“Declan Burke is his own genre. The Lammisters dazzles, beguiles and transcends. Virtuoso from start to finish.” – Eoin McNamee “This bourbon-smooth riot of jazz-age excess, high satire and Wodehouse flamboyance is a pitch-perfect bullseye of comic brilliance.” – Irish Independent Books of the Year 2019 “This rapid-fire novel deserves a place on any bookshelf that grants asylum to PG Wodehouse, Flann O’Brien or Kyril Bonfiglioli.” – Eoin Colfer, Guardian Best Books of the Year 2019 “The funniest book of the year.” – Sunday Independent “Declan Burke is one funny bastard. The Lammisters ... conducts a forensic analysis on the anatomy of a story.” – Liz Nugent “Burke’s exuberant prose takes centre stage … He plays with language like a jazz soloist stretching the boundaries of musical theory.” – Totally Dublin “A mega-meta smorgasbord of inventive language ... linguistic verve not just on every page but every line.Irish Times “Above all, The Lammisters gives the impression of a writer enjoying himself. And so, dear reader, should you.” – Sunday Times “A triumph of absurdity, which burlesques the literary canon from Shakespeare, Pope and Austen to Flann O’Brien … The Lammisters is very clever indeed.” – The Guardian

Friday, March 25, 2011

Nobody Move, This Is A Review: Rewind

Rewind (15A) ****
Karen (Amy Huberman) has a past she’d rather hide from her husband, businessman Simon (Peter Gaynor). Unfortunately for Karen, her ex Karl (Allen Leech) is out of prison and determined to pick up the pieces of his life - even if that means shattering Karen’s life in order achieve it. A compulsive and thoughtful film set for the most part in the suburbs of Dublin, Rewind offers a credibility that’s rare in Irish movies. PJ Dillon’s direction is sharp and clear (Dillon also co-writes), an arrow-straight narrative that offers an emotionally nuanced tale that make Karen’s plight utterly believable as she attempts to shed herself of the blackmailing Karl. There’s a palpable sense of menace in a fine performance from Leech, as Karl ups the ante and turns the screw on Karen, although Huberman - who won the IFTA award for Best Actress for her role here - steals the show with her compelling turn as a recovering addict trying to cope with her worst nightmare coming true. All in all, a gritty, downbeat and pleasingly authentic Irish noir. - Declan Burke

  Rewind goes on nationwide release on March 25th. For the trailer, roll it there, Collette …