6 Cool Cillian Murphy Comedies to Watch, by Order of the Peaky Blinders

If you, too, are living from one Cillian Murphy movie to the next at this point in time, there's good news for you again. The Irish actor, who shot into the stratosphere with Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, is headlining another much-awaited project. Adapted from Claire Keegan's Booker Prize-longlisted novel of the same name, the trailer and early reviews for Small Things Like These promise Murphy upping the ante with another conflicted, intense character in the high-stakes drama that tells the story of a devoted father, coal trader and family man Bill Furlong, who runs into disturbing secrets at the local church in an Irish hamlet. 
As much as Murphy is known for his brooding characters—right from 28 Days Later (2002) and The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006) to Inception (2010) and Peaky Blinders—did you know that the 48-year-old has a healthy (well, almost) body of comedic (well, almost) characters, too? As you wait for the Tim Mielants-directed film to land in theatres in India later this month, it's worth checking out five lighthearted films starring Murphy in zany early-career roles, for a change.

Sunburn

A quintessentially indie feature about a group of youngsters from Ireland land summer jobs on Long Island, New York. Away from the constant watch of their elders, they explore friendship, fun, slacking, drinking—until the realisation that their lives need to have meaning, hits home. Murphy plays a lovable slacker named Davin who only believes in the "pursuit of happiness".

Watching the Detectives

The actor plays Neil, a film geek and reclusive video store owner who enjoys living vicariously through his favourite films noir. When he meets real-life femme fatale Violet (Lucy Liu), the line between reality and make believe begin to blur.

Intermission

Among the many mutually linked plotlines that form Intermission, Murphy's track depicts him as a mild-mannered Dubliner named John who breaks up with his girlfriend Deirdre (Kelly Macdonald)—as a test. But then, she gets into a relationship with a middle-aged banker, and a listless John tries desperately to win her back. And if you still need another reason (which you shouldn't), Intermission also stars Irish stalwarts Colin Farrell and Colm Meaney.

Perrier's Bounty

Also starring Brendan Gleeson, son Domnhall, and Jodie Whittaker—Perrier's Bounty is a typical Irish gangster comedy. Murphy stars as a smalltime crook on a run from a local gangster he owes money to, especially after his friend Brenda accidentally kills one of the antagonist's henchmen.

Breakfast on Pluto

At the outset, you wouldn't really take the screen adaptation of Patrick McCabe's Booker-shortlisted novel of the same name for a breezy watch but it's actually all heart—and the humour will have you smiling frequently. Patrick/Kitten (Cillian Murphy), a young transwoman in Northern Ireland, decides to leave her small town for London and look for her mother after the people around her fail to comprehend her gender.

The Party

In this black-and-white comedy disguised as a tragedy, directed by acclaimed British filmmaker Sally Potter, a celebration ends with blood on the floor. Murphy plays Tom, a banker who's the husband of one of the guests invited by Janet (Patricia Clarkson) to celebrate her nomination as shadow minister for health.