Movie of the week – The Childhood of a Leader
Brady Corbet is a young American actor who has popped up in some of the best movies from both sides of the Atlantic over the past few years. It seems he was taking notes while working with filmmakers like Michael Haneke, Sean Durkin and Lars Von Trier, as his directorial debut The Childhood of a Leader is a stunning piece of work, instantly establishing Corbet as one of the most interesting directors working today. Set at the end of WWI, the movie imagines a few weeks in the childhood of a young boy who will later grow up to be a fascist dictator. Confidently directed and acted with aplomb, this one really gets under your skin. One of 2016’s best, and a must see this week.
Lights Out
Lights Out is an effective little horror adapted from a short that went viral a couple years back. Exploiting our primal fear of the dark, director David Sandberg pulls off some creepy set-pieces revolving around a mysterious demon that only exists in the dark. You may want to sleep with the lights on after this one.
David Brent: Life on the Road
Ricky Gervais returns to the role that made him a household name in David Brent: Life on the Road. This one sees the former Office protagonist hitting the road in an attempt to fulfill his dream of becoming a rock star. Low on laughs, and downright grim at times, this is little more than a poor man’s Spinal Tap.
The Heartbreak Kid
If you’re after genuinely great comedy, head to the Irish Film Institute, which is hosting a season of the films of director Elaine May. Before her career was cruelly ended with the infamous flop Ishtar, May established herself as the leading female director of character based comedy. You can catch A New Leaf on Saturday, The Heartbreak Kid on Sunday and Mikey and Nicky on Wednesday.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Over at the Lighthouse, two populist gems of the ’80s and ’90s get an airing this week. The late John Hughes’ teen classic Ferris Bueller’s Day Off plays Sunday, while on Wednesday you can take your pride along to see Disney’s The Lion King.
By Eric Hillis of themoviewaffler.com
