Here are the best films playing in Dublin May 17th-19th

Variety, they say, is the spice of life.

In doing these pieces about the best films playing in Dublin every weekend we try to give a broad a spread as possible from big Hollywood blockbusters to more highbrow foreign language films.

It is our aim to cater to our readership with a blend of popcorn and arthouse sensibilities.

With that in mind, Lighthouse cinema will be showing Armageddon and Dick Tracy on Saturday, while the IFI will be showing Rome, Open City.

The juxtaposition of two massive, high-octane Hollywood blockbusters and the one Italian neo-realist film everyone watches in film school was too good not to mention.

Armageddon is a staff pick at the Lighthouse, while Dick Tracy is showing as part of Hollywood Babylon’s series of the best and weirdest 1990 has to offer.

Both films are rarely seen in cinemas these days thanks to Disney ownership, so we will take any chance to celebrate some of the best 90s schmaltz Hollywood put out.

Rome, Open City is cited as one of the most influential films in European cinema history and you can still see the influence of the film to this day.

Released in 1945, the film pioneered a documentary style of filmmaking in the context of a narrative.

If you want to see a crucial bit of cinema history, pop along to the IFI.

Both the IFI and the Lighthouse will be showing controversial Malaysian film Tiger Stripes.

Tiger Stripes was subject to strict censorship and cuts by the Malaysian censors but Irish audiences have the chance to see the film in the purest, uncut form.

Described as a coming-of-age body horror (think David Cronenberg), the film was Malaysia’s submission to the Oscars this year but wasn’t nominated presumably for freaking people out too much.

Considering Poor Things won four Oscars, think how out-there and disturbing Tiger Stripes must be.

The Stella in Rathmines continues their Spielberg season with the regrettable Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom and 2021’s incredible West Side Story.

West Side Story was incredibly unfortunate to be released in December 2021 when Irish cinemas were still subject to Covid-19 era restrictions so a good chunk of cinemagoers didn’t get to see the film as it was meant to be seen.

Only Steven Spielberg could remake West Side Story and have it be on a par with the original.

The film flew under the radar and while it can be watched on streaming, the film was made for the big screen.

Watching a Spielberg film at home is like going to the Louvre and not seeing the Mona Lisa.

And finally, as per our recommendation last week, Martin Scorsese’s documentary about Powell and Pressburger is now playing in the Lighthouse along with the IFI.

Made In England: The Films Of Powell and Pressburger sees Scorsese examine what makes the film of these two English directors so special and endearing.

A Matter Of Life And Death, The Red Shoes, I Know Where I’m Going! and The Life And Death Of Colonel Blimp were all made within an 8 year spell which is an unbelievable output – find out how the duo made some of the greatest films ever made alongside the master himself, Mr. Scorsese.