It’s Wednesday, which means it’s time to go to the movies. Our own Magnificent One, John Kelleher has rolled in to town to tell us the best new releases this week, as well as his classic choice, which you may have guessed by now is the Magnificent Seven…
Listen to the podcast here:
CLASSIC CHOICE:
THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (TG4, 9.05pm Fri)
Director: John Sturges
Writer: William Roberts (screenplay)
Cast: Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson Robert Vaughn, James Coburn
What John says:
" Iconic movie; one of the most entertaining Western’s ever made."
SYNOPSIS:
The Magnificent Seven is a 1960 American western film directed by John Sturges. It is a western-style remake based on Akira Kurosawa's 1954 Japanese film Seven Samurai. Yul Brynner plays Chris, a mercenary hired to protect a Mexican farming village from its annual invasion by bandit Calvera (Eli Wallach). As Elmer Bernstein's unforgettable theme music (later immortalized as the "Marlboro Man" leitmotif) blasts away in the background, Chris rounds up six fellow soldiers of fortune to help him form a united front against the bandits. The remaining "magnificent six" are played by Charles Bronson, Steve McQueen, Horst Buchholz, Robert Vaughn, James Coburn, and (the one that everybody forgets) Brad Dexter. Though jam-packed with action, William Roberts's screenplay pauses long enough to flesh out each of its characters, allowing the audience to pick their own favorites. The Magnificent Seven was followed by three sequels, not to mention dozens of imitations
PHILOMENA
Director: Stephen Frears
Cast: Steve Coogan, Judi Dench, Michelle Fairley
Release date: 01/11/2013
What John says:
"This is really very good. It’s a true story, but what’s great about the way that they film it is that there are a lot of surprises, revealed slowly in a subtle way. It’s extremely moving; part detective movie.
Don’t think of the subject as being grim. It has a lightness of touch and really well judged humour,
Judi Dench who plays Philomena will get an Oscar nomination. This is highly recommended."
SYNOPSIS:
'Philomena' is an emotional story inspired by true events, tinged with both tragedy and comedy, about two very different people who join forces for a remarkable journey. They are seeking to uncover the truth behind a heartbreaking story that has remained a mystery for half a century.
Philomena Lee (JUDI DENCH), an Irishwoman in her 70’s, became pregnant as a teenager in 1952. Her family abandoned her out of shame and sent her to a convent in Roscrea, Co. Tipperary, where, along with other young girls in the same predicament, she was regarded as ‘a fallen woman’. In compensation for the nuns taking her in and looking after her during childbirth she was made to work in the laundry there and only allowed access to her young son, Anthony, for an hour a day. When he was only three Anthony was taken from the convent against her will; the nuns at Roscrea had agreed to sell him for adoption to an American family. Philomena spent the next 50 years trying in vain to establish his whereabouts.
Through a lucky set of circumstances she happened to meet Martin Sixsmith (STEVE COOGAN), an ex-BBC foreign correspondent and former director of communications for Tony Blair’s government. When Philomena tells Martin about her long search for her son, he realises that hers is a remarkable story. He arranges for the two of them to visit the United States to find out what happened to Anthony.
Together they embark on an extraordinary road trip. On the way they learn from each other, see a different point of view, and find reasons for laughter and joy in a quest that is often underpinned by sadness.
THOR 2 THE DARK WORLD
Director: Alan Taylor
Writers: Christopher Yost (screenplay), Christopher Markus (screenplay),
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Irdris Elba
SYNOPSIS
Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.
