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Every week there are large numbers of indie and specialty releases vying for attention. It’s impossible to do them all, so when the option of reviewing Nowhere Special was placed in front of me I resisted at first after discovering it actually premiered at the 2020 Venice Film Festival. That’s right, four years ago. I had to wonder what could possibly be good about a film delayed for that long in terms of getting a U.S. release date? Finally caving in to the persistent requests by the distributor and its passionate PR team, I decided to check it out.

What I discovered was not that this was some sort of troubled film, not even close. Instead I found a spare but moving drama, powered by a remarkable lead performance, that is all about life and death and all things in between. At its heart it is also an...

There’s not a lot of time left, but the adoption agency working with John (James Norton) is doing their best to maintain his belief that they will find the right place for his four-year-old son Michael (Daniel Lamont). Why is it so important? Because John isn’t simply leaving the boy behind. He’s dying of a terminal disease. And with Michael’s mother already having left him at six months old, the last thing John wants is to leave him alone. This is therefore as much a gift for the child as it is for the father. To give Michael a home means giving him the chance at a life John never had himself as well as a necessary peace of mind for him to eventually let go.

Writer-director Uberto Pasolini crafted Nowhere Special after hearing the true-life story of a man in John’s circumstances. It’s...

Former “X Factor” champion Shayne Ward will star in homegrown British horror movie “Skendleby.” Mark Jackson (“The Orville”) and Niamh McGrady (“The Fall”) will also star.

Ward triumphed on the second-ever edition of the “X Factor” in the U.K. in 2005 before going on to build an acting career and starring in iconic British soap “Coronation Street.” He has now signed to play archaeologist Dr. Giles Glover in “Skendleby,” which hails from Rebekah Louisa Smith’s fledgling Doctor Rebekah Productions banner.

Smith has hitherto been known for her work for running the film festival consultancy business The Film Festival Doctor. Having helped producers through the festival maze, she has now branched out into production herself.

“Skendleby” tells the story of an ancient curse lurking within the estate of Skendleby Hall. It will shoot in the U.K., starting next April, with an all-British cast.

It is Ward’s second big-screen role.

Stars: Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Barry Ward, Martin McCann, Eileen Walsh, Aaron Monaghan, Niamh McGrady, Ross McKinney, Elva Trill, Tim Creed, Cillian O’Sullivan, Patrick Buchanan, Andy Kellegher | Written and Directed by Stephen Burke

Prison break movies are always interesting things. Sometimes you get the high-octane thrillers where action is the main focus, but other times you get the more cerebral, that focuses on the plans to escape, and what it took to pull off an almost impossible feat. Maze is one of the more thoughtful prison break movies, made all the more interesting because of the fact it was based around the Irish troubles.

In 1983, thirty-eight Ira prisoners managed to pull off a mass breakout from Hmp Maze, the infamous high-security prison in Northern Ireland. To do this though first one of the prisoners Larry Marley (Tom Vaughan-Lawlor) had to gain the trust of prison warden Gordon Close (Barry Ward), a...

"You're under arrest; you're going to prison." This week, BBC Two released a new teaser for season three of The Fall.The UK drama, which airs on Netflix in the U.S., follows investigator Stella Gibson (Gillian Anderson) as she hunts for serial killer Paul Spector (Jamie Dornan). The cast also includes Laura Donnelly, Bronagh Waugh, Niamh McGrady, Michael McElhatton, and Ben Peel.Read More…...

Network: Netflix

Episodes: 16 (hour)

Seasons: Three

TV show dates: May 28, 2013 -- present

Series status: Ending

Performers include: Gillian Anderson, Jamie Dornan, Laura Donnelly, Bronagh Waugh, Niamh McGrady, Michael McElhatton, Ben Peel, Frank McCusker, John Lynch, Ian McElhinney, Archie Panjabi, Stuart Graham, Aisling Franciosi, Valene Kane, Emmett J. Scanlan, Bronágh Taggart, Karen Hassan, Jonjo O'Neill, Nick Lee, Colin Morgan, Brian Milligan, Séainín Brennan, and Sean McGinley.

TV show description:      

This crime drama is set in Northern Ireland and follows senior investigating officer Stella Gibson (Gillian Anderson). She must temporarily leave her position to enter the Police Service of Northern Ireland to oversee the progress of a murder investigation that has gone on for too long -- Operation Musicman.

When she discovers exactly what is going on in the case, she must work with the local detectives to find...

The Fall will reportedly shoot six new episodes in Belfast from late February.

An early 2014 start date for the second series shoot was first confirmed in October last year.

Series two of the crime drama - starring Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan - will run one episode longer than the five-part first series, claims the Belfast Telegraph.

Dornan has recently been filming the big-screen adaptation of 50 Shades of Grey, in which he plays sadomasochistic billionaire Christian Grey.

Anderson has also been shooting a leading role in forthcoming Us drama Crisis and a recurring part on the returning Hannibal.

The Fall actors Bronagh Waugh, Gerard McCarthy, Niamh McGrady, Archie Panjabi and Emmett Scanlan are all expected to return for series two.

"Without giving anything away, [series two] sounds fantastic," Scanlan told Digital Spy. "There's a high expectation now after the huge success of the first season, but I'm sure it's one that everyone is relishing.

Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan's crime thriller The Fall will premiere on BBC Two on Monday, May 13 at 9pm, it has been confirmed.

The highly-anticipated series, which also stars Archie Panjabi (The Good Wife), Hollyoaks trio Gerard McCarthy, Emmet Scanlan and Bronagh Waugh, and Niamh McGrady (Upstairs Downstairs), was written by Allan Cubitt (The Runaway, Prime Suspect).

Anderson stars as Dsi Stella Gibson, who is brought to Belfast from the London Met to find a killer. Dornan stars as killer Paul Spector, who has a dark fascination with solicitor Sarah Kay (Laura Donnelly).

> Summer TV 2013: 10 Shows To Get Excited About

The five-part series will air on Netflix in the Us.

BBC drama boss Ben Stephenson said: "The Fall is a unique, forensic and characterful take on a classic genre that continues BBC Two's commitment to original British drama.

"Cubitt's rich and complex psychological thriller combined with another compelling...