Lifestyle
For the full cinematic experience, book out the screening room in your neighbourhood for the ultimate movie marathon.
Written by screenwriter, TV and Film Development Freelancer and all-round film buff Ethan Deplitch.
Ethan's Picks
Kneecap
Strap yourself in for some anarchic fun detailing the drug induced and sociopolitical rise of the West Belfast hip hop trio Kneecap.
“Every word of Irish spoken is a bullet for Irish freedom.” These are the words Arlo Ó Cairealláin (Michael Fassbender) tries to instil into his doting son Naoise and his best friend Liam. Fast forward twenty some years and the boys have become social nuisances and disappointments, selling drugs and causing a ruckus any chance they get.
Their luck soon changes when they meet JJ, an unassuming local school music teacher who’s grown tired of his trivial day-to-day. After a chance encounter at the local police station, JJ gets hold of Liam’s notebook. It’s filled to the brim with clever quips, anti-British sentiments and JJ thinks the boys are sitting on rap gold. After some convincing, Liam, Naoise and JJ become Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and the balaclava-clad DJ Próvai – and Kneecap is born.
Challenging the status quo doesn’t go unnoticed and the boys quickly become public enemy number one. The police can’ts tand them (mostly because Liam’s having it off with the Chief Officer’s niece), the Radical Republicans Against Drugs want them dead and those advocating for Irish to be recognised as a language want them cancelled, particularly JJ’s partner, who hasn’t a clue of her husband’s new alter ego.
Behind the boisterous gags and COPIOUS amounts of drug taking, Kneecap is a story that possesses a lot of heart. These boys are incredibly proud of who they are and where they come from.
It’s loud, it’s proud and I’m booking tickets to their next gig as we speak.
Only the River Flows
This enigmatic drama by promising director Wei Shujun flips the conventions of the detective genre on its head and delves deep into causality and the meaning of life.
When an old woman’s body is found by the river in rural China, respected and achievement hungry detective Ma Zhe is assigned the case. Basing himself from a disused cinema, Ma attempts to piece together what happened, but as more dead bodies start to crop up, Ma’s confusion grows.
The case eventually ties itself up, but Ma is far from satisfied. His superiors and pregnant wife beg for him to move on, but he can’t help chasing loose ends. Ma’s sanity gradually starts to slip, reality merges with disillusion and he runs the risk of losing everything as he attempts to find meaning in senselessness.
With it’s stark nineties backdrop and heavy nods to Chinese film noir, Only the River Flows is a stylistic gem that will keep you second guessing way after the film’s over. Just don’t end up like Ma!
Sing Sing
A tender yet uplifting prison drama starring Colman Domingo, who continues to cement his status as a Hollywood star. At the Sing Sing Correctional Facility we meet John “Divine G” Whitfield, a gentle soul with a sunny disposition and a proud product of the Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program, which brings dance, theatre, music and writing workshops to prisons.
However, John’s creative space is challenged when he invites the overbearing presence of George “Divine Eye” Maclin into the group. Who suggests they stave away from melancholy dramas in favour of something more light hearted. And with that, a time-travelling musical comedy containing pirates, gladiators, Freddy Krueger and Hamlet is born.
We follow John, Divine Eye and the rest of the inmates (who are all fellow RTA alumni) as they not only attempt to make this absurd play a success. Sing Sing features an array of gorgeous moments where these men embrace their vulnerable sides and pays homage to the importance of giving people a second chance.
Moda Approved Festive Flicks
MUST WATCH:
Gavin & Stacey Christmas special (How will it end!?)
A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter (Unexpected duets and comedic guests)
Last Christmas (Sweet little love story)
Nativity! (Adorable British classic)
The Christmas Chronicles (Siblings save Christmas)
NEW MOVIES:
Red One (The Rock and Captain America save Santa)
The Merry Gentleman (Think Magic Mike does Christma)
Our Little Secret (Christmas with your ex, Lindsay Lohan)
Hot Frosty (About a snowman with abs, don't miss it!)
Meet me next Christmas (Festive rom-com set in NYC)
ALL-TIME FAVES:
Listen to our Christmas playlist, Moda: Baubles and Beats here!
The NBHD V4 has landed.
This edition arrives in time for the festive season where the twinkling lights are creeping in and everyone’s winding down (or winter arcing!) ahead of Christmas.
Check it out here.
