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| the, really rather good, Michael Fassbender |
It's a truism that most Irish films are bad. Most of everything is bad so that's not that surprising but the people who provide finance for Irish films seem determined only to produce Irish films that are full of the worst cliches and stereotypes of Oirishness imaginable. There are, of course several notable exceptions to this sweeping statement but no doubt you'll know what I'm talking about if you've come across Leap Year or PS I Love You etc. But even worse than Irish films from the Republic of Ireland are the breed of films that have been made about the Troubles in the North. These movies I like to think of as Micksploitation pictures. What is a Micksploitation picture I hear you ask? It's a film set during or just after the Troubles whose intent is not to elucidate what was happening in Northern Ireland in the period 1968 - 1998, but rather to simplify the conflict for the lowest common denominator of American film goers in order to get bums (especially Irish American bums) in seats. The films usually have a few stock cliches and plot devices: 1. The IRA are conflicted heroes who only kill evil Brits. 2. The Brits are evil. 3.Northern Irish Protestants are the most evil of the lot - racist, Lambeg drum beating orangemen who hate Catholics with their cornflakes in the morning and their cocoa at night. 4. Belfast, suspiciously, looks a lot like a Manchester. 5. The musical score will be a soaringly sentimental parody of trad. Irish music.
...
For my sins I've seen quite a few of these films and for your edification here's a wee list of some of the worst offenders.
1. A Prayer for the Dying - Mickey Rourke plays a conflicted IRA man driven to his crimes by evil Brits.
2. Hidden Agenda - evil Protestants conspire to kill everyone in their path.
3. Hunger - evil Protestants conspire to kill Bobby Sands (I actually kinda like this one).
4. The Devil's Own - Brad Pitt plays a conflicted IRA man, driven to his crimes by evil Brits, who then decides to hassle Harrison Ford.
5. Cal - John Lynch plays a conflicted IRA man, driven to his crimes by evil Brits, who then sleeps with the dead man's girl.
6. The Crying Game - Stephen Rea plays a conflicted IRA man, driven to his crimes by evil Brits, who then sleeps with the dead man's girl (who's really a guy).
7. Patriot Games - Sean Bean plays a conflicted IRA man, driven to his crimes by evil Brits, who then hassles Harrison Ford.
8. The Jackal - Richard Gere plays a conflicted IRA man driven to his crimes by evil Brits. Gere's accent work here is the comic high point of his career.
9. In the Name of the Father - evil Brits frame innocent Micks (except, er, this is actually what really happened).
10. The Boxer - conflicted IRA man tries to go straight but is hassled by evil Brits and old pals.
...
If you want to see a really good film about the Troubles you should watch Bloody Sunday, directed by Paul Greengrass and starring James Nesbitt, which contains something many of the films above don't have: nuance.
86 comments:
Apparently Hidden Agenda and Resurrection Men have a remarkably similar plot.
Also The Devil's Own and Patriot Games .
You must admit, though, that The Crying Game has a nice twist.
evil Brits
Americans know that Brits are evil. Their Prime Ministers are Eton and Oxford educated members of the aristocracy, and they unleashed Jeremy Clarkson on the world.
A,
Thanks for the recommendation of In Bruges. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed it last night. I had removed it from the queue, thinking it looked iffy. We thought it was beautifully shot, hilarious at times, and even moving. Perhaps the first time I've been really impressed by Colin F, though Gleeson is always great.
Cheers
HB
What can you expect from a nation that kicked out the Brits and took in as many Irish as we could? We are destined to root for Team Ireland.
I haven't seen The Crying Game. I read the screenplay and was pretty impressed by it, liked the use of the fable about the scorpion and the other animal (can't remember what it was).
With the exception of Michael Collins, however, it seems Neil Jordan can't write about anything except people of indeterminate sexuality. Not that there's anything wrong with that, it just seems to be a heavily recurring theme in his art, even in his novel Shade. Kind of like watching any Spike Lee movie--everything in his universe boils down to race.
