Monthly Archives: January 2010

8.5 Hours: review

  By pluincee | January 31, 2010 - 5:56 pm | Featured Post, Movies & TV, The Arts, The Culch
3 Comments

Having heard nothing about it – not even watching the trailer – until we attended the premiere on Wednesday, we had no idea what to expect from Brian Lally’s debut film 8.5 Hours. However, the film that has won awards up and down the country, and been screened at numerous film festivals (including Cannes and the Galway Film Fleadh), failed to impress. The film follows a working day in the lives of four Dubliners: Rachel (Lynette Callaghan), trying desperately to raise enough money to secure the flash, Dublin 4 apartment that she just ‘HAS to have!’; Frank (Art Kearns), the oblivious husband, happily golfing his life away with his wife by his side; Tony (Jonathan Byrne), the coke snorting love rat, delighting in bedding as many women as possible; and Eoin (Victor Burke) the supposedly loved up fiancé, busy planning the perfect wedding with future wife, Lisa (Clodagh Reid).

Join us on Groundhog Day

  By Darren Byrne | January 30, 2010 - 3:30 pm | Comedy, Movies & TV, Site News, The Culch
8 Comments

“Okay, campers, rise and shine, and don’t forget your booties ’cause it’s cooooold out there today.” It’s a great film. It’s my favourite comedy and many other people’s too. I’ve seen it dozens of times, but I’ve never caught it in the cinema. That’s something I will be rectifying this Tuesday, February 2nd, with the First Culch.ie Screening of Groudhog Day on……Groundhog Day. The Sugar Club on Lower Leeson Street have been kind enough to help us host the Groundhog Day screening. Doors will open at 6.30pm and we’ll have a bit of fun, some spot prizes, some drinks and then we’ll laugh our respective arses off at Bill Murray’s classic comedy. Many of your favourite Culch.ie writers and a bunch of friends of Culch.ie will be coming along. Places are very limited, so if you would like to join us, leave a comment below and I’ll email you if … There’s more →

All About Steve: review

  By Niamh | January 30, 2010 - 8:15 am | Featured Post, Movies & TV, The Culch
1 Comment

In a moment of desperation, a friend asked me to go to the cinema with her last Friday night and there was nothing on at a decent time apart from All About Steve. I hadn’t heard or seen anything of it and she hadn’t either but Sandra Bullock was in it, so how bad could it be, right? Wrong. All About Steve is the worst film I have ever seen Sandra Bullock in. I’m still shocked that she made it. I possibly should have remembered reading Nialls short synopsis at the end of this post but it had slipped from my mind.

It’s Complicated: review

  By Niamh | January 29, 2010 - 9:31 pm | Movies & TV, The Culch
3 Comments

I saw It’s Complicated last week and although Niall had already talked about it here, I thought I’d give you my tuppenceworth too. To put it very simply, Jane and Jake are married, have three children and divorce after twenty years of marriage. Fast forward ten years, Jake has a young wife and step son, both of whom he struggles to keep up with, Jane is single and has thrown all of her energies and passions into her business. They sleep together unexpectedly and the ensuing what will we do, will we get back together, will we tell the children, will we have an affair dilemmas form the basis of the film.

You need to see…Pigeon Impossible

  By Niall | January 29, 2010 - 8:52 pm | Movies & TV, The Internet
3 Comments

Pigeon Impossible is a short animated film from director Lucas Martell, who wrote, directed and produced, a labour of love that took almost 5 years to complete. What this has resulted in a remarkable little film, as funny as it is visually adept this shows a new filmmaker with a remarkable flair for the medium. Basically the plot revolves around the potential global devastation that pigeons potentially could cause if they ever mobilise and become serious about getting our bread crumbs. So check out the video below and the official website here.

Culch Catch-Up 17

  By bngr | January 29, 2010 - 8:21 pm | Catch-Up, Featured Post, Site News, The Culch
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A catch-up of what’s been happening in Culchland over the last week or so… Upcoming Events Last chance to catch Jack & the Beanstalk at the Gaiety, its over this week end Babes in the Wood in Navan’s Solstice Arts Centre until 31 January UCC Trad Fest from 1 to 5 February Gardening day out with Peter on 7 February Dark dining for Valentine’s day on 14th Little Gem at Abbey until 27 February And finally, the Dublin Fringe festival are looking for acts Some events previously mentioned that are still up and running include Picturing New York - Francis Bacon - Galway Film Society - Temple Bar Trad-Fest - Sing-along Sound of Music Competitions Vodafone caption and photograph competition Film Wolfman review here and here Youth in Revolt review Cult film recommendation – Matango Trailer for new Irish film 8.5 Hours DVDs out this week Music Florence and … There’s more →

