the guard (2011)

"The FBI lad, probably hadn't had this much fun since they burned all those kids up in Waco."
Gerry Boyle (Brendan Gleeson), is a rural policeman, with an unconventional way about him. His approach to life and work is questioned by F.B.I. agent Wendell Everett (Don Cheadle), there to investigate an international drug-smuggling ring. The come to an uneasy truce as they search for the elusive smugglers...
Standard double act routine is enlivened by a great little script and a number of actors on top of their game.

calvary (2014)

"Things you hear in confession these days. It's depressing. "
Father James (Brendan Gleeson) is a rural priest, who is startled one day to take a confession from a man who claims that he was raped by a priest many years ago, and in retribution will kill him, an innocent priest as a statement! James has to come to terms with this prophecy and what decide what he is to do about it, both spiritually and practically.
Interesting debate on the nature of faith, but one where the priesthoods culpability in child abuse is brought up time and time again, to the detriment of its argument. Less is more sometimes.

cornered (1945)

"The grave is the wind. Let the grave be the way we remember her."
WWII pilot (Dick Powell) is discharged from the service and immediately sets off to France to track down the Nazi collaborator responsible for his wife's death. Ending up in Argentina, surrounded by Nazi sympathizers.
Powell plays detective in a the naive 'bull in a china shop' way, which soon irritates rather than intrigues.

love letters of a portuguese nun (1977)

aka Die Liebesbriefe einer portugiesischen Nonne.
"...after all sinning is not that bad."
A young girl, Maria (Susan Hemingway), is sent to a convent, secretly run by Satanists, on the orders of Father Vicente (William Berger), who uses her as a plaything.
Beautifully shot film that delves into the corruption of a young girl, through the hypocrisy of religion, and those using it to their own ends.

pervirella (1997)

aka The Perv Parlour.
"Beware of sex."
The beautiful young Pervirella (Emily Booth), is possessed by a sex demon and attempts to rid herself of the fiend by trying to find the elixir of life.
Comes across as a student in-joke, that fails to find its mark.

the borderlands (2013)

aka Final Prayer.
"I believe in stuff, just not as much as you two."
Three investigators from the Vatican arrive at a village church when the priest submits footage of unexplained events during a christening. Initially skeptical, they soon start witnessing ever more disturbing events...
Deliberately slow to start, the film draws you in without you realising, and deals with unease rather than shocks. Something it does with infinite ease.

the barbarian brothers (1987)

aka The Barbarians.
"a serpent would be blinded by it."
Twins Gor and Kolcheck (Peter Paul & David Paul) are found by the roadside by an itinerant tribe and brought up as their own, and to guard the sacred ruby from the clutches of the evil Kadar (Richard Lynch).
A cheesey adventure, playing up the comedy as it tries to out do the Conan flicks, by having two beefed up hunks instead of one.

ironclad (2011)

aka Templar.
"you hit them. Hard!"
King John has decided to go back on his word, and rid himself of all that forced his signature on Magna Carta. Seven men stand in his way, including Baron d'Aubigny (Brian Cox) and a Knights Templare (James Purefoy). They must prevent the king from taking Rochester castle, and with it the whole of England.
A highly fictionalised account of a real siege, that adds a 'Magnificent Seven' to the plot. The huge liberties with history aside, what is produced is a watchable blockbuster, packed with name actors.