5 great movies to look out for this March

After a solid February with award nominees flowing, this month sees us return to the usual mix of mega blockbuster, family friendly movies and action and thrills aplenty. Lots of quality features worth catching this month so without further ado here are a selection of just some of the great films making their way to a cinema near you this month:

5. Red Sparrow
Hailed for the electric performance of Jennifer Lawrence this spy thriller, which was screened as part of the Dublin Film Festival, sees the actress team up once again with Hunger Games director Francis Lawrence in a film that should have plenty of intrigue, action and thrills. One to look out for!

4. Game Night
After a succesful outing playing it straight in Netlfix's Ozark, Jason Bateman returns to his strengths in this dark comedy that boasts a hugely talented cast that includes Rachel McAdams, Kyle Chandler and Sharon Horgan in a film that has been earning rave initial reviews!

3. Peter Rabbit
This month's family film to watch is undoubtedly this Beatrix Potter adaptation directed and written by Will Gluck and starring Domhnall Gleeson, Rose Byrne and James Corden. With fantastic visuals and such a great cast this promises to be a lot of fun for all the family!

2. Tomb Raider
Curiosity is getting the better of me with this one. Lara Croft gets a reboot with Alicia Vikander in the hot seat and Roar Uthaug behind the lens. With a supporting cast that includes Walton Goggins, Nick Frost and Dominic West this mega budget blockbuster  is surely worth a watch!

1. Ready Player One
Highly anticipated Steven Spielberg directed feature of this dystopian adventure based off the 2011 sc-fi novel by Ernest Cline. Every Spielberg release is noteworthy but with this a somewhat return to his roots it is sure to garner a lot of interest!

Oscars 2018 - My picks and predicted winners list!

In what's shaping up to be a very exciting Academy Awards Night on March 4th, I've decided to have a look at the front runners in the major awards categories and give my predictions as to what films/actors/directors should win and also my preferred winners in each category. This years nominees see lots of quality and diversity with the sceptical politics and ideas on show in the US being taken to task by a lot of the nominated features this year. So with further ado here are my predictions(and favourites) for this years 90th Academy Awards:

Best Picture:Call Me By Your Name
Darkest Hour
Dunkirk
Get Out
Lady Bird
Phantom Thread
The Post
The Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

A real strong field for this one with little or no duds to be seen. I,Tonya, The Florida Project and Mudbound may feel aggrieved not to feature but the quality is both diverse and full of high quality productions. On any other year Dunkirk or to a lesser extent The Post would be the film to have the Academy drooling over but Martin McDonagh and Guillermo Del Toro had other ideas and seems a straight shoot out between their two magnificent movies Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri and The Shape of Water with Three Billboards just edging it!
My choice: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri
Most likely outcome: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri

Best Actor:
Timothée Chalamet, Call Me By Your Name
Daniel Day-Lewis, Phantom Thread
Daniel Kaluuya, Get Out
Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour
Denzel Washington, Roman J. Israel, Esq.

A bit of an open and shut case with this one with Gary Oldman almost certain to add to his Golden Globe and BAFTA with a first time Academy Award. With Daniel Day-Lewis the closest competitor (and on another year would almost certainly win) this one is undoubtedly heading for Oldman's mantelpiece for a film saving performance in Darkest Hour.
My choice: Gary Oldman
Most likely outcome: Gary Oldman

Best Actress:
Sally Hawkins, The Shape of Water
Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Margot Robbie, I, Tonya
Saoirse Ronan, Lady Bird
Meryl Streep, The Post

With an incredibly strong field (with performances that dwarf those of their male counterparts) this is another two way race with Frances McDormand and our own Saoirse Ronan vying for top spot. Sally Hawkins and Margot Robbie were also incredible in their performances and what is Oscar night without record breaker Meryl Streep again being nominated (and deservedly so) but I fear in this category despite a fine portrayal in Greta Gerwig's Lady Bird Saoirse Ronan will lose out to the tour de force that is Frances McDormand in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri.
My choice: Frances McDormand
Most likely outcome: Frances McDormand