Bloody Sunday is a great flick, but probably the most maddening movie I've ever watched. Because of that, I've owned it for three or four years and have only watched it once. It makes you want to get up and do SOMEthing, y'know?
Resurrection Man, another James Nesbitt, was a depressing, morbidly shocking movie. Stuart Townsend is great, but hacking up people just because...wow, Jason Vorhees has nothing on this guy. Classic ending though, very Tony Montana.
Two chapters in to Fitty Grand...best first chapter I think I've ever read, seriously. Still waiting to hear from Mecoy. It's been 7 weeks since he's had my manu. Hope that's a good thing.
liked the use of the fable about the scorpion and the other animal (can't remember what it was).
A frog, probably. I forgot that the fable was in the film, but I've encountered it a thousand times now. Of course it isn't remotely based on fact- scorpions are relatively timid creatures who tend to back off from confrontations, not machines programmed to sting everything in sight*,just like lemmings don't go collectively drowning themselves like Oxford undergraduates under the sway of beautiful women .
But once an animal is caught in a moral fable, its reputation is forever compromised!
Now that's something that should worry us, not some minor inaccuracy in the portrayal of evil,drunken micks.
*You should've seen how those tiny black scorpions scampered franticly when I blocked their path with my hand.
Marco
Yeah I may have used repetition as a humorous device there.
And additionally I may have used repetition as a humorous device.
Also I may have used repetition as a...
HB
Gleeson's the man, aint he? And CF did a terrific job. With the right director and sympathetic material he can be fantastic.
Yeah, animals get a bad rap.
I haven't seen any of these movies, except for Name of the Father, which I thought was pretty good. Oh, yeah, and I liked The Crying Game a lot at the time, but it was for the more personal rather than the political side of the plot.
This is reminding me of one I liked from a couple of years ago, but I can't think of the name. It starts with a young guy who is just about to go to England to be a doctor or something, when yes, the evil Brits show up and do some rotten things, and he slowly but inexorably gets drawn into the Republican cause. What seems a bit different than the type of movies you describe is that the doctor doesn't get to walk away innocent or with his hands clean, and from my perspective anyway, it just makes the whole situation look like a trap and a bloody mess. This is about an earlier era, though, and part of the interest is really in the conflict between two brothers.
...I just figured it out. It was The Wind that Shakes the Barley, directed by Ken Loach.
Dylan
Yeah, but eventually people's attitudes towards Indians changed. Those old 40's Union serials were there were good guys and bad guys (Indians) gave way to slightly more nuanced John Ford films and eventually to sympathetic work.
Brian
Yeah I forgot about Michael Collins. A pack of lies from start to finish that film. They went for the historical standards of Gladiator
I'll tell you what I didnt like about the screenplay in The Crying Game:
1. Cowardice. Jordan doesnt actually have Stephen Rea kill the hostage. He's too chicken to do that. THe hostage is actually killed trying to escape, by the evil Brits!
2. Tin ear dialogue: IRA men and women dont speak like that. Drag queens dont speak like that. English foremen dont speak like that. Squaddies dont speak like that.
3. If there's any kind of twist people always say "great screenplay" but I'm sorry it wasnt. It was a feeble screenplay with a twist that made it memorable. The Usual Suspects can survive even when you know the twist I dont think Crying Game really can.
Liam
Thanks man. The first 3 chapters all kind of run together and the book sort of kicks off for real in chapter 4.
Yeah it is a good and frustrating film. I wondered what ever happened to that Paul Greengrass fellow?
Seana
I havent seen The Wind That Shakes the Barley but its by Ken Loach who made Hidden Agenda, so I can imagine how it goes.
Not a big fan of nuance either is Ken.
I'm quite sure he has his ax to grind, but I still think it is not that black and white.
Has anyone here seen Nothing Personal, which I just came across as I tracked that one down? Apparently a downbeat tale from the Protestant side. Ian Hart, Michael Gambon make it sound promising.
