WHOLE LOTTA SOLE
We haven't seen always charming Brendan Fraser much lately, but here he is in WHOLE LOTTA SOLE, which was recently shown at Tribeca Film Festival. The story of the hilarious comedy revolves around a botched fish market robbery that leads to the involvement of the local police and a gangster out for revenge. In a misguided attempt to protect his family and pay back gambling debts to the local Mobster, Jimbo (Martin McCan) robs a fish market, which is coincidentally owned by the same Mobster (David O'Hara). On the run, Jimbo is cornered in a local curio shop, where he takes hostage an assortment of colourful characters, including Maguire (Brendan Fraser), who may be his illegitimate father. Surrounded by the Police, the SAS, and the Mobster's crew, the young man must find a way out of his precarious predicament with the help of his oddball captives. The cast also includes Colm Meaney and the director is Academy Award Winner Terry George (IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, HOTEL RWANDA).
THE RUNWAY
Also shown at this year's Tribeca Film Festival was another Irish comedy set in Ireland THE RUNWAY. The hilarious and touching movieis inspired by the true story of a South American pilot who landed his plane near Mallow, in 1983. Against all odds, the people of the town came together to build a runway to get him home and briefly caught the imagination of the nation. It is the story of Paco, a young boy without a father who adopts the pilot and convinces the town to build a runway to get him home.The cast includes James Cosmo, Kerry Condon and Demian Bichir. The film was both written and directed by Irish filmmaker Ian Powers.
THE ANGELS' SHARE
And there's also British comedy THE ANGELS' SHARE which has been shown at this year's Cannes film festival and is directed by famous Ken Loach. This bitter sweet comedy follows protagonist Robbie as he sneaks into the maternity hospital to visit his young girlfriend Leonie and hold his newborn son Luke for the first time. Overwhelmed by the moment, he swears that Luke will not have the same tragic life he has had. Escaping a prison sentence by the skin of his teeth, he's given one last chance......While serving a community service order, he meets Rhino, Albert and Mo who, like him, find it impossible to find work because of their criminal records. Little did Robbie imagine how turning to drink might change their lives - not
cheap fortified wine, but the best malt whiskies in the world. Will it be 'slopping out' for the next twenty years, or a new future with 'Uisge Beatha' the 'Water of Life?' Only the angels know........ The films hits Irish cinemas this June.