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Archive for October, 2007

 

Random Thoughts

  • The most depressing thing about the Irish political landscape is that the government is representative of the people who elected it.
  • Des Bishop nails the current state of the Irish language and he gives it out for two hours. Warm-up support acts are for wimps.
  • The policy of extraordinary rendition is a cancer corroding the heart of America in a way that no terrorist attack ever could. The movie is a lost opportunity.
  • Mash the spuds before you add milk or butter.
  • We harass politicians zealously with relish if they don’t take down their posters after the election but we tolerate estate agents’ For Sale signs littering every mile of road for months on end.
  • I am swimming 36 lengths twice a week. Physical exercise has the added bonus of sharpening the mind.

    • Mark Waters marked time at 10:03 pm on October 30th, 2007 | Add a comment .

    Character Building

    Garage

    IMDB

    Writer: Mark O’Halloran

    Director: Leonard Abrahamson

    Rating: 3 out of 5

    The good points: Well written central characters, well acted, and some well observed sketches of the minutiae of rural life in Ireland.

    The bad points: No plot worth talking about, and what there is follows a predictable and almost clichéd path. It’s as if the plot is incidental to the characters. The movie seemed a little stingy to me, it asked a lot of the audience and gave very little back. It has a lot in common with The Station Agent but lacks the generosity of spirit in that movie. After creating such well rounded characters it’s a pity that they weren’t used in a more interesting and original way. Also, they re-used a joke from Kilanascully. Unforgivable.

    Overall though, it’s worth seeing for the good points.

    Mark Waters marked time at 9:31 pm on October 23rd, 2007 | Add a comment .

    Late Bloomers


    Flowers in September

    After wisely keeping their heads down for most of the miserable summer these lads stretched and yawned and woke up in the middle of September. Now in October the roses are blooming in my back garden. Is this normal or should I prepare for Armageddon?

    Rose in October

    Mark Waters marked time at 6:02 pm on October 7th, 2007 | Add a comment .