Rialto is one of those films that you watch and, afterwards, think, “What the hell was that? Was that entertainment or have I just had an emotional battering?”
If you want a nice, easy, relaxing way to spend an hour or so then I’d recommend you have a look and see what Pixar has got lined up, because Rialto is hard and harsh — but that doesn’t mean it is unwatchable.
Far from it. This is a painful, gut-wrenching experience, but one that hooks you in at the beginning and does not let go, so be warned that you’ll need to prepare yourself for a rough ride. Rough… but rewarding.
The World’s Most Indispensable Movie App
The RunPee app tells you the best times to
run & pee during a movie
so you don't miss the best scenes.
Download the RunPee app.
100% free (donation supported)
What we have in Rialto is a story of Colm. A 46 year old man who seems to have, perhaps, not everything, but enough; nice house, lovely wife and teenage kids, and a managerial level job in the Dublin shipyards.
But then, following the death of his father, things start to fall apart. Colm descends into a mid-life crisis that goes way beyond splashing out on a little red sports car; we are, instead, looking at redundancy, alcoholism, a gay prostitute, and an oblivious but concerned wife.
Tom Vaughan-Lawlor plays Colm and is, quite simply, excellent. He plays the self destructing Colm so well that one wonders how things are going for him at home.
The play that Rialto is based on – Trade by Mark O’Halloran – is a two-hander and the other hand is Jay, a male prostitute, played here by Tom Glynn-Carney. As I said, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor is excellent, but Tom Glynn-Carney isn’t overshadowed. He plays Jay with such panache and swagger that he brings to mind Johnny Lee Miller’s Sick Boy from Trainspotting.
Despite being developed from a two-character play, some of the most affecting scenes are the, presumably, new ones that feature Colm’s family as he distances himself from them, while nicking cheap Polish lager.
Painful, but riveting.
What people are saying
about the RunPee app.
November 17, 2019
One of the most useful apps I’ve ever come across. I’ve used it for years and recommended it to all my friends. Even if I’m not the type to have to pee during movies often, being able to pull up the app and pass my phone to my mom/friend/grandma so that they know when to go to the bathroom has been invaluable. Because then I don’t have to summarize anything when they get back!!
View all reviews
Apple App Store | Google Play Store
Download RunPee app
Movie Grade: B+
Don’t miss your favorite movie moments because you have to pee or need a snack. Use the RunPee app (Androidor iPhone) when you go to the movies. We have Peetimes for all wide release films every week, including Wicked, Gladiator II, Red One, The Wild Robot and coming soon Moana 2, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, Kraven the Hunter, Mufasa: The Lion King and many others. We have literally thousands of Peetimes—from classic movies through today’s blockbusters. You can also keep up with movie news and reviews on our blog, or by following us on Twitter @RunPee. If there’s a new film out there, we’ve got your bladder covered.
Leave a Reply