Maze

How many IRA prison movies has our Film Board now funded? This latest one is set in 1983 and details a true escape. The film is well paced and builds up to the break out. The rest is the usual dull lighting (well it is a prison!) and quick edits. It's certainly watchable and better than expected. The prison officers aren't as strict as usual and there's a lot of information given to prisoners without any suspicions. The clothing and haircuts accurately show what the 1980s was like. Enjoyable movie but like most Irish titles it offers nothing new.

Title: Maze
Genre: IRA
New/old: New
Cinema/DVD: Cinema

Drummer and the keeper

Another mismatched two-hander this one is set in the music scene and involves mental health issues. The drummer is supposed to be bipolar yet is always miserable throughout the movie. The (goal)keeper has Aspergers yet this syndrome gets disproved in the movie. The rest of the film is dull and has lots of Fat lady sings-piano music. Nothing original and references various similar Irish movies: goths at the table; doctor's meeting, band falling out. Nothing new and runs along at a drab pace. Aimed at undemanding teenagers this is underwhelming and unoriginal. The opening scene sets the tone: a couch gets set on fire on a beach. That's supposed to be the hook that grabs you into this movie but doesn't. Another example in Irish cinema of mediocre, lame, lifeless, bland, derivative, predictable filmmaking. There's no story, it's more character-based but these people are too boring to make you care.

Title: The drummer and the keeper
Genre: Drama
New/old: New
Cinema/DVD: Cinema