Rating: 
Summary: Book and a movie
Review: I picked up the book "The Mammy" at a bookstore on a whim. Flipping through it to make sure it would be appropriate for a young friend, I found myself completely entertained by this woman who despite having 7 children herself, is still charmingly ignorant about "organisms". I had to read sections out loud to my family so they could figure out the reasons for my delighted chuckles. Recently and suddenly widowed, she struggles to make sure her children are taken care of and have pride in themselves. Her challenge to explain life to her children as they enter puberty, poverty and the vulnerability of being a family without an adult male are funny at times, but would be heartbreaking if we did not also feel that Agnes Browne does not WANT us to feel sorry for her or her family.
Only later did I connect this book with an Angelica Huston picture I had heard about but never seen, called "Agnes Browne". Needless to say, I had to watch it.
Initially, it was hard for me to see the patrician Ms Huston in such a downtrodden role, but eventually, I began to see her AS Agnes Browne.
Agnes' relationship with her friend Marion is one of the true great friendships of sisterhood, making it all the more hilarious in the car scene and all the more heartbreaking at the end of it.
If I had to pick at this movie at all, I would pick at the lessened extent to which her children are just as much victims of being poor and fatherless. And I was so hoping that Harry Webb (AKA Cliff Richard) would make an appearance. In the movie, Tom Jones comes to fulfill the lifelong dream of Agnes Browne. A most deserving heroine.
Rating: 
Summary: Agnes Browne
Review: I thought it was great fun and a reminder of the fruit and vegetable markets in Dublin's Moore Street where most Dublin mothers bought their produce and interacted with the most colorful group of citizens in Ireland. The language is salty, but the repartee is terrific. Marian Dwyer shines as Houston's pal. Dwyer has now entered the cast of Ballykissangel, aired on selected PBS stations across the country. These earthy city folk were known for their malapropisms, like worrying about their "various veins," and selling their "Christmas declarations." Irish revieweers didn't like the movie --- probably because they are now getting rich on the Celtic Tiger and don't want to be reminded!!
Rating: 
Summary: Fantastic acting and heartwarming story
Review: I was watching the movie on the WE network and just had to order the DVD. This was fabulously done and a real "must see" by those
seeking tounge-in-cheek romantic drama.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic acting and heartwarming story
Review: I was watching the movie on the WE network and just had to order the DVD. This was fabulously done and a real "must see" by those
seeking tounge-in-cheek romantic drama.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic acting and heartwarming story
Review: I was watching the movie on the WE network and just had to order the DVD. This was fabulously done and a real "must see" by those
seeking tounge-in-cheek romantic drama.
Rating:
Summary: Huston Brings Out The Irish
Review: In Dublin, 1967, a woman with seven children is suddenly faced with the travails of widowhood in "Agnes Browne," directed by and starring Anjelica Huston. After the unexpected death of her husband, life becomes something less than a picnic for Agnes (Huston), what with children ranging in age from two to fourteen and no assets to speak of. She keeps her head above water and some food on the table by selling fruit at an outdoor market, but makes barely enough to make ends meet, while she awaits her widow's pension from her late husband's union. But even when and if it comes, she realizes it won't be enough on which to live. It's a bleak state of affairs for Agnes, who luckily has a dear friend, Marion (Marion O'Dwyer), who is always there for her; and with friendship, a sense of humor, and the dream of seeing Tom Jones in concert, it's enough to keep her going as she manages to take it all one day at a time. There are poignant moments in this character driven, heartwarming film, as well as some funny ones; Huston has done an outstanding job of creating a mood and an atmosphere that brings the Irish working class vividly to life, and she populates her landscape with characters who are not only real, but incredibly rich in their humanity. She captures the heart of Agnes and the others with an emotional depth that draws in the viewer and allows the empathy through which an intimate bond with the characters is established. And they quickly become more than just characters in a story; these are people you come to care about, and when something bad or untoward happens to any of them, you feel it just as deeply as they. Huston gives a terrific performance as Agnes, imbuing her with both a strength and vulnerability that make her real. She has a look of world-weariness about her, but there's a glint of hope and humor in her eyes, which are like a doorway to her soul; you need only look there to know what she is feeling inside. And Huston plays it all so perfectly. In her motion picture debut, O'Dwyer gives a memorable performance as well, as Marion; though nondescript in appearance, there is nevertheless something charming about this woman, and it has everything to do with "character." Through her unwavering loyalty to Agnes she personifies the meaning of friendship, and exemplifies how invaluable a true friend can be, especially in times of need. It's a touching portrayal that is one of the strengths of the film. The supporting cast includes Niall O'Shea (Mark), Ciaran Owens (Frankie), Roxanna Williams (Cathy), Carl Power (Simon), Mark Power (Dermot), Ray Winstone (Mr. Billy), June Rodgers (Fat Annie), Jennifer Gibney (Winnie the Mackerel) and Tom Jones as himself. No stranger to all things Irish, Huston was the perfect choice to star in and direct this project. With "Agnes Browne," she succeeds splendidly, with a film that is striking both visually and emotionally. And, lest it be taken for granted, one need but consider Alan Parker's "Angela's Ashes," which visited the same territory but came off flat and uninspired, especially compared to Huston's film, which so distinctly and fervently imparts the essence of the proud Irish poor. Largely ignored during it's theatrical release, this film hopefully will find a second life on DVD and video, and realize the acclaim it so richly deserves. A real sleeper, this is a gem of a film just waiting to be discovered.
