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Summary: On patriotism, leadership and negotiation
Review: A great patriotic movie. Particularly intersting is the comparison between Collins and De Valera. History is made by heroes that won't yield an inch and also other men that will compromise... Food for thought !
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Summary: Neil Jordan Does Irelnd and the Irish a Great Service
Review: Neil Jordan has done Ireland and Irish history a service by introducing to the world one of the most fascinating revolutionary leaders in any country and the only successful revolutionary leader in Irish History. Collins' exploits were long kept under a veil because of the enmities and guilt that resulted from the Irish civil war, where former comrades were pitted against each other and many on both sides felt betrayed. Jordan has brought to light again the incredible accomplishment of a largely self-educated country boy from county Cork who finally managed to lead his country to freedom after 700 years of British oppression. In doing so, he beat the British at their own game, destroying their intelligence network in Ireland and demoralizing their police force. His was a unique combination of courage, charisma, wit, ruthlessness, audacity, cunning and love of country, and it was high time his story was told. Thank you, Neil Jordan.
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Summary: A much better film than I had imagined...
Review: What a shame that whenever this film is mentioned nowadays, it's almost always referred to as a Julia Roberts flop. It's actually scarcely a Julia Roberts film at all. Her role is quite minor-and it's commendable that she took it on, really, since she was already a star. I gather she was looking for serious roles in meaty films in an effort to beef up her acting credentials. And this certainly was a meaty film. It is, in fact, a much, much better film than I had ever imagined from the reviews of the time. I only regret never having seen it on the big screen, because its epic sweep and beautiful cinematography would have been all the more impressive. Americans, including Irish-Americans like myself, have only the vaguest notions of Irish history. We learn the basics in school, and probably, most educated Americans have an idea of approximately when and how the Irish Republic was established. We may also know that six counties in the North remained under British rule and are still part of the UK (at least, I hope we do--after 30 years of reports on the "troubles"). "Michael Collins" goes some distance toward filling in those informational gaps. I am aware that many critics have challenged writer/director Neil Jordan's interpretation of Irish history (in particular his making Eamon De Valera, the President of the Irish Republic, something of a villain). To that, one can only respond that historical dramas are by definition an interpretation of history. I see that a few of the reviewers below have mentioned that this film inspired them to seek out more information about Irish history. Those of us that do will eventually get a more balanced view, perhaps. It was not Neil Jordan's job to provide us with that perspective. His job as an artist was to tell as engaging a story as he could. On that score, he has succeeded very well indeed.
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Summary: Popular Irish hero gets cinematic treatment
Review: Neil Jordan's Michael Collins is a fast paced intelligent work about a early twentieth century Irish poltical activist and military leader. The film has romance, pace, action, wit and humour. Neil Jordan is probably one of the best script writers in terms of quantity and quality of product now working in world cinema. It's his intelligence and unique way of seeing a situation I find is refreshing. Dressing up a future President of Ireland of Ireland disguised as a whore is witty and fair comment on the corruption in politics in Ireland at the moment. Taking up the story of Michael Collins after a failed rebellion in Dubllin, Ireland, against British Imperial rule at the time, 1916, Jordan quickly introduces the characters of the film. Harry Boland, a Dub amusingly played by Aidan Quinn (Fans of Quinn can see him also in the fine This is my Father which he made with his brothers) Eamonn De Valera, a political intellectual leader of the republican movement well caricatured by Alan Rickman, and Kitty Kiernan, played by Julia Roberts in a performance which will steal your heart. A fine supporting cast led by english actor Ian Hart gives this film top quality drama. The performance of Liam Neeson in the role of Collins is one of the best of his career so far with the flair of his Oscar Schindler character and the strength of Collins Cork origins mixed with poignant reflective moments, this is terrific natural playing. Basically the story is of Collins out-witting the British administration and winning a negotiated settlement. A lot of Collins' characteristics are picked up in the movie. His cycling around Dublin under the very noses of the security forces, his playing with De Valera's children and wrestling with whoever was about as a bit of a joke. Unlike the revolutionary leaders who are said to have copied Collins, like Mao Tse Tung and Ho Chi Minh etc., Collins was more likely to say "are you on for a pint ?" than any guff about the good of the movement. His tactical talent and strategic skills are shown but his skill at managing the large amounts of intelligence information isn't as well appreciated in the film. His realization that a republic was better forged under steady transition, and more logically needed to be worked out as to its practical meaning, was a foundation stone of the current Irish state. Further his belief that a democratic decision, a popular vote, was the crux of any situation and to be defended despite any loyalties to the contrary. This latter point is made dramatically in the film as Collins and Boland find themselves on opposite sides having been pals. (For more information on Collins try Tim Pat Coogan's "Michael Collins", a better read is "De Valera" by the same author.)
