Irish Opinion Aidan Turner

New Irish thriller ‘Alarm’ opens at cinemas this weekend, we talk movies with lead actor Aidan Turner…

Alarm focuses on a young woman, Molly (Ruth Bradley), who moves from Dublin to a new housing estate in the commuter belt to start a new life. Over a succession of unusual, even frightening occurrences, her promising fresh start quickly begins to unravel. As she seeks an explanation, her insecurity increases as those close to her come under suspicion.


Q: How often to you get to sit down and watch a movie?
Not as often as i would like. Probably once a week maybe one every two weeks. I watch a lot more when I’m not working.


Q: Tell us about the last movie you saw? (either in cinema, video, DVD or TV)
The last movie I saw was ‘Burn After Reading’. I really enjoyed it. I love every film the Coen brothers do though. It’s like they take the really mundane and throw it on it’s side. Characters, plot, motives, everything is nearly normal but has this off kilter energy to it that makes their movies so much fun to watch.


Q: What is your favourite Irish movie and why?
‘The wind that shakes the barley’. I loved everything about this film. The story was so real and heart wrenching and the entire cast were phenomenal. It was exhilarating to finally see an Irish movie truthfully depict the atrocities of the Irish fight for independence with such beauty and conviction.


Q: What is your favourite movie of all time?
It’s impossible to name one. I don’t think I could name ten that would accurately depict my favourite films. So…, here’s five in no particular order
The Big Lebowski
Naked
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Raging Bull
Rear Window


Q: What movie could you never sit through again?
I want to say Mamma Mia but I’ve never seen it. The trailer made me nauseous. The people who had seen the movie and were trying to convince me that it ‘wasn’t that bad’ made me nauseous. I want to hate that movie so much but i can’t bring myself to actually see it. So, I’m going with Saw 2.


Q: Describe your ideal movie cast… (actor, actress & director)
Off the top of my head. Bill Murray, Natalie Portman and Todd Sonondz.


Q: Have you ever cried during a movie? Which one?
I’ve cried through loads of movies. I watched ‘In to The Wild’ a few months ago and balled my eyes out. That old man at the end sent me over the edge. Bastard.


Q: Favourite movie snack?

Don’t have a favourite movie snack really. I’ve started eating hotdogs at the cinema recently. I never used to because I worked in a cinema years ago and from behind the scenes it never seemed like the smart thing to do. The dogs would be basking in the heat all day, sweating it out and we’d never change them. We’d just prod them every
once in a while with a thermometer to make sure they were still over cooked.


Q: Favourite TV programme?
I was very late to board ‘The Sopranos’ train but I’m almost through season two at the moment and I’m loving it. ‘Summer Heights High’ is also a big favourite of mine right now – Chris Lilly is a triumph in it. ‘Flight of the Concords’, ‘The Office’, ‘Southpark’ are all up there.


Q: Who would play you in the movie adaptation of your life?
Tom Cruise. I’m sure he’d flat out refuse to shoot some of the situations I’ve allowed myself get in to over the years but it would be fun. For me.


Alarm is at cinemas from November 7th 2008