Seana
I'll take a leaf from your book and confess my ignorance. Never heard of it. Though Michael Gambon makes it sound promising. I dont think I've ever not liked him in a film. Well I havent liked his characters esp that monster in A Cook, The Thief, His Wife, And Her Lover but he's so good...
Turns out Netfliz has never heard of it either, so this one may just have to remain a mystery.
Gambon is great, although I have to say that even he did not convince me to like the PBS Maigret series. I am not sure if it was just that for a show set in France it seemed so British--i.e., evil (no, I'm kidding)-- or if in fact I don't really care much for Simenon.
Adrian -
1. Cowardice. Jordan doesnt actually have Stephen Rea kill the hostage. He's too chicken to do that. THe hostage is actually killed trying to escape, by the evil Brits!
I hear what you're saying. On the other hand, it keeps Rea's character sympathetic, which is important I think.
2. Tin ear dialogue: IRA men and women dont speak like that. Drag queens dont speak like that. English foremen dont speak like that. Squaddies dont speak like that.
I have to defer to you on this one. I haven't seen the movie, and the dialogue doesn't stand out from my reading of the screenplay a few years ago. Plus, I'm no expert on the Irish/English tongue, so my idea of it is probably cartoonish by your standards.
Brian
Have you seen A Company of Wolves? Neil Jordan's first film I think. Its a while since I saw it but I thought it was superb. Its based on an Angela Carter story who I also like very much. Mona Lisa has a lot of similar tropes to The Crying Game but I think it's a better film. And Bob Hoskins was terrific. Actually on the IRA/Bob Hoskins meme...have you seen The Long Good Friday?
Man that's an underrated masterpiece.
Maybe I'm being too hard on Jordan (see how easily I cave) I'll bet the money men insisted on exactly those changes to his screenplay so that Rea would be more sympathetic. Though I dont think many people would have minded if he'd actually killed him (if you've ever listened to Radio Free Eireann in NYC they gleefully talk about butchering British soldiers and Irish Protestants in Bosnian style massacres).
Incidentally if you've got time to burn you can watch all of The Long Good Friday for free here right now.
Have you seen A Company of Wolves?
Seen the film, read the Bloody Chamber, liked both.
I remember vaguely from an interview that CoW was a commercial flop and TCG was Jordan's last chance to turn his career, but also that he really liked the script, wanted to do it and fought to preserve the role of the transexual.
Can't say anything about the Irish accents (and anyway every accent gets lost in dubbing) but s/he's not meant to be a drag queen but a non-op transexual and seems credible to me.
Seana
But hopefully you'll agree with me about Gambon's brilliance in The Singing Detective?
Squire - I saw Five Minutes of Heaven last week, and it's an interesting and (gor blimey, guv!) nuanced take on the Troubles ... Jimmy Nesbitt and Liam Neeson. One's a former Evil Prod killer: guess who? Oliver Hirschbiegel (Downfall) directs.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1238291/
Marco
I think Dil goes to pieces a little too easily in TCG but maybe its because I'm more accustomeed to NYC trannies who are tough sons of bitches that you dont mess with. Miranda Richardson wouldnt have stood a chance against them. Also Dil could do WAY better than Fergus.
BTW speaking of accents and this is a plus for me about TCG Miranda Richardson has the greatest Belfast accent by an English actor that I've ever heard.
Dec
Sounds good. I think we all love Jimmy around these parts. And Liam's great too. (Why is it that the coolest Irishmen always come from County Antrim I wonder).
Did you see Bloody Sunday? It was actually filmed in Derry which I liked too. Not Manchester or north Dub like some 'Belfast' films I could mention.
You've seen The Long Good Friday?
Marco, Brian, etc.
I dont how long this will be up there but you can watch A Company of Wolves for free here too. Nice double 80's double bill actually COW and TLGF.
I can't imagine the American movie going public is too clued in to the nuances of "the Troubles." Mostly it comes down to evil white guys (usually with bogus Irish accents -- see Tommy Lee Jones in Blow Away ) who blow things up . Most of the target audience is really just interested in watching things get blown up or seeing Harrison Ford try to stop things from getting blown up by blowing other things up in the process.
