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Our movie guy, James Finnegan, has some flicks to distract you from the Eurovision…
It is very pleasant to find a new twist on an oft reviewed and personal favourite film The Secret Life of Pets (Saturday 12.55pm TG4).
It is a very funny animated adventure, which was the first film I took my eldest granddaughter Amy to see in the cinema.
Two Bickering hounds rivalry end up with them being cast adrift on the streets of New York and the adventures they get up to, plus the characters they get involved with is a very inventive and enjoyable romp. However, the twist is that this is now dubbed “as Gaelige”. Well Done TG4!
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The Blue Max (Saturday 2.55pm RTE1) is a war story from a slightly different perspective. A World War I German ace fighter pilot, Lieutenant Bruno Stache (George Peppard) has his sights set on the Blue Max, a significant medal of honour, and he does not care how he gets it.
He likes to live dangerously, so having an affair with the wife of his commanding officer (Ursula Andress) is no surprise, as if fighting on the Western Front was not dangerous enough.
It is also the story of how the relativities of modern warfare took over from the semblance of chivalry in previous campaigns.
In America (Saturday 9.50pm TG4) is based on director/producer/writer Jim Sheridan’s own life coming to America as a flat broke immigrant.
Paddy Considine plays Johnny, an Irish actor who sneaks his wife and family over the border from Canada into the United States with the intention of putting their tragic past behind them and making a fresh start in New York.
Also starring Samantha Morton as Sarah, real life sisters Sarah and Emma Bolger, as their daughters Naomi and Kirstin, and Djimon Hounsou as their tenement neighbour Mateo, this is a touching and emotional story as seen through the eyes of the young girls.
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It wouldn’t be Saturday night without a rom-com, so we have Along Came Polly (Saturday 11pm RTE2).
Ruben Feffer (Ben Stiller) finds his life taking an unexpected turn when he meets up with, and falls for, former classmate Polly (Jennifer Anniston) who throws his well ordered routine into chaos.
However the real star of this film is the wonderful Philip Seymour Hoffman, who did not do many screen comedies, but who steals every scene as Ruben’s friend, Sandy Lyle.
The humour can get very basic and toilet fixated which is a pity as there is a fine cast including Debra Messing, Hank Azaria and Alec Baldwin.
Sorry We Missed You (Saturday 11.50pm RTE1) is Ken Loach’s hard hitting drama that focuses on a debt ridden man whose efforts to improve his family’s finances by becoming a self employed delivery driver only leads to more debt and difficulties.
A fine cast of Kris Hitchen, Debbie Underwood and Rhys McGowan are very good, but there are not too many light moments in this story. Enjoy!
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