Calvary (2014 John Michael McDonagh)

16 August 2014:

Certainly hooks you in right from the off. Sinewy, brilliantly written and performed film addresses all sorts of issues and in Brendan Gleeson portrays the antithesis of the corrupt, child-abusing Irish Catholic priest - a type who we are reminded does actually exist (and from that point of view, it's quite refreshing). Has the same terrific sense of humour as The Guard but is considerably darker, deceptive, in fact, in the same way as Giu La Testa. One or two minor niggles over the editing (particularly in climactic scene) and feel it may have been over-directed (in church hall scene there are two too many shots) but these don't really detract from film's corrosive power and intelligence, which left me really moved.

24 July 2018:

Calvary is not as funny or entertaining as The Guard but boy oh boy, this is a serious and seriously impressive work, laced with laugh out loud moments of black humour, around the subject of a Good Priest in a time when such things don't seem to exist. And it's not just about religion either.

Brendan Gleeson's been sentenced to death ('How's Sunday week?) and it seems just about all the bastards in the village are potential suspects. These are Aiden Gillen, Chris O'Dowd, Dylan Moran, Isaach de Bankolé, Orla O'Rourke, Marie Josée Croze and Gary Lydon. Meanwhile Brendan's daughter Kelly Reilly has attempted suicide, writer M Emmett Walsh wants to go the same way, and Mícheál Óg Lane is a kid on the beach. David Wilmot is the crap priest.

And Domhnall Gleeson has a key cameo as a murderer.

Larry Smith shoots interiors warmly and exteriors bleakly. Chris Gill edited, Patrick Cassidy composed.

Is this a deliberate Ryan's Daughter reference?

It's just awesome - the ending and that lateral tracking montage and the final act of virtue that's so important - forgiveness. Gleeson is in awe of McDonagh's writing, which is 'so honest'. Interesting also to hear that McDonagh was at one point working the seven stages of grief into the script, and that he didn't himself know who the killer would be until the last 30 pages of the screenplay.

23 May 2026:

You just can't help but to love Larry Smith's images.

Who did kill the dog then?

Didn't even recognise Gleeson Jr.