Lights, camera, action! The Tuesday Night Arthouse returns to Bantry Cinemax next Tuesday, September 30th with a French film, The Marching Band. The Arthouse series will continue throughout the winter months until December 9th, offering a series of movies that veer away from the USA-heavy general movie scheduling. Meanwhile, Bandon Library continues to run its monthly Movie Club for My Open Library members. The name of the film remains under wraps giving an air of mystery to proceedings regardless of genre; Movie Night is held on the third Friday of each month, and is adults only. Contact Bandon library for more information.

Meanwhile, regular movies both in Bantry Cinemax and in Clonakilty Park Cinema this week include A Big Beautiful Journey with Colin Farrell and Margot Robbie. Reviews suggest the movie is…lacking, somewhat, but the two leading cast members are beautiful, at least. On the other hand, Cillian Murphy’s latest, Steve, has received rave reviews, following a teacher over the course of one day in a British reform school. While no walk in the park, the movie has a note of optimism and hope that brings proceedings to a close. Well worth a watch. Also, (and in the interest of fairness) not a bad-looking leading cast member either.

For those who’ve stuck by the Crawleys through Mary and her Turkish diploma, Edith’s sweet avengement into the state of Marchioness, and the sad demise of the Dowager Countess of Grantham, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale should bring to a close the story of the ostentatiously wealthy and well-bred family. For others more interested in the supernatural than the superwealthy, The Conjuring: Last Rites heralds the first of the Halloween-themed movies as we hurtle towards October. The latest outing is the ninth movie in the franchise, and has also been granted nothing but lukewarm reviews. However, some movies are to be studied, mulled over, and considered; others are simply a bit of craic.

For the kids, a variety of loud, noisy, colour-saturated animated shows are on offer with varying degrees of success. Elio, Smurfs, Diplo: The Might Dinosaur, and The Bad Guys 2, all are on-screen to entertain those who are in the process of developing some taste, while the 10th anniversary of the musical Hamilton is on-screen in both Bantry and Clonakilty with a recording of the original Broadway show.

2022 data from the Film Distributors’ Association reports there are just 110 cinemas in Ireland. With two in West Cork, the region is relatively well-served , giving respite from the  consumptive and passive act of absorbing TV via streaming services from the couch. 

Figures from 2022 suggest that each individual in Ireland went to the cinema on average three times a year, which isn’t bad at all. Long let the tradition continue...kissin’ in the back row…