Colm Meaney

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The Journey (2017) Review

Very Good

A fictionalised account of real events, this drama is reminiscent of Peter Morgan's work in The Queen or Frost/Nixon. Even though screenwriter Colin Bateman (Murphy's Law) aims more for entertainment value than pointed character drama, the film is solidly gripping, drawing plenty of brittle humour and complex emotion out of the story.

It's set in 2006, as peace talks about Ireland are taking place in St. Andrews. Prime Minister Tony Blair (Toby Stephens) is trying to orchestrate a meeting between mortal enemies Ian Paisley (Timothy Spall) and Martin McGuinness (Colm Meaney). But there's a hitch when Ian needs to return to Belfast for his 59th wedding anniversary party. In a surprise move, Martin insists on accompanying Ian, citing protocol as a reason. Seeing his chance, MI5 expert Harry (John Hurt) puts a plan in motion for them to travel to Edinburgh together to catch the flight, planting a cheerful young spy (Freddie Highmore) as their driver. The question is whether he can manipulate their journey and cause them to start talking.

As the ice between these stubborn men begins to thaw, the script contrives to push them together with things like a petrol stop, a flat tyre, an injured deer on the roadside and a time-wasting detour through the woods that's intended to break their silence. The two actors have a great time maintaining their bluster through all of this. Spall gives Paisley an imperious attitude that has cleverly wry undercurrents. His rant at a shop clerk about a declined credit card is delivered with biblical proportions. And Meaney has some heart-stopping moments of his own. Both actors clearly relish the snaky, engaging dialogue as they quietly reveal the real men beneath the tough public personae. By contrast, Highmore seems eerily charisma-free as their driver, but there's more fun to be had from Hurt, Stephens and others as hapless officials watching on hidden cameras.

Continue reading: The Journey (2017) Review

Norm Of The North Trailer


Norm is a polar bear frequently laughed at by his Arctic neighbours for his friendly disposition and inclination to hug rather than hunt. However, life becomes no laughing matter for the other polar bears, reindeer and orca that exist in their icy habitat when humans start visiting with cameras, boats. and plans to settle there. Norm is enlisted by a wise seagull to take to the city, flanked by three invincible lemming cohorts, to persuade the mastermind behind the new housing plans of Greene Homes that he really doesn't want to build on the chilly retreat, but unwittingly becomes his furry mascot. Norm does, however, meet a young girl who agrees to help publicize the issue, and save his family and friends. But if he ever wants to return to his own home, he's going to have to do some serious undercover research

Continue: Norm Of The North Trailer

Free Birds Review


Good

An energetic sense of the absurd helps make this animated romp entertaining, even though the script is almost painfully stupid. But the pace is so brisk, and the stream of deranged jokes so continual, that kids will find it hilarious and grown-ups won't be able to stop smiling. So who cares if the story makes no sense at all?

Our hero is a scrawny turkey named Reggie (voiced by Wilson), who's an outcast on his farm because he's both smart and naive. When he's accidentally pardoned by the US President on Thanksgiving, he's living the high life until the meathead turkey Jake (Harrelson) kidnaps him, ranting about a mission to travel back in time to stop the pilgrims from starting the Thanksgiving turkey tradition to begin with. Sure enough, they find a time machine and off they go to 1621, where they team up with a colony of native American turkeys led by Broadbeak (David) and his feisty daughter Jenny (Poehler). But they're also being pursued by a relentless human hunter (Meaney).

The screenwriters conveniently ignore the fact that more turkeys are eaten globally at Christmas than at America's Thanksgiving, but never mind. They also pack the script with a continuous stream of riotously warped gags, random movie references and crazed action sequences. Although even a 5-year-old will be confused that 17th century pilgrims are rendered more like 19th century cowboys. This continual sense of incoherence gets even more annoying later, when the plot abandons even its own tenuous sense of logic. But by then we have realised that it's pointless to resist.

