GLASGOWBURY were celebrating this week after picking up two awards at the annual Irish Festival Awards in Dublin.
The ‘Small But Massive’ festival was once again voted Ireland’s Best Family Festival and the Best Service provider.
Now in its third year, the annual Irish Festival Awards celebration acknowledges the hard work done by festivals up and down the country.
The local festival is also celebrating the added coup of holding both the family and service awards for the last three years in a row.
“A massive thanks has to go to all of Glasgowbury’s fans who took the time to vote for us,” said festival organiser Paddy Glasgow.
“We’re over the moon to have held on to two such excellent awards since 2008 and hope to continue with festival success for many more years to come.”
Plans for Glasgowbury 2011 are ongoing and announcements regarding line-up and tickets will be made shortly. See www.glasgowbury.com for more information.
Smart, low cost ways to quickly grow and sustain your business in any economy.
Are you ready to be a part of one of the most exciting business days of 2011? If you like to leave business events brimming with energy, feeling totally inspired with a ‘can do’ attitude and a notepad full of incredible ‘how to’ content, then The Event 2011 is exactly right for you and your business.
What is The Event 2011?
Quite simply The Event 2011will be the most awe inspiring business event of the year, overflowing with no/low cost strategies and techniques that will help you to make more money in your business. It is a world class, multi-speaker event, with two incredible speakers from the USA, as well as dynamic talks from successful business owners closer to home.
In short, this is exactly what the talented entrepreneurs of Northern Ireland have been waiting for: a high energy, uplifting, content-rich event that will really deliver and equip you with the skills, mindset and resources you need to make a difference!
Jairek Robbins
“Designing and Living Your Extraordinary Life and Business”
Having Jairek speak at this event is a real coup, an opportunity not to be missed. Focusing on mindset and motivation for business success, he helps people realise their business and personal potential.
After 11 years of studying the personal development industry and testing just about every strategy he could get his hands on (and not to mention 26 years growing up in the industry), Jairek is going to be sharing with you “WHAT WORKS!”
At ‘The Event 2011‘ Jairek will show you how to create a specific action plan in living your version of an Extraordinary Quality of Life and Business.
By the end of Jairek’s 90-min power packed talk, you will be inspired from his message and you will also have a real plan of action on how you’re going to go out and turn your dreams into reality!
Jairek is simply amazing!! I’m proud to say that he is my coach and he has inspired me to do far more than I ever believed I was capable of. This an incredible and unmissable opportunity to hear Jairek in Belfast.
Other Speakers on the day:-
Darren Gardiner
“If You Want To Be A Success, Do What Successful People Do”
Darren is an exceptional local success story who travels the world with his company LSFX.
LSFX are one of the UK’s top sound, lighting and AV installation and production companies. They cover the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe. They offer a complete turnkey solution for any size or type of installation including: large hotel, large stadium, nightclub, house of worship, educational and leisure venues.
He is also a driving force behind Ground Espresso Bars, Northern Ireland’s very own chain of coffee houses.
Darren knows what it takes to be a success and will be sharing his experience and knowledge during this highly enjoyable, humorous and engaging presentation.
The easiest way to create a winner’s approach is to copy successful people. If you simply listen and apply Darren’s message, you’ll also be well on the way to your own success.
Colin Daymude
“Follow Up Failure is Killing Your Business”
Colin is the Director of Business Development at Infusionsoft, as well as being a highly sought after speaker and marketing expert.
Infusionsoft is the leader in Email Marketing 2.0. They combine powerful CRM software with email marketing and help small to medium businesses grow faster and smarter.
Colin is flying here exclusively for ‘The Event 2011‘ from the USA. This is a “one-off” opportunity to learn marketing and sales strategies from such an incredibly talented world class expert on business marketing.
Colin is going to share with you the latest leading edge concepts in marketing and sales strategies that are critical for success in this economy.
This is going to be an amazing presentation from a global authority, that will provide you with easy to use strategies and techniques exclusively for SME business growth. This is a presentation that is a must attend – put simply, you will discover how to make more money!
Zoe Cairns – “Why Businesses Should Be Using Social Media”
Zoe is known as the “Queen of Social Media” and will show you how to market your business online and generate free traffic.
Many business owners are already using social media sites to promote their business but very few know how to maximise the effectiveness of them.
Zoe will demonstrate how to fully exploit the capabilities of these forums. In other words, you will learn invaluable methods of promoting your business and generating sales at no cost.
She will show you automation tools, twitter tools and lots of different strategies, tips and techniques on how you can create your presence online and build your brand awareness on the internet.
