War Movie Theatre

The worst wars are civil wars. Ken Loach's tale of two brothers in Cork in the 1920s deals not just with the Irish War of Independence but also with the civil war that followed it. We're joined by Cork man Padraig Reidy to discuss whether what this movie really needed was one more lengthy chat about class conflict.

It's Fighting Irish Month! First up, a forgotten true tale of 150 soldiers sent to keep the peace in Congo. Low on ammunition, running out of water, can they hold off their attackers? How did the makers navigate the potential Dam Buster's Dog moments? Can anyone explain Conor Cruise O'Brien? And what fascinating facts has Duncan brought along about Bren guns and French mercenaries?Next week: The Wind That Shakes The Barley.

Douglas Bader was a man who lost both his legs but became a World War 2 flying ace, a disability campaigner who could be insufferably rude, a prisoner in Colditz who was nearly killed by his American liberators. We're joined by Peter Apps, who was paralysed in an accident while working as a Reuters war correspondent but has since rejoined the Army, to talk about the amazing film of Bader's life. Did Kenneth More make him seem to nice? Why were the film's makers so personally invested in the portrayal of Bader's rehabilitation? Why did Bader refuse to go and see it?Peter's new book is "The Next World War: the New Age of Global Conflict and the Fight to Stop It".Next week: We kick off Fighting Irish Month with The Siege of Jadotville.

Is it "Groundhog Day meets Aliens" or "World War 2 of the future"? Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt strap on their exoskeletons and go to war against alien invaders, over and over again.We're joined by the writer Charles Arthur to watch a film that, amazingly, Duncan knew nothing about. Marvel as he tries to work out why Cruise is dying 10 minutes in. Thrill as we try to work out the bodycount,Gasp as Rob explains director Doug Liman's seat-of-his pants approach to film-making.

Skis against the atom! We're watching one of the all-time classic war movies. Kirk Douglas and Richard Harris jump from planes, scale ice cliffs and sink a ferry in the quest to stop the Nazis getting the bomb. Directed by Anthony Mann, it's based on an amazing true story of Norwegian heroism. Has knitwear ever looked better? Are Norwegians really this horny? And can Rob successfully explain "heavy water" to Duncan?Next week: Edge of Tomorrow (Live Die Repeat)

Russell Crowe makes another pitch for an Oscar as he plays Herman Goering, on trial for his life. But is he let down by a film that is determined to both show and tell? Does he have the silliest last line in history? Is this, fundamentally, a crime against cinema? We're joined by Henry Dyer of the Guardian, who has become so obsessed with why this film doesn't work that he's read the screenplay. And Rob and Duncan can't stop thinking of different stories the makers could have told instead.Next week, by popular demand: The Heroes of Telemark.