I haven't seen it but I heard that Odd Man Out is a pretty good movie and it's directed by Carol Reed of Third Man fame.
Hollywood is also generally hopeless at getting artists right, as well, but it's often fun to watch how badly they get it wrong.
Adam
Blown Away - forgot about that one. Conflicted IRA man driven to his crimes etc.
Funnily enough I just reviewed the book and film of Odd Man Out for the essay collection Dec Burke is putting together. It is a superior film in every respect. Probably Reed's second best film (after The Third Man).
Take is you werent sold on Pollock then or Basquiat? or that one with Kirk Douglas?
I thought I Shot Andy Warhol was pretty good though.
Adrian,
Thanks for the links, man. I have to check these two out when I get a chance. If worst comes to worst I'll just netflix them.
Bob Hoskins is awesome in just about everything, even Roger Rabbit.
Excellent, I will check out Odd Man Out and hopefully get a chance to see your review. The Third Man is one of my favorite films so it's complete negligence that I haven't seen it.
Biopics of artists aren't usually the worst of the offenders (Basquiat was pretty good -- how can you go wrong with Bowie as Warhol, couldn't get through the Pollock movie, kind of a bummer). I will have to think about the real howlers. The most over the top (and the most fun) was Nick Nolte as Lionel Dobie in New York Stories.
But hopefully you'll agree with me about Gambon's brilliance in The Singing Detective?
Indeed I do. In fact, it's probably time I watch that series again.
Funny, but I was just reminded of Dennis Potter a couple of weeks ago, by this site.
I also loved The Company of Wolves when I saw it, though frankly don't remember a whole lot about it other than some very select images. Time to add that to the Netflix list too, I suppose.
Despite the fact that this topic is more or less a tirade against certain movies, I've gotten a lot of good movie suggestions today. Thanks, everyone.
OT, but still film-related:
Quis Paciet ipsos Pacmanes
The Wind That Shakes the Barley is good by my perspectve (I mean come on, what girl can honestly look into Cillian Murphy's eyes and not be in love with him?) and i'm not a harsh critic.
I haven't seen any of the movies on this list...
Have you seen Everlasting Piece?
Christina
I've got to admit Cillian does have dreamy blue eyes. Also you dont have a lot of films with the word barley in the title, which I like.
Marco
Yes its going to be huge, but I dont know if I'm going to jump on the haters or greeters bandwagon. I think I told you I didnt like 300, but then again the stuff I've seen is quite clever.
BTW Dr Manhattan should be in the Vegan star system about now.
Seana
Did you ever see his last TV interview. Its remarkable. I'd link to it if it wasnt so late. Potter is sipping morphine from a hip flask and talking about his life, television, writing and his plans to assassinate Rupert Murdoch.
Haven't seen it, but it's included in the recent DVD carrying three short early works according to VSL.
Again OT, may also interest for John McF: Captain Kirk planning to take over Canadian civilization
Fook the movies. Read the crime fiction coming out of Ireland these days instead.
==============
Detectives Beyond Borders
“Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home”
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Marco
I think I am the secret link.
One of my tutors at Oxford was Michael Ignatieff who is probably going to become the next Prime Minister of Canada. Another one of my tutors was Vernon Bogdanor who pushed David Cameron (the next British Prime Minister) to greatness. I'm convinced that it was my stupidity, laziness and obtuseness that convinced these men that academia was a dead end and that politics was the future.
Peter
I second that.
Adrian, I'm sorry to hear that your tutors haven't already tapped you to come along with them. I expect you would have declined, but I think there's some money to be made in speechwriting these days.
Adrian:
Well, now, the word nuance can cover much ground surely. It can even be used to suggest some slim rationale for the English story in Ireland, back to the day when Mr. Cromwell banished trees from Irish soil, as St. Patrick had earlier done with the snakes.
Not to say that the resistance hasn't contributed its own simple-minded madness to the pot, but this is no chicken and egg sort of conundrum. Pretty clear whose the encroacher in the Irish story, and it's not the Irish.