Best Supporting Actor:
Willem Dafoe, The Florida Project
Woody Harrelson, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Richard Jenkins, The Shape of Water
Christopher Plummer, All the Money in the World
Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Another strong list here with two coming from Martin McDonagh's Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri. Willem Dafoe's wonderfully understated performance in the Florida Project could have half a chance but I feel despite the negative kick back it would be nothing short of a catastrophe if Sam Rockwell didn't take home his first Academy Award come March 4th.
My choice: Sam Rockwell
Most likely outcome: Sam Rockwell

Best Supporting Actress:
Mary J. Blige, Mudbound
Allison Janney, I, Tonya
Lesley Manville, Phantom Thread
Laurie Metcalf, Lady Bird
Octavia Spencer, The Shape of Water

In what could be billed as the "Battle of the Moms" this category is a duel between Laurie Metcalf for Lady Bird and Allison Janney for I, Tonya. Janney is fantastic as the hate filled LaVona in I, Tonya and will probably add the Oscar to her Golden Globe and BAFTA wins but for me, Metcalf's complex performance is more worthy of an Academy Award but alas she may just come up short!
My choice: Laurie Metcalf
Most likely outcome: Allison Janney

Best Director:
Paul Thomas Anderson, Phantom Thread
Guillermo del Toro, The Shape of Water
Greta Gerwig, Lady Bird
Christopher Nolan, Dunkirk
Jordan Peele, Get Out

I still can't quite comprehend how Denis Villeneuve, Martin McDonagh and Sean Baker didn't make this list and it's hard to believe that despite his strong back catalogue that this is Christopher Nolan's first nomination and on any other year this would certainly be his award to lose. There is however, a lot of love for Guillermo Del Toro for what is a beautiful looking film in Shape of Water and I would expect him to lift his first Oscar come awards night.
My choice: Christopher Nolan
Most likely outcome: Guillermo Del Toro

Tralee Omniplex Tuesday Treat - What movie deserves your €6 this week?

There are three new releases for your consideration for this weeks Tuesday Treat at Tralee Omniplex. Two Oscar nominated features and comedy drama both with an experienced and talented stellar cast. A good week quality wise with something for everyone at Tralee Omniplex with the added bonus of all shows today costing just €6 as part of their Tuesday Treat!

I, Tonya
A unique yet riveting look into one of sports most iconic moments produces the darkest of comedy dramas that owes it's award season success to a director not afraid of risk and remarkable performances from it's leading cast with Alison Janney in particular a certainty for Oscar glory this week!

Finding Your Feet
Maybe a touch of more of the same in this love in later life theme but when you put together a cast that includes Timothy Spall, Celine Imrie, Joanna Lumley and Imelda Staunton you will never leave the movie theater disappointed. It may however struggle box office wise when released in the same week as two strong awards contenders.

Lady Bird
Our great hope of Oscar glory Saoirse Ronan is remarkable in Greta Gerwig's semi-biographical tale that includes another strong performance from Oscar nominated Laura Metcalf.  Highly recommended!
Read my full review as featured on www.traleetoday.ie here.

This weeks Top Movies on the Telly

Elysium - (Channel 5  Monday 26th February 23:00)
Director Neill Blomkamp's follow up to the excellent District 9 may not hit the heights of it's predecessor but there is enough here to thrill sci-fi fans with superb visual effects and a strong lead performance by the always reliable Matt Damon.

Big Eyes - (Film Four 4  Wednesday 28th February 21:00)
A bit of a change of pace for director Tim Burton but this thought provoking biopic showcases the talents of two remarkable actors in Amy Adams and Christopher Waltz and is at it's core a very interesting film. Recommended!

