Actor Brendan Gleeson (1955)

An historical thriller film, The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021), was written, directed and produced by Joel Coen. It is based on William Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth. After leading King Duncan’s army to victory against the traitorous Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth and Banquo are approached by three witches on the battlefield. They predict that Macbeth will become the Thane of Cawdor (already holding the title of Glamis) and eventually be king. Meanwhile, Banquo’s descendants will also rule as kings. In response to the prophecy, King Duncan orders the execution of ...

The comedy film, Paddington 2 (2017), directed and written by Paul King and Simon Farnaby respectively, is a live-action animated sequel to the 2014 movie Paddington. Produced by Heyday Films and StudioCanal UK, it is based on the beloved stories of Paddington Bear by Michael Bond. The lovable bear, now living with the Browns in Windsor Gardens, offers his support to his neighbors in various ways. In order to purchase a special pop-up book of London for his aunt Lucy’s milestone birthday from Samuel Gruber’s antique shop, Paddington takes on odd jobs ...

Mr. Mercedes is an American crime drama television series based on the Bill Hodges novel trilogy by Stephen King, which consists of Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers, and End of Watch. The series premiered on Audience on August 9, 2017. It was developed by David E. Kelley and stars Brendan Gleeson and Harry Treadaway. In November 2018, it was announced that Audience had renewed the series for a ten-episode third season, which premiered on September 10, 2019. In ...

Live by Night (2016) is a compelling crime drama featuring Ben Affleck as the writer, director, producer and star. Based on Dennis Lehane’s 2012 novel of the same title, it follows the story of Joe Coughlin, an Irish-American World War I veteran and son of Boston police captain Thomas Coughlin. In the year 1926, Joe falls for Emma Gould, the mistress of notorious gangster Albert White who he and his friends have been targeting through a series of robberies. Despite Thomas’ disapproval and warnings against Joe’s criminal activities, the love between Joe ...

The historical adventure-drama film In the Heart of the Sea (2015), directed and produced by Ron Howard and written by Charles Leavitt, is based on Nathaniel Philbrick’s non-fiction book The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex. This true story follows the sinking of the American whaling ship in 1820, which served as inspiration for Herman Melville’s famous novel Moby-Dick. In 1850, Melville seeks out Thomas Nickerson, the last surviving member of the ...

An animated fantasy film, Song of the Sea (2014), was directed and co-produced by Tomm Moore. It tells the story of Conor, a lighthouse keeper on an island off the coast of Ireland. He lives with his son Ben, pregnant wife Bronagh, and their Old English Sheepdog Cú. One night, Bronagh mysteriously disappears after giving birth to their daughter Saoirse. Six years later, Conor is heartbroken, Saoirse doesn’t speak, and Ben resents her for his mother’s disappearance. On Saoirse’s birthday, their grandmother visits and criticizes their home as an unsuitable place to raise children. That night, Ben ...

Edge of Tomorrow (2014) is an American science fiction action film directed by Doug Liman and written by Christopher McQuarrie and the writing team of Jez and John-Henry Butterworth, adapted from Hiroshi Sakurazaka’s Japanese novel All You Need Is Kill. The story takes place in a world where an alien race known as ‘Mimics’ have invaded and conquered much of Europe, resulting in the formation of the ...

Calvary (2014) is an Irish drama film written and directed by John Michael McDonagh. In the film, Father James is confronted with a troubled soul who confesses to him about suffering sexual abuse from a priest in his childhood. Shocked by this revelation, Father James offers sympathy for the man’s pain. However, things take a dark turn when the man reveals his plan to murder Father James as revenge for the indifference towards priestly child abuse. In a twisted logic, the man believes that killing an innocent priest will spark more outrage than punishing a guilty one. He gives Father James one week before carrying ...

The American fantasy comedy film, The Smurfs 2 (2013), is based on the beloved comic book series created by Belgian artist Peyo. It takes place two years after the first film and centers around Smurfette’s birthday. The Smurfs share the story of how she was originally created by their enemy, Gargamel, but was rescued by Papa Smurf and transformed into a true blue Smurf. However, Smurfette begins to question her identity and has nightmares about her origins. As her birthday approaches, the other Smurfs plan a surprise party for her but try to keep it a secret, causing Smurfette to think they have forgotten about ...

The Raven (2012), a American crime thriller film directed by James McTeigue and written by Ben Livingston and Hannah Shakespeare, is based on the final days of Edgar Allan Poe’s life. The poet and author finds himself aiding the police in their pursuit of a serial killer whose crimes are inspired by his stories. Though the plot is fictional, it draws from real-life events surrounding Poe’s mysterious death. Set in 19th-century Baltimore, Maryland, police uncover a ...

