I remember as a young child i was drawn to older TV shows and movies. For me Saturday mornings weren’t for only cartoons, they were for watching old black and white movies or TV series like I Love Lucy, Mr Ed, The Three Stooges or Laurel & Hardy.

I was delighted when the other half asked if i wanted to go and see Stan and Ollie. I’d heard good things, particularly about Steve Coogan’s presentation of Stan. And even better still the movie was showing in the new Stella Theatre in Ranelagh so gave us a lovely excuse to check it out!

THE VENUE:

Let’s start with the theatre, I’ve visited the Stella in Rathmines a few times and been impressed with its plush furnishings, cozy seats and yummy cocktails so i was very interested to see how this shrinks into the smaller seated theatre nestled under the Devlin hotel and ultimately if it still gives the same movie experience.

When we arrived, we collected our tickets at reception and made our way downstairs to a smart Stella doorway and a lobby that matches the look and feel of the Rathmines venue perfectly – it was lovely!

On the night we went unfortunately the heating wasn’t working in the cinema but we were determined to see the movie so we wrapped up well, ordered piping hot coffee, ventured into the screen and curled up with the blankets that were on the seats for us.  It was comfy and dare i say it….i think the seats here trump those of the Rathmines venue.

THE MOVIE:

Steve Coogan and John C.Reilly had a tough job on their hands for sure with this movie,  they had so many intricate mannerisms to master if they were to truly portray the popular comic duo. For me the stakes were high, i wanted to revisit that childhood awe i had when i watched it in my younger years. I have to say they did a super job. Steve shone brightest for me, his subtle facial expressions, the similar walk and the comic timing really stood to him and how he played tribute to Stan.  I was so impressed with the emotion he could portray in the simplest of eye movement or tiniest mouth twitch – what skill!

The story itself follow the pair as they reunite and go on what was going to be their final tour. They visited venues across Britain and Ireland.  It follows how they build themselves from small audiences to sell out shows despite tough competition. It explored the excitement they feel as they’re getting ready for a new movie – it brings us through all of the trials and tribulations of their relationship and lives during this time. For me this was a sweet story of friendship, hurt, loyalty, guilt, illness and love. A story with so many layers. There were moments where i would be laughing out loud and within minutes i would have tears in my eyes – much to the giggles of the other half if he spotted me.

I actually learned a lot about how smart the duo were too! Back when i watched it as a child, i laughed at the segments not really understanding what went into making them – they were so effortlessly silly and funny. Now that I’ve studied acting i realise actually how hard that comic timings and clown-like movement can be and this movie has highlighted just how much practice it takes to make it perfect. The duo worked hard to constantly build upon their work and this ultimately is what made them such a good pair!

This cinema trip is for those of you who love the golden classic and feel good movies. Why not try it in the Stella too, watch the movie in style! Go on… treat yo self!

 

So it’s not a new movie – but its a good one! I was flicking through my On Demand section wondering what to watch with the the other half and I happened across Isle of Dogs. I’d heard good things so thought hey why not, lets give it a go!

Animation really is something that i enjoy – and my viewing ranges from Winnie the Pooh, Mickey Mouse and the Little Mermaid through to Simpsons, South Park and Big Mouth – quite a mix, i know!

I was excited to see where on the creative and humour scale this movie would sit and my god i was impressed. This feature is a stunning celebration of Japanese imagery and animation style that makes you smile and cry in equal measures – i really should’ve expected anything less from Wes Anderson.

This quirky and detailed story is about a boy and his dog and explores their strong bond. Set in the future, Atari, the 12 year old nephew of the mayor, is searching for Spots. His beloved dog and all others were banished to a rubbish-ridden island following a breakout of canine flu.

He steals a plane and crashes on Trash Island where he’s found by a pack of dogs that’s made up of strays and pets. The pack’s led by Chief, who has a untrusting relationship with humans. This leads to interesting disagreements in the pack as the story unfolds. Atari and this new crew of characters head of together on the adventure to rescue Spots and fend off the robot dogs that have been sent to catch Atari and bring him home to his uncle. It has highs and lows along the way that will keep you gripped.

It’s a story of friendship, family, deception, misunderstandings and an exploration of human behaviour, with moments of laugh out loud dialogue along the way. It’s beautiful to watch and every frame is a work or art in itself.

I dare you not to enjoy this really stunning adventure – you’ll get those fuzzy warm feel good vibes, i promise!

This weekend a beautiful example of storytelling hits the big screen in Ireland. It makes you think about family and reflect on priorities. It showcases the struggle of a loving mum as she tries to keep her family safe and off the streets.

We see 36 hours in the lives of Rosie, John Paul and their young family of 4 kids unfold. They are homeless through no fault of their own. They’ve been “between places”, as main character Rosie puts it, for a number of weeks now that their home of 7 years is put on the market by the landlord. We see them struggle as they search for beds for the night, strive to maintain a regular routine of breakfasts, school runs, playing, washing and homework for Kayleigh (13), Millie (8), Alfie (6) and Maddison (4). What hits hard is this is all happening even though John Paul has a job. This movie really kills any stereotypes that are there for homelessness and sheds fresh light on situations that exist and are growing in our society today.

The screenplay, written by Roddy Doyle is outstanding. The dialogue is so natural, so true and so simple – you feel that you are watching a documentary in parts. This style is also achieved through the choices made by talented director Paddy Breathnach. One decision that stood out for me was that in most part he keeps cameras within the car that the family spend most of their time in. We get to feel how cramped it is for the family -all 5 of them and their stuff in one place and realise it’s been like this for a number of weeks. And we don’t know when this will change for them.

This honest representation is also down to the sublime acting of Sarah Green who plays Rosie. She portrays a strong mother on the verge of breaking but continues to have the strength to keep going for her family. It’s only in the moments of silence when shes on her own that we see that falter subtly in any way – and it’s heartbreaking.

I loved the fact that no matter how hard the situation gets the family unit is filled with love and there are moments of fun that are priceless. However what hits hard with the movie is as an audience we know that if their situation continues as it is this will become less and less part of their story as the mental strain of homelessness takes hold of the young parents and their family.

I can definitely see why this movie was selected for TIFF. It deals with a global issue that needs highlighting and it does it in a way that everyone can relate to. The honest answer is that this could happen to any of us!

I would highly recommend that you see this one.

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton