Vertigo Releasing and Wildcard, bless their cotton socks, have unleashed the official poster and a trailer for Saipan. Prepare yourselves for a cinematic masterpiece 🙄 (or not) about the earth-shattering spat between the legendary Roy Keane (played by Éanna Hardwicke, who we’re sure is THRILLED to be typecast forever) and the *cough* equally iconic Mick McCarthy (portrayed by Steve Coogan, slumming it, are we?). This momentous occasion occurred during the thrilling build-up to the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Because, you know, nothing says “blockbuster” like a pre-game argument. 🍿
SAIPAN? More like SNOOZE-PAIN! 😴 This is the “untold” (more like over-told) story of Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy’s playground squabble that somehow made it to the World Cup. Apparently, their “intense rivalry” – which probably involved passive-aggressive tea-making and strategic locker room towel placement – captivated an entire nation. 🤯 The film promises a deep dive into the real reason for the feud: STANDARDS. Yes, because THAT’S what makes for riveting cinema. Prepare for a nuanced exploration of two men whose egos were bigger than their love for the beautiful game. This is supposedly the “definitive account,” but let’s be real, it’s probably just another excuse for middle-aged men to argue about football. ⚽
Directed by the dynamic duo Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn (who, let’s face it, peaked with Good Vibrations), and scribed by the wordsmith Paul Fraser (who clearly needed a paycheck), SAIPAN stars Éanna Hardwicke (doing his best Roy Keane impression, which mostly involves scowling and mumbling) and Steve Coogan (who probably regrets signing up for this). The supporting cast includes Alice Lowe (because every film needs a quirky best friend), Jamie Beamish (who’s probably just happy to be there), Alex Murphy (the token young one), Harriet Cains (because Bridgerton fans need something to watch) and Peter McDonald (the “serious” actor). 🎭
The film is produced by Macdara Kelleher and John Keville for Wild Atlantic Pictures (who brought you such cinematic gems as Evil Dead Rise and Cocaine Bear – talk about range!), along with Trevor Birney and Oliver Butler for Fine Point Films (clearly branching out from Kneecap). Executive Producers include Patrick O’Neill, Rachael O’Kane, Rupert Preston, and Ed Caffrey (because apparently it takes a village to make a mediocre movie). 🏘️
SAIPAN is brought to you in association with Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and Northern Ireland Screen (because government funding is always a good sign). Greg Martin and Ursula Devine are the Executive Producers for their respective organizations (because bureaucracy!). Funding also comes from BFI Global Screen, Coimisiún na Meán, and RTÉ (because everyone wants a piece of this masterpiece). Bankside Films is handling worldwide sales (good luck with that!). 🍀
SAIPAN graces the cinemas of Ireland from January 1st (Happy New Year! 🎉 Spend it watching middle-aged men argue!) and British screens from January 23rd (because January needs to be even more depressing).
Finn McFrame, celebrated satirical mastermind and self-proclaimed “Emperor of Irony,” started his illustrious career as a cinematographer, where his expertise in capturing every single frame of a squirrel stealing a baguette earned him accolades at obscure film festivals.
Born in the glamorous town of Boring, Oregon, Finn grew up with dreams of being a Hollywood director until he realized that satire, not cinema, was his true calling—or at least the one that let him sleep until noon.
Finn McFrame: changing the world, one satirical lens flare at a time.
