Review-The Banshees of Inisherin

In 1923, on a tiny remote island, just off the coast of Ireland. Two friends find themselves at odds. When one of them decides he doesn’t like the other anymore.

It’s as basic a premise as one can think of for contemporary storytelling. And in his wondrous, wonderful, and exquisitely contained mini-opera “The Banshees of Inisherin,” writer-director Martin McDonagh takes this straightforward premise and sets it ablaze, using it as a backdrop to explore the conflict in man, the nature of pride and spite, the significance of companionship, and the curious edges of the male ego.

It’s a darkly comic drama that packs an emotional gut punch, after emotional gut punch and consistently finds new ways to deliver brutal body blows.

After portraying hitmen in McDonagh’s 2008 cult classic “In Bruges,” Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson reunited for the role of the men who are no longer friends when the film opens.

Like they do every day at 2:00 p.m., the unassuming Pádraic (Farrell) stops by Colm’s (Gleeson’s) beachside cottage to see if he wants to join him for a pint, at the local pub. But this time he’s snubbed by Colm. Later, he arrives, and Colm declines Pádraic’s offer to sit next to him. Pádraic, like the other patrons in the pub, is unable to comprehend just what is happening. The following day, Colm makes it very clear. He tells him, “I just don’t like you no more.” Did they have a drunken fight? Was it something he said? It’s not really that easy. Colm, who enjoys the arts and plays the fiddle. Has come to the realisation that Pádraic is boring. He’s sick of discussing the same issues, over and over. He just wants to be left alone.

Pádraic is gobsmacked to lose his closest friend, whilst Colm desperately seeks to leave some sort of musical legacy behind. Others like Siobhán (Kerry Condon) and Dominic (Barry Keoghan) are left to choose between picking up the pieces or looking out for themselves.

Condon and Keoghan absolutely shine in the film and steal every scene they’re in. Siobhán is easily the smartest person on the Island, confined by the attitudes of the era. Whilst Dominic is a deeply troubled character. Keoghan is a shoo-in for best supporting actor at the BAFTAs.

In lesser hands, Colm may seem unreasonable in his behaviour but Gleeson plays him with such world-weary depth, it’s impossible to dislike him. Farrell is also incredible as the bemused underdog, Pádraic.

It may not be as re-watchable as In Bruges, but The Banshees of Inisherin is a masterful exploration of the complications of male friendship.  Undoubtedly one of the best films of the year.

The Banshees of Inisherin is out in the UK on October 21st.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Trailer-The Batman

A new trailer for The Batman has just been released by Warner Bros. It’s called “The Bat and The Cat,” and it’s our best look yet at the film.

It primarily focuses on Batman and Catwoman, as well as the type of connection they’ll have.
It also includes a lot more of The Riddler, as well as a secret he’ll divulge about the truth of Gotham City, which involves Bruce Wayne!

The trailer is jam-packed with fresh footage, and it looks absolutely fantastic.

Here’s the synopsis:

“Two years of stalking the streets as the Batman (Robert Pattinson), striking fear into the hearts of criminals, has led Bruce Wayne deep into the shadows of Gotham City. With only a few trusted allies — Alfred Pennyworth (Andy Serkis), Lt. James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) — amongst the city’s corrupt network of officials and high-profile figures, the lone vigilante has established himself as the sole embodiment of vengeance amongst his fellow citizens. When a killer targets Gotham’s elite with a series of sadistic machinations, a trail of cryptic clues sends the World’s Greatest Detective on an investigation into the underworld, where he encounters such characters as Selina Kyle/aka Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz), Oswald Cobblepot/aka the Penguin (Colin Farrell), Carmine Falcone (John Turturro), and Edward Nashton/aka the Riddler (Paul Dano). As the evidence begins to lead closer to home and the scale of the perpetrator’s plans becomes clear, Batman must forge new relationships, unmask the culprit, and bring justice to the abuse of power and corruption that has long plagued Gotham City.”


Colin Farrell to star in a spin-off to The Batman

According to Variety, Colin Farrell is set to reprise his role as The Penguin, in a spin-off series to The Batman.

Farrell will play the character for the first time in Robert Pattinson’s “The Batman,” which will be released in March 2022.
After then, the series is said to focus on The Penguin’s ascent to prominence in the Gotham criminal underground.
The series was first announced in September, though Farrell was not involved at the time. It’s thought the series will be an adaptation of the comic Penguin Triumphant, from 1992.

Lauren LeFranc has been tapped to pen the series.
Matt Reeves, the director of “The Batman,” and Dylan Clark, the film’s producer, will executive produce the Penguin series under their 6th & Idaho and Dylan Clark Productions labels, respectively.

Warner Bros. Television would be in charge of the production. It will air on HBO Max, in the US.

The Penguin, a.k.a. Oswald Cobblepot, is a well-known member of the Batman Rogues Gallery, distinguished by his top hat, monocle, and a vast range of lethal umbrellas.
Burgess Meredith, Danny DeVito, and Robin Lord Taylor have all previously played the character in live-action films and TV series.

Penguin will be HBO Max’s second spin-off series from “The Batman.” Joe Barton is attached as the showrunner for a drama based within the Gotham Police Department, which has already been ordered by the streaming service. It will adapt the Gotham Central line of comics.


WarnerMedia is attempting to create a new, integrated Batman universe that spans all of the company’s platforms.

Other live-action DC shows in development at HBO Max include John Cena’s “Suicide Squad” spin-off “Peacemaker,” a “Green Lantern” series from Greg Berlanti, and a “Justice League Dark” series from J.J. Abrams, among others. “The Batman” and its two spin-offs have been confirmed as taking place on Earth 2.