Les Miserables - (RTE 2 Friday 2nd March 21:00)
With 7 Oscar nominations behind it and a victory for Anne Hathaway in the Best Supporting Actress category this just may be a good time to catch this 2013 retelling of the Victor Hugo classic which works largely due to it's strong performances from an experienced and talented cast!

Review: Ladybird - Charming coming of age tale that sees Ronan in award winning form

Nominated for five Academy Awards and the winner of two Golden Globes Ladybird is the semi autobiographical tale of writer/director Greta Gerwig's adolescence upbringing in Sacremento, California. Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) rebels against but is not too dissimilar to her wildly loving, deeply opinionated and strong-willed mom (Laurie Metcalf), a nurse working tirelessly to keep her family afloat after Lady Bird's father (Tracy Letts) loses his job.
For first time director Greta Gerwig Ladybird is an extremely personal yet accomplished piece of work with it's personal and emotional pulses that beat throughout the film really what makes it work so well. Encapsulating ideas both big and small, from life changing career decisions to the bittersweet transition from adolescence to adulthood this charming heartfelt and honest movie captures it's audiences hearts from start to finish and never lets go.
Central to all that is good about this film is the complicated relationship between Ladybird and her mother Marion and this works not only due to the strong writing but the incredible performances given by the two central actors, Saoirse Ronan and Laura Metcalf.
Ronan is simply sensational and without Frances McDormand's tour de force in Three Billboards would unquestionably be heading home this year with that coveted Academy Award (although I wouldn't write her off just yet!). She brings both a swagger and vulnerability and more importantly likeability to the central which is no mean feat. Metcalf too is the perfect foil for Ronan in a role that should bring her awards glory too (but she may miss out to the impressive Alisson Janney in I, Tonya) and would have earned considerably more plaudits for her performance was it not for the heights hit by Ronan.
Overall, this is a outstanding and earnest coming of age tale devout of all the of the pomposity that such movies can bring and one filled with joy, pain and soul and one that will resonate with it's audience long after the final credits roll. Excellent!
✬✬✬✬

What movies to watch this weekend?

In the Cinema:

Ladybird
This semi-autobiographical tale from director Greta Gerwig has been earning high praise for it's stellar performances from it's highly talented cast with Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf in particular excelling in this feature. A quirky coming of age tale that will delight audiences this is definitely one to see weekend.



Streaming: 

David Brent: Life on the Road (Netflix)
Nowhere near as groundbreaking or indeed funny as the Office but there is definitely enough here (especially for Ricky Gervais fans) to entertain and make you squirm at the hilarity yet social awkwardness of one of UK comedies renowned figures. Ricky Gervais does sugar coat it a bit with over sentimentality but there are worse ways to spend ninety minutes than despairing at the behaviour of this disillusioned character.



On Telly

Aliens - Special Edition (Film Four Saturday 23rd February 21:00)
This highly impressive sequel to Alien sees Sigourney Weaver and director Ridley Scott in top form in a film that has aged remarkably well and is well worth another look. Check out my full review here.

5 great family films coming in 2018

Who doesn't love a good family friendly film? Action films, heart wrenching dramas and sidesplitting comedies can make for great cinema and all can be found in that perfect family film. How often are we surprised with that movie that is for the younger members of the family, entertains and resonates with the "grown ups" .Such films can cleverly combine charm and energy with a strong message heavily submerged in clever humour  and often end up on the top ten lists of favourite films with all ages (Paddington 2 being a prime example!). With that in mind I have selected 5 such gems that will be carrying on the strong tradition of excellent family film and will be making their way to our cinema screens this year:

5. Peter Rabbit - release date March 16th
Already been heavily advertised this Beatrix Potter based film written and directed by Will Gluck includes an all star cast including Domhnall Gleeson, Rose Byrne and James Corden and looks spectacular. Should be lots if fun and entertainment for all ages!

