The Irish in Britain, including those of Irish descent, make up a significant part of the UK population. Here, you will find news, entertainment, events, sports and features from the local Irish Post newspaper.

FILM REVIEW

The 40-Year-Old Virgin

By Patrick Ryan

This is one of those films that surprises you. The trailers and publicity would have you believe that it’s a moronic sex romp a la American Pie. It’s actually a very sweet and very funny tale of a man who has been saving himself for the right woman.

Steve Carrell plays the titular role, a man who would rather stay in than go out on the prowl with his mates.

One night his pals find out that he is a virgin and life is never the same for him.

Everybody is suddenly trying to get him fixed-up with someone.

At the same time he is slowly developing a relationship with a woman who shares his zany outlook on life.

There are times when it reverts to type, a lot of the women that his mates set him up with are often there simply for comic relief.

Nothing wrong with that I hear you say, especially when it’s done like this.

There’s still plenty of juvenile fun, as you would expect from the stable that brought you Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy and some of the jokes get lost in translation.

But none of that can stop The 40-Year-Old Virgin from being the first decent romantic comedy in ages.

Starring Steve Carrell, Catherine Keener and Paul Rudd.

Directed by Judd Apatow.

Out nationwide now.

The Machinist

DVD REVIEW

By Patrick Ryan

The Machinist will probably be best remembered as the film in which Christian Bale became so thin that Kate Moss was concerned for his health.

That’s a pity, because The Machinist is a pretty clever thriller that will keep you scratching your head long after the credits have rolled.

Bale plays Trevor Reznick, a man who hasn’t slept in a year — ergo his bony physique.

He leaves himself notes on his fridge along the lines of: “Who Am I?” which implies he is suffering from amnesia as well as insomnia.

Things get complicated for Trevor when he starts seeing things that other people don’t.

You’ve seen films done like this a thousand times, most notably in Christopher Nolan’s majestic Memento.

While it never reaches those heights, there’s much to recommend despite the fact that there are entire plot points that are never properly explained.

The rest of the cast are fairly superfluous. Jason Leigh plays a call girl with a heart of gold for what feels like the umpteenth time in a row while the rest of the cast operate in broad strokes only.

Still, The Machinist isn’t afraid to make you think and these days that’s a rare commodity indeed.

Starring Christian Bale, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Michael Ironside and Aitana Sánchez Gijón.

Directed by Brad Anderson.

On sale now.

On A Clear Day

FILM REVIEW

By Richard Purden

One of the highlights of this year’s Edinburgh Film Festival, On A Clear Day is bound be an autumn hit with cinema audiences despite some lazy press rendering it a Full Monty repeat.

In truth it’s a very Scottish take on working-class fortitude and survival with some particularly Celtic themes and nuances on display.

The working class spirit of Glasgow is captured and the film is well-written and free from cliché. Peter Mullan as Frank is inspiring in the lead and delivers his most powerful performance since My Name Is Joe.

After losing his job Frank suffers a breakdown and everything he knows is lost in a day. In order to survive his life’s focus and direction have to go through a dramatic change. With the help of four dysfunctional friends who all have their own personal demons to overcome, he slowly begins to claw back his life.

There are moments where Mullan is as dangerous and edgy as Robert De Niro in Taxi Driver — the old-school Glaswegian tough guy; lost and confused about his life and about to erupt at any moment.

As well as losing his job Frank realises he has also lost his family and must confront the flaws in his own masculine view of society. His relationship with his son (Jamie Sives) is cast adrift because he is a house-husband. The relationship with his wife (Brenda Blethyn) is not much better as he fails to recognise she is on her own journey of self-discovery.

Danny played by Billy Boyd provides the same kind of comic relief he delivered in Lord of the Rings.

For a first-time female director (Gaby Dellal) this is a candid account of male masculinity and identity.

All the characters in this film are swimming in their own sea of low-self esteem and watching them reach the surface of their own personal toil in a realistic, dignified and sometimes humorous manner is cinema at its best.

Starring Peter Mullan, Brenda Blethyn, Billy Boyd and Jamie Sives.

Directed by Gaby Dellal.