Continue reading: Free Birds Review

One Chance Trailer


When Paul Potts, an opera singer, auditioned for the first series of 'Britain's Got Talent' in 2007, he blew everyone away with his incredibly powerful vocals. Going on to win the show was a surprise to no-one, and it was not just his soulful arias that moved audiences, but his own emotional life story. Growing up he was frequently bullied and found consolation only in that of operatic music. Later, he met his devoted wife Julie-Ann Cooper who relentlessly encouraged him to perform and attend an opera school in Italy. His lack of confidence in himself caused most other people not to believe in him, but he took a brave step in leaving his job as a shop manager and giving 'BGT' a good shot - a decision that would change his life beyond recognition forever.

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Colm Meaney - BFI London Film Festival: 'One Chance' European premiere - Arrivals - London, United Kingdom - Thursday 17th October 2013

Colm Meaney

Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa Review


Extraordinary

In bringing his iconic 1990s radio and TV character to the big screen, Coogan refreshingly refuses to play to American audiences: this film is purely British in its story, setting and characters. And as it gleefully redefines almost every action movie cliche imaginable, it's also one of the funniest films of the year. This is party due to the hilariously astute script, but also because Alan Partridge is both riotously embarrassing and utterly loveable.

As we meet him this time , Alan (Coogan) is trying to save his job at North Norfolk Digital when the radio station is bought by a corporation and turned in to Shape ("The way you want it to be"). In the process, Alan gets his colleague Pat (Meaney) sacked, and at the Shape launch party Pat goes postal with a shotgun, taking the staff hostage. As the police close in around the station, Alan becomes the chief negotiator, realising that this can only help boost his fame. But as he works on increasing his own publicity, Pat is menacing his on-air sidekick Simon (Key), while his offbeat security guard friend Michael (Greenall) finds a place to hide and his assistant (Montagu) has her own encounter with the media.

After all these years, Coogan is able to completely vanish into Alan's distinctive personality, saying all the wrong things at the wrong times while constantly getting distracted by irrelevant details. He only ever does the right thing by mistake. Yes, Alan is a buffoon, but he isn't stupid. Coogan plays him so perfectly that we can't help but like Alan even with his distinctive flaws. And the film actually generates a real sense of menace in this mini-Die Hard siege scenario, blending real danger with inspired physical comedy. And virtually every line of dialog has a joke in it.

Continue reading: Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa Review

Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa - Clips


Alan Partridge is a fatuous, egocentric radio host that has been one of telly's most famous fictitious comedy icons for several years. He now makes a return to screen as his employers, North Norfolk Digital based in Norwich, are about to be taken over by rival media company, Gordale Media, and branded the new name, 'Shape'. People's jobs are now on the line but Alan and his sidekick Simon look like they'll be able to save their shows; one thing's for sure, he's certainly trying to get on the good side of new top boss Jason Tresswell. However, when one DJ is sacked, there's more conflict in the company than they could ever have imagined when they are thrown under siege and brutally held hostage.

Continue: Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa - Clips

Is 'Free Birds' The New Chicken Run? [Trailer]


Woody Harrelson Owen Wilson Amy Poehler George Takei Colm Meaney Dwight Howard Keith David

The trailer for Free Birds, Jimmy Hayward's animated adventure movie, rolled out online this week. It stars Reggie the Thanksgiving turkey (Owen Wilson) who fails to convince his dumb feathered friends that they're being fattened up for the approaching festival feast, alienating himself from the group.

Watch the 'Free Birds' trailer:

However, things begin to look up when he is rescued by the President and begins a new life of eating pizza at his cool new pad. When militant turkey Jake (Woody Harrelson) shows up, Reggie's new life of peace is put on the backburner in favour of a death-defying mission to go back in time and scratch out the traditional festive dinner from history. It sounds mental. It kind of is a bit mental, but it's sure to be plenty of fun for kids and families this Christmas. 

