#Theatre #Review at #SiArtsNI - The Human Voice. A "mesmerising mixture of powerfully personified emotion", this "impeccable" adaptation, a Prime Cut production starring Nicky Harley, runs at Belfast's Lyric Theatre until Saturday February 28. Review here. tinyurl.com/f7wje2zt

We lost a titan. A true consigliere. An actor who made every scene better just by his presence, Robert Duvall. RIP to a Godfather of Hollywood.

#Theatre #Review at #SiArtsNI - Expösed. "A clever and unique adaptation", the Baby Lamb Production recently ran at Belfast's Accidental Theatre and will run at London's @landutheatre.bsky.social from February 17 to February 21. Review here. tinyurl.com/4jsuefmj

#Theatre #Review at #SiArtsNI - The White Handkerchief. The Millennium Forum's production of Liam Campbell's "enriching, energetic and eclectic theatrical masterwork", directed by Kieran Griffiths, runs at the Derry-Londonderry venue until Sunday February 1. Review here. tinyurl.com/yc2kjraj

The winners of the #SiArtsNI #Theatre And #Dance Awards have been announced as part of a reflective piece on 2025! Read on to find out who won in a year where performativity and reflection took precedence among themes... and congrats to all nominees. tinyurl.com/3t64px4d

The nominations are in for the #SiArtsNI #Theatre and #Dance Awards for 2025! Winners announced soon...

#Christmas #Theatre #Review at #SiArtsNI - Baby It's Cold Outside. Directed by Michael Quinn, the Bright Umbrella revival of Brenda Murphy's classic play runs in Belfast's Sanctuary Theatre until January 4, 2026. Review here. tinyurl.com/52apzhsu

#Christmas #Theatre #Review at #SiArtsNI - The People's Panto: Snow White. A "concise and excellently paced thrill ride", the @BrassneckCo production runs at St Comgall's, Belfast, until December 28. Read more here. tinyurl.com/2s37xb94

#Christmas #Theatre #Review at #SiArtsNI - Robin Hood. Written and directed by Sarah Lyle, Yellow Jumper Productions' panto is "enthusiastic, explorative, exciting entertainment" and runs at Newtownabbey's Theatre At The Mill until January 3, 2026. Review here. tinyurl.com/yc8thxws

#Christmas #Theatre #Review at #SiArtsNI - A Christmas Carol. The Blue Eagle production, which breathes "new and memorable life into a most familiar story", runs in St Augustine's Church, Derry-Londonderry, until December 19. Review here. tinyurl.com/2kfhnfjd

#Christmas #Theatre #Review at #SiArtsNI - Belfast Actually 2. A "most enjoyable" show filled with "fun, laughter and heart", Leesa Harker's comedy, directed by Andrea Montgomery, runs at Newtownabbey's Theatre At The Mill until Saturday January 3 2026. Review here. tinyurl.com/45d3rede

My greatest Rob Reiner memory? I’ll never forget how When Harry Met Sally helped me through a tough time years ago and became my “comfort film” for a while. Bookending the film with “It Had To Be You” was inspired. Frank Sinatra‘s version of the song is playing in my head now. #RIP

Shocked by the awful death of Rob Reiner. I spoke with him for over an hour last night. We talked about his work and his plans for the future. I always enjoyed his company. We met at his Dad's in 1975. Last thing he said to me was "See you next year.." Such a terrible end. Such a sweet man.

#Christmas #Theatre #Review at #SiArtsNI - The Elf Inspectors. "Dazzling as spectacle, sensitively acted and very thoughtfully written", the Replay Theatre Company production runs at @themacbelfast.bsky.social until Wednesday December 24. Review here. tinyurl.com/ywxr8hkc

#Christmas #Theatre #Review at #SiArtsNI - A Christmas Carol. Marie Jones's adaptation, directed by Matthew McElhinney and starring Dan Gordon, returns to Belfast's Lyric Theatre - and it's as engaging, harmonious and humorous as ever. Review here. tinyurl.com/4xr34c6m

#Christmas #Theatre #Review at #SiArtsNI - Jack Frost. The Christmas adventure at @themacbelfast.bsky.social is "richly thematic" and "an intelligent and heartfelt triumph". It runs until Thursday January 1 2026. Review here. tinyurl.com/2wzz68cs

Since I RT this every American Thanksgiving: my review of PLANES, TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES. filmfreakcentral.net/2017/11/plan...

#Theatre #Review at #SiArtsNI - Belfast Playwrights: 10-Minute Plays. A recent festival of ten-minute plays for emerging theatre makers took place at Belfast's Black Box - and the promise in each work was tremendous. Review here. tinyurl.com/53vurjn6

#Music #Review at #SiArtsNI - An Evening With Tia Bow & Clare Galway. The "eclectic, experimental and effervescent" work of two talented artists hugely entertained the audience at Belfast's Sunflower, as part of @ohyeahcentre.bsky.social's #SoundOfBelfastFest25. Review here. tinyurl.com/43pb3ebv

Wicked: For Good? Better than expected. Cluttered, over ambitious maybe, but elements *did* ring strong and true - particularly Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s performance of the title song, which to me might be the best song in all of Wicked. Tears were shed as the contrasting vocals harmonised.

