Gerard Coughlan

I found ' Fish Tank ' , an absorbing film. A powerful performance by the main protagonist , Mia , as she strives to rise above a sad , oppressive life makes this film a realistic representation of tenement -living and the low threshold of expectancy for young people ; born into such circumstances . Mia acts tough in order to survive in this restrictive world but her sensitive and creative nature shows through in her fascination with the tethered horse and , most especially in her creative and skilful dance - routines . She is only fifteen years of age yet , she must make sense of a bleak world and struggle to find positives and a way out of grim cycle ; personified by her mother's casual affairs , heavy drinking and abandonment of her maternal responsibility . Her younger sister looks to Mia for guidance and love but the burden , weighing on Mia's shoulders ....allows for only coarse , gruff acknowledgement ; brilliantly expressed by the parting exchange : ' I hate you '....' And i hate you too ! ' as they tightly hug one another . The settings for the film act as ideal , bleak backdrops to the human -drama that is unfolding . This is no ' sweet ' coming of age , Hollywood light -weight ; it is a grim ,spotty , presentation of a resilient young woman , fighting to create an existence beyond the depressing flats and itinerant , boulder strewn halting-sites . The Lothario , played by a smooth -talking Michael Fassbender , manipulates his way into the mother's dysfunctional life and then ,cunningly , into Mia's affections . Her need for positive approval , especially for her dance -dreams , are cynically exploited by this man . He takes her confidence and manoeuvres it towards his own sexual gratification . Mia reacts with spirit and fire ; imposing hurt and revenge on this smug operator . At the conclusion of the film , Mia witnesses her mother dancing to one of her favourite tracks . She joins in as does the younger sister and the perfect rhythm which unfolds , underlines the dark tragedy at the heart of this work / film . Perhaps they could have functioned as a family but the odds were always stacked against such a remote possibility and Mia's departure is almost pre-destined and so , so poignant .

I have just completed Episode 5 and , even though ...there are Two , episodes remaining , I feel the need to write , having been drawn into this unique , enthralling , frustrating but addictive series . If I was in a flippant mood , I would state : " Never attend an A.A. Meeting on Crockett Island as you may not get beyond the first step of recovery .....or even the first step of the entrance !! " However , the series attracts as much as it appals . This is the alchemy which is its strength . Faith is the central pulse of the Drama ; whether it is faith in the desire to see a dying , fishing community undergo a miraculous revival of fortune and outlook ; or the Faith to remain a sceptical Atheist ; or the Faith to allow , endorse , apologise for , ignore the rise of a sinister , authoritianism regime , deceptively - clothed in the shepherd's garments of the Catholic Church . But , it could be any Church , any take on a God / Prophet / Contemporary faith . Nocturnal masses become Nuremberg rallies as an army grows , gathers recruits , preys on the prehistoric superstitions in our minds and keeps us watching . Like Riley , I am at sea . Will I be a Fisher of men ....or remain true to a personal faith / trauma / crippling melancholy in my heart .......I guess that I had better return to the Church ???....or should I raise a sail for a distant shore ; untouched by A Second Coming...... Does a Beast slouch towards Bethlehem ?..... Six episodes in ....Can I survive on this accursed Island . What did John Keats say ..." And on the shore of this wide world I stand alone ..'Til Love and Fame to Nothingness do sink...." No Ferries , either !! Spoilers , from now on . Of course , it is also said that ...' There is no fool like an old fool ' and I readily hold my hand up in that regard . I persevered with the series , was a doubting Thomas , four episodes in but I , unwisely , kept the ' faith ' and paid the price . The series has descended into a poorly - prepared and performed amateur School Production ( Is Bev's organisational - skills , or the lack of ....finally exposed ? ). The denouement is chaotically cheap , befitting a low - budget Zombie film . Even the Sheriff , a veteran of counter - intelligence ....decides to pull a gun with hostiles immediately behind him !! No , there is no redemption for this series and this viewer . I tried my best , Lord .....went with the flow and now , stand ashamed and exposed . Pass me one of the plastic cups please .... At least , I might make it to the shore -line , without catching cold by covering my nether regions . I already look distinctly ' green ' after being duped by this convoluted chicanery and woeful take on Jonestown . Ah well , can an ol' fella still acquire sense ?? I slouch off to the nearest exit , mumbling about gullibility and taking up golf.......

Wet day in Ireland ...so I trailed along to ' The Black Phone ', for a bit of diversion . Sadly , found the plot to be as slow as a wet day in Ireland ...or perhaps anywhere ? Ethan Hawkes is strongly mentioned for his performance as the bete noir but , in truth , it could be any journeyman actor behind the disguise and , to my mind , his performance was a poor take on Joaquin Phonix's ' Joker ' . The sets are very basic ; indeed dull and ...seeing that five children have disappeared in ' Pleasantville ' , the police seem oblivious and unresponsive to the killer in the community . There is a Stranger Things take on the 1970's but the former has pace , class and dynamism whereas this movie is pallid and poor . It really is very average fare ; lifted slightly by the two actors playing the siblings who are haunted by the villain . my advice ? avoid this one ....