This may blow some people's minds, but did you know that it's possible to have two talented filmmakers born into the same family? It's not only possible, it happened to the McDonaghs, whose Martin and John Michael are two of the more interesting filmmakers working today. Martin started as a playwright but debuted his filmmaking skills with the Academy Award-winning short "Six Shooter" before moving on to the 2008 dark comedy "In Bruges" and the upcoming "Seven Psychopaths." John Michael, meanwhile, is starting production on "Calvary," the follow-up to his 2011 black comedy "The Guard."
Once again teaming with actor Brendan Gleeson (who also appeared in Martin's "In Bruges"), "Calvary" follows a good priest (Gleeson) who is tormented by his community. Last year, McDonagh described the film as being "in the same darkly comedic vein as 'The Guard,' but with a much more serious and dramatic narrative."
Co-starring with Gleeson is Chris O’Dowd ("Bridesmaids"), Aidan Gillen ("The Wire"), Gleeson's son Domhnall Gleeson ("True Grit") as well as recent newcomers Dylan Moran ("Shaun of the Dead"), Marie Josée Crozé ("The Diving Bell and The Butterfly," "Tell No One") and Isaach De Bankolé ("The Limits Of Control," "Casino Royale"). No doubt the rest of the cast plays the community that is treating Gleeson poorly, though no character details have been revealed.
Shooting on "Cavalry" began this week in County Sligo, Ireland, and prompted McDonagh to send out a press release, along with a look at Gleeson (below), announcing the start of production.
"It is with great excitement, bordering on tumescence, that I am looking forward to collaborating once more with Ireland’s greatest actor, Brendan Gleeson, and working with the finest ensemble cast ever assembled in the history of Irish cinema," said McDonagh. "I would like to thank the Irish Film Board, and the BFI, for their continuing support for filmmaking that seeks to escape from the tiresome, rarefied confines of Dublin 4. Up the West!"
Should "Cavalry" be anything like "The Guard," you can bet that we're looking forward to its eventual 2013 release with great, if we may borrow a word, tumescence. [THR/The Film Stage]
Neither of the McDonaghs are Irish. They make a big deal about coming from the West of Ireland but they're as English as you like. Good writers though. At least one of them is.