The forgotten Irish

 

The Siege of Jadotville (2016)

Directed by Richie Smyth this film based on real events stars Jamie Dornan, Mark Strong, Jason O'Mara and Guillaume Canet. Irish soldiers serving as peace keepers in the Congo during the 1960s find themselves abandoned and attacked.

You could say this is a marginally less colonialist and more Irish version of Zulu and it sort of is. The film does not entirely stick to historical events, the attempts to reach the encircled Irishmen by Indian and Swedish forces is cut out. It also seems some of the action might be sexed up a bit for the big screen.

2/5

A film too far

 

Fast X (2023)

Directed by Louis Leterrier this film features the usual cast plus Jason Momoa. Our heroes find themselves on the run from a villain after revenge.

Convoluted from the start if you are not a deep fan of the franchise it takes a while to get your bearings on this one, the cast of characters has gotten rather large and the film annoyingly ends on a cliff hanger. There are some of the usual stunts which are fairly entertaining, just try not to think too much about the plot as there are a few places it starts to not make sense really. Of all people Vin Diesel is the one who looks like he is phoning it in.

2/5

the blow out 1896

 

New York, patineurs au Parc central (1896)

Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. People rollerskate in central park.

The issue with this short is in the version I saw it is completely blown out making it very hard to see what is going on. Unfortunate as the film hints at being fairly entertaining. Possibly needs some restoration work done on it.

2/5

Trams

 

New York, Avenue et Union Square (1896)

Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. We see trams pass a street corner in New York.

As street scenes go this one has a decent amount of foreground action to keep you entertained. About all that is missing is an iconic backdrop to help orientate you in the world. A decent example of the genre.

3/5

The same today

 

Garde descendante du Palais Saint James (1897)

Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. Military palace guard march past the camera.

Like many of these early films there is not a huge amount to this one. We see a scene that could be replayed today as not much has changed when it comes to palace guards in London. Not a particularly special short.

2/5

Hang the messenger

 

Assassinat de Kleber (1897)

Directed by Alexandre Promio and Georges Hatot this is an early short film. A military figure is assassinated.

This dramatic recreation is of a historical event I am unfamiliar with. It takes a bit too long for this short scene to get going, too many unnecessary characters file I before the assassin. Not my favourite of the early Lumiere stuff, a bit amateur dramatics really.

2/5

Greed in '44

 

Sisu (2022)

Directed by Jalmari Helander this film stars Jorma Tommila, Aksel Hennie, Jack Doolan, Mimosa Willamo and Onni Tomila. As the Nazi's feel Finland they rob a gold digger who turns out to be a former Finnish Commando.

As action films go this one is decent, there are some good set pieces. Sure this is not the most realistic film either in terms of the action or getting to grips with Finland's complex WW2 relationships. A fun watch if nothing else.

3/5