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Our movie guy, James Finnegan, on a mix of film genres on the box tonight…
In My Spy (Saturday 6.35pm RTE1), Dave Baustista stars as Special Forces operative turned spy, JJ, tasked with covert surveillance of Kate (Parisa Fitz-Henley), the sister in law of a wanted terrorist.
JJ has many qualities, but unfortunately subtlety is not one of them. Kate’s precocious nine year old daughter, Sophie ((Chloe Coleman) soon blows JJ’s cover, and threatens to expose him, unless he gives her spy specific training.
This sets up a number of situations, especially when JJ is brought to school by Sophie that involves some good slapstick comedy.
The interaction between Baustista and Coleman is quite charming and allows you to make the necessary plot jumps.
Continued below…
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Speaking of tough guy, lone wolf, action characters, Tom Cruise returns (ignoring the hint in the film title) in Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (Saturday 9.05 RTE2).
After being wrongly accused of murder, Reacher helps a colleague Major Susan Turner (Cobie Smulders) who has also been set up as the murderer of two US Army Military Police in Afghanistan.
They end up on the run, where Reacher not only discovers that Turner has been targeted by a secret sinister military conspiracy (is there ever another kind?) but he also has to deal with personal complications when he has a paternity suit served on him.
Not a bad action film, but be aware you have to again take a few plot jumps on faith. As usual Tom delivers the goods.
Now comes my personal ‘Film of the Weekend’ with The Grand Budapest Hotel (Saturday 10.10pm TG4), Wes Anderson’s weird and wonderful comedy drama.
Set in the 1930s, Ralph Fiennes stars as Monsieur Gustave H, the distinguished and dashing concierge at the renowned hotel of the title.
When he is accused of murder, he has to depend on his loyal bellboy Zero (Tony Revolori) to help save his reputation in an ever convoluted series of misadventures involving a valuable painting and a guest’s death.
Naturally, such adventures need an eccentric cast of characters, all played with true relish and aplomb by a host of superior acting talent including F. Murray Abraham, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Harvey Keitel, Jude Law, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Saoirse Ronan, Léa Seydoux, Tilda Swinton, Tom Wilkinson and Owen Wilson among others.
Not only is it an acting and writing treasure, but the cinematography by Robert Yeoman and music by Alexandre Desplat are an absolute delight to enjoy.
It was nominated for numerous awards and, frankly, should have won more than it did, for a film that is that rare combination of a critical and commercial success. Enjoy!
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