the kind of movie that's not made anymore in Ireland. Considered old-fashioned now the film is still impressive. Harris wars with everyone over a field he's cared for. Surrounded by bumpkins and an American who's after the same field he goes mad. Tragedy happens. Made in the years between the two Film Boards this is one of the best Irish movies from the '90s. John Hurt seems to have based his role on the similar one from Ryan's Daughter. Anyone who has seen the 1960's movie Far From the Madding Crowd will recognise the finale.

Helen

Rare Irish arthouse film. This one tells the story of a girl who disappears and the impact this has on her friends. Another girl is used in a reenactment and slowly becomes the first girl. You don't need to be a film buff to realise that this is Antonioni territory. Parks, long takes, stilted dialogue, trees, architecture, and a cold observational style. Still, impressive filmmaking but the acting is really bad. Also, too much editing too for all those fancy camera moves! Yet another Irish movie that needed two directors.

Leap year

Stupid romantic comedy set in Ireland. There's a leap year and tradition states that a woman can propose to a man! Why can't she do this on any other day I don't know. He heads to Dublin she ends up in Wales. Then she gets a boat to the West of Ireland and meets another guy and you'll never guess what happens? It's a road movie where lots of 'hilarious' events happen. Lots of bad CGI too which will probably look better on the DVD. This is the kind of rubbish most people want made in Ireland. Why? Because it involves a Hollywood production coming here and providing jobs. It's the kind of big movie people talk about for months saying stuff like 'Leap Year is shooting here' without realising it'll be complete rubbish!

Johnny was

This one sounded bad on paper! An IRA drama wih Vinnie Jones, Samantha Mumba, Roger Daltry, Patrick Bergin and a famous boxer? Surely it wouldn't work? Wrong! It's a fine movie (in a straight-to-DVD sense!) where two IRA men escape from prison and shack up with Jones (who's the nicest character here!). There's a strange mix of Irish and black characters in this movie. Has a good soundtrack collection of songs too. Daltry is the bomber, Mumba is the neighbour, Bergin is the IRA escapee, and they all cross lines in this interesting story. Don't expect too much, unfold your arms, and you just might like this film!

Ash Wednesday

One neglected aspect of Irish cinema is the recent American contribution. Little notice is given to a small number of similar titles (Ash Wednesday, Turning green, Black Irish): respect for religion and tradition; characters use their full first names (Patrick, Francis); washed out colours; different age groups interacting; violent criminals; and impressive soundtrack music. Anyone who has seen The Yards will understand what I mean. Ash Wednesday is about a guy thought dead except he's hiding out from criminals. His brother (director Burns) has to defend him. Some famous faces appear in small roles, it's set mainly in a bar, there's a strange interaction between American-Irish and native Irish people, and the music is impressive (loved the way it stopped for the dialogue and then started again). Really considered a straight-to-DVD film Ash Wednesday is the kind of film the Irish Film Board should be funding!

Far and away

Chances are if you visit a DVD retail shop and check the 'Irish' section this movie will definitely be on the shelf. It's got everything most people expect when they think of 'Irish cinema': girls with long hair; emigration; fights; poverty; scenery; evictions; horses; and romance. Great seeing this film on the Irish Film Board trailer even though it was made at a time when the Board didn't exist! Cruise travels to America to claim free land in a race. Filmed in Temple Bar and at the Guinness factory (for Boston). Chocolate-box cinema at its best!