Michael Collins

Rating:
Summary: An excellent visual biography.
Review: Not being Irish, and being ignorant of the true history of the IRA and the conflict between England and Ireland, I cannot hope to offer any guidance as to the historical accuracy of this movie, nor its bias (or lack of it), but if you watch the documentary on this DVD you will see that the Director (Neil Jordan) himself says that some of the incidents in the movie were slightly changed. However that is to be expected of most movies that try to present history in an entertaining way.

And entertaining it is. Divorced from the reality from which it is based, the movie makes excellent drama; you have the classical David and Goliath scenario here with the British Empire being brought to its knees by a handful of very amateur assassins. I thought Liam Neelson was great as Collins and so was the 'supporting' cast, with the exception of Julia Roberts. I don't think you can help but make comparisons between this movie and Braveheart. While I was watching it, I imagined Collins being the modern day Irish equivalent of that old Scottish hero.

As other reviewers have mentioned, if you want to know more about the history of this struggle, it would be best to hit the history books rather than the play button. But if you want an entertaining film that gives you a rough idea of who Michael Collins was and what he stood for; this is as good a film as any.


Rating:
Summary: Eire gu Braugh
Review: Liem Neeson is absolutely magnificent. The movie is heart-joltingly rivetting. If you are interested in Irish History at all, you need to see this movie.