masterpiece

Fans say the Peaky Blinders star’s film is “totally absorbing yet disturbing”

Time is running out to watch what some consider as the Peaky Blinder star’s best movie.

A |masterpiece” period drama starring Cillian Murphy is leaving Netflix in a matter of days. Small Things Like These was only just added to the platform earlier this year but fans will need to act fast before it is removed from the service.

The film is an adaptation of the award winning book of the same name, written by Claire Keegan. It was shortlisted for the prestigious Booker Prize in 2022 as well as the Rathbones Folio Prize, while it took home the Orwell Prize for political fiction in the same year.

Its big screen version came out in 2024, with Irish actor Murphy in the leading role. Although it was perhaps overlooked by some, as this was the same year the star picked up his Oscar for a very different period piece – Oppenheimer.

Like the novella, Small Things Like These takes place over Christmas in 1985, when devoted father and coal merchant Bill Furlong, played by Murphy, discovers startling secrets kept by the convent in his town, along with some shocking truths of his own.

The plot is inspired by the truth behind Ireland’s Magdalene laundries. These were asylums run by Roman Catholic institutions from the 1820s until 1996 which were supposed to reform “fallen young women.”

Netflix now lists a warning label on the title, that informs users it will be ‘leaving soon’. The streamer states that the last day to watch will be October 27, meaning at the time of writing, viewers have just a little over a week to catch it before it’s too late. It’s not yet known if it will became available on an alternative platform or service after this date.

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Despite the tough subject matter, the film received a positive response from viewers and critics alike, with Murphy often being singled out for his stellar acting performance. It holds a rare 94% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes with many fans backing up the reviews.

One person posted online: “A masterpiece. Every shot is a masterpiece. The soundtrack is a masterpiece. Every performance is a masterpiece. The casting is beyond perfect. If possible, it’s even better than Claire Keegan’s short story.”

While some admitted they struggled with the slower pace of the film, many have suggested it is a must watch. One person said: “A hard to swallow, but fantastically acted, written, and directed film putting religion and its mafia laden tendencies at the forefront. Cillian continues to be a star, with a support cast of epic proportions. Based on a true and very sad story.”

A fourth penned: “Totally absorbing yet disturbing film, brilliantly led by an understated master class of acting by Cillian Murphy. The sudden ending leaves you literally crying out for more. A modern day masterpiece.”

Someone else added: “Following a read of the perfectly written book, I had to watch the film when I heard that Cillian Murphy was the star. He and the rest of the cast bring this extraordinary story to lives. Is there nothing he cannot do! Well worth a watch, it’s poignant from start to finish.”

Small Things Like These is streaming on Netflix

The neo-noir crime classic has an almost perfect rating on Rotten Tomatoes and fans say it is one of the greatest films ever made

It was a film which cemented the blossoming careers of two of the world’s biggest actors, has a near perfect rating on Rotten Tomatoes and was nominated for a huge nine Oscars – and now it’s airing on Film4 tonight.

LA Confidential is a noir crime thriller starring Kim Basinger, Kevin Spacey, Danny DeVito and Australian actors, Guy Pierce and Russell Crowe, in what would become a breakthrough role for both of them.

Based on James Ellroy’s novel, the film was directed by Curtis Hanson, who also co-wrote the script with Brian Helgeland. Set in the Los Angeles that gives the movie its title LA Confidential is the story of a group of police officers in the 1950s and deals with corruption and the world of Hollywood celebrity.

LA Confidential was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, Best Sound and Best Film Editing at the Academy Awards and walked away with Oscars for Kim Basinger for Best Supporting Actress and Best Screenplay. It is often cited as one of the best films to have lost the Best Picture Oscar.

The film also has an incredibly rare, almost perfect rating on the film review website, Rotten Tomatoes, standing at a 99 percent approval rating.

One critic said: “Writer-director Curtis Hanson’s adaptation of the James Ellroy novel wasn’t merely one of the two or three greatest movies of the 1990s; it stands as a masterpiece for the ages.”

Another added: “The flawless ensemble…, the masterfully written story, the vibrant yet gritty vision of 1950s LA – most everything clicks in this fittingly cynical and undeniably seductive period crime thriller that still maintains its style and sizzle.”

While a third wrote: “Adapted from a novel said to be unadaptable and set in a genre that has seemed increasingly played out, it brings clarity and life to its art and to life. That’s a pretty good definition of a masterpiece, isn’t it?”

Fans of the film were equally as lavish in their praise from the movie. One wrote: “A masterclass in crime noir. L.A. Confidential is one of those movies that reminds you why people love cinema. The cast is phenomenal, the acting is excellent, and the production design makes every scene feel authentic. The writing, dialogue, editing, and score all come together to create a gripping crime noir that never loses momentum.”

Another said: “A mystery thriller that moves like few others. The twists and turns will be obvious to any average movie goer, but the plot was never the focus. This is a clear cut character piece and here, few can rival the masterclass work on display. The cast is flawless, the script is magnificent and Hanson’s directing somehow weaves all of it together so it’s not only (structurally) a marvel, but wildly entertaining.”

While a third added: “L.A. Confidential is, without a doubt, the best film of the ’90s, and one of the best films ever made. Curtis Hanson was a much better director than Speilberg or Tarantino. Great script, the story is riveting, the dialogue is smart and funny, and the characters are written in three if not four dimensions. One can almost forgive the casting of DeVito, who did a good job. There should have been several sequels.”

LA Confidential is on Film 4 at 12.45am this morning.