Zoe has many ways in which she will show you how to drive more traffic to your websites and blogs!!!!
Based in England, this speaker is in constant demand for her knowledge, at a range of top business events.
The largest businesses in the world are now utilising social media to create brand awareness, customer loyalty and gain sales. This is your opportunity to learn the secrets they are using so you too can make money from social media.
Simon Smith “Networking and Referrals Are The Lifeline to Success”
Simon is a seriously professional networker, and as the Managing Area Director for BNI (Business Networking International) in Northern Ireland, helps business owners become experts in word-of-mouth marketing.
Simon is incredibly successful at teaching business owners how to network and create referral business.
During his presentation he will discuss the importance and benefits of effective business networking, including: the value of referrals; the opportunities created by establishing rapport with other business owners and service providers, and the advantages of extending one’s business profile in their local area.
Simon is also going to be adding a unique twist on networking during his presentation.
This unique twist will be great fun, you will make great connections and you will have the opportunity of winning a fantastic prize!!
Great networkers make great leaders because they have unlocked the potential of networking in their busy lives. They have created simple systems that enable them to connect with others, stay connected and create valuable lifetime connections with key players, spheres of influence and other master networkers. You too can begin to gain these valuable skills during Simon’s powerful presentation.
To book your place on The Event 2001 click HERE. Early bird tickets are available but limited.
Businesses across Belfast are being urged to apply for the Belfast Business Awards as soon as possible as the closing date for entries is two weeks away. Belfast City Council will host the prestigious event in the City Hall on Thursday 14 April with 21 awards up for grabs in recognition of the fine work of business enterprises, retail outlets and businessmen and women from across the city. The Belfast Business Awards are supported by Belfast City Centre Management (BCCM) and Victoria Square is the principal sponsor of the awards this year. The closing date for entries is on Friday 18 February. Calling on businesses to enter the awards are Councillor Conor Maskey. Chairman of Belfast City Council’s Development Committee, Hugh Black from Victoria Square and Andrew Irvine from Belfast City Centre Management.
Businesses across Belfast are being urged to apply for the Belfast Business Awards as soon as possible as the closing date for entries is two weeks away.
Belfast City Council will host the prestigious event in the City Hall on Thursday 14 April with 21 awards up for grabs in recognition of the fine work of business enterprises, retail outlets and businessmen and women from across the city. The Belfast Business Awards are supported by Belfast City Centre Management (BCCM) and Victoria Square is the principal sponsor of the awards this year.
The closing date for entries to the awards is on Friday 18 February. Among the awards’ categories are ‘Best New Business’, ‘Best Green Business’, ‘Best International Trade Business’, ‘Best Creative Business’ and ‘Best Manufacturing Business’. Accolades will also be bestowed for the ‘Best City Hotel’ in Belfast, the ‘Best Restaurant’, ‘Best Café/Coffee Shop’. This year there will also be three new categories – the ‘Customer Service Excellence in the Professional Service Award’, the ‘Embracing the Belfast Brand Award’ and the ‘Belfast Champion Award’.
Councillor Conor Maskey, Chairman of Belfast City Council’s Development Committee, said: “The Belfast Business Awards will give local businesses a unique opportunity to gain recognition for the excellent contribution they make towards the overall development of our city.
“I would call on businesses from across the city to get their entries in for the awards as soon as they possibly can. Simply getting though to the final will raise an organisation`s profile amongst its peers but just as important is the huge boost it will give to internal morale. To win an award will be a mark of quality that will bring real prestige to that individual business.”
Hugh Black, Centre Manager of Victoria Square, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the prestigious Belfast Business Awards as lead sponsor, following the success of the previous year`s awards. These awards are unique in recognising and presenting businesses with the opportunity to gain recognition for the excellent contribution they make towards the overall development of our city.”
The Grand Opera House won two awards at the Belfast Business Awards last year – the Best Marketing Initiative and the Best Innovative Use of IT awards.
Paul Coleman, Digital Marketing Manager with the Grand Opera House, said: “The Belfast Business Awards were a tangible recognition of the hard work undertaken by the theatre’s marketing team and reaffirmed the venue’s standing among local arts organisations and the wider business community.
“Since winning the awards, the Grand Opera House has secured a new principal sponsor, due in part to the credibility that came with winning the Best Marketing Initiative, given the standard of entries in this category. The awards evening also presented a fantastic networking opportunity and many lasting business relationships were formed at the event.”
