TOMÁS MCCANNA

Good programme about Irish theatre director Tomás McCanna on the television this week. Didn't know he made films back in the 1950s?

SEVEN SONGS FOR AMY?

Yet another Irish-themed comedy-musical is getting made here soon. Over in Galway and starring the guy from Meet the spartans. Should be another piece of Oirish romcom tripe?

KILL THE IRISHMAN?

Supposed to be coming out this month but may get a straight-to-DVD release instead? Looks good anyway.

DISCOVER IRELAND 'ATTRACTING' TOURISTS WITH IRISH CINEMA!

Yep, suspicions that P.S. I love you got made here mainly to promote Irish tourism has now been confirmed with Discover Ireland tourism body creating a 'plan your holiday' based on the locations used in that movie. Ever see a '70s Hollywood movie where they cut every twenty minutes to footage of a screeching airplane landing? That's what we need to do. Film all the tourist locations in the country and sell these clips to Hollywood. Then they could insert these shots into their romcoms that require a few Europe-set scenes?

WHEN IS WHITE IRISH DRINKERS COMING OUT ON DVD HERE?

What do you call an Irish seven-course meal? A six pack and potato! That's a line from last year's White Irish drinkers, another American-made crime infested '70s movie. Shame it will never get a DVD release here?

IRA informant

Lousy Troubles movie involving an IRA bomber who turns against his comrades. The kind of film where a character says they'll do something and the next scene shows them doing the opposite! Lots of below-average dialogue and acting. Some interesting footage of Belfast (and Dublin!). Some interesting class conflict between the posh British soldiers and working-class IRA. Lots of clichéd stuff here including the silly freeze frame final shot. Like Harry's game and Cal there's a couple of arty sex scenes! But the chances of seeing this long forgotten (and dated) '90s movie are remote.

AMERICAN NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART TO SCREEN IRISH MOVIES!

Seems Setanta television are not the only people to be showing a season of Irish cinema this year? The National Gallery in Washingto, USA will be screening several famous and lesser-known Irish films next month: Quiet man, This other eden, Secret of Roan Inish, Ballroom of romance, Down the corner, Dead, Butcher boy, and Adam and Paul.

CELTIC EALING COMEDIES?

Good article in today's The independent British newspaper. It was about the old Ealing comedies and how recent films made over there often get compared but are never as good! That's exactly what happens here too with titles like Closer you get and Waking Ned. Even the second rate Ealing films such as the Irish-themed Another shore are superior to most of today's versions. So the point of this post is that Irish filmmakers should stop trying to copy the old Ealing comedies because we don't have the memorable character actors, talented directors, or sheer class to make films as good as these!

RICHARD SKELTON

British composer Richard Skelton is currently living in the West of Ireland. Would love to hear some of his ambient music in an Irish movie? Shame the way famous people live here but go unnoticed by our film industry?

THE GUARD AT NUMBER ONE!

Great to see that new Irish movie The guard has topped the box office. Haven't seen it yet but who cares about its quality when it's done so well commercially?

NEW CINEMA FOR STILLORGAN!

New seven-screen cinema is due to open in the next few weeks. That's according to an advert in today's Irish Indpendent newspaper. The Ormonde was good but the sound was too low.