Colin Murphy: Clickbait meets its match in meandering matey podcast conversations
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'Algorithm.' Even the word sounds evil; like something with malevolent intent — and tentacles.
I have been far from alone in lamenting — for years now — the rise of social media, with its insidious algorithms driving addiction, polarisation and, perhaps worst of all, the collapse in our collective attention span. And yet. Did you watch Succession? All 39 hours?
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Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Irish Examiner view: Guinness and co are in need of a masterplan
Netflix may have its critics, but its sense of timing is usually good. Whether that is positive news for the Guinness brewing dynasty, and the brand's parent company Diageo, is something we will discover next month. That's when a new eight-part drama hits our screens recounting the creation of a global business empire which has become synonymous with Ireland. The House of Guinness is set in 19th-century Dublin and New York and unfolds the complexities of a Succession-style plot following the death of Benjamin Guinness and the Machiavellian impact of his will on the lives of his four adult children: Arthur, Edward, Ann, and Ben. The vice-president in charge of content at Netflix explained the attraction of the story: '...wealth, poverty, power, influence, and great tragedy are all intertwined to create a rich tapestry of material to draw from. I've always been fascinated by their stories, and am excited to bring the characters to life for the world to see.' That responsibility falls to someone with an impressive CV in shows with cult potential — the writer Steven Knight who has delivered memorable scripts for SAS Rogue Heroes and, of course, Peaky Blinders, the iconic six-instalment series which showcased the adventures of a mixed heritage Birmingham, Romany, and Irish gang in the UK in the years following the First World War. There's an impressive cast, with a major role undertaken by James Norton, who played the chilling sociopath Tommy Lee Royce from Happy Valley, exchanging his (natural) West Riding accent for training in the tones of 19th-century Dublin. Norton plays Seán Rafferty, a company hardman whose job it is to keep the Guinness workforce on their toes. Other cast members include Dervla Kirwan, Anthony Boyle, and Cork-born actor Jack Gleeson, memorable for his portrayal of the sinister and sadistic Joffrey Baratheon in Game of Thrones. Knight has a ready plotline should he be tempted to use it with the emergence of southern rivals, Beamish and Murphy's, who bridle against the dominance of the capital city's favourite tipple. But perhaps he has already been there and done that with his account of the power struggles between the Shelbys, the Sabinis, and Alfie Solomons's Camden Town gang. Whether Guinness benefits from this publicity, and whether it is brand-enhancing, we will be able to discern more clearly by late autumn. But it comes during a period when there have been some uncharacteristic lapses in the company's usual stately progress. On the plus side, it ousted Budweiser in 2024 to commence a four-year stint as 'the official beer of the Premier League'. It is also the 'official beer' of the Six Nations international rugby competition. This week it moved further into club competition by agreeing separate partnerships with Arsenal and Newcastle, the latter in a city which has its own legendary beverage, Newkie Broon ale. While Guinness may be everywhere, with countless memes about 'splitting the G', there are signs of shareholder discontent with its parent company. It is less than a month since its CEO Debra Crew stepped down without a succession plan. Ms Crew, who had been in place since June 2023, received a total pay package equivalent to €4.17m for the financial year ending June 30. The company's shares have lost a third of their value since the summer of 2023. Diageo reported a drop in both sales and profits in the six months ended December 2024, according to figures released this week. This was despite growth in demand for Guinness which resulted in supplies running out or being rationed in the UK last Christmas. We all noted the news that spending by Cork's hurling fans plummeted by 13% on July 20, the day of the All-Ireland defeat by Tipperary. No doubt the reason for raising a glass by some visitors to Dublin was undermined by that dispiriting defeat. It's down to Oasis fans to make up for that shortfall with the concerts in the city today and tomorrow, and there's every chance that they will. But for Guinness and Diageo, a renewal of confidence requires, in the words of Noel Gallagher, a masterplan. And just like that, soccer is back It may stick in the throat of GAA diehards but there won't be many Irish sports fans who haven't noticed that, with the appearance of champions Liverpool at Anfield last night, the Premier League is back.. And so, after one apparently interminable season, we are about to commence on another which will finish on July 19, 11 months from now, with the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New York and another photobomb opportunity for US president Donald Trump. Before then, there will be 380 games in the Premier League plus countless subsidiary divisions; the League of Ireland; the Champions League; the Europa League; the Conference League; assorted cup competitions; and internationals, friendly and otherwise. Plus the burgeoning and increasingly popular women's game. No wonder Sky is pioneering a new multi-view service which allows you to watch four games at once. A small hint to broadcasters. This isn't enough for computer game veterans who are adept at multitasking. And where's the soco-bot which can be sent out to watch all the matches the viewer doesn't want ... those 0-0s on a rainy night in Stoke? Arguments over identifying ethnic origins There is no indication, as yet, of any great support for the proposition that the ethnicity or nationality of suspects should be drawn to the attention of the general public at the point at which they are charged and enter the criminal justice system. Indeed, the whole issue of court procedure is one on which there are wildly varying opinions. One contributor to the Irish Examiner this week took the view that defendants should not be named until a trial has ended, and only when a conviction is secured. The media (and social media), he wrote, 'could lead the way by doing the right thing and have a shred of humanity and not name or identify any suspect unless or until they have been found guilty of the crime with which they were charged'. While it is possible to construct mighty arguments around this proposition, it is enough to note that ordinary people are thinking about the administration of justice and whether it can be made better. Or, given the law of unforseen consequences, worse. In Ireland, An Garda Síochána does not usually release the ethnicity of individuals charged with crimes. Sometimes restrictions are cited for reasons of privacy or data protection, although these arguments are increasingly governed by the law of diminishing returns for some citizens. There are exceptions where it is deemed necessary to assist investigations or head off potential public order problems stimulated by the circulation of misinformation. In Britain, the College of Policing and National Police Chiefs' Council says forces should consider releasing the ethnicity and nationality of suspects at the point of charge. This follows mounting public concerns and is part of a review to ensure processes are fit for purpose in an age of rapid information spread. The touchstone was last year's knife murders of three small children and serious injuries to 10 others at a Taylor Swift dance class in Southport. The murderer, 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, was born in Cardiff to an evangelical family from Rwanda. In the information vacuum which followed his arrest, Britain experienced serious rioting. That data blackout is now perceived as a serious error of judgement. The complexities were underlined this week when the family of six-year-old Bebe King, one of the three girls killed, urged ministers to reconsider their support for disclosing the ethnicity of serious crime suspects. Michael Weston King, the victim's grandfather, said such information is 'completely irrelevant', and that 'mental health issues and the propensity to commit crime happens in any ethnicity, nationality, or race'. This is true, but we would be naïve to think that such demands for 'disclosure' and 'transparency' will not gather strength in our own country. Each one of us, rather like our letter writer on Monday, must decide where we stand.
