Across 110th Street: Although it’s often lumped in with so-called ‘blaxploitation’ movies of the early 1970′s, director Barry Shear’s minor classic is actually a gritty police procedural with a strong element of social commentary.

Electra Glide in Blue: Boasting stunning wide-screen cinematography by Conrad Hall, this overlooked gem of 1970′s American cinema is a striking one-off by former record producer James William Guercio.

The Last Detail: A Jack Nicholson feast: one of his finest films, and one of his most accomplished biographers. Nicholson’s biographer Patrick McGilligan gives a talk after the film.

The Page Turner: This tightly-coiled thriller is the director’s highest profile celluoid accomplishment to date, yet it’s utterly redolent of the compellingly sprung intimacy of great chamber music. Must avoid the special screening on Nov7 for ‘parents with babies’.

Red Road: With its stomach-tightening foreboding balanced against biting Scots wit, this is quite an achievement on many levels, not least its evident intimacy with the persuasive cast. Essential viewing.

In other news, a fire broke out in the R&H Hall flat grain store on Alexandria Road at about 9pm Monday night. It was still smouldering at lunchtime today. A similar fire occured in their Cork store a few weeks ago. Arson was suspected in that incident. This won’t do much for Dublin-Cork relations.

R&H Hall have four such storage stores around the country. I bet the night watchmen on the other two sites won’t fall asleep on the job for the next few months.
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The SWAN approaches!
Astronomy Ireland is holding public events around the country this evening to look at the Comet SWAN which, apparently, has had an outburst and brightened by a factor of 5 to magnitude 4! In addition, the moon is as close to Uranus as it ever gets so it’s a fun night for all. I was tempted to go with my shiny new camera but I decided against it. Why?

Stargate SG-1 is on Sky One at 8pm and it’s followed by Atlantis. Both, of course!!, are science fiction programmes based in space. What were Astronomy Ireland thinking? I’m such a hypocrite because I constantly berate those (never to their fat faces) who watch soap operas and reality TV programs. Frankly, if I were king for a day, I’d ban ITV. Get out and live a real life, I mutter under my breath.

In my defence, Astronomy Ireland’s second line on their home page reads, ‘join thousands of others on Astronomy Ireland’s FREE emailing list‘. That’s either desperation or poor marketing. And I know what my defence is…

And finally, saw this in Ballygall the other day. I know the council is always playing the poor mouth but, come on, three benches does not a social club make.
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* Film descriptions are taken from the IFI’s November brochure.
** Bacause on the title, I’m really looking forward to what Google searches tempt people here.