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Summary: Irish Potato
Review: Michael Collins is the kind of political epic that wins Oscars. The only strike against this big, blowzy Irish potato is that it exalts a man many see as villain. There are no easy answers bestowed on us in Michael Collins, nor should there be. But the questions pondered come in such a sumptuous package that it's easy to get lost in all the free-flowing Irish nationalism. History does agree that Collins was a patriot trying to free his homeland from stiff-necked British control. While the sun was setting the Empire, its wee neighbor was testing its limits and then openly rebelling against the Crown's sovereignty. Starting in 1916 with the famously bloody Easter Uprising and ending with Collins' ambush and death in 1922, Neil Jordan's detailed and dizzying trip does much to shed light on what's a historical footnote for most non-Irish Americans. I just wonder how it will play in London. Liam Neeson brings an amazing vigor and poignancy to the title role as Collins goes from minor revolutionary to big man of the little isle. And as with most martyrs for the cause, there's ample time in the movie's two and a half hour running time for Collins to ruffle opposing feathers. Interestingly, one of the first is that of Republic President Eamon DeValera (a rightly stoic Alan Rickman). Both desire a free Irish state, but while De Valera prefers diplomacy, Collins is ready to kick some arse if he has to. Michael Collins plays fast and loose with many of the facts, and the subplots, including a love triangle between Collins and Harry Boland (Aidan Quinn) is bland and inconsequential. It may not set your rebellious heart afire, but Collins does contain more than its share of blarney-free bluster.
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Summary: A great story and one of my favourite movies
Review: When you think that Michael Collins was only 31 when he died his story is all the more amazing. Jordan has done a brilliant job in covering the complex character of Collins - a leader, a terrorist and yet a man of peace.
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Summary: A superb film and the DVD quality is very fine
Review: This is a superb film about a real character (and in my opinion hero) from Irish history. I've watched both the VHS tape and the DVD and I found the DVD much sharper and the sound remarkable. Combat, including artillery, is indeed a very noisy reality. A great story, a great dramatic production, and a fine recording on DVD.
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Summary: excellent
Review: This film is brilliantly acted, Rickman a very covincing Dev, and Nesson brilliant as the mercurial Collins.Only one problem I wish it was not so inacurate, Ned Broy was not killed he went on to be Garda Commissioner; and Harry Boland was not chased through the Dublin sewers, he was killed in an Hotel in Howth.Having said that the film was enjoyable and beautifully shot.
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Summary: One of My Favorite Movies
Review: This movie is excellent! It captures this violent period perfectly and makes me understand why the Irish want the Brits off of Irish soil. Being of Irish descent, I loved this movie. Collins is truly an important man in world history and deserves to have a film made about his life. Collins' guerrilla tactics were later studied by Mao Tse-Tong, and Israeli guerrilla, and later Prime Minister Menachem Begin adopted the code-name Micael in honor of this legendary man. Everyone of Irish descent must watch this movie.
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Summary: Absolutely stunning.
Review: Historical films are notoriously inaccurate. ("Braveheart", for example, is a terrific movie but all over the place historically.) Drama, after all, is oftentimes inconsistent with the tides of history. Which was why I was so impressed to read a magazine article some time ago touting the film's attention to detail and accuracy. I made a special note of wanting to see "Michael Collins". Am I ever glad I did. This is a wonderful, wonderful movie. "Michael Collins" is the story of a member of the Irish Republican Army who succeeded in leading Ireland to independence, but at great cost. A participant in the famous "Easter Rising" of 1916, Collins was arrested and became a leader in the Irish independence movement. Collins was an extraordinary leader who devised guerilla warfare tactics to fight the English army that would later be used by the Viet Cong, and daringly rescued Eamon DeValeria, the man who would become the leader of Ireland and whom many believe was responsible for Collins death. Collins also negotiated the treaty which ended 700 years of English rule in Ireland, and as Commander of the Irish Provisional Army was forced to fight against guerillas opposed to the treaty (which left the northern six counties a part of England and delayed full independence). The irony was that Collins was forced to hunt down and kill the very men he trained. Many in Ireland look on Collins as a hero, others as a traitor. His death is, like the Kennedy assassination, a great controversy- nobody has the faintest idea who killed him. As historical figures go, few are as controversial or as romanticized as Collins. The film covers the 1916-1922 era of Collins life, from the Easter Rising until his death. Writer & Director Neil Jordan clearly has passion for the project and it shows. Collins is a real hero to Jordan and the director goes to great lengths to be as accurate as possible and to show us Collins in action. Perhaps Jordan's best move was in casting Liam Neeson in the part. Neeson is a very talented actor who delivers a terrific performance in the title role. Neeson's Collins is firey, angry, passionate, hates war, longs for peace. It is hard to imagine anyone else in the part. The rest of the cast is good- Alan Rickman is impressive as Eamon DeValeria, a difficult role to play given how much DeValeria and Collins are at odds with one another in the end. Aidan Quinn, Julia Roberts, and Stephen Rea are all also good in their supporting roles as Collins best friend, the woman the two men compete for, and the English agent who provides Collins with critical intelligence. In terms of location and cinematography, it is hard to do better than this. Jordan has painstakingly recreated Ireland & Dublin of 1916-1922, and it looks stunningly beautiful and stunningly realistic. One actually feels like you are seeing the real Ireland of the early part of the century instead of a recreation. "Michael Collins" is a wonderful film that history lovers and people fascinated with Ireland will adore. Highly recommended.
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