Rating: 
Summary: Innocent?
Review: This film will doubtless appeal to those naive enough to believe the Guildford Four and Birmingham Six are innocent and that the IRA are a loveable gang of carefree Gaelic rogues.
Rating: 
Summary: Good metaphor on social justice in Northern Ireland
Review: Social justice always comes into play whenever the issue of what to do with Northern Ireland comes into play. As a result, whenever there's a new book out about it, or a film, or a song, nearly 30 years of conflict bubbles up slowly and ends up washing over everything. One can't help but realize the irony of Gerry Conlon's life. While a young punk in Belfast, he stole and robbed with impunity, save for the IRA warnings; he never faced any punishment beyond that. Once he moves to London, Gerry keeps to himself and his family and friends. He keeps his nose clean, aside from free love and dope, and winds up in jail for a crime he didn't committ. Wherever he goes, society puts him behind bars because of his accent, socioeconomic status and manner of dress. The irony isn't lost on Gerry or anyone else. He accepts he's in jail for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He realizes there's no hope for him in either Belfast or London and that the system doesn't mind one bit. What happens in 'In The Name Of The Father' is shocking at first, but it is also true. While anti-British elements in Northern Ireland might point to this film and say 'See? We TOLD you so!', it is still an excellent lesson in how political opportunism leads to abuses of power in its pursuit to end public fear of terrorism. Anyone concerned about a particular group terrorizing ANYONE ANYWHERE ought to look into the cases of the Guildford Four and Birmingham Six and then look inside themselves, because it is when we are most afraid that out prejudices reveal themselves, and when that happens, freedom, democracy and justice suffer greatly.
Rating:
Summary: UNJUSTICE EXPOSED
Review: Daniel Day-Lewis is just too far over the top. I think he let his head become a bit too big after the successes of films like The Last of the Mohicans (which to this day I still cannot sit through). Day-Lewis won an Oscar for his portrayal of Christy Brown in My Left Foot, and as far as I can tell his career has been all downhill from there. This is not to say that this is a bad film. It is a true story but is told in a self-righteous and overly long fashion. The always-dependable Pete Postlethwaite is excellent as the father in this film. The story surrounds Day-Lewis's character, Gerry Conlon, and a group of his friends who happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and are convicted of being IRA bombers who blow up a club in London. Gerry's family is then drawn into the fold, and Gerry's father is convicted of having a key role in the bombing as well. The film tells the story of Gerry and his father surviving prison time while Gerry struggles to find an attorney who will help them to make their appeal. Finally they succeed in finding Emma Thompson, who again gives a splendid though small performance, who is the attorney who ultimately finds the evidence that acquits Gerry and his friends, but somehow does not acquit the father, who has by this time, died in prison. Gerry vows to fight on "in the name of the father" naturally. The film is good, and it illustrates how sometimes the justice system of any country does not necessarily search for or represent justice as much as it looks to find someone (anyone) guilty. Infuriating in this sense. Another good example of this kind of look at the justice system and the media is a film called Arlington Road, starring Jeff Bridges and Tim Robbins.
Rating:
Summary: Fiction presented as truth
Review: Sheridan changed an awful lot in making this film. Although you might consider it irrelevant this movie undermines an awful lot of people. Most notably, The Maguires, Sarah Conlon and Alistair Logan (The solicitor who actually worked for the four's release, Gareth Pierce had very little to do with it) It fails to accurately encapsulate Northern Ireland realisticaly and is an insult to all those who have suffered at the hands of 'British Justice'. The changes give kudos to those who still believe the Guildford 4 and the Maguire 7 were guilty of those bombings. If you want to see a realistic version of events, Frank Cvinatovich's Dear Sarah should be seen. Remember an awful lot of Sheridans critics were the people he was supposed to be representing
Rating: 
Summary: Heart breaking, deeply moving, and it's all true.