4. A Wrinkle in Time - coming March 2018
Based on the science fantasy novel by Madeleine L'Engle and directed by Ava DuVernay this latest children's blockbuster from the Disney stable is visually stunning with a strong cast on board also in a film that should be wonders in the box office and provide great family entertainment!

3. Incredibles 2 - release date June 15th 2018
With Brad Bird back at the helm and all cast members returning what is not to look forward to with Incredibles 2? One of Pixar's most requested sequels finally hits our screens and if it;s a patch on it's predessor we are all in for a treat!

2. Ralph Breaks the Internet - Wreck it Ralph 2 - release date Nov 18th 2018
With a catchy title like that and the return of Walt Disney Studios most popular animated characters voiced by the brilliant John C.Reilly alongside such talent as Sarah Silverman , Jane Lynch and Alan Tudyk there is a lot to look forward to with the impending release of the sequel to the 2012 box office hit!

1. Mary Poppins Returns - release date December 26th 2018
Not always a good idea to redo the classic but with Emily Blunt in the title role and Rob Marshall (Chicago, Into the Woods) in the hot seat this just may work as we revisit the Banks family all grown up and the reintroduction of the world's favourite nanny and a host of new and exciting characters!

Why they just don't make comedians like John Candy anymore...

It's hard to believe that this year marks the 24th anniversary of the death of John Candy. What isn't hard to believe is that Hollywood hasn't come near to replacing him in that time and comedy productions have suffered at some level ever since.
With the greatest respect to today's modern frat pack of comedic actors but it is highly unlikely that any of that troupe will be remembered as fondly as the great Canadian. So what was it that Candy had that still has his films stoke such warm feelings of humour and nostalgia years later?
Firstly, he had presence and charisma. Great comedy actors can evoke a smile without even saying a word and John Candy was one of those actors. He was both a master of the slapstick and the smart jibe - a lethal yet necessary combination for comedy.
He also knew his strengths and stuck to them. He was a funnyman first and foremost and unlike a lot of comedy actors that followed (Jim Carrey, Ben Stiller etc) he never attempted to diversify always aware where his real strengths lay. He also stayed true to himself never changing his physical appearance or comprising on his values or talents and always stayed true to himself.
John Candy had magnetic on screen chemistry with all he shared the screen with, from the inexperienced (MacCauley Culkin - a full year before Home Alone, in Uncle Buck) to the comedy greats (Dan Ackroyd, Bill Murray, Steve Martin etc) and it was obvious in the end results what he brought to any feature he starred in.
Off screen he gained a reputation as genuinely nice man with everyone in the business having their own tale of his warmth, humour lack of ego and overall likability.
His tremendous portfolio of work is unlikely to be paralleled by any comedy actor working today and he was a staple diet of a lot of movie fans early movie memories.

To give an indication of how talented he actually was I have selected 5 roles of the many many great ones he has played over his career to demonstrate how good he was and in an era of more miss than hit when it comes to comedy films, how much he is still missed today.

5 Great John Candy Roles:

5: Cool Runnings - One of Candy’s last films sees the larger-than-life actor coach the Jamaican bobsleigh team in this true story about defying the odds.
4: Brewsters Millions - John Candy stars alongside Richard Pryor in this comedy about having too much money and not knowing how to spend it. A classic!
3: The Great Outdoors - Another co-starring role, this time alongside Dan Aykroyd, sees the two spend some quality time together with their families on holiday. Of course, nothing goes to plan.
2: Uncle Buck - John Candy gets one of his best roles as the over-eager Uncle Buck who is tasked with looking after his sister’s children after mum and dad are called out of town following a family emergency. Candy is in top form in this hilarious comedy.
1: Planes, Trains & Automobiles: - Without doubt John Candy’s best film is also one of the best films in the careers of his co-star Steve Martin and writer-director John Hughes. This road-trip-buddy-movie is a superb mixture of fish-out-of-water comedy and bittersweet drama built on the emerging friendship of an ad exec and a self-employed shower curtain ring salesman.

