Rating: Summary: Swept Under the Rug... Review: ...This film is by no means a large audience pleaser. But, that says more about the mass audience, then the film. This small comedy is not only smart and well performed, but it is rather daring. There is nothing funny about the conflict between the Catholics and the Protestants, the IRA and the brits. But, this comedy not only acknowledges it, it operates directly in it. Written by its star, Barry McEvoy and directed by Barry Levinson, this is a surprising bit of cinema. Often similar in tone to the sleeper hit, THE FULL MONTY, This 'Piece' has a lot to offer.
Rating: Summary: An Everlasting Laugh Review: Although Billy Connolly is mentioned in most of the places this product can be bought as a STAR Billy only plays a very minor role. This is still a very funny movie though! With great performances by all actors this is a very funny but drammatic movie that will give you an everlasting laugh.Two men that work at a mental intitute in Belfast as Barbers decide to start a wig company. One of the men being Catholic and one Protestant still get on as best of mates. This leades to the name of there company "The Piece People". They are provided wigs from a company "Wigs of Wimbeldon" who offer them a complete dictator-ship of the wig selling industrie in Belfast. Breaking there promice "Wigs of Wimbeldon" contract another company. "Toupee or not Toupee" go into a war with "The Piece People" to see who can sell the most rugs by midnight on christmas eve. This leads to a funny and dramatic mission for "The Piece People". I loved and i think you will to!
Rating: Summary: Very funny movie about hairpieces, not herpes. Review: An Everlasting Piece is a great Irish comedy about two men living in Northern Ireland. One is a Protestant and the other a Catholic. They start out as barbers at a prison, and quickly learn that the man who used to have the monopoly on hairpieces in Northern Ireland is in jail there, after having gone nuts and scalped a number of people. I'd rather not give away the rest of the movie, but it is extremely enjoyable, and has great humor. If you're not used to hearing people from Ireland speak, it may be a little difficult to understand. I recommend this movie if you enjoyed "Saving Grace" and "Waking Ned Divine."
Rating: Summary: Very funny movie about hairpieces, not herpes. Review: An Everlasting Piece is a great Irish comedy about two men living in Northern Ireland. One is a Protestant and the other a Catholic. They start out as barbers at a prison, and quickly learn that the man who used to have the monopoly on hairpieces in Northern Ireland is in jail there, after having gone nuts and scalped a number of people. I'd rather not give away the rest of the movie, but it is extremely enjoyable, and has great humor. If you're not used to hearing people from Ireland speak, it may be a little difficult to understand. I recommend this movie if you enjoyed "Saving Grace" and "Waking Ned Divine."
Rating: Summary: IRISH RUG WARS Review: Barry Levinson is all over the place when he picks material. Does he do it by darts or what? The guy who gave us "Diner" and "Rain Man" is also responsible for the awful "Toys" and the dreadful "Jimmy Hollywood." Now he takes a stab at a turf war in 80s Northern Ireland that's focused on Protestant and Catholic barber pals who work in a Belfast asylum and team up to control the hairpiece business. Strange and sometimes funny, this horribly titled little attempt at making a "foreign" film ultimately fails due to it's lumbering attempt at being a metaphor for resolving a conflict that is way to deep to hinge on mere word play and a grotesque poster of a wig on the world. The beautiful cinematography by Seamus Deasy is especially striking. If you're looking for something in this genre, you're better off renting "Waking Ned Devine" or "Local Hero." Recommended only for bald, Belfast born, Irish Catholics and Protestants from the 80s. Now get on line and buy "WITHNAIL & I" if you want to laugh out loud.
Rating: Summary: Very funny, very sharp Review: DreamWorks buried this one in the theaters (there's a lawsuit by one of the producers claiming that the studio caved to political pressure from the British government), which means that most people missed this very funny, very sharp comedy. Nice performances from Brian O'Byrne and Anna Friel in particular, as well as a very amusing cameo from Billy Connolly as a psychotic wig franchise owner. Barry Levinson and Seamus Deasy contribute fine work.
