By Eric Hillis
The holiday season wouldn’t be the same without It’s a Wonderful Life, returning to the big screen all week at the Irish Film Institute. Just like Wizard of Oz and Casablanca, the movie was poorly received on its initial release back in 1946, but over the decades it’s become required Christmas viewing. A film that’s so much more than simply a great festive watch, it’s one of the best movies of Hollywood’s golden age. The scene in which a drunken Jimmy Stewart breaks down in despair is one of the greatest pieces of acting ever committed to celluloid, and guaranteed to bring a tear to your eye.
Ridley Scott’s ‘Final Cut’ of his sci-fi classic Blade Runner has long been available on DVD and Blu-ray, but next year it will make an appearance on cinema screens in a brand new print. If you can’t wait that long you can catch it this Sunday at either the IFI or the Lighthouse. This is the definitive version of the movie and should look fantastic on the big screen.
Another seasonal classic is of course Die Hard, which plays at the Lighthouse on Friday and Wednesday. Yippee Ki Yay!
The big new release this week is The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. Many have loved this trilogy but it’s been a dull slog for this viewer. For hardcore fans only.
