'71

This year's IRA movie and it's well-made but has the look of a straight-to-DVD effort. It's 1971, and two soldiers get left behind in a street battle, one gets shot dead, while the other goes on the run. The army shouldn't have picked up that body because it could be booby-trapped. The other meets people from both sides of the conflict and discovers that most have dual identities. You won't really care what happens because the whole movie gets ruined by hand-held cinematography. It's also set at night so is difficult to follow what's going on. Some good acting, chase sequences, and plot twists but this movie has about as much to say on the Troubles as Graham Cantwell's 'masterpiece' Anton.

Title: '71
Genre: IRA
New/old: New
Cinema/DVD: Cinema

Dick Dickman PI

Unknown movie from about a decade back that's now been released on DVD. It's terrible stuff! Set in the South East it tells the story of an irritating man who trains himself to be a private investigator. He checks out Russian criminals trying to steal Irish culture! Featuring the 'cream' of Irish comedy: Brendan's Grace and O'Carroll, June Rodgers, Frank Carson, and Joe Rooney. It looks like it got filmed on a camcorder bought in Argos(!), is fast-paced, and has the tone of a live action version of a children's cartoon. There are several women in the film who appear almost identical and it gets confusing to figure out who's who. Lots of popular songs on the soundtrack (did the producers really get clearance to use these?). Seriously, this movie is just sh-t!

Title: Dick Dickman PI
Genre: Comedy
New/old: Old
Cinema/DVD: DVD

Gold

Another mundane release from our Film Board. Similar in tone to Life's a breeze or Run and jump and just as bad! Dull characters, bad music on the soundtrack, no real drama or comedy, dull lighting, story that doesn't know when to end, and a general smugness that everyone involved is doing something special. Well they're not! These people are just too normal to do anything of interest and same with the filmmakers! A middle-aged guy visits his daughter's new family. None of these people are likeable, for example when Nesbitt's character falls into the river we don't care! It's bland and boring and all the 'right names' are involved but seriously you would need low expectations to enjoy this. After paying €10.10 I didn't!

Title: Gold
Genre: Comedy drama
New/old: New
Cinema/DVD: Cinema