News

Warner Bros starting Frances O’Connor’s ‘Emily’.

Sony Pictures Entertainment’s family comedy Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is the widest opener at the UK-Ireland box office this weekend, as horror franchise Halloween comes to a close with Universal Pictures’ Halloween Ends.

Released in 656 locations, Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is based on Bernard Warner’s 1965 children’s story of the same name, and its prequel The House On East 88th Street, about a crocodile that lives in New York City.

The film is directed by Josh Gordon and Will Speck; it combines computer animation – including for the crocodile – with live-action. Canadian pop star...

Robert Manson’s flawed but intriguing movie makes odd observations on a shifting black-and-white world

The Irish film-maker Robert Manson has gone back to his native Wicklow for this flawed, intriguing, indulgent movie with a touch of Kafka. It’s an experimental piece, drifting and dreamlike – though declining to let you know if it is a good dream or a bad dream – shot in black and white, with little bursts of colour Super 8.

David (Conor Madden) is a nondescript guy attempting to leave what appears to be a featureless little town. He is trying to catch a ferry, but keeps getting told he has the wrong ticket or he’s at the wrong terminal. (His passport is mysteriously of the old-fashioned variety.) An enigmatic woman called Rosa (Jeanne Nicole Ní Áinle) accosts him with weird questions and odd observations about which of the people they can see around them are still alive.

There are many film projects seeking funds via crowdfunding platforms these days, which offers the unique opportunity for an audience to interact and connect with a film, sometimes before the first shot is captured. This bi-weekly column will highlight projects that demonstrate potential, and deserve a closer look (and possibly a donation).

Detropia

The Gist: This documentary, which chronicles the life of the city that had once been symbolic of the American Dream and the devastating effects of economic downturn, premiered at Sundance is raising funds to release independently.

Why it Should be Kickstarted: Created by veteran documentary filmmaker team Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady (Jesus Camp, 12th & Delaware, Freakonomics), this release will be their effort to bring their film directly to fans, hoping to spur discussion. In this own words, “This film is our truly most independent (and visual) work and a creative departure for us – we wanted it...