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Cillian Murphy fans gush over star's very different role in Netflix film
Fans of Cillian Murphy were shocked to see the Irish actor in a different light - as the trailer for his latest movie, Steve, dropped. Netflix released the trailer on Wednesday, with the film starring Cork icon Murphy as a school head teacher. Based on Max Porter's bestselling novel Shy, Steve is the story of a head teacher facing the impending closure of the reform school where he works, told in parallel with the struggle of one of his students. READ MORE: Cillian Murphy might just be the 'worst celebrity in the world', says Oppenheimer co-star READ MORE: Cillian Murphy would be 'interesting' choice for James Bond role, Succession star claims It has been adapted for the big screen by Murphy's own production company, Big Things Films, which he started with long-time partner Alan Maloney, reports the Irish Star. Steve is the second movie released by Big Things Films, approximately one year after Small Things Like These wowed audiences, but failed to secure Murphy any real award nominations. What is new Netflix movie Steve about? The drama is set in the mid 1990s, and follows a pivotal day in the life of Murphy's character and his students who are attending a 'last-chance' reform school. As Steve fights to protect the school's integrity while also fighting its impending closure, he grapples with his own mental health. In parallel to Steve's struggles, troubled teen Shy - played by Jay Lycurgo - is caught between his past and what lies ahead as he tries to reconcile his inner fragility with his impulse for self-destruction and violence. Netflix release trailer for Cillian Murphy's new movie, Steve How does the character differ to previous roles? When asked about the film, Murphy admitted Steve was "one of the most kind of exposing and terrifying characters I've ever played". The viewers seem to agree with Murphy that the role was different to anything they've seen him in before. While the actor is known for his dark, moody characters like Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders, or Robert J Oppenheimer, Steve puts a new spin on the trope. On Reddit, film lovers discussed Murphy's role in the upcoming release, with one commenting, "He is so insanely talented." Another wrote, "Well, he's nailing the 'overworked teacher of a challenging population.' I feel this picture. I have three more days." One user pointed out that although the subject matter is unique, the role isn't too far out of Murphy's realm. "Another Cillian Murphy character going through it. we're so back!!!" they wrote. "Cillian picking small but powerful projects is the best use of winning an Oscar. He seems to be doing exactly what he wants." There's more to come from the actor this year. The highly anticipated Peaky Blinders movie is rumoured to be released before the end of the year. Furthermore, after news of the film emerged, the creators teased the idea that the hit show might actually be returning for another season. For the latest news, sport and showbiz headlines from the Irish Mirror, visit our homepage
Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Cillian Murphy would make an ‘interesting' James Bond — Succession star Brian Cox
Actor Brian Cox has said Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy would be an 'interesting' choice to play James Bond. In a Radio Times interview, the Succession star discussed the upcoming second series of reality competition 007: Road To A Million, in which he returns as The Controller, the stern and sardonic taskmaster. The Prime Video series follows eight contestants as they are dropped into the high-stakes world of James Bond, where they take on missions that push them to the limits, testing them physically and psychologically, for the chance to win £1 million. Cillian Murphy won an Oscar for his title role in Oppenheimer in 2024 (Brian Lawless/PA) Of the role of the 007 agent, Cox said: 'It's only natural that it goes through changes because we start off young and end up old. 'Is Cillian Murphy being recommended? I think that would be interesting. I like Cillian. He's very real, he's got no crap about him.' Actor Brian Cox returns as The Controller in the new series of 007: Road To A Million on Amazon Prime (Jane Barlow/PA) Amazon MGM Studios previously announced that Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight will write the script for the next James Bond film, which will be directed by Dune's Denis Villeneuve. Murphy played the lead role in Knight's TV series of hard-drinking gang leader Tommy Shelby. In the interview, Cox described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a 'definite villain' and criticised US President Donald Trump's administration. The Scottish actor, 79, said: 'There's certainly a lot of people around who I feel are villainous. 'With what's happening in Ukraine, Putin is a definite villain, for my money. 'I think some of the American behaviour has definitely been unthinking. 'What's tragic is that America was built on the notion of egalitarianism, and the present administration don't want us to be equal.'