“Babes in the Wood” pantomime St. Mary’s musical society Nava

  By FoxeinSocks | January 29, 2010 - 9:30 am | The Arts, The Culch, Theatre
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The St Mary’s Musical Society Navan’s production of Babes in the Wood at the Solstice Arts Centre Navan was simply one of the best pantos I’ve seen. From the first note, it’s a rip roaring rollicking ride packed with shrewd humour and gags; there’s even some jokes. This along with the musical numbers which are sung with gusto and clever dance routines keep you entranced for the whole show, I couldn’t say I knew what was going to happen next but it was always fun. The plot is certainly interesting. The Sheriff of Rottingham is like a cross between a demented Steve Martin and Edmund Blackadder with a bit of Graham Norton thrown in. His assistant, the simpering Facebook is forever poking people and telling us what he’s up to. Nanny Polly Ticks and Robin Hood should have their own shows, poor Maid Marion, it’s difficult to compete with six … There’s more →

Caption Competition: Vodafone Cheer Up Ireland

  By Darren Byrne | January 28, 2010 - 10:02 pm | Competitions, Site News, The Culch
19 Comments

*** Competition Closed - winners notified by email *** Vodafone Ireland are trying to Cheer Up Ireland. “Why don’t they start by giving us some free phonecalls”, I hear you shout. Well, that’s exactly what they’re going to do. As part of Vodafone’s Cheer Up Ireland Campaign, we are offering you the chance to win a few €10 top up vouchers for your Vodafone prepay mobile. Have a look at the picture - the best/funniest captions will win. LEAVE YOUR CAPTION IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.

New Music: Broken Bells

  By johnmfinn | January 28, 2010 - 5:11 pm | Music, The Culch
1 Comment

This video is popping up all the internet this morning so why should Culch be any different. It’s the first single from Broken Bells, a new group featuring James Mercer and Danger Mouse. Mercer is the man behind the Shins while Danger Mouse is best known for being one half of Gnarls Barkley. The album will be out in March but for now enjoy The High Road. [myspace]http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=102521439[/myspace]

Do It In The Dark

  By Lottie | January 27, 2010 - 1:10 pm | The Culch
1 Comment

This Valentines night The Science Gallery welcomes acclaimed New York-based Dark Dining Projects’ artist and creator, Dana Salisbury, for her first European dark dining event. They are inviting adventurous foodies and lovers of surprise to plunge into darkness as we heighten your senses in this sultry, two-hour experience. The evening includes a four-course aphrodisiac tasting menu and performances designed for the dark dining experience. Tickets cost €60 per person for which you get: • Two glasses of wine• Three surprise performances designed for the dark dining experience• Four-course aphrodisiac tasting menu, including palette cleanser For more information visit www.darkdiningprojects.com

Youth in Revolt

  By Rob Cumiskey | January 27, 2010 - 10:00 am | The Culch
3 Comments

I caught a preview of this film on Monday, and was delighted to as I’m an eternal fan of Michael Cera’s work. Cera, for those who don’t know, is George Michael from the hit series, Arrested Development and he was also a big part of Superbad and Juno. He’s made quite a career from his nerdy yet charming personality, and long may it continue. His new film, Youth in Revolt, focuses on an unfortunate young intelligent fellow called Nick Twisp who lives with his mother and her boyfriend Jerry (Zach Galifianakis). Nick’s Dad lives with a 25 year old blonde and overall, he’s not a very happy kid. His days are spent with his even more blue friend called Lefty, pining over girls they can never get with. Deep stuff really.

UCC Trad Fest

  By Keleher | January 27, 2010 - 8:46 am | Music, The Culch
1 Comment

UCC’s Trad Fest is on for the first week in February. Here is the schedule of events Monday, February 1st Session at Spailpin Fanac starting at 9:30pm. Tuesday, February 2nd Session at Seomra Caidreamh starting at 6pm followed by a ceilí upstairs at 9:30pm. Wednesday, February 3rd Free concert by Holly Geraghty (concertina), Jonathan Roche (button accordion) and Matt Griffin (guitar) from 1pm - 2pm at Seomra Caidreamh. Upstairs at 9:30pm there is a concert by Blackie O’Connell (uilleann pipes), Karol Lynch (banjo) and Cyril O’Donoghue (bouzouki) for 5 Euros.

Mission Critical : Tuesday Tune

  By Will | January 26, 2010 - 4:02 pm | The Culch
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Sometimes something reaches my earbuds that I shouldn’t like, but so want to dance to. Gabriella Cilmi first crossed our screens and radios with a sweet sounding tale of not being that sweet. Well one image change later and she is trying to… er… I’m not sure. “(I am a) Woman On A Mission” sounds like the sequel to “I Need A Hero” by Bonnie Tyler, or she’s given up waiting and is going to do it herself. There is an Eighties sound to it (I suspect a sample from Joe Jackson’s “Stepping Out”) and it works. The song is destined to feature in promos for TV shows for the next 20 years. Its also a bit cheesy. There is enough cheese for a few fondues and cheese sandwiches for the entire Irish Country Woman’s Association. And they can put away a lot of sandwiches.