NEIL JORDAN GETS MORE IFB MONEY!

It's a good job we're not in recession! This world famous director has to claim money from the Irish Film Board for his next commerial project Byzantium. Hope it won't be as derivative as Ondine was. The Film Board was not set up to fund established directors? Jordan could finance this movie without state funding. But then the Film Board would miss the acclaim if Byzantium wins an Oscar. The real scandal is that the Film Board has not helped fund a new Jordan in the last twenty years.

When Harvey met Bob

Enjoyable and fast-paced TV movie about the build up to the famous Live Aid concert. Like a two-man play it involves lots of silly arguments and tensions over who will play at the concert. Best scene involved Paul McCartney singing with the power out. The Irish angle has Geldof visiting his old school in Dublin. Nothing special but Gleeson is well cast.

WHERE'S THE IRISH KEN RUSSELL?

Now that one of British cinema's finest auteurs has passed away this blog must ask the question: where's the Irish equivalent? In a country where it's all about not rocking the boat, not causing offence, and even not drawing much attention to yourself as a filmmaker it's no surprise that we don't have any filmmakers near Ken Russell's quality. Blame the film schools, the Film Board, and even the filmmakers themselves who probably have never seen The devils or Savage messiah or The boyfriend. The sad fact is that a director of Ken Russell's talent would get absolutely nowhere in the Irish Film industry today.

Juno and the paycock

Well-known but little-seen Hitchcock movie based on the Irish play. A one-armed man hides out in a building while some crazy characters (including Joxer Daly) sing songs and argue. Creaky film with wide shots and stagy acting. But it's of strong interest and has some famous actors including Arthur Shields and Sara Allgood. Good and moving final scene.

INTO THE WEST REMAKE!

Great news, one of the worst Irish movies ever is getting remade! Even better it's got the same director attached.

IRISH FILM FESTIVAL FOR ROME, ITALY

On next week and the the screenings include: The guard, Rewind, One hundred mornings, Butcher boy, Parked, Runway, Jack Taylor, and a new one called The pier. Shame they're all Film Board titles but that's the way it works!

ANTON, AGAIN!

Not our fault for yet another Anton post. Seems it's gettting a DVD release in Britain soon under the title Trapped. This rubbish just won't go away!

NEW IRISH HORROR AUTEUR!

Shoot the cabbage admits that it hates (most) horror films. But credit's due to a Northern Irish director who seems to be producing more of the stuff that is in the Film Board's entire back catalogue. George Clarke is the man and he's on zero-budget feature number four. That's Battle of the Bone, Knackery, Last Light, and Truth about Tom, Dick, and Harry. That's the kind of filmmaker we need down South instead of all those Film Board psychophants who are caught up in pre-production loans and short film schemes.

DREAMHOUSE GETS A RELEASE!

Ireland's most overrated director is Kirsten Sheridan. Her dad is almost as bad and his new movie is finally out. Hot press magazine says about it: Stay the hell away from this film. Well this blog is going to check it out soon as it's important to watch movies from one of our most 'esteemed' of directors!

WHERE'S THE MALCOLM MCARTHUR MOVIE?

With one of Ireland's most notorious killers on day release maybe it's about time we had a film called Gubu? We have stories to tell indeed. Or are we too caught up with contrived 'famine themeparks' and 'escorts in farms' nonsense?

Happy ever after

Not to be confused with the dire Happy ever afters, this one was made back in the 1950s and has no 's' in its title. David Niven plays a new landlord who alienates his tenants by cancelling the local hunt's ball and demanding rent arrears. They plan to kill him with some funny results. There is a large Irish supporting cast and some scenes resemble the later Niven film Pink panther. But the movie is let down by some silly romance scenes, limited locations, long sequences with no music on the soundtrack, and a slight story. It's strange seeing Niven wearing a tux and driving a sports car aournd the Irish roads. Impressive ending. Certainly not as good as the similar Ealing films but far better than that Happy ever afters rubbish.