#Theatre #Review at #SiArtsNI - Belfast Girls. Directed by Rhiann Jeffrey, the An Táin Arts Centre and Quintessence Theatre production of Jaki McCarrick's play recently concluded an Irish tour at Belfast's Lyric Theatre. Review here. tinyurl.com/4a5w4d27

New #Film #Review from me on @letterboxd.social - Saipan (2025), directed by Glenn Leyburn & Lisa Barros D'Sa, and starring Éanna Hardwicke and Steve Coogan. I saw it at the Belfast Film Festival recently, and it's due to be screened at this year's Foyle Film Festival on November 23. boxd.it/bJDcAL

Reeling at the passing of Pauline Collins. Among many performances, she made the film adaptation of Shirley Valentine the memorable work that it is. #RIP

#Theatre #Review at #SiArtsNI - Marjorie's Dead. The Dark Forest Theatre production, a "chilling, humane and eclectic" work, runs at the Studio in the Grand Opera House, Belfast, from Thursday November 6 to Saturday November 8. Review here. tinyurl.com/3jruees6

Ally Sheedy is simply incredible in The Breakfast Club. My latest viewing has opened my eyes to further nuances in an astounding and enduring portrayal.

Written a lot, and I mean a lot, on The Breakfast Club following another viewing, this time to mark forty years of the film. Astonished by the level of visual and textual depth John Hughes came up with here, in such a relatively short space of time.

#THEATRE #REVIEW at #SiArtsNI - Denouement. Directed by Jimmy Fay, this "staggering" work, with "top tier performances" from Patrick O'Kane and Anna Healy, runs at Belfast's Lyric Theatre as part of @belfastfestival.bsky.social #BIAF25 until November 15. Review here. tinyurl.com/56cfuc98

#THEATRE #REVIEW at #SiArtsNI - Unreconciled. This "masterful" one-man show, co-written and performed by Jay Sefton and directed by Geraldine Hughes, concludes its @belfastfestival.bsky.social #BIAF25 run at Belfast's Lyric Theatre on Sunday October 19. Review here. tinyurl.com/2mw4uub2

#THEATRE #REVIEW at #SiArtsNI - Ottilie. This "sublime" show, written by Richard Clements and starring Jolene O'Hara, runs in the Studio at the Grand Opera House, Belfast, as part of @belfastfestival.bsky.social #BIAF25 until Friday October 24. Review here. tinyurl.com/yhy9ws63

#Theatre #Review at #SiArtsNI - The Boy Who Kicked Pigs. The @bruiserni.bsky.social production, an "outstandingly accomplished" and "marvellously macabre" show, runs at The MAC, Belfast - @themacbelfast.bsky.social - until Saturday October 18. Review here. tinyurl.com/nztuj3h

#Theatre #Review at #SiArtsNI - 9 to 5: The Musical. The “impressive and inspirational” Ulster Operatic Company production runs at The Grand Opera House, Belfast, until Saturday October 11. Review here. tinyurl.com/27fxvnmp

#Theatre #Review at #SiArtsNI - Under The Lights, "a frankly phenomenal experience". The c21 Theatre Company production runs at the Studio at the The Grand Opera House, Belfast, from Thursday October 9 to Saturday October 11. Review here. tinyurl.com/3zhkvrpy

I've noticed that my choices for favourite movies of the decade so far have all hinted at looking back to look forward - they're all indicative, in their own way, of the power and value of reflection.

The 2020s has been full of great movies. Some I'd like to single out are: West Side Story (Steven Spielberg, 2021), Ballywalter (Presanna Puwanarajah, 2022), No Hard Feelings (Gene Stupinitsky, 2023), The Holdovers (Alexander Payne, 2023), Furiosa (George Miller, 2024), Weapons (Zach Cregger, 2025).

Recently watched Back To School (Alan Metter, 1986) and it's much better than I thought it would be. More than a terrific vehicle for Rodney Dangerfield, it features the institution-shaken-up-by-misfits tone of, say, Caddyshack, Stripes and Ghostbusters '84 but really tones down the obnoxiousness.

Check in on the writers in your life.

Half way through my second viewing of No Hard Feelings and enjoying every minute. It has that Hughesian blend of class analysis, bold comedy, memorable set-pieces and real poignancy… and, perhaps, Jennifer Lawrence’s best performance ever.

Rewatching All The President’s Men tonight. #RIPRobertRedford

RIP Robert Redford. Directed at least two masterpieces imho, possibly four. As sturdy as movie stars get. Lived a full life but this one stings because he was one of those constants, y'know?

The more I think about Celine Song’s Past Lives, the more I am intrigued by the sentiment and the ideas within than the film itself. Still an admirable work, but at present it doesn’t “soar” for me.

#Jaws is ultimately a survival story. We never forget, for example, that Brody has been pushed to the edge and is fighting to stay afloat - literally and metaphorically - before his temporary, fleeting conquering of his outer and inner demons.

I haven’t said it until now, but I think #Jaws might actually be a perfect film.

#Theatre #Review at #SiArtsNI - Volunteers. Arts Over Borders' production of Brian Friel's play is "a masterfully orchestrated mixture of performance art, enduring truths and social satire". It was recently staged at Derry-Londonderry's Playhouse Theatre. Review: tinyurl.com/msfad7vv

I watched #Ballywalter in its entirety for the second time last night. I *love* that film. It's handled with perfect taste in every sense, knows exactly what it's doing and why it's doing it, and it never fails to move me. Seána Kerslake and Patrick Kielty are both tremendous.

There really is no film quite like The Godfather. Parts I and II.

For @unclegrambo.bsky.social and @deciderdotcom.bsky.social, I wrote about Terence Stamp: decider.com/2025/08/19/t...

Beat both teams in #OnlyConnect this week with a score of 22. Think that’s my highest of the series so far.

Zach Cregger’s Weapons is also very Dahlian. It echoes and smartly integrates elements from both The Witches and Matilda.

A share for @mangiotto.bsky.social’s brilliant take on Zach Cregger’s Weapons, an exceptional film.

Zach Cregger’s Weapons is incredible. The elements are familiar, but the story and characters are fresh and the overall effect is beyond chilling. I was trembling and very thoughtful when I left the cinema. Julia Garner is fantastic.