Also, I haven't visited for some time, so I wanted to answer you question on another string concerning Pere LeChaise.
It was neither Jim or Oscar I visited that day. I was searching for the grave of Van Morrison.
PKL
Patrick
LOL. VM indeed. They say he's going to be very first guest on the new Conan O'Brien Tonight Show. At least I think I read that somewhere. Or maybe it was Jimmy Fallon?
I still think you're oversimplifying - who were the biggest resisters to Cromwell? The Fitzgeralds, Burkes etc. and they of course were Hiberno-Norman, in otherwords English. Even the great O'Neills had English blood and forebears. And if you think you should expel every Irishman who cant trace his ancestory back to 1600 i.e. before the Plantation, why not do the same to all inhabitants of N. America? Even the Pilgrims are going to have to go back under that rule.
But also its worse than that. The thing is the view that Ireland was genetically and culturally isolated from Europe is completely bogus and has been utterly exploded by DNA research. Ireland has always had Scots, English, Welsh, Saxons, Normans, French etc and the Celtic language itself was imposed upon pre Celtic neolithic natives probably only as late as two millennia ago. I'm afraid that the Irish are a bastard race and just as mixed up as every other race in Europe despite what one may read in hoary old history books. But as bad as it is for us its worse for the English. Their supposed Anglo-Saxon heritage is utter crap, they are just as 'Celtic' as the Irish, Scots etc. The English arent just our cousins, they are, in fact, gasp, us.
Christina,
Thanks for giving The Wind that Shakes the Barley at least a whiff of legitimacy around here. I haven't seen Everlasting Piece, but it looks interesting.
For you and Adrian and anyone else who has been besotted by Cillian's eyes, have you seen Breakfast on Pluto? Yeah, it's Neal Jordan but it's a great vehicle for Murphy nonetheless.
As you can see, I don't entirely subscribe to Peter's 'Fook the movies' philosophy. Though I'm sure he's the better person.
I deny that I am the better person.
And I don't subscribe entirely to the fook (or feck) the movies theory, though at least novels have the advantage of not inflicting bad accents on the reader.
I have seen "Crying Game," and Adrian posted a link to a brawl scene in the Crown from "Odd Man Out" when I mentioned that I planned to visit that famous and ornate Belfast pub.
==============
Detectives Beyond Borders
“Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home”
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Denying that you are the better person just shows that you are the better person, you know.
Today a teacher came into the store who I know quite well in an impersonal sort of way, and she said that the gray and drizzly day made her just feel like reading books and going to movies. And I said amen to that. Fact is, I just like stories, and I don't really care what the medium is, so long as they're well done.
Sorry, I had to ashcan the last comment, because I inadvertently linked it to the wrong place.
For those of you catching it by email, just ignore the top secret government information that resides there.
Really.
Okay, no, not really.
Going to the movies ... Last month I met a woman at David Goodis' grave. She was visiting from Cambridge, Mass., where she loved to attend two of the few repertory theaters that remain in the U.S. We talked over the days when such theaters were more numerous, and when one could see a double feature at the Harvard Square Theater. We were like a couple of old Irishmen singing "The Rare Auld Times."
================================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
I guess I could have sung along, if I only knew the tune. Or the words. I think a friend of mine took me to that theatre when I visited her in Cambridge many a year ago now. Wish I could remember what we saw there that night.
We had a great rep theatre here too that is long defunct. However, they do at least do some interesting old movies at a couple of midnight shows, so that's something. Though I'm never awake, let alone downtown, to see them.
Sing along with Ronnie!
There's no rep theater worthy of the name in Philadelphia, but I don't think many cities have them.
================================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Seana,
I have seen Breakfast on Pluto and thought it was pretty good. I haven't read the book yet though which promises to be much more...Out there. it definitely put a new spin on things and as usual I thought Cillian was sublime though his voice sort of annoyed me ...and also the fact he's prettier than I am.
