By Mike Finnerty After years of dubious Oscar wins, the Academy finally copped on and gave Oscars to films that deserve it. Bong Joon-Ho’s Parasite has made history by becoming the first-ever foreign-language film to win Best Picture. The Korean cinema maestro also took home Oscars for Directing and Original Screenplay, making him the first person to win 3 Oscars …
By: Mike Finnerty Comedy actors going straight and turning in critically acclaimed, award-winning performances is a narrative that is as old as film itself. Jim Carrey, Tom Hanks, Steve Carrell, Eddie Murphy, Whoopi Goldberg, the list is vast. And now you can add Adam Sandler to the list. If you want the short version of this review, watch Uncut Gems …
Limerick has a long roll-call of distinguished musical artists – and Megatrad are next. Formed by brothers Cillian and Sean O’Dálaigh from Ardnacrusha, Co. Clare and Denis McAuliffe from Cratloe, the University of Limerick graduates are here to bring trad to the masses; stompbox and all. But how would Megatrad describe their music to the uninitiated? “That’s a good question, …
If you’re reading this review and weighing up whether to watch The Irishman, what are you still doing here? Go watch it, and come back to this review. Leave it open in another tab. Still here? Let’s begin. 2019 has been a strange year for films. The mid-budget film has died a death, superhero films are more popular than ever, …
SexEd is a documentary by filmmaker Tatiana Evonuk, and the director said the documentary she hopes the documentary “starts a conversation in the culture.” Speaking to An Focal, Tatiana describes the documentary as “a communal effort influenced heavily by deeply negative and ongoing social effects the Catholic Church and its doctrine continue to have on young people’s perception or level …
It finally happened. Shenmue got a sequel. After the 2001 sequel ended on a cliffhanger, fans were waiting on pins and needles for any news about a sequel. Sony’s 2015 E3 conference will live long in the memory of any gamer if the reactions are anything to go by. Over four years later, Shenmue 3 is available to buy, and …
By: Mike Finnerty Wednesday, November 18th, 2009, Stade De France. Reigning World Cup runners-up France and two-time competition entrants Ireland are duking it out in the European qualifiers. France, after a torrid Euro 2008 and a spotty qualification campaign that led to them finishing behind Serbia, are forced to a play-off with an unbeaten Ireland, who have managed to hold …
Irish-American philanthropist Loretta Brennan Glucksman, namesake for the University of Limerick’s library, donned cap and gown in New York City on Sunday as she was conferred with an honorary doctorate of letters by University of Limerick. At an event in Glucksman Ireland House at New York University on Fifth Avenue, UL chancellor Mary Harney conferred the degree on Ms. Glucksman …
How do you follow up a masterpiece like Heat? Easy. You make The Insider. Michael Mann has had one of the most storied arcs out of any Hollywood director. He revolutionised television with Miami Vice, invented the modern anti-hero archetype with Thief, gave the world the definitive Hannibal Lecter movie (sorry, Jonathan Demme!), and somehow made a cyber thriller starring …
UL’s Popular Music and Popular Culture Research Cluster are curating a one-day Symposium to assess the musical and cultural legacy of The Fall. With numerous albums and countless line ups, The Fall, led by the late Mark E. Smith remain one of the most influential bands to come out of the Post-Punk Manchester Scene. Combining spoken word, lyrical poetry, surrealism and, …