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Our movie guy, James Finnegan, looks at some great films on the box over the coming Christmas weekend…
There are so many good films on RTE and TG4 this Christmas, I need to quickly give you my ‘Selection Box’ before I change my mind and give you another Santa list with films just as good.
E.T: The Extra-Terrestrial (Christmas Eve 1.40pm RTE1) is the utterly charming story of a young boy finding and befriending a stranded alien.
He must hide him from the searching military in his house, help him contact home, and the situation becomes even more dire as ET falls ill. An early Stephen Spielberg classic that is well worth rewatching.
On another whimsical note comes The Man Who Invented Christmas (Christmas Eve 3.45pm RTE1).
It is London in 1845, and author Charles Dickens last three books have not been successful. Desperate for inspiration, and indeed funds, he finds hints for a new story in the characters he comes across in his life.
Starring Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey) and the late, lamented Christopher Plummer, this is an imaginative reworking of a popular tale.
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Back to the Future (Christmas Day 1.55pm RTE1) is the wonderfully inventive story of how Marty McFly (Michael J Fox) is sent back from 1985 to 1955 in a time travelling DeLorean car built by a brilliant, but eccentric, scientist Doc Brown, played by the equally brilliant Christopher Lloyd.
Unfortunately Marty inadvertently prevents his future parents meeting, which would have consequences for his own existence.
So now he must not only reconcile his future parents, but somehow also get back to his own time. What could possibly go wrong?
Paddington 2 (Christmas Day 4.10pm RTE1) is one of those rare films where the sequel is even better than the original.
Paddington has settled in well with the Brown family and the locals, spreading joy and marmalade wherever he goes.
He spots an excellent present for his Aunt Lucy’s 100th birthday, but when it is stolen, Paddington finds himself framed for the theft. The real culprit is egotistical actor Phoenix Buchanan, played with consummate relish by Hugh Grant.
Starring Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Brenda Gleeson and Ben Wishaw as the voice of Paddington, this is a wonderful film for all the family.
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Sing Street (Christmas Day 11.15 pm TG4) is one of those charming coming-of-age films, and, even better, an Irish film.
Connor (Ferdia Walsh-Peel) is going through a turbulent time. Not only has he been taken out of his exclusive school for financial reasons but he is now he is attending a tough inner city school.
In an effort to impress a beautiful young girl, Raphina, he asks her to appear in a music video. All he needs to do is set up a band – and quickly.
Also starring Lucy Boynton, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Aidan Gillan and Jack Reynor, this is one of those secret gems.
From the same fervent imagination that brought us James Bond, comes Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (St Stephens Day 3.20pm RTE2) the story of the Potts family, and a magical car that flies us to magical adventures in faraway lands. Of course, such a car is envied by many, including a greedy tyrant who will do anything to get it.
Starring Dick Van Dyke, Lionel Jeffries, James Robertson Justice and, sadly as I write these words, I find out that Sally Ann Howes who played Truly Scrumptious, has just passed away.
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The Greatest Showman (St Stephens Day 6.25pm RTE1) is the somewhat glamorised version of P. T. Barnum, but it is the type of imagination and innovative film that would appeal to the man himself, played here by Hugh Jackman.
Starring Zac Effron, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson and Zendaya, this is an amazing spectacle with musical numbers that would get the most miserable up and dancing.
One of the Coen Brothers best films, and certainly one of George Clooney’s best comedic performances is O Brother, Where Art Thou? (St Stephens Day 10.35pm TG4).
Three bumbling crooks, Ulysses (Clooney), Pete (John Turturro) and Delmar (Tim Blake Nelson) escape a chain gang.
They embark on a journey to hind hidden loot, while being chased by lawmen and undergoing encounters with various characters.
Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas. Enjoy and stay safe.
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