Tralee Omniplex Tuesday Treat - What movie deserves your €6 this week?

Just the one new release this week but with Saoirse Ronan's Ladybird opening on Friday, The Shape of Water just around the corner and a lot of quality releases in both current offerings and as part of the #Bringitback series there has never been a better time to catch a great feature at Tralee Omniplex and with the added bonus of their Tuesday Treat with every show today just €6!

Father Figures
Despite what looks like a solid cast on paper this first dip into the comedy waters of the year has been panned by critics for it's weak writing and lack of chemistry between it's big name stars. Maybe a week to catch up on that film that you haven't had a chance to see over the last few weeks!

This weeks Top Movies on the Telly

Jack Reacher - (Sky One  Monday 19th February 21:00)
Directed by Christopher McQuarrie this Lee Child adaptation is a more than adequate thriller that benefits from a strong lead performance from it's lead actor Tom Cruise and is an entertaining high octane two hour action thrill ride. Just don't mention it's abysmal sequel!

Training Day - (ITV 4  Tuesday 20th February 23:15)
Antoine Fuqua fast paced gritty police drama saw Denzel Washington bag his second Academy Award for his role as the less than endearing Alonso. Also includes an Oscar nominated turn from Ethan Hawke in a film that is worthy of repeated viewing.

Alien - (Film Four Friday 23rd February 23:20)
A true classic that has aged remarkably well, this sci-fi horror is brimming with palpable nerve jangling tension throughout and is helped in no small way by a remarkable lead performance by Sigourney Weaver. Worth revisiting again!

Review - Early Man - Charming and funny tale from the master of stop motion animation!

In his first directorial outing since 2008's Wallace and Gromit in 'A Matter of Loaf and Death' Nick Park returns with his unique animated style and humour which gives us a gentle reminder as to why we fell in love with his unmistakable creations in the first place.
Early Man tells the tale of a plucky cave man named Dug, his sidekick Hognob and the rest of their tribe as they face a grave threat to their simple existence. The evil Lord Nooth plans to take over their land and transform it into a giant mine, forcing Dug and his clan to dig for precious metals. Not ready to go down without a fight, Dug and Hognob must unite their people and form a team to defeat their enemy in a game of football.
Fuelled by the voices of some landmark British actors including Eddie Redmayne, Tom Hiddleston and Timothy Spall, Park combines his special stop motion animation with an appealing story line that is full of fun, laughter and heart and is sits nicely along his excellent back catalague of family friendly films.
The puns are plentiful and the action is never ending as the endearing cast give weight to what is a highly entertaining and action packed film.
It may not have the complexity, subtle morality lessons (or budget) as tales seen lately on the big screen in such as the recent Pixar hit Coco but it does have an incredible sense of fun permeating through the whole production from start to finish! Laughs are plentiful and there is enormous heart at the centre of this charming movie that leaves it;s audience with that warm glow that sometimes only family films can bring.
Overall, this is yet another solid, entertaining, witty and enjoyable film that can sit effortlessly alongside the very high standard of family features that are now being produced in modern times.
Highly recommended!
✷✷✷1/2

What movies to watch this weekend?

In the Cinema:

Black Panther
Highly praised for it's freshness and vibrancy this Ryan Coogler directed Marvel adaptation has been gathering some serious hype since it's release. Any superhero film that brings originality to the table is surely worth watching and this one will not disappoint!



Streaming: 

In Bruges (Netflix)
Another Martin McDonagh masterpiece, this feature is filled with clever dialogue and incredible performances in a film that switches regularly from dark comedy to tense thriller. A sign of things to come for this talented director!




On Telly

Bad Neighbours (RTE 2 Friday 16th February 22:35)
Farcical comedy with Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne that does garner a few laughs helped in no small part by a strong supporting cast and the on screen chemistry between the two leads. A lot of fun!