Three Irish movies are getting some hugely positive reviews from the US festivals

Rory Cashin

We should probably expect some Oscar talk around these before too long.

There have been a lot of HUGE film festivals happening around the world in the last few weeks and months, and one of the things that we keep constantly hearing is just how good the Irish movies shown there seem to be doing.

Now, these three in particular have Irish-ness in their DNA in different ways – some have been part financed by Irish production companies, some have been written/directed by Irish talent, etc. – by they have all been lavished with amazing praise, and we imagine some of them will be getting some serious awards talk as we venture closer to Oscar season.

In the meantime, we’ve collected all of the info we have on the big three Irish movies that we have, and most importantly, when Irish audiences can get their eyes on them.

First up,

ROSIE

What’s It About? Written by Roddy Doyle, the film looks to explore the horrifying reality that the housing crisis currently has on so many people in Ireland. It tells the story of a mother (Sarah Greene – Black 47, Penny Dreadful) in Ireland doing everything she can to look after her children after their landlord sells their rented home. Rosie and her partner (Moe Dunford – Vikings, Patrick’s Day) struggle to find anywhere to stay and ultimately end up living out of their car

Irish Release Date: 12 October 2018

Sample Reviews: “A quietly, gradually heartbreaking portrait of regular people coping with a desperate situation…” – Hollywood Reporter

Clip via Element Pictures Distribution

THE FAVOURITE

What’s It About? The latest movie from the writer/director and producers of The Lobster and The Killing Of A Sacred Deer, here frail Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) occupies the throne and her close friend Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz) governs the country in her stead while tending to Anne’s ill health and mercurial temper. When a new servant Abigail (Emma Stone) arrives, her charm endears her to Sarah. Sarah takes Abigail under her wing and Abigail sees a chance at a return to her aristocratic roots. As the politics of war become quite time-consuming for Sarah, Abigail steps into the breach to fill in as the Queen’s companion.

Irish Release Date: 1 January 2019

Sample Reviews: “It’s a perfectly cut diamond of a movie – a finely executed, coldly entertaining entry in the genre of savage misanthropic baroque costume drama.” – Variety

Clip via FoxSearchlight

PAPI CHULO

What’s It About? Written and directed by John Butler (Handsome Devil, The Stag), it tells the story of a solitary and alienated television weatherman (Matt Bomer – Suits, Magic Mike) who “hires” a middle-aged Latino migrant worker (Alejandro Patino – Arrested Development, It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia) to be his friend, in this darkly comedic reflection on class, ethnicity, and companionship in contemporary Los Angeles.

Irish Release Date: TBC, most likely January 2019.

Sample Reviews: “It’s the synergistic performances of Matt Bomer, playing raw and broken, and Alejandro Patino, conveying decency and nonjudgmental compassion behind his deadpan raised eyebrows, that makes the movie click.” – Hollywood Reporter