Domhnall Gleeson

The towering technical achievements and bravura sequences of ‘The Revenant’ are enough to warrant a visit to this grim wilderness

After being a runaway indie hit earlier this year, a new video explores the use of artificial intelligence in the movies, specifically focusing on the Alex Garland film, Ex Machina. In the video, Garland and his team sit down with The Creators Project to discuss their inspirations for the film, the relation between AI and …

Ex Machina is a superior techno-thriller that asks a lot more questions than it’s willing to answer. Filmmakers have long exploited the dangers of artificial intelligence, but few have the courage to examine the hubris behind Man’s technological self-destruction. Alex Garland’s assured directorial debut showcases a patient filmmaker adept at world building. Like all good sci-fi films with big ideas and bold visuals, you’ll be thinking about Ex Machina long after you leave the theater.

Unbroken Written by Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, Richard LaGravenese & William Nicholson Directed by Angelina Jolie USA, 2014 An unrelentingly grim affair, Unbroken excels at its realistic portrayal of dehumanization, but fails to capture the indomitable spirit of its protagonist.  Angelina Jolie’s film is an impressive technical achievement, and her hero’s journey is undeniably gripping, …

Frank Written by Jon Ronson and Peter Straughan Directed by Lenny Abrahamson (as Leonard Abrahamson) UK/Ireland, 2014 Artistic personalities from all walks of life seem to dance to the beat of their own distinctive drums. The creative process and all its motivations and manipulations is what makes these dedicated artists strive for their performing juices. …

Director John Michael McDonagh wastes no time in establishing the stakes of Calvary. In a darkened confessional, Father James Lavelle (Brendan Gleeson) is told that he is going to die in a week. The man planning to kill the priest explains it is exactly because Father Lavelle has done nothing wrong that he is going to die. Of the two McDonagh brothers, John Michael is known for his irreverent comedy The Guard, but with this latest release he joins the ranks of the most fatalistic of Irish artists.

Frank Directed by Leonard Abrahamson United Kingdom, 2014 The pitch for Frank sounds like it might fall somewhere between Rubber and Kevin Smith’s upcoming Tusk: films that seem predicated on a dare, a bet, a drunken night. But Frank is a high concept film masquerading as low concept. Jon (Domhnall Gleeson) is a middle-class, IT-by-day, …