The closing date for entries to the Belfast Business Awards 2011 is Friday 18 February 2011. Entry forms can be obtained from the official website www.belfastbusinessawards.com or by contacting 028 9024 2111.
Tickets are now on sale for the black-tie Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony on Thursday 14 April at Belfast City Hall. For bookings, please contact the enquiry line on 028 9024 2111.
Awakin Digital Publishing are excited to say that they’ve launched ‘Go Explore NI’ – a free smartphone app, which is an excellent opportunity to get out and enjoy the quality tourism experiences available in NI – we’re actually ‘Giving Away’ our award winning content in time to support marketing and promotion of NI globally in the run up to 2012. Additionally, our partnership with Whatsonni.com, aims to connect locally and ensure folks get a chance to download this experience while it’s free!
We’re providing ‘The Ultimate Road Racers Tour’ via the app to tweak the interest and get folks excited prior to the Relentless NorthWest 200 in May of this year. The digital tour is of exceptional quality and was originally created to celebrate Armoy’s famous Road Racers. It uses classic footage from the Film ‘Road Racers’ as well as new material and interviews – It’s a must have download for Bike enthusiasts or indeed anyone wishing to understand the local scene as it charts the rise of Joey Dunlop and the famous Armoy Armada and looks in great detail at their many special facets. These include their many Achievements, World Renown, Camaraderie, Innovation and Ingenuity. It’s completely free to download to your smartphone for the next few months thanks to sponsorship from Bayview Hotel Portballintrae and Awakin Digital Publishing. We hope visitors will enjoy these free experiences and get out and ‘Go Explore!’
Other benefits within the app come from support we’ve given to the key Tourist Information centres in Belfast and in Derry/Londonderry in return for discounts for our users who can get up to 15% discount when they present the app when purchasing a good or service.
Here are some recent comments from Industry representatives via social media:
NITB Business Tourism Unit Great idea!! Perfect for conference delegates or business visitors who want to make the most of their trip to NI. ‘All work and no play….’ and all that!!
Tourism Ireland Great idea! Now there are iphone apps available for sightseeing in Ireland so you don’t have to worry about guide books or maps!
So what are you waiting for – Let’s Go Explore NI!
For download information and links visit our facebook page www.facebook.com/GoExploreNI or search “Go Explore” in the appstore for iphone or android.
Lark in the Park 2011 is Northern Ireland’s ultimate outdoor music festival with camping. Located in the idyllic Moira, Demesne Park only twenty minutes from Belfast across bank holiday weekend, Friday April 29th – Sunday May 01st 2011, featuring FIVE stages and world renowned headlining acts 2011 promises to be the biggest and best year yet. Ivor Novello award winning rock band ATHLETE headline Friday night whilst indie favourites RAZORLIGHT occupy the prestigious Saturday night headlining slot. The perfect end to the perfect weekend comes on Sunday night with Northern Irelands very own THE DIVINE COMEDY and UK favourites GET CAPE. WEAR CAPE. FLY on main support. With a host of local talent spread across all five stages and an indoor Dance Arena this event promises to be the stand out event of the year.
The festival includes a wide range of activities to keep any music fan entertained all weekend long. In addition to our headliners Lark in the Park 2011 boasts an awesome line up of over 80 bands, Dance Arena, an overnight Silent Disco, Continental Market, Funfair, Boutique, Family Camping and Kids Area, Beer Festival and much much more!
Lark In The Park 2011 prides itself on providing an incredibly diverse span of entertainment for all ages at an affordable price.
Tickets on sale Friday, February 04th @ 9am from HMV Stores in Northern Ireland and Online at http://www.hmvtickets.com/larkinthepark/events/1691
Ticket prices:
Day Tickets – £40
(Per day, Under 16’s must be accompanied by full paying adult aged 21 and over)
Weekend Camping Ticket – £99
(Permits One Adult, three Day Camping + festival admission)
Family Camping Ticket – £198
(Permits two Adults + three Children aged17 years and under, separate family camping area)
Welcome to our movie review of the week. This week Chris has reviewed the Kings Speech for your reading pleasure.
Director: Tom Hooper
Cast: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham-Carter, Guy Pearce
(****) 4/5
“The King’s Speech”; Tom Hooper’s latest oscar-baiting film tells a familiar tale of triumph in the face of adversity, elevated to the lofty realms of regality. Colin Firth is perfectly cast as Albert; his immaculate English reserve and stiff upper lip craft a warm and likable character. Albert ascends to the throne as George VI, in place of his brother David (Guy Pearce) who abdicates in order to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson. The film opens with Albert addressing a crowd of many thousands at Wembley Stadium, he struggles to deliver the words the to an eager and expectant crowd. His crippling stammer is both hugely frustrating and a constant source of shame for the Duke of York. His wife, Elizabeth (Helena Bonham-Carter) looks on with a familiar pity. The voice of The King, especially in times of political instability and war, is vital in maintaining the faith of his subjects.
