County Galway Movies - The Matchmaker - Film Review Writing Example

County Galway Funny Sad Janeane Garofalo Movie Set In Glorious Irish Landscape

Writing about movies, whether romantic Irish movies like this County Galway film example,or thrillers,comedies or epic adventures, doesn't always have to be about film reviews.

There are lots of other articles in demand such as those on cinematography,remakes, adaptations,award ceremonies and director and actor biographies.

This piece is a regular film review, but there are tips for more movie writing ideas later in this article.

IRISH MOVIES - THE MATCHMAKER (1997)- FILMED ON LOCATION IN COUNTY GALWAY - MOVIE REVIEW

Any movie review of The Matchmaker (Universal Studios 1997) must give special mention to the film location (in this case County Galway, Ireland), as people who make deliberate decisions to take cinema trips to see, or to buy, Irish movies usually do so for it's unique Irish charm, both in quaint 'ruralness' and in native Irish wit.The Matchmaker movie location in County Galway was the lovely traditional Irish country town of Roundstone,in the rugged West of Ireland. County Galway is a romantic and wild setting as it is 'the last place before America,' and lashed by the vicious storm tides of the Atlantic. During the movie there is an atmospheric trip to the Aran Isles, which Irish landscape lovers will cherish and probably want to see again...and again! As in many Irish movies, Irish boreens and croft homesteads are well represented too.

The director (Mark Joffe) makes great use of this wild County Galway location to credibly establish a warm sense of place which he combines well with the portrayal of the charming and humorous characters in the village.

The Irish culture vibe so beloved of Celtic films is helped along by a good dose of traditional folk music, sometimes even being played live! The background music is a constant reminder of where you are in the world, and the there is even a rendition of 'sean nos' type singing, which most people will associate with unaccompanied singing that suddenly starts up from a corner of the bar somewhere - a spontaneity that still lives in the minds and hearts, if not the real pubs and bars, of today. This time it is Vincent Walsh trying to woo new arrival Marcy with his singing and rugged Irish islander good looks. The song 'Raglan Road' is for real purists who will appreciate its slow heartbeat rhythm and sense of pathos - it will be an education in tradional Irish soulfulness for those who are not used to it!

Sean is the bartender, or barman, as they would say there, in the imagined village of Ballinagra. His curiosity is suddenly piqued by the arrival of an American girl (played by Janeane Garofalo) with an important job - she is secretary or P.A. to a senator, no less! Janeane Garofalo, who sparkles more in this Irish movie than in others less noteworthy, portrays Marcy Tizzard well.

She has travelled over from Boston Massachussets intending to do great work for her boss (Jay O. Sanders) who is after the Plastic Paddy (Irish-American) vote in the coming election. It's going to be a tough fight to get elected again, so his less organised assistant sends Marcy (Janeane Garofalo) on a publicity stunt - to creep around the gravestones looking for any Irish ancestors! (Contd...)

The Senator hopes to discover some Irish roots in County Galway! However, neither of them anticipate Marcy's coincidental arrival during the local annual matchmaking event.

Unfortunately for Marcy this absorbing activity seriously distracts the natives from helping her with her search for birth records, headstones and other genealogical records. Two of the matchmaking pros, Dermot (Milo O'Shea) and Millie (Rosaleen Linehan), fix their beady eye on her, and eye up suitable suitors.One of these however, has already had the same idea and sets out to win her heart.

He eventually wins her attention, despite his 'rough diamond' ways and things seem to be progressing well, until they find a shock visitor waiting for them at Sean's house. It is the ex-wife he has somehow forgotten to mention, a fact which Marcy (skilfully depicted here by Janeane Garofalo) finds it difficult to forgive as she leaves him over the perceived deception.

All of this love interest has not helped Marcy's work, and her bosses arrive before she has manged to dig up any long-lost Irish cousins for Senator McGlory. All is not lost however, as McGlory discovers that the afore-mentioned ex-wife has the maiden surname of Kennedy. He gets engaged to her and proudly introduces her to the electorate back in Boston just in time to narrowly secure the vote.

At the victory party though, there is a twist in the tale of the surname...and it isn't Irish!

The reunion of Sean and Marcy will compensate the Irish movies fans however and will warm the hearts as will the melody of the Van Morrison soundtrack (Irish Heartbeat.)

This film is not for cynics, or cinematography purists, but will suit those who keep coming back to the same type of Irish books and movies...just because they know what they like and want to be sure of seeing this Irish culture nostalgia represented faithfully but albeit slightly dreamily, time and again.

Checklist For Writing Movie Reviews

Even one sentence on each would make a longish essay or review!

1. Title

2. Release Date

3. Studio Name

4. Type (Remake,Novel Adaptation,Screenplay)

5. Genre

6. Commissioning History

7. Casting

8. Short Lead Bios

9. Filmed On Location

10.Director

11.Producer

12.Box Office Record

13.Awards

14.Critical Reception

15.Lead Performances

16.Acting

17.Cinematography

18.Costume And Set Design

19.Film Score

20.Personal or Objective Summary Of Film's Appeal

There are many more ideas on how to write a film review, Flixter and Epinions.com have some good examples for reference only.