Rating:
Summary: Huston Brings Out The Irish
Review: In Dublin, 1967, a woman with seven children is suddenly faced with the travails of widowhood in "Agnes Browne," directed by and starring Anjelica Huston. After the unexpected death of her husband, life becomes something less than a picnic for Agnes (Huston), what with children ranging in age from two to fourteen and no assets to speak of. She keeps her head above water and some food on the table by selling fruit at an outdoor market, but makes barely enough to make ends meet, while she awaits her widow's pension from her late husband's union. But even when and if it comes, she realizes it won't be enough on which to live. It's a bleak state of affairs for Agnes, who luckily has a dear friend, Marion (Marion O'Dwyer), who is always there for her; and with friendship, a sense of humor, and the dream of seeing Tom Jones in concert, it's enough to keep her going as she manages to take it all one day at a time. There are poignant moments in this character driven, heartwarming film, as well as some funny ones; Huston has done an outstanding job of creating a mood and an atmosphere that brings the Irish working class vividly to life, and she populates her landscape with characters who are not only real, but incredibly rich in their humanity. She captures the heart of Agnes and the others with an emotional depth that draws in the viewer and allows the empathy through which an intimate bond with the characters is established. And they quickly become more than just characters in a story; these are people you come to care about, and when something bad or untoward happens to any of them, you feel it just as deeply as they. Huston gives a terrific performance as Agnes, imbuing her with both a strength and vulnerability that make her real. She has a look of world-weariness about her, but there's a glint of hope and humor in her eyes, which are like a doorway to her soul; you need only look there to know what she is feeling inside. And Huston plays it all so perfectly. In her motion picture debut, O'Dwyer gives a memorable performance as well, as Marion; though nondescript in appearance, there is nevertheless something charming about this woman, and it has everything to do with "character." Through her unwavering loyalty to Agnes she personifies the meaning of friendship, and exemplifies how invaluable a true friend can be, especially in times of need. It's a touching portrayal that is one of the strengths of the film. The supporting cast includes Niall O'Shea (Mark), Ciaran Owens (Frankie), Roxanna Williams (Cathy), Carl Power (Simon), Mark Power (Dermot), Ray Winstone (Mr. Billy), June Rodgers (Fat Annie), Jennifer Gibney (Winnie the Mackerel) and Tom Jones as himself. No stranger to all things Irish, Huston was the perfect choice to star in and direct this project. With "Agnes Browne," she succeeds splendidly, with a film that is striking both visually and emotionally. And, lest it be taken for granted, one need but consider Alan Parker's "Angela's Ashes," which visited the same territory but came off flat and uninspired, especially compared to Huston's film, which so distinctly and fervently imparts the essence of the proud Irish poor. Largely ignored during it's theatrical release, this film hopefully will find a second life on DVD and video, and realize the acclaim it so richly deserves. A real sleeper, this is a gem of a film just waiting to be discovered.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous story!
Review: Set in Dublin in the late 1960s, it stars Angelica Huston and is totally terrific. As the movie opens, AgnesBrowne (Huston) is newly widowed with seven children. The story follows the ups and downs of Agnes's life following the death of her husband. There are tears, laughter, and romance. And a great appearance by singer Tom Jones. Highly recommended! This is from the Mrs. Browne trilogy by Irish stand-up comic, Brendan O'Carroll (The Mammy, The Chisellers, and The Granny)Yes, you need tissues, but in the end it is totally uplifting. It also made me want to book an Aer Lingus flight ASAP.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous story!
Review: Set in Dublin in the late 1960s, it stars Angelica Huston and is totally terrific. As the movie opens, AgnesBrowne (Huston) is newly widowed with seven children. The story follows the ups and downs of Agnes's life following the death of her husband. There are tears, laughter, and romance. And a great appearance by singer Tom Jones. Highly recommended! This is from the Mrs. Browne trilogy by Irish stand-up comic, Brendan O'Carroll (The Mammy, The Chisellers, and The Granny)Yes, you need tissues, but in the end it is totally uplifting. It also made me want to book an Aer Lingus flight ASAP.
Rating:
Summary: Charming but insubstantial
Review: This bittersweet story focuses on the day-to-day lives of common folks in 1960's Ireland. At the center of the story is its namesake, Agnes Browne (Anjelica Houston), who has just lost her husband and is struggling to support her seven children. The film presents a slice-of-life of families struggling to stay afloat, but trivializes their plight by making its heroine's greatest ambition a trip to a Tom Jones concert. While the story has some charming and poignant moments, it is mostly mundane and lacks the ability to keep all but the most sentimental viewer engaged. It skims the surface of the lower middle class struggle to stay above the poverty line, but lacks the depth to draw us in. Unlike "Angela's Ashes" which gives a gripping account of poverty and its human cost, this film just tries to bounce merrily along and make the best of things. The humor was low brow and the Tom Jones ending was hokey in the extreme. Two actors stand out, namely Anjelica Houston and Marion O'Dywer. Houston carries the entire cast with a standout performance that is spontaneous and heartwarming. O'Dwyer has a radiant smile and affability that makes her seem like she could be anyone's best bud. The chemistry between the two was excellent. Overall, this was a human-interest story that was very human, but not very interesting. I rated it a 6/10.
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