Firth inhabits the character of Albert with all the guile and subtlety that only an actor of his quality can. He characterises ‘Bertie’ with a short fuse and gentle vulnerability. Creeping insecurities borne from a childhood of teasing and torment. He has worked with the best speech therapists in hope of curing his condition. Physical therapy does not seem to be working. His loving wife Elizabeth comes across an intriguing character, Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush) – an Australian who claims to have a revolutionary and unique method of treating the condition. The relationship between the two is initially cold, with Bertie (as Logue insists on calling Albert, much to his annoyance) unsure of his approach. Logue tackles the emotional impact of Albert’s troubled childhood, and insists that the root of the problem is psychological and not physical.
The relationship between the two develops wonderfully throughout the film, the initial wariness and doubt of Logue’s practices soon abate – allowing an unlikely bromance to form. An enduring friendship that would last many years. Whilst witnessing Albert’s fight against his inner demons, an unlikely parallel crept into my mind: Rocky. The relationship between Albert and Lionel is broadly similar to that of Rocky and his trainer Mickey. Logue instills belief in the anxious monarch. He spars with Bertie throughout, jabbing and prodding to provoke self-acceptance and confidence. This new found certainty allows Albert to assume the role his father always hoped he would.
The emergence of radio broadcasting in the film mirrors the current technological revolution of today. The British Monarchy now has a Facebook page, showing their willingness to embrace modern methods of communication. The touching affects of Albert’s struggle and rise to the throne shape an uplifting story of human spirit, told in parallel as an involving history lesson.
Director Tom Hooper has scaled heights similar to his subject; from directing Byker Grove and Eastenders to a surefire Oscar nominated performance. His story is fully developed and visually beautiful, he makes full use of the grand backdrops and setting to wonderfully frame his images with opulent palaces and stately residences. The banter between Albert and Lionel is always witty and allows for an unexpected source of comedy. The film is occasionally very funny and the dialogue is consistently well written. An A-list cast of British supporting players rounds off the movie well, allowing the burden of focus to shift from Albert and Lionel’s odd-couple. Timothy Spall plays Winston Churchill, Michael Gambon is the ailing King George V (Albert’s father) while Derek Jacobi is Archbishob Cosmo Lang.
“The King’s Speech” is a well crafted drama of high quality. It is certain to garner Colin Firth an Oscar nomination and probably his first Academy Award. Characters who overcome personal defects to ultimately triumph are traditionally favourites of the Academy, most recent Best Actor awards have gone to characters with some form of affliction. Firth is likely to continue this trend.
2011 : A Film Odyssey is the movie review site of Chris Vaughan.
Quirky Weddings, the brainchild of two local entrepreneurs, Cate Conway and Saima Akram is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland to offer “brides to be” an eclectic mix of unusual yet remarkable ideas to help in the all important Wedding Day preparations.
Changing tastes, styles and trends have sparked a revolution in the wedding industry with more and more people looking for alternatives to the traditional approach.
The first Alternative Wedding Fair, organised by Quirky Weddings takes place on Sunday 13 February at the Black Box in the Cathedral Quarter of Belfast.
With a name like Quirky Weddings, the fair could hardly be run of the mill. In addition to the usual exhibitors, there is also a Pecha Kucha Lite taking place.
Co-Founder Saima Akram explains, “We wanted an event with no pressure, no hard sell so we decided to add the Pecha Kucha Lite. Couples in attendance will see a series of 3-minute presentations from over 15 exhibitors. They’ll have a list of the names of the exhibitors and if they want to hear more, they tick the name on the list. We then pass their contact details and put them in touch. It’s a bit like a speed-wedding fair.”
Cate Conway also commented “To add to our alternative approach we are launching a wedding listings site with a difference. Our Facebook page is growing in popularity daily and our blog will be going live shortly. Northern Ireland has been crying out for something new. We’ve been inundated with enquiries from couples and suppliers. Couples can expect to see some very unusual offerings at the fair. We have been amazed at just what is out there and we know this is just the start!”