Continue reading: Is 'Free Birds' The New Chicken Run? [Trailer]

Free Birds Trailer


When Reggie the Thanksgiving turkey fails to convince his incredibly stupid feathered friends that they are being fattened up for an approaching feast, he is soon alienated from them. However, things are looking up when he is rescued by the President and even enjoys nibbling on pizza late at night in his luxurious new home. But when militant turkey Jake shows up, it's clear that he's not destined for a life of peace as he is enlisted on a death-defying mission to go back in time to the first thanksgiving and scratch out the traditional festive dinner and save the lives of thousands of their kind. 

Directed by Jimmy Hayward ('Horton Hears a Who!', 'Jonah Hex'), this hilarious animated adventure has a star-studded cast that will keep everyone - both adult and child - in rib-cracking hysterics long after it hits screens. It has been written by Hayward, Scott Mosier ('Clerks: The Animated Series'), David I. Stern ('Open Season 2') and John J. Strauss ('There's Something About Mary', 'The Santa Clause 2') and will arrive just in time for thanksgiving to perhaps persuade you to go vegetarian this holiday season. Watch it as it hits theatres in the UK on November 29th 2013.

Free Birds Movie Review - Click Here To Read

Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa Trailer


Alan Partridge makes a return as the superficial radio nitwit we all love in the upcoming next instalment of the Partridge franchise 'Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa'. The trailer now released shows Alan discussing movie titles with his associates, being particularly drawn to the title 'Colossal Velocity'. When the title 'Alpha Papa' is suggested, appropriately representing his initials in the radio alphabet and loosely meaning 'top daddy', he is underwhelmed, sticking as usual to his own thoughts. The film takes place in Norwich, Norfolk where his employer North Norfolk Digital is about to be taken over in a brutal siege by a major media company and given the new name, Shape.

Continue: Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa Trailer

Colm Meaney - Irish Film and Television Awards 2013 at the Convention Centre Dublin- Arrivals Dublin Ireland Saturday 9th February 2013

Video - Brendan Fraser Snaps The Paps At Whole Lotta Sole Premiere


Brendan Fraser signs autographs and poses for photos alongside co-stars Yaya DaCosta and Colm Meaney at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival premiere of "Whole Lotta Sole". "The Mummy" actor seems at ease as he light-heartedly responds to the photographers by snapping them with his own camera.

Brendan smiles with Yaya (Tron: Legacy) and Colm (Get Him To The Greek) jokingly asking "How's it looking?" as yet more photos are taken. The 43-year-old actor stars as Maguire, an antique shop owner, in this comedy drama about a botched fish market robbery

Colm Meaney Saturday 11th April 2009 seen arriving at Los Angeles LAX airport Los Angeles, California

Colm Meaney
Colm Meaney

Colm Meaney Quick Links

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Colm Meaney Movies

The Journey (2017) Movie Review

The Journey (2017) Movie Review

A fictionalised account of real events, this drama is reminiscent of Peter Morgan's work in...

The Commitments Trailer

The Commitments Trailer

The Commitments was released 25 years ago and to celebrate the cult release, a special...

Norm Of The North Trailer

Norm Of The North Trailer

Norm is a polar bear frequently laughed at by his Arctic neighbours for his friendly...

Free Birds Movie Review

Free Birds Movie Review

An energetic sense of the absurd helps make this animated romp entertaining, even though the...

One Chance Trailer

One Chance Trailer

When Paul Potts, an opera singer, auditioned for the first series of 'Britain's Got Talent'...

Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa Movie Review

Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa Movie Review

In bringing his iconic 1990s radio and TV character to the big screen, Coogan refreshingly...

Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa Trailer

Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa Trailer

Alan Partridge is a fatuous, egocentric radio host that has been one of telly's most...

Free Birds Trailer

Free Birds Trailer

When Reggie the Thanksgiving turkey fails to convince his incredibly stupid feathered friends that they...

Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa Trailer

Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa Trailer

Alan Partridge makes a return as the superficial radio nitwit we all love in the...

Bel Ami Movie Review

Bel Ami Movie Review

Guy de Maupassant's 1885 novel was first adapted for the cinema in 1919, and yet...

Bel Ami Trailer

Bel Ami Trailer

Georges Duroy is a French non-commissioned officer (NCO) who has just spent three months serving...

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