Rating: 
Summary: Excellent movie
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. One of Meryl Streep's best and enjoyed "meeting" the other actresses and actors, as well. I'll look for all of their work again.
I'd buy this one.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent movie!
Review: I watched this movie last night and thought it was excellent. It's a story about the adversity that 5 Irish sisters and their lone brother(recently returned from Africa) face when technology and a changing environment cause them to re-evaluate their lives. Rhys Ifans (best known as "Spike" in Notting Hill) is very good as the wandering boyfriend (and father of her child) of one of the sisters, played by Catherine McCormick. Meryl Streep is excellent as always and has no trouble mastering an Irish accent. This movie is definitely worth watching, but don't expect a happy Hollywood ending--it doesn't exist!
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting...
Review: Maybe it's just me me but it seems that all the movies I've watched about Ireland are very sad. Goodness knows the people over there have gone through a lot but so have other countries. And weren't The Matchmaker and Waking Ned Divine fairly happy Irish Movies? So maybe I'll adjust my statement and say that I've never seen a happy Irish drama. I've rambled enough so on to the critique. The family of five sisters in this film is interesting in that they all stick together through thick and thin. But when the Meryl Streep, the eldest sister exherts too much control over her sisters and those around here, everything falls apart. The performances are mostly good although the father and the second-oldest sister stand in particular; the former for his depth and wisdom, and the latter for her warmth and humor. This being Ireland, the movie looks good and it makes you want to take a vacation in the Emerald Isle. Weighing against it all is the unremittingly depressing pall that hangs over the whole movie. There's nothing wrong with a sad movie but this movie literally sees no happy ending for it's characters. Well-made but don't see it if you're happy.
Rating:
Summary: This is a great film.....
Review: My husband and I saw DANCING AT LUGHNASA at the Kreeger Theatre here in Washington DC, and it was magical. The little white cottage on the stage glowed in the dark under a full moon. I wanted to see the film because I had seen the play and loved it. As the mother of two thespians and the friend of a Tony winner, I am forever interested in the translation of a stage play to the screen. I think the producer Noel Pearson (MY LEFT FOOT), the screen writer Frank McGuinness (Tony winner), and director Pat O'Conner (CIRCLE OF FRIENDS) have created a wonderful movie adaptation of Brian Friel's play. I don't expect a screen play to mimic a "staged" play, but if you're familiar with the stage play and you expect the film to be identical, you may be disappointd. I think a screen play is simply another artistic expression. The tale told in DANCING AT LUGHNASA is magical and realistic and sad and could be interpreted as "anti-Catholic" by some, but perhaps it isn't anti-catholic as much as its inclusive of other points of view. The five Mundy sisters, their son and nephew, and priest brother returned from missionary work in Africa, as well as Christina's errant lover (father of Michael) live life on the edge. Yet inspite of their poverty, want and worry, they all find love and beauty this one magical summer when Michael's father comes for a short visit before departing to fight the church in Franco's Spain, and the Mundy brother (Michael Gambon) returns from Africa--where the natives have converted him to their religion instead of vice versa. It's coming up on August, the month of Lugh the old Celtic God of Light. The "pagans" light bonfires on the hills to celebrate Lugh. The Mundy brother speaks of the rising of the White Goddess into heaven. August 15 is the feast of Mary's Assumption into Heaven. Michael says for the first and only time in his life, that summer he had all seven people who loved him in his life at the same time. My DVD had fabulous clarity-Michael's runaway kite in the opening shots, Rose's beautiful white pet rooster, the vases of roses the Mundy women place in their rooms, the delicious blackberries, the fabulous governer's hat, the shots across Ireland--all are beautiful. My only complaint, and it's true of most DVDs--is that I could not read the credits at the end but that may be owing to the size of my tv screen. By the way, the Holy Water Ages sprinkles near the end of the film is really fairy dew (check out Midsummernight's Dream). That's what I love about the Catholic Church, it preserved all those wonderful old ways.
Rating:
Summary: Waiting To Dance
Review: Not having seen the play, I seem to be at a tremendous disadvantage to appreciate this film. It seems like anything so strongly rooted in Celtic traditions, pagan and Catholic, should be spectacular. I kept waiting for something to happen....it certainly is always getting ready to happen, but the script never triggers that flood of Irish Green emotion that it always so close to the surface of all good Irish literature and art. About the only redeeming characters are the brother Priest, who has managed to let his addled head be converted to the great heart-of-Africa primitivistic traditions (with the great scripting from the play which allow his missionary stories to parallel their Celtic neighbours' Lugan festival fires burning on the nearby ridges at night). What a great story line to let his fumbling spirit be drawn to the only time and place when he could actually rescue his simple sister. This is the great moment. I only wish the film had been able to convert what seemed to be the other dozens of latent moments waiting to sail off into my memory of the story. Alas, it was not to be. I am now hoping the play runs again somewhere so I can catch it. I would love to see somebody else take a shot at making this one work on the big screen....it's just there, waiting patiently for a young director to re-discover it 20 years from now and make the great film that is really in there!
Rating:
Summary: Waiting To Dance
Review: Not having seen the play, I seem to be at a tremendous disadvantage to appreciate this film. It seems like anything so strongly rooted in Celtic traditions, pagan and Catholic, should be spectacular. I kept waiting for something to happen....it certainly is always getting ready to happen, but the script never triggers that flood of Irish Green emotion that it always so close to the surface of all good Irish literature and art. About the only redeeming characters are the brother Priest, who has managed to let his addled head be converted to the great heart-of-Africa primitivistic traditions (with the great scripting from the play which allow his missionary stories to parallel their Celtic neighbours' Lugan festival fires burning on the nearby ridges at night). What a great story line to let his fumbling spirit be drawn to the only time and place when he could actually rescue his simple sister. This is the great moment. I only wish the film had been able to convert what seemed to be the other dozens of latent moments waiting to sail off into my memory of the story. Alas, it was not to be. I am now hoping the play runs again somewhere so I can catch it. I would love to see somebody else take a shot at making this one work on the big screen....it's just there, waiting patiently for a young director to re-discover it 20 years from now and make the great film that is really in there!
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Film
Review: OUTSTANDING! Wonderful acting, beautiful scenery. I felt that the character development was grand. This movie was utterly charming, if bittersweet. I can't remember a movie in recent years that has touched me so much.
Rating: 
Summary: two thumbs down, very boring and no plot
Review: reviewed a special engagement and did not think very highly of this movie
Rating:
Summary: very touching
Review: the mvie wasone of its kind and a heart touching one. perhaps this is one of the movie i should frankly admit which admire and dream of! and if could direct a movie in future i would definately take some tips from it. (rehnas)
Rating: 
Summary: THEATER AND MOVIES
Review: The old saying that says that a play can not become a satisfying movie is again the situation here.Although all the actors do play their roles convincigly,it's basically a play that can't be openned up.There is a feeling of mental distorsion throughout;two characters are affected by it.This convey a melancholic mood to the story.As it is ,i still enjoy the movie because of CATHERINE MCCORMACK and her fabulous ironic smile.I like the scene when she says to her son:come i'll put you to bed,perhaps because i envy the kid.
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