Sometimes there is no need for big setups or complex plot-lines, no twist in the tale or Hollywood happy ending. Often the most touching and affecting films are those that draw closely on real life, enabling the audience to relate on a personal level. Easier than it sounds, but the difficulty lies in casting actors with the bravery and raw talent to convey the authenticity of the everyday. Sometimes a straight line can be the hardest to draw. It is more technically and emotionally challenging to inhabit a character rooted in the normal, than say a psychotic ballerina or a stuttering monarch. The themes explored are free to resonate within each actor, allowing them to draw on individual experience to inform the performances.
“Blue Valentine” director Derek Cianfrance had the good fortune to cast two leading actors who are quickly establishing themselves as real and credible talents. Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams play Dean and Cindy, their developing and diminishing love story viewed in non-linear narrative; focusing on the inception and heartbreaking end of their relationship. They meet at 24, fresh faced and with a willing openness to love. Dean is a goofy romantic, he serenades Cindy with his ukelele while she dances for him in the street. Cindy, an aspiring student with hopes of a career in medicine is initially cautious of Dean, eventually giving in.
The films jumps between past and present, showing us how Dean and Cindy first met, how they fell in love and how Cindy fell pregnant. We flick back and forth between then and now; a present in which Cindy and Dean attempt to reignite the spark of the past. The broken time structure shows nothing of the 6 years in between, allowing us to develop our own understanding of each character. Dean is now slightly overweight, balding and drinks too much, while Cindy is overworked and overtired. They are unable to communicate without fighting, they pick out flaws in each other, imperfections that they probably found endearing at the start. Often they do not even need to speak to articulate the distance that has grown between them. Dean is a some time house painter and Cindy is working as a nurse. The unrealised potential that Dean has frustrates Cindy – who is ambitious and driven. The traditional gender roles are all but reversed, with Dean preferring to stay home and play with their daughter Frankie.
The film lives and breathes through the raw and honest performances of Gosling and Williams. Both characters are damaged and complex, it is the conflict in each of their characters that give them such depth and vulnerability. Dean is drifting into alcoholism and struggles to hold down a job, but he is a good father and loves his wife and child. Cindy can be selfish and cruel, but is also ambitious and smart – she wants the best for her family. Neither of them have done anything ‘wrong’, there are no affairs or violence – no big incident to incite their decline. Their relationship has become sour and bitter, the love that once was has slowly worn away over the years. In a heartbreaking final scene, Dean struggles to understand what went wrong begging “Tell me how I should be. Just tell me. I’ll do it. ” while Cindy repeatedly sobs “I can’t take this anymore”. There is no bad guy, there is no good guy. They are two people caught up in a terrible situation. The passion and romance of the early days replaced with resentment and disdain.
Cianfrance’s intimate direction is full of sharp focus close ups and he makes ordinary backdrops seem strikingly beautiful, soaked in faded colours. His trust in his actors to improvise certain key scenes allowed for a remarkable realism to exist, the couple seem so natural together – whether they are happy or not. The pain conveyed by Gosling and Williams is almost too much to bear, it is an emotionally draining experience. “Blue Valentine” harks back to the blue collar suburban realism of John Cassavetes, Cianfrance crafts a similarly taut examination of family – soundtracked perfectly by Grizzly Bear’s understated melancholy and ornate melodies. We Shouldn’t really care for Dean or Cindy, but the strength of their performance attracts you to their flawed characters. Gosling and Williams have matured into fine actors, capable of tackling characters of astounding depth. “Blue Valentine” is the rarest of films, a grown up tale of unflinching honesty that does not pander to melodrama or cliche. It is not a story of love found and lost, but of love endured; a love that slowly and painfully dies.
2011 : A Film Odyssey is the movie review site of Chris Vaughan.
Ulster Museum calls intrepid explorers for overnight adventure
Settling in for a night at the museum is Ciaran Bradley (left) with Rebekah and Alex Williams, as they experience the Ulster Museum by torchlight. Children aged between 7 and 11 years old and their families have the opportunity to enjoy a sleepover with a difference on Friday 28th January, to discover what Peter the Polar Bear and the Edmontosaurus Dinosaur get up to after the visitors leave. Tickets can be booked by calling 028 9044 0017 or visit www.nmni.com for more information.
An adventure with a difference is promised when the first group of children stay overnight at the Ulster Museum this month.
Tickets are still available for the ‘Night at the Museum’ experience on Friday January 28th, which is open to children aged between seven and 11 and their families.
For anyone who has ever wondered what Peter the Polar Bear, Takabuti the Mummy and the Edmontosaurs get up to when the visitors leave the Ulster Museum for the night this is the perfect chance to find out!
