Hot Right Now
Expect a cracking mix of highly entertaining Irish talent across the TV and Film, says Niamh O’Reilly, as she rounds up your must-watch list for the fortnight ahead.
Sam Rockwell and Saoirse Ronan in See How They Run
Cinema Trip
See How They Run
Lovers of a good old whodunnit with a modern twist, look to be in for a real treat with See How They Run, which channels the likes of Knives Out and Clue? for a slightly madcap mystery fiesta.
The story is set in London’s glitzy West End in the 1950s, where a desperate director is keen to adapt a movie version of a smash hit play, but production is halted after he is suspiciously murdered. When jaded Inspector Stoppard (Sam Rockwell) and enthusiastic rookie Constable Stalker (Saoirse Ronan) take on the case, the two find themselves thrown into the head scratching mystery, as they navigate the sordid theatre underground and try to get to the bottom of it.
Adrian Brody, Ruth Wilson and David Oyelowo round out the ensemble cast and the film is already drawing early Oscar buzz.
In cinemas September 9
Streaming Picks
Bad Sisters
This Sharon Horgan produced dark comedy, murder mystery is a must for your watchlist. The 10 part show follows the lives of the close-knit Garvey sisters - Sharon Horgan, Anne-Marie Duff, Eva Birthistle, Sarah Greene and Eve Hewson, who after losing their parents prematurely have always promised to look out for each other, no matter what.
Sharon Horgan, Eve Hewson, Eva Birthistle and Sarah Greene in Bad Sisters
The bond is put to the test, when their brother-in-law John Paul (Claes Bang), husband of Anne-Marie Duff’s Grace, winds up dead. Things get more complicated when the life insurance company starts to delve into why he might have died, focussing their investigation squarely on the sisters, who all had motive to snuff him out.
Through a series of flashbacks, we learn that John Paul was not all that nice and perhaps no one should be mourning his passing that much. But did the sisters have a hand in it?
With huge doses of dark wit and crackling chemistry between the Garvey sisters, this is the ultimate antidote to the summer ending.
Streaming weekly on AppleTV+
Prey
If, like me, you’re old enough to remember the outrageously macho Arnold Schwarzenegger Predator film of the 1980s that went on to become a cult classic, you might be interested in this modern take on the franchise.
Set in the Comanche Nation 300 years ago, Prey takes the Predator formula, of nasty alien stalking humans for sport and turns it on its head. The film is set before humans have access to modern weaponry or technology and centres on a fierce young warrior woman, Naru (Amber Midthunder) who while highly skilled, has been overlooked by the other male warriors and crucially even the predictor itself, who initially discounts her because she is female.
Let’s just say that was a big mistake.
Midthunder is a sensation, and it’s nice to see a cast composed almost entirely of Native and First Nation’s talent. The action is as frenetic and gritty as you’d expect. The only drawback is that this film would have been perfect for the big screen and lacks a little impact on the small screen.
Streaming on Disney+
Thirteen Lives
The true-life story of the junior Thai football team that got stuck in the Tham Luang cave during an unexpected rainstorm in 2018, is given the movie magic treatment, thanks to director Ron Howard. The film is a dramatic retelling of the rescue which gripped the world and saw over 10,000 volunteers attempt a harrowing rescue of the twelve boys and their coach. Everyone from the world of diving, technology and innovation offered ideas and resources on how to get the team out.
With a palpable sense of claustrophobia and peril, the film gets across just how much was at stake and just how difficult the entire operation was.
Featuring our own Colin Farrell, as well as Viggo Mortensen, Joel Edgerton, Tom Bateman, and Paul Gleeson, it’s a proper popcorn flick that will restore your faith in humanity.
Streaming on Prime Video
Podcast
The Tommy, Hector and Laurita Podcast
With some of the most recognisable voices in Ireland, Tommy Tiernan and school pal Hector O'hEeochagain are joined by Mayo woman and radio presenter Laurita Blewitt for this slice of podcast fun.
The three amigos have a relaxed, settled-in vibe to their conversation flow, that’s recorded in a shed in the west of Ireland apparently. They have the chats about anything and everything in that typical way that friends do. It’s light, unpredictable, funny, carefree and sometimes even a bit poignant.
Episodes range from the 30-minute mark up to the 50-minute mark so are ideal for a cuppa or walk.
Available wherever you get your podcasts, such as Apple or Spotify.
Classic Film
Notes on a Scandal (2008)
If you fancy sitting down to a superb physiological drama, then Notes on a Scandal is the ideal choice. Based on Zoë Heller's Booker-shortlisted novel, it stars two powerhouses of acting, Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett. The film is a powerful and highly absorbing two-hander from both women who were nominated for Oscars for Best Actress and Supporting Actress respectively.
The film follows Blanchet’s character, new teacher Sheba Hart, who begins an affair with an underage pupil at the school where world-weary Barbara Covett is a teacher and has nothing but contempt for the school, the pupils, and her colleagues. That is until Sheba enters her life and things get interesting. An exploration of desire, envy, and human nature, its twists and turns will keep you gripped until the last moments.
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