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Our movie guy, James Finnegan, points out that there’s a theme of family trouble and strife to the forefront of today’s films…
The Vikings (Saturday 3.40pm RTE1) is one of those fun Hollywood historical adventures that that actually helped get me interested in history.
Einar (Kirk Douglas), a warrior, and Eric (Tony Curtis), a former slave are half brothers, with a claim on the Throne of Northumbria.
Just to add a little spice to the mix, both of them fall for Morgana (Janet Leigh, also Mrs Curtis), a captured Welsh Princess intended to be used as a hostage.
Suffice to say, the course of love does not run true, and the brothers, in ignorance of their shared heritage give each other no quarter in a conflict that costs them both dearly.
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Directed by Richard Fleischer, it also stars Ernest Borgnine, James Donald and Orson Wells delivers the narration in suitably dramatic tones.
There has been a disturbing lack of doggie stories especially emphasising family, relationships and life lessons recently, but The Art of Racing in the Rain (Saturday 6.35pm RTE1) makes a welcome return for this genre.
Golden retriever Enzo (voiced by Kevin Costner) is named after Enzo Ferrari. His owner is Denny (Milo Ventimiglia) a racing driver who meets and falls for Eve (Amanda Seyfried).
The story shows how all their relationships intertwine and develop over the years. The film also stars Kathy Baker and Garry Cole and is directed by Simon Curtis, and you are advised to keep the tissues within easy reach.
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Will Smith stars alongside his son Jaden in The Pursuit of Happyness (Saturday 9.50pm TG4).
A determined salesman, Chris Gardner (Smith Senior), is a single father to Christopher Junior. His wife has left him, but he secures the opportunity of an unpaid internship with a major stock broking firm.
The key word is unpaid, because the lack of income leads to losing their home and a daily fight to support themselves. However, Chris is determined and focused to a better future for him and his son.
Based on a true story, this could have been a corny tale of triumph over misfortune, but it just stays the right side of the line in its depiction of the American Dream.
Based on N. Richard Nash’s novel, Cry Macho (Saturday 10.05pm RTE1) sees Clint Eastwood on familiar grounds with this modern Western.
A former rodeo star and horse breeder, Mike Milo (Eastwood) agrees to bring his old boss’s young son back home and away from his alcoholic mother. On the journey back, teaching the boy life lessons brings redemption to the elder man.
In Greta (Saturday 10.50pm RTE2), a waitress gets more than she bargained for after returning a lost handbag to its owner.
This psychological thriller directed by Neil Jordan stars Isabella Huppert, in the title role as an obsessive piano teacher, Chloe Grace Moretz as the waitress Frances, and Stephen Rae as Brian Cody, a private Investigator (not a former county hurling manager). Enjoy!
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