But don’t worry, you won’t be alone as staff will be on hand to give you a torchlit tour of the museum and you will be entertained with reptile displays and craft activities before bedding down for the night.
Les McLean, Head of Operations at the Ulster Museum, said: “This is the first time the new-look Ulster Museum will have members of the public staying overnight.
“We hope that by taking part in this unique and exciting experience many of our younger visitors will engage with and explore the Museum in a new way.”
The overnight stay at the Ulster Museum will start at 7pm on Friday January 28th and finish at 9.30am on Saturday January 29th 2011.
The cost is £39.95 per place. Please contact 028 9044 0017 during normal museum opening hours for information or booking. Places are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment.
‘Night at the Museum’ is for children aged between seven to 11 years (P4 to P7). There must be a minimum of one adult staying for every five children. If the group contains male and female children an adult of each gender must be present.
Participants will take part in evening events including reptile displays and craft activities.
A light breakfast will be provided for all participants but it is advisable to also bring snacks.
The museum will be heated but those staying are advised to wear warm, comfortable clothing.
Participants will need to bring non-flammable sleeping bags and torches and will sleep in the Welcome Zone of the museum.
We are pleased to welcome on board guest film reviewer Chris Vaughan of 2011 a Film Odyssey . Chris has undertaken to review 365 films in 365 days – no mean feat by any stretch of the imagination!
We will be selecting one review per week to feature on the whatsonni blog for our readers. What we love about Chris’s endeavour is that his reviews are all encompassing irrespective of budget, language or subject matter – not just the lastest releases but this week for example he has reviewed Conviction, The Searchers and The Last Exorcism. Chris has an obvious passion and enthusiasm for cinema – if you enjoy the reviews from 2011 : A Film Odyssey maybe you could even suggest/request a particular movie review?
Our choice this week is Chris’s review of The Searchers, a particular favourite of ours here at the whatsonni office. I personally remember watching this movie with my father as a child and if I see it on a listing I will still go out of my way to watch it over and over again. Enjoy!
Confession time. This is the first John Wayne film I have ever seen. Pretty much the first Western I have seen too. It is a genre that has long put me off. Hammy acting and lazy scripting being my main demotivating factors. I had read a lot about The Searchers and had often seen it highly rated amongst not only Westerns but cinema in general. I have got to say I was pleasantly surprised. John Wayne is cast as the monumental Ethan Edwards. A mysterious character who has returned to his family home in a remote Texas outpost from The Civil War. Little is known of Ethan’s background, aside from his military history and deep knowledge of Indian language, tradition and culture. I had never appreciated Wayne’s dominating physical stature. The man his huge and his considerable frame makes for an intimidating screen presence.
Ethan’s family is ambushed by a wandering Indian tribe. His brother, sister-in-law and nephew are murdered, while the family’s two young daughters are kidnapped. The young girls are to be assimilated into the Indian tribe. And so goes a now familiar tale of kidnap and revenge. A more contemporary theme of racial tension is tangible throughout. Groundbreaking for the time in it’s measured exploration of cultural identity. Director John Ford portrays equal acts of bloody brutality from both sides. A posse of locals is soon rounded up to form a search party. Ethan scours the isolated wilderness for years in search of his kin.
The film is hugely influential in refining the portrayal of the lone hero. Scorcese’s Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver is informed by the tortured loneliness of Ethan Edwards and Werner Herzog’s lingering landscapes are lifted directly from Ford’s Monument Valley. In fact it is hard to see movies such as Die Hard or Rambo existing if it wasn’t for this picture. However, despite it’s wide influence I felt that the scope of Ethan’s journey wasn’t conveyed effectively. Barren Texas desert moved to snowy river in one dated looking fade-out cut scene. The desperation of the search and its vastness could have been clearer. I had no feeling that 5 years had lapsed over the duration of his mission.
The Searchers is well worth a watch. I didn’t get as much from it as I thought I would. I looked on it more of a lesson in film-making than a riveting thriller. Perhaps I need to watch some more Westerns to fully understand the grandeur of this movie. It may well be the pinnacle of Western film-making, but for me it does not stand up to classics like The Godfather, Citizen Kane or Rear Window. For anyone into Westerns this is obviously a must see, for anyone interested in film-making please check this movie out to discover what informed some of the all time great directors and movies through the years.
2011 : A Film Odyssey is the movie review site of Chris Vaughan.
GLASGOWBURY were celebrating this week after picking up two awards at the annual Irish Festival Awards in Dublin.
