Movie of the Week – 3 Women
There’s an abundance of riches on offer for Dublin movie lovers this week so it’s tough to single out a movie of the week, but I’m going to have to opt for Robert Altman’s 1977 gem 3 Women, as it’s probably the only chance you’ll ever get to see it on the big screen in Dublin, and any chance to see an Altman movie in a cinema needs to be taken. It’s a wonderful, dreamlike tale of the unorthodox relationship between three very different women, made at a time when Altman was arguably America’s most exciting filmmaker. Unmissable.
Knight of Cups
Speaking of American auteurs, we’re gifted with a brand new Terrence Malick movie this week. Knight of Cups continues the experimental nature of his recent work, and is every bit as beguiling as his last two near masterpieces, The Tree of Life and To the Wonder. I won’t bother mentioning the plot as there really isn’t one; this is a movie to feel, not follow.
Florence Foster Jenkins
Meryl Streep plays the notorious Florence Foster Jenkins, the New York socialite who came to be known as the world’s worst singer in the 1940s. While Streep is great in the title role, it’s Hugh Grant as her husband who steals the show with what may be his career best performance. This one is a lot of fun.
Evolution
This week’s other new release is Evolution, an esoteric French tale of a mysterious island inhabited solely by adult women and young boys. The movie doesn’t do anything interesting with its intriguing premise and probably would have made for a more effective 20 minute short film.
Johnny Guitar
Nicholas Ray’s 1954 proto-feminist western Johnny Guitar comes to the Irish Film Institute in a newly restored print. Joan Crawford is at her best as the tough saloon owner battling Mercedes McCambridge’s cattle baron for the affections of the titular hunk. A western like few others.
The Master
Also at the IFI this week you can experience Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master in the way its director intended – in 70mm! The late Philip Seymour Hoffman is outstanding in a role heavily based on scientology founder L Ron Hubbard, as is Joaquin Phoenix as the wild man he takes under his wing.
Dog Day Afternoon
Over at the Lighthouse, the De Niro and Pacino season really hits its stride this week with the former in Raging Bull (Tuesday) and the latter in Scarface (Saturday), Serpico (Sunday) and Dog Day Afternoon (Wednesday). Classics all!
Purple Rain
If you’re still mourning the loss of Prince, you can share your grief at a screening of Purple Rain late tonight at the Lighthouse.
By Eric Hillis of themoviewaffler.com
