| Overall Grade: |
A |
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| Story: |
A+ |
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| Acting: |
A+ |
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| Direction: |
A+ |
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| Visuals: |
A |
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Very Thoughtful Film
by Andy J (movies profile)
Dec 25, 2007
7
of
8 people found this review helpful
If you're interested in film that portray a rich complecity of politics, philosophy, history, etc. then this film will supply you with the matieral for thinking that will keep you busy for a very long time.
If, on the other hand, you'd rather see Johny Depp get the girl, then don't see this film -- save your money for the labotomy you probably need. You aint using much grey matter anyways.
The strnegth of this film is in the rich and passionate political debates and tensions between the characters. In one particular scene, the local make-shift Irish Republican Court hears a case of the local landlord suing an old woman for unpaid loans with exhorbitant interest rates. With working class affiliations, the court rules against the land-owner/capitalist and for the poor old lady. However, the IRA who up until now were the heroes of the film, intervene on behalf of the landlord because it's he that is buying their guns for them. Suddenly this complex reality splits across the characters and we're faced with a dilemma of no easy solutions.
This is exactly what the film represents. The dilemma of nationalism vs socialism vs imperialism vs catholiscism vs the demands of reality and survival. All sides are well portrayed and represented as they come to life in the characters remarkable performances. While this film is obviously highly politically cahrged, it's not just that -- its well set in a beautiful tale of an amazing bunch of people. This could have been our town 100 years ago. This struggle has been and will be found everywhere at one time or another. |
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