Rating: Summary: Sweet and funny Review: Even if I weren't obsessed with Northern Irish politics, I still would have enjoyed this movie. It's very human and sweet and cleverly written. I can't wait to buy it for myself. My ridiulous knowledge of N. Ireland helped me to get some jokes that others won't, but no worries, it's funny even if you know nothing about it.
Rating: Summary: Dead on! Review: Having spent quite some time over the past 25 years or so visiting friends and relations in Northern Ireland, my reactions to films that deal with the place run along a continuum of "Dead Awful-Dead On." This film takes a silly little idea and winds it up into a metaphor for all those people who attempted to carry on with their lives, surrounded by and in spite of The Troubles. It's loaded with inside jokes that those who attempt to bridge the divide will recognize and respond to immediately. I absolutely love this film, which tells us more about the people of Northern Ireland than all the useless politicians combined. Besides, this is one very funny film. Enjoy!
Rating: Summary: Not Strong Enough to Recommend Review: How can the director of Diner, Rain Man and Wag The Dog make films like Toys, Sphere and Jimmy Hollywood? It's as perplexing a question as how Barry Levinson, a 'yank' from Baltimore, can go and direct the 'Irish Film' An Everlasting Piece. A somewhat innocuous but mildly enjoyable film, An Everlasting Piece feels more like something that could have been made as a TV movie for the BBC than a theatrical film. In the production notes (one of the very few special features on the DVD) there's a blurb about how Levinson wanted to show the classic struggle between Irish Catholics and Protestants in the 80's from a lighter, more humanistic and approachable way. While a noble endeavor it's one that never really works and while An Everlasting Piece is amusing at times, it's just not a strong enough movie to recommend. If you're looking for something in this genre, you're much better off with - On the Comic Side: Waking Ned Devine, Local Hero or The Full Monty; on the Serious Side: The Boxer or In the Name of the Father. [Geoffrey Kleinman DVDTalk.com]
Rating: Summary: Everlasting ... albeit too short Review: I am constantly on the lookout for anything new starring Billy C., whatever that may be. I took home this video with the usual anticipation that accompanies any of Connolly's performances, however although the film is pretty good in itself, I take the greatest of exception to the fact that it is marketed dishonestly. And at this point I dare you to display this review! Greater emphasis has been given to the participation of Mister Connolly, that his time on-screen warrants. This is my gripe and this is the reason of my awarding only three stars. Once more we see greed at play: where the producers want to make the most of a famous name, for all the TOO OBVIOUS reasons. It is okay! We LIKE the guy! I don't mind buying anything for as long as I like it. Billy Connolly, I like, almost everything he does I like ( I cannot say " everything" because I haven't seen everything); but ALL his work that I have seen I enthusiastically endorse. The guy is a fenomenally gifted performer and, mark my words, to use an old chestnut ,"we ain't seen nuthin' yet " ! So what am I bellyaching about already? This: on the cover of the videotape box, the stuff is worded so as to give the distinct impression that Billy is cast in a MAJOR role, whereas he is not. I care not a fig that his character is relevant to the story, or even essential or whatever else one wishes to add ( I can HEAR the producer mouthing off here!). He , Connolly that is, does not appear for more than a half a dozen scenes ( BRIEF scenes at that). Too little to justify the billing as one of the principal protagonists. More correct, factually as well as ethically,. would have been to say: with the parfticipation of B.C. in a cameo role. We STILL would rent the video; subsequently we STILL would buy it; we STILL would relish it. BECAUSE WE LIKE THE GUY. What we object to are these ... attempts at [taking advantage of] the consumer ( us ). But what about the movie? The movie is fine! Personally i found well directed and produced. The storyline is intriguing and well stitched together. It is very likely that AS A PIECE OF CINEMA, it deserves more thazn three stars, but not from me.
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