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Movies & TV

21st Mar 2015

JOE recommends 9 things to watch instead of the sport this weekend

What to watch while Ireland take on Scotland in the egg-ball championship

Oisin Collins

Ireland takes on Scotland, Man United play Liverpool, and Barcelona face off against Real Madrid…

However, if you’re anything like this particular JOE then you’ll be looking for something else to watch while the sport takes place.

So we’ve picked out nine alternative things to watch on TV, Netflix and at the cinema. You’re welcome.

Now, what channel is the cricket on? There’s a sport we can all enjoy…

TV – The good ol’ reliable

While various amounts of men run around various fields kicking various shaped balls, here’s a look at what else will be on the tellybox.

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs – RTÉ One, 6.35pm, Saturday

The hugely popular 2009 animation staring Bruce Campbell and James Caan airs this weekend and is a must-see for those who have yet to see the hilarious flick. When an inventor’s machine causes it to rain food, greed takes over his small town.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm, animated food.

Wild Things – Sky 1 HD, 7pm, Sunday

Kate Humble and Ireland’s own Jason Byrne present a sublimely silly entertainment series in which contestants dressed as cuddly critters tackle a fiendish obstacle course. It’s a bit like Takeshi’s Castle in mascot costumes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21Ot–OHdLs

You’re Back in the Room – TV3, 9pm, Sunday

Phillip Schofield and Keith Barry present this new hypnosis game show. Contestants are tasked with performing the simplest of tasks, all the while under the influence of Mr Barry’s hypnosis.

Sounds fun.

Netflix – Why not start something new?

If you subscribe to Netflix then chances are you’ve already watched the obvious choices, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul and House of Cards, but there’s much more than just the usual suspects (there’s also the movie, Usual Suspects) to watch on the streaming service.

Bloodline

Bloodline is a new thriller drama set in the sticky, murky marshlands of the Florida Keys and tells the tale of the Rayburns, a successful local family who’s world is turned upside down when the black sheep of the family returns home.

JOE’s Eoghan Doherty recently sat down with Kyle Chandler and Ben Mendelsohn who star in the show. You can check that out over here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRnS8FkcXNk

Anything by Louis Theroux

Seriously, anything and everything that Louis Theroux touches is TV gold, so just search his name on Netflix, sit back and say goodbye to the rest of your afternoon (and night).

Archer

If James Bond was an American spy who had some serious mammy issues and a love of all things Kenny Loggins, then he’d be called Sterling Archer.

This absolutely hilarious cartoon follows the adventures of a mercenary spy agency that is (unfortunately) called ISIS and after a few episodes you’re sure to be hooked to its dark, drug-ridden humour.

Cinema – You have to get out of the house at some stage

If cabin fever starts setting in then why not pop down to your local picture house (the kids still call it that, yeah?) and check out the following flicks while you still can. Going to the cinema sure beats watching 30 lads running into each other for 80 minutes.

Run All Night, 15A

Run All Night stars none other than Mr Liam Neeson, as an aging, Irish-American hitman called Jimmy Conlon and who is forced to go up against his former mob boss and childhood friend, the ruthless Shawn Maguire (Ed Harris).

It Follows, 16

It Follows won’t be screening everywhere as it has been out for a while now, but this one is worth tracking down. After a seemingly innocent sexual encounter, a teenage girl’s life becomes a waking nightmare as she begins to suspect that something is following her.

That’s right, it’s a STD – a sexually-transmitted demon.

Don, don, don…

Still Alice, 12A

If you’re in the mood for something a bit heavier, then check out Julian Moore’s deserved Oscar-winning performance in Still Alice. It follows a linguistics professor whose life is turned upside down when she is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s.

LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ podcast – listen to the latest episode now!