Fashion, drama, comedy, horror and fun for families …
The Devil Wears Prada 2
In the off-chance that you missed the multi-millions spent in experiential marketing to promote the long-awaited sequel to 2006’s The Devil Wears Prada, loosely based on Vogue’s Anna Wintour, The Devil Wears Prada 2 sees the triumphant return of Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt with some new additions in Lucy Liu, Justin Theroux and Kenneth Branagh. Two decades after leaving her position as an outcast assistant at Runway fashion magazine, Andy (Anne Hathaway) has become a respected reporter in New York until her entire newsroom is laid off by text during an awards gala. Andy’s old boss, editor Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) is having uncharacteristic trouble navigating modern media while nearing retirement. She’s in a power struggle with former assistant turned rival executive Emily (Emily Blunt) as they compete to fight for the future of the magazine and its direction in an AI-driven world. It’s an interesting commentary on the industry that’s been largely well-received, which is often not the case with highly-anticipated sequels (Sex and the City or And Just Like That, we’re looking at you). Will there be a third iteration? Watch this space.
The Drama
In what’s been described as a “Zendaya-thon” for the Emmy winner’s landmark year starring in The Drama with Robert Pattinson, Euphoria with Sydney Sweeney and Jacob Elordi that’s currently streaming, with her fiancé Tom Holland (or husband, depending on reports) in Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated The Odyssey, both out this summer, plus the final installment of the Dune trilogy with Timothée Chalamet at the end of the year – we simply can’t get enough of her. This romcom drama is courting controversy as it seems light-hearted, about a happily engaged couple being put to the test when a revelation sends their wedding week off the rails, but the underlying theme deals with hot button issues in the US. This stays with you long after the movie ends.
Hokum
This supernatural Irish horror, written and directed by Damian McCarthy, stars Adam Scott (Severance) as an author who retreats to a remote inn in rural Ireland where his parents once honeymooned. He plans to scatter their ashes, but he’s consumed by tales of a witch who haunts the honeymoon suite. Soon, disturbing visions and a shocking disappearance force him to confront dark corners of his past. It already has an 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is getting a lot of buzz on the scene, with a strong supporting cast including Peter Coonan (Love/Hate, Peaky Blinders, Bad Sisters) and David Wilmot (The Guard, Hamnet).
Once Upon A Time In A Cinema
An Irish comedy, written and directed by David Gleeson, starring a stellar cast including Northern Irish actor Colin Morgan (Belfast), Calam Lynch (Bridgerton), India Mullen (Normal People), to name a few. Set in the old Royal Cinema in Limerick as it reminded Gleeson of the cinema his family owned in his youth, which was closed for almost three decades and re-constructed for the film, it’s a nostalgic 1980s’ trip down memory lane. This local cinema is plagued by ageing equipment, a drunk projectionist, unruly customers and financial pressure in the face of new technology with VHS taking over the movie experience. This deserves to be seen on the big screen.
The Magic Faraway Tree
Adapted from Enid Blyton’s famous book series into the modern day as a family learns to reconnect after being forced to move to the remote British countryside where they discover a magical tree that transports them to fantastical lands, expect familiar characters in this fantasy adventure film like Moonface, Dame Washalot, Mister Watzisname and Angry Pixie. The unbelievable cast includes Nicola Coughlan (Derry Girls), Dame Judi Dench, Claire Foy (The Crown), Rebecca Ferguson (Silo), Jennifer Saunders (Absolutely Fabulous), Andrew Garfield (After The Hunt) and many more. The score is composed by Isabella Summers from Florence and the Machine, so it’s sure to be on repeat this summer.
The Sheep Detectives
Starring Hugh Jackman and Emma Thompson with Nicholas Braun (Succession) and Conleth Hill (Game of Thrones) – not to mention the voices of Chris O’Dowd, Bryan Cranston, Patrick Stewart, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Regina Hall, Bella Ramsey and many more – this comedy is based on the 2005 novel Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann. A shepherd who reads his sheep murder mystery stories every night before bed is understandably clueless that his flock discusses the mysteries among themselves when he leaves. They must then solve their own mystery when their beloved shepherd is murdered (this spoiler doesn’t ruin the film, we promise!) and hilarity ensues. This is one for all the family, with enough laughs and heartfelt moments for both kids and adults to enjoy.
