Christy, Steve, History Of Sound... 15 films to watch out for in the coming months

Irish Examiner

2 days ago

Many of Ireland's best-known talents are front and centre in the screen heavy hitters that are coming way in the months ahead.
Chief among them is Steve, starring Cillian Murphy, and soon to have its European premiere in Cork, with a film that is firmly at the centre of awards-season chat.
Buzz is also building for the release of Ballad of a Small Player, starring Colin Farrell and directed by Edward Berger, whose films Conclave and All Quiet on the Western Front previously went to the Oscars. Esther McCarthy looks at the movies set to become talking points in the months ahead.
Christy (August 29, cinemas)
Cork director Brendan Canty's film will be released in cinemas following its premiere at Mahon Point Omniplex next week. The winner of Best Irish Feature Film at the Galway Film Fleadh, it centres on the title character - a teenage boy - whose life is at a crossroads. Featuring a breakout performance from Danny Power, the film is largely set in Knocknaheeny and features members of Cork rappers from the Kabin Studio, as well as established stars Alison Oliver and Chris Walley.
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey (September 19, cinemas)
Colin Farrell's collaboration with US filmmaker Kogonada brought us the tender and unique After Yang in 2022. Now the two join forces again - aided and abetted by Margot Robbie - for another exploration of the power of love. Sarah (Robbie) and David (Farrell) meet at a friend's wedding, sparking an adventure where they get to relive important moments from each other's pasts.
The History of Sound (September TBC, cinemas)
Josh O'Connor and Paul Mescal in The History of Sound desfilm
Paul Mescal stars opposite The Crown's Josh O'Connor in the story of two men who fall in love in post-WW1 America. South African filmmaker Oliver Hermanus directs the duo in a tale of two young men who endeavour to record the lives, voices and music of their American countrymen. As they do, they begin to develop feelings for each other.
Steve (TBC cinemas; October 3, Netflix)
Cillian Murphy reunites with his Peaky Blinders and Small Things Like These director Tim Mielants for a reimagining of Max Porter's novel, Shy. Murphy is also a producer on the drama, set in the mid-90s, which centres on a pivotal day in the career and life of a teacher and the students at a reform school where he works. Following its world premiere at the prestigious Toronto Film Festival, Murphy will host a special European premiere of Steve in Cork as part of this year's Sounds From a Safe Harbour Festival (September 11-14).
The Ballad of a Small Player (cinemas, October 17; Netflix, October 29)
The Ballad of a Small Player starring Colin Farrell will be screened at cinemas across Ireland from October 17 and will be released on Netflix on October 29.
Adapted from the novel of the same name, the latest film from director Edward Berger (Conclave, All Quiet on the Western Front) is set in the gambling casinos of Macau. There, a high-stakes gambler (Colin Farrell) is laying low. But as his past and his debts begin to haunt him, he meets a kindred spirit who may offer salvation.
Blue Moon (October 24, cinemas)
Filmed on location in Ireland but set in the US, the new film from Richard Linklater (Boyhood) centres on the later life of Lorenz Hart, one of the songwriting duo Rodgers & Hart. The film is set during the opening of Oklahoma!. Andrew Scott joins a cast led by Ethan Hawke and Margaret Qualley, with Irish outfit Wild Atlantic Pictures co-producing.
Bugonia (October 31, cinemas)
Two conspiracy theorists kidnap the CEO of a major company, convinced that she's an alien planning to destroy Earth, in a premise that sounds wild even for Yorgos Lanthimos (The Favourite, Poor Things). Emma Stone, producing - along with Irish Lanthimos regulars Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe of Element Pictures - also stars in what is her fifth film with the Greek director.
The Running Man (November 7, cinemas)
Glenn Powell in Running Man.
The suddenly everywhere Glen Powell joins forces with British director Edgar Wright (Baby Driver) in a thriller adapted from the novel by Stephen King. Set in a dystopia, Powell plays a man driven by financial necessity to take part in a channel that makes violent reality-TV shows. A previous movie adaptation starred Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Predator: Badlands (November 7, cinemas)
With 2022's Prey, filmmaker Dan Trachtenberg gave us a gripping Predator movie and introduced audiences to a star making performance from Amber Midthunder. Now the director joins forces with leading actress Elle Fanning for a standalone movie in the series.
Train Dreams (September, Safe Harbour Festival, Cork; November 21, Netflix)
Felicity Jones and Robert Grainier in Train Dreams.
Following her scene-stealing turn opposite Brad Pitt in F1, Tipperary actress Kerry Condon returns to our screens for this buzzy drama, co-starring with Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones. Adapted from Denis Johnson's novella, it tells the story of a railroad man whose life unfolds during a time of huge change in early 20th century America. Sing Sing screenwriter Clint Bentley directs.
Wicked: For Good (November 21, cinemas)
The second part of the Wicked movie series is destined to draw back the large audiences who made its predecessor one of the biggest hits of last year. The return to the land of Oz will star Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as the Wicked Witch of the West. Jon M Chu (Crazy Rich Asians) returns to direct.
Father Mother Sister Brother (December TBC)
Acclaimed US filmmaker Jim Jarmusch writes and directs this Irish co-production that was filmed partly on location in Dublin. Estranged siblings are reunited after years apart and forced to reevaluate their relationships in the film. Set in the US, Dublin and Paris, the ensemble cast includes Cate Blanchett, Adam Driver and Tom Waits.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (December 12, Netflix)
Irish actors Daryl McCormack and Andrew Scott are among a large and impressive-looking cast for Rian Johnson's third instalment in the Knives Out film series. Glenn Close, Josh Brolin and Mila Kunis also star in the murder mystery, featuring Daniel Craig's quirky sleuth, Benoit Blanc.
Avatar: Fire and Ash (December 19, cinemas)
Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña reunite with James Cameron for the latest in the Avatar series, certain to be one of the biggest movies of the year. Cameron brings audiences back to Pandora in an immersive new adventure with Marine turned Na'vi leader Jake Sully and warrior Neytiri and the Sully family.
Hamnet (January 9, cinemas)
Jessie Buckley. (Photo by)
Chloe Zhao's adaptation of the 2020 novel by Maggie O'Farrell stars Irish actors Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal. The film fictionalises the life of William Shakespeare's son, who died as a boy, and the love story that inspired Hamlet, the play regarded as his greatest masterpiece. 'I think she's one of the greatest actors working today, categorically, hands down,' Mescal previously told this journalist of his Killarney co-star. 'I've been blown away by so many people, but no more so than her. We were friends before, but something just mad happened, making that, where I was like: 'I've met somebody now who's going to be a vital part of my life outside of the world of acting forever'.'