Five for your Radar: Glen Powell stars in new Netflix film and Ne-Yo plays the Marquee
Some of Michelle McGlynn's selections for the week ahead
Â
Boyhood director Richard Linklater has teamed up with man of the moment Glen Powell to deliver an excellent screwball comedy in the form of Hit Man. Very loosely based on true events, Powell plays a professor who goes undercover as a fake hitman who reports back to police. Of course, things get complicated when he falls hard for a prospective client played by Adria Arjona. This neo-noir comedy thriller is great fun and the chemistry between the two leads in undeniable.
Limerick writer Kevin Barry takes us to the wild west in his latest novel, The Heart of Winter. Set in Butte, Montana in 1891, we follow Irish immigrant Tom Rourke as he continues in a downward spiral heading for rock bottom. But then Polly Gillespie enters the picture. A newlywed Polly's husband is an extremely devout mine captain. It doesn't take long for Tom and Polly to give in to their undeniable connection and they soon find themselves on the run. Riding through Montana and Idaho on horseback, the couple try to outrun the deranged gunmen hot on their tail.
Â
Based on the Rebecca Godfrey book of the same name, this series tells the true story of the murder of 14-year-old Reena Virk in Canada in 1997. The teenager had been bullied throughout her childhood and struggled to fit in. She could never have known that accepting an invitation to a party would lead to her death at the hands of six of her peers. The murder sent shockwaves throughout the country and sparked frank discussions about bullying among teenage girls. With a strong cast led by Riley Keough and Lily Gladstone, this is an intense and gripping watch.
Â
The love for Ne-Yo is strong in these parts with an extra date added to his Cork visit after the initial show quickly sold out. It marks his second visit to Ireland this year having performed to a sold-out crowd in Dublin in March. The Grammy winning singer will perform hits from his latest album, , as well as diving into his vast back catalogue. He has sold over 20 million albums around the world and is known for tunes such as ‘Sexy Love’, ‘Miss Independent’, and ‘Push Back’.
Â
One of the highlights of the summer, Cork Midsummer Festival brings a vibrant atmosphere to the city as we enjoy longer — hopefully sunnier — evenings. Over the 12 days, you can enjoy theatre performances, music, street spectacles, visual art, dance and more. There are events to suit the whole family such as the Midsummer Parade which will be filled with dazzling floats and stunning costumes. The Cork Proms will see some of Irelands finest musicians join the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra to perform three programmes of classical and contemporary music. Check out the festival programme for more on this year's wonderful line-up.