Safe House (2012), an American action thriller directed by Daniel Espinosa and written by David Guggenheim, tells the story of junior CIA officer Matt Weston in Cape Town, South Africa. His role as a ‘housekeeper’ involves maintaining a local CIA safe house for potential operations. Seeking to join his girlfriend Ana in Paris as she starts her residency, Matt contacts his mentor and superior David Barlow to inquire about a station there. However, Barlow dismisses the idea, claiming that Matt lacks the required qualifications. This only adds to Matt’s ...

The Guard (2011), a buddy cop comedy from Ireland, is written and directed by John Michael McDonagh. It follows the story of Sergeant Gerry Boyle, an officer with the Garda Síochána in the Connemara district. Boyle is known for his brash and aggressive demeanor, often turning to drugs and alcohol while on duty. However, he also has a softer side and demonstrates care for his sick mother, Eileen. Along with his new colleague Aidan McBride, Boyle is tasked with investigating a murder that seems to be linked to an occult serial killer. During this time, he attends a briefing led by American FBI agent Wendell Everett who ...

Based on journalist Rajiv Chandrasekaran’s non-fiction book Imperial Life in the Emerald City, Green Zone (2010) is an action thriller directed by Paul Greengrass and written by Brian Helgeland. On March 19, 2003, Iraqi Army General Mohammed Al-Rawi flees his residence during the bombing of Baghdad. Before leaving, he gives a notebook to his aide Seyyed with instructions for his officers to go into hiding and wait for his signal. Four weeks later, Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller and his team search a ...

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010) is a fantasy film directed by David Yates and written by Steve Kloves. Based on J. K. Rowling’s novel of the same name, it is the first of two cinematic installments. At Malfoy Manor, Severus Snape meets with Lord Voldemort and his followers to report that Harry Potter will be moved to a safe location by the Order of the Phoenix. Voldemort takes Lucius Malfoy’s wand since his own is powerless against Harry’s, as they both share a phoenix feather core. ...

The Secret of Kells (2009) is an animated fantasy film set in 9th-century Ireland during the Viking expansion. It follows the story of Brendan, a curious and brave boy living in an Abbey under the watchful eye of his stern uncle, Abbot Cellach. The Abbot’s main concern is protecting the Abbey from Viking attacks by building a wall around it. Brendan is apprenticed in the monastery’s scriptorium where he first hears about Brother Aidan, the renowned creator of the Book of Iona. As he becomes more fascinated with the illuminator and his unfinished masterpiece, Aidan arrives in Kells with his unique white cat, Pangur Bán, after escaping a raid on his ...

In his directorial debut, Martin McDonagh brings us In Bruges (2008), a black comedy-drama crime thriller. Following orders, inexperienced hitman Ray unintentionally shoots a young boy instead of his target, a priest during confession. Along with his mentor Ken, Ray travels to Bruges as instructed by their employer Harry, to wait for further instructions. While Ken finds the city enchanting and peaceful, Ray is unimpressed and unhappy. However, their boredom is momentarily interrupted when they come across a movie being filmed with a dwarf actor. This entertains Ray greatly. During his time in Bruges, Ray also meets Chloë – a local drug dealer who is working as ...

Beowulf (2007) is an American animated fantasy action film directed by Robert Zemeckis and written by Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary. It is based on the Old English epic poem of the same name. In 507, the legendary Geatish warrior Beowulf embarks on a journey to Denmark with his soldiers, including his closest companion Wiglaf. King Hrothgar seeks Beowulf’s help in defeating Grendel, a deformed and powerful troll who has been terrorizing the kingdom and killing many of Hrothgar’s warriors during a feast at the mead ...

The fantasy film, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007), was directed by David Yates and written by Michael Goldenberg. It was based on the 2003 novel of the same name by J. K. Rowling. While staying at the Dursleys’, Harry Potter is attacked by Dementors alongside his cousin, Dudley. With the use of a Patronus spell, Harry repels them successfully. However, this results in him being detected by the Ministry of Magic for underage magic use, leading to his temporary expulsion from Hogwarts. Luckily, he is ...

Kingdom of Heaven (2005) is a historical drama, directed and produced by Ridley Scott and written by William Monahan. In medieval France, Balian, a grief-stricken blacksmith, is approached by a band of Crusaders visiting his village. Their leader, Balian’s father Baron Godfrey, invites him to join their journey to the Holy Land, but he declines. That night, Balian learns the truth about his wife’s death from his half-brother, the town priest, and in a fit of anger kills him. The next day, seeking redemption for his actions and peace for his wife’s soul ...

The fantasy film, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), directed by Mike Newell from a screenplay by Steve Kloves, is based on the 2000 novel of the same name by J.K. Rowling. In the film, Harry has a nightmare in which a Muggle caretaker is murdered for overhearing a plot involving Lord Voldemort, Peter Pettigrew, and an unidentified man. The next day, Harry joins the Weasleys, Hermione Granger, Cedric Diggory, and his father Amos at the Quidditch World Cup. However, their evening is disrupted when Death Eaters ...