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Our movie guy (and recent Tralee Municipal District Award recipient), James Finnegan, on some movies on the box today…
Sure ‘tis a fine soft day as I write these lines which brings me into the whimsical mode for Finian’s Rainbow (Saturday 2.15pm TG4).
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, this musical tells the tale of lovable rouge Finian McLonergan (Fred Astaire) who has stolen a crock of gold from Og the leprechaun (Tommy Steele chewing the scenery).
He intends to bury it near Fort Knox in the belief it will increase its value. Astaire was 70 years old when this was filmed but he was still the master of dance, and Petula Clark, playing Finian’s daughter Sharon is in fine voice, and puts in an utterly charming performance.
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In this weekend’s animated family film The Addams Family 2 (Saturday 6.35pm RTE1), Gomez is concerned that the children are growing away from him. He and Morticia decide to take the family on a road trip adventure in a suitably hideous camper. What could possibly go wrong?
With a voice cast including Oscar Issac, Charlize Theron, Chloe Grace Moretz, Snoop Dogg, Bette Midler and Wallace Shaw, I have always enjoyed the adventures of these characters based on the wonderfully dark cartoons of Charles Adams.
The Big Short (Saturday 9.05pm RTE2) tells a rather complex story is a very inventive and creative manner. The sad thing is that it is a true story that had dreadful ramifications for so many in the inevitable financial crisis that followed.
Based on Michael Lewis’ best-selling novel, a small group of individuals spotted a flaw in the housing bubble, particularly involving the sub-prime market. They bet a vast amount of money on the expectation that the bubble would burst.
Starring Steve Carell (never better as the incredulity increases), Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt and a host of cameo stars to explain the mechanics of the technical issues by breaking the forth wall and speaking directly to the audience.
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Directed by Rob Reiner, Misery (Saturday 9.30pm TG4) is one of the best big screen adaptations of a Stephen King novel.
Acclaimed novelist Paul Sheldon (James Cann) is in a near fatal car crash. Fortunately he is found and rescued by a Nurse, Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates in Oscar winning form) who also happens to be a major fan.
Unfortunately, when Annie finds out that Paul has killed of her favourite character, her psychopathic tendencies come to the fore as she seeks to persuade Paul of the error of his ways in particularly unpleasant and painful ways.
Looking back at the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, Thirteen Days (Saturday 11.25pm RTE2) views the nuclear standoff between the US and Russia from the White House, where President Kennedy (Bruce Greenwood) has to deal with the tensions not only with the Soviets, but also internally with the hawks of the American military.
The film also stars Steven Culp (Robert Kennedy) and Kevin Costner as Kenny O’Donnell, the Kennedy aide on whose book the film is based. Enjoy!
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