Review: Daniel Day-Lewis was wonderful as the out of control Irish boy who gets caught up in stuff above his head. But the gem in this film is Pete Postlethwaite who plays the father. His characterization of a man trying his best to raise a child among bombs is gripping. Definitely one of the best overlooked actors today. Another of his films to catch is Brassed Off. These great performances are made even more gripping by the fact that these great film is based on a true story.
Rating: 
Summary: Justice by popular demand
Review: This is not a film that I watch very often but "In the Name of the Father" is still one of my favorites. The reason I am not watching it regularly is that it is quite disturbing. It is loosely based on the true story of the Guildford four. A group of young people jailed for the bombing of the Guildford pub in London back in 1974.
"In the Name of the Father" tells the story from the point of view of Gerry Conlon, played by Daniel Day-Lewis. Gerry starts out as a young man in Ireland. He is an unemployed lout who makes a little money on the side by stealing lead lining off neighborhood roofs. He is forced to leave Belfast due to the IRA's disapproval of his thieving activities.
Once in London, Gerry and his friend Paul Hill move into a squat with a group of other flower children. It is not long before Gerry and Paul have to move out of their new home due to friction over one of the young ladies' relationship with Gerry. This leaves both Paul and Gerry in a public park on the night that the Guildford Pub is bombed.
To make matters worse, the jilted boyfriend of the aforementioned young lady, goes to the police to finger Gerry and Paul as suspicious Irishmen. This is an opportunity too good to miss for Inspector Pavis. He is under great pressure to bring the guilty parties to justice.
The next thing we know Gerry, three of his friends and the larger portion of his family have been arrested, tried and jailed. Only just short of being a kangaroo court, the prosecutor paints them as a vicious IRA cell. The atmosphere is such that even the flimsiest of evidence is seen as damning proof of their guilt.
Up until this point in the film the story is told in retrospect, from many years after the event, by Gerry as he languishes in prison with his Father, Giuseppe. He is telling the story for a new barrister, Gareth Peirce, played by Emma Thompson. She is keen to have a retrial. The trouble is that Gerry is so cynical about English justice by this time, that he needs a lot of encouragement in order for him to participate.
The rest of the film shows us, one layer at a time, all of the deceptions that led to the original convictions. False witnesses, false evidence, hidden testimonies, forced confessions and even the cover up of the confession of the real bomber. It all comes to a head in court, but not before the death of Giuseppe Conlon in prison, despite a compassionate appeal for early release. We also see Gerry's transformation from a callow youth into a dedicated campaigner for justice.
What makes this film so disturbing is that the same forces that contributed to this outrageous perversion of justice are alive and well today. The passion with which the public calls for the conviction of anyone that is accused of a brutal crime, is equally as vivid now as it was then. It should not matter how brutal a crime is, we should call for the truth, not just revenge. And so we are left with the knowledge that history will repeat itself and probably is doing so at this very moment.
Rating:
Summary: DAy-LEWIS = BEST ACTOR ALIVE
Review: No PAcino, no De Niro, no Norton, no Hanks. Day-Lewis is clearly the best actor in the business. I just ask him do do more movies than he has made! in this one, everything works perfectly, all the cast is great, based on a true history.
Rating:
Summary: A powerful, moving fact-based film
Review: The main story line of an Irish family and friends being wrongfully convicted and imprisoned as IRA terrorists in Great Britain is combined with the emotional story of the relationship between father and son. The fact that the movie is based on a true story makes it even more compelling.
Rating:
Summary: in the name of the father
Review: it is a great movie to watch and is easy to do a film rewiew on i would have to rate it out of 100 i would rate it at 99% excellent
Rating:
Summary: Hail The King, Pete Postlethwaite
Review: The whole film was a masterpiece but special attention is due to Pete Postlethwaite. No other actor, in my humble opinion, can touch him. Who else can portray such rage, frustration and at the same time such quiet dignity without hamming it up or going OTT? This man has an outstanding talent and is one of, if not the best actor of our time.
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