Rating: Summary: Poor Review: Great if you like terrorists
Rating: Summary: The Title Says it All Review: Having just watched the opening 65 minutes or so of this on British TV, I am more shocked and offended than I would have thought possible by a movie. The IRA man played by Brad Pitt, is not wanted because he was part of a conspiracy to bomb civilians. That aspect of the 'war' is never mentioned. No, this hero has killed soldiers, policemen and 'loyalist paramilitaries', a politically correct IRA man, a 'soldier'. That some of his victims would have no doubt, met their fate in a hail of bullets in front of their children whilst unarmed on their own doorsteps is kind of glossed over too. The opening scene of brave defiant IRA men fighting the bungled British Army arrest attempt, could have come straight from a wartime propaganda film of brave, defiant Maquis fighting SS troops. Even up to the moment when a cold, well dressed, plain clothes intelligence officer shoots a brave defiant unarmed IRA prisoner in cold blood. The attitudes that this this film betrays are truly frightening. The romanticisation, not only of the violence of the IRA, but of Irish culture generally seems to be an attempt to make the two indistinguishable. A network of noble colleens across the US help the hero from the homeland.. 'My ma's not been so good since 'they' killed Martin' says one suffering soul in reference to her IRA man brother. 'They' of course being the evil Brits. The Brits whose anti terrorist forces are portrayed as either coldly evil or laughably incompetent. Either those behind this think that there is a parallel between the Northern Ireland situation and that of Nazi occupied France in WW2 or they are so callous that they are prepared to dig into an open wound that they do not understand to produce an 'entertainment'. I appreciate that there are those in the US who applaud the provisional IRA, but it is astonishing that a mainstream film of this nature could be made and attract major actors like Pitt and Ford. But of course this is all pre-09/11/2001. Maybe those responsible for this have had some sense knocked into them. Maybe now they understand what terrorists do. But then maybe they are working on a glamorous all star bio-Drama of Bin Ladens life. Who knows ? Give Brad Pitts agent a call, he likes risky parts.
Rating: Summary: Terrible!!!! Review: I borrowed it from my friend and i found out that it was so boring. Plot was boring also.
Rating: Summary: why the problem with brad's accent? Review: I can't understand certain reviewers' problems with Brad Pitt's accent in this movie. He sounded very much like Gerry Adams sounds, or any reporter you hear on the BBC who is from Northern Ireland, or even Liam Neeson. It's too bad that many Americans think that every Irish person sounds like the Lucky Charms leprechaun or the Irish Spring soap guy (now those are some BAD accents). There are many different accents in Ireland, just as there are different accents in the U.S.!
Rating: Summary: Very good, poignant. Review: I saw this film in the theatres and liked it well enough. Seeing it again on DVD really helped my comprehension of it. I thought the story was told well. The filmmakers showed the contrast between the sad bitterness and violence that Brad Pitt's character endures (and embraces), and the warm loving home that Harrison Ford opens to him. We the viewers sympathise with Pitt's character, even though we know -- he's gone too far. Where can he go when he's already gone too far? The story was well-told, the acting well-done. I am no expert on Irish accents, but I wasn't overly bothered with Brad Pitt's. I thought he did a fine job, in both his acting and his accent. Harrison Ford, as usual, gives an excellent performance. I wished I could have seen more scenes with Margaret Colin (who plays Ford's wife) because she's always good. Treat Williams did a fine job as a menacing arms dealer. Special kudos go out to James Horner for the musical score. The first time I saw this film, I was so impressed by the music so I trotted out and bought the CD soundtrack; it's been one of my favorites ever since. Horner isn't always my #1 favorite film composer (but he's usually fine) but this beautiful Irish-themed score is something special. It supports the film admirably (which is the whole purpose of soundtrack scores) but is heart-wrenchingly exquisite to listen to on its own. I recommend this film. Perhaps it has a few flaws, but I really enjoyed it (and was moved by it) the second time around.
Rating: Summary: How to talk Irish . . Review: I thought this movie was somewhat good, and I am currently reading the book. The whole Protestant and Catholic war thing really put the movie in a whole new perspective. The movie was so riveting just thinking about what such idiotic people can fight about in the world today. That wars been going for, what, 600 years now? I think it's time for an end. You people are on two different islands-why don't you just leave each other alone? Anyways, I think Brad Pitt was somewhat good, but I think they should have used a real irish person-say Sean Patrick Flanery ? and if you ever really want to pick up the irish accent . . .this is the movie to practice with.
Rating: Summary: I really liked it when I watched it second time Review: I watched this movie twice. First time right after it was released - did not like it. The commercial was disorienting. I thought Ford was running too much for no reason, etc. Then, I watched it again on DVD recently and now I really liked it. I disagree with those who believes that this movie romanticizes, well, IRA, etc. I think it is very tragic to be in the position of the character played by Pitt and the movie show it very well from the first minute (at least to me, after watching it second time). And this is a very emotional movie if you (are able to) catch this mood. Pitt truly shines there - ``madly photogenic performance'' as some say. The movie reminds me ``Perfect storm'' - in some sense - I refer to the look in Clooney's eyes while he is under water in one of the final scenes- just the same mood for the entire movie.
Rating: Summary: For the Brad Pitt fans this one is a must Review: I would have to disagree with the comment of the person above. Brads accent in the movie is a sure plus!! He did a supurb job on the accent!!! He is one of the best actors I have seen.(I have watched him since he was on Dallas and another world years ago.) This movie has a great plot and Harison Ford and Brad were a perfect match in this movie. You have got to get this one!!! I loved it!!!
Rating: Summary: a meeting of souls Review: I've seen this movie about one month ago and I think it's the one of the best movie I've ever seen, not for the story itself but for the eternal soul drama: how can you obtain your aim? how can you get the peace. Both of them wanted it
Rating: Summary: It's an Ammurkan film not an Oirish one. Review: In this, perhaps the worst film ever about Northern Ireland, we see the true arrogance of the Hollywood film machine. They take one of the world's political hotspots as background, twist the situation in a ridiculous and inflammatory way, and then market this bilge in the sure knowledge that the American public is too stupid to know better and that foreigners are either star-struck morons or will just have to lump it. The preposterous action sequences alone should have been enough reason for the execs to get out of their hot tubs long enough to cancel this project but perhaps that would have messed up their hair. This is a film that leaves no cliche unturned in its fevered depiction of Oirland including the reluctant but noble urban terrorists, the lovely redheaded Colleens that love them, and the annoying pipe music that follows them everywhere: it's a sap's paradise.
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