Seana, Peter,
Ah but the real question is have you ever performed and if so what?
I was insulted a bit to be cast as the wife murdering bully Bill Sykes in Oliver!
Christina
I wonder if poor Cillian uses the "dont hate me because I'm beautiful" line to get himself out of fights.
As good an actor as he is, to think that Cillian Murphy tried out for and was actually considered for the part of Batman boggles the mind. That movie should have been called The Wind Shakes The Barley and A Stiff Breeze Topples Cillian.
Breakfast on Pluto
Not to name drop, but I just had lunch with one of the actors from that flick. Not Murphy, but Tony Devlin. Looks like his theatre company will be putting on me Sweety Bottle play next year!
gb
Gerard,
Congrats, man! That's awesome.
-B
You're really on a roll of late, Gerard.
Congratulations!
Adrian:
You assume arguments I'm certainly not making, as to Irish purity of either the genetic or cultural sort.
The role of Britain to which I point is simply its undeniable historical imperial overreach. Certainly Ireland is not the only national victim.
If you want to put me in some sort of camp here, lump me in with Dean Swift. But please don't expect me to attend even that Anglican mass.
PKL
Adrian:
...much less a Roman one.
OM....
PKL
Pat
Did you know that old Jonathan Swift lived for a year in my hometown of Carrickfergus?
He hated it, wrote voraciously and probably composed tale of a tub and notes for Gulliver. So what do the barbarians in my local council do? They demolish his house to widen a road!
Sometimes it makes you weep doesnt it?
As to the arguments, yeah I was a bit Warp 8 there wasnt I?
Ger
Thats awesome dude. Plays, screenplays, stories, book editing, book writing, kung fu, you're a renaissance man.
Brian
LOL, yeah he is a tad fragile isn't he? Might have made a good Dr Who though I thought.
bit late to the party, but is the general consensus that you all proddies are evil bastards?
Brian, Marco and Adrian - Cheers lads. I'll do a proper post about it later. You're all invited.
gb
Colman
Yeah that's about right. Reminds me of a good Ian Paisley joke that...actually I will save for another occasion.
Gerard, I'll have to buy you another Carlsberg next time -- and one each for your agent, your publicist and every other member of your entourage. Good luck and congratulations.
Peter
Carlsberg LOL. But yes we should.
Ger
Just commented on your page, hope I havent spoiled the gaff.
Peter - Might be cheaper to get a good bottle of Bush to share between us. Just saying.
Cheers
gb
Adrian - No worries. I'll post about it shortly. And what's wrong with Carlsberg? The local offy still does 8 tins for a fiver! I've mouths to feed, ya know.
gb
"And what's wrong with Carlsberg? The local offy still does 8 tins for a fiver! I've mouths to feed, ya know.
gb"
Two tins each for you, your wife, and your two kids?
==============
Detectives Beyond Borders
“Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home”
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Peter - It'll probably balance out that way eventually. Right now (well come Easter, that is) I get the lion's share.
Cheers
gb
Gerard--
Who knew that a chance mention of Breakfast on Pluto would bring such rich and happy news. I'd love to see that play. And who knows? Maybe I shall. Who was Tony Devlin in the movie? Not that I'm going to remember him by name.
Adrian--
Bill Sykes? You should be proud, not insulted. What a rich role. I think it made Oliver Reed's career. (I just checked IMDB to make sure I had his name right, and noticed that it was Carol Reed who directed it. So does anyone know if they are related? If so, it's got to be a plum role.) Who did you want to be, anyway? Fagin? The Artful Dodger? Not Oliver, god forbid.
Oh, I did my share of youthful acting. It's been years, but I doubt that anything ever really eradicates the inner ham. I think probably my greatest artistic success was when I played the Cowardly Lion in an all girl cast of the Wizard of Oz. (You may be skeptical, but it worked surprisingly well, actually, though some of us were pretty heavily costumed) Running up to the stage roaring and freaking out a bunch of small children was just my thing.
Since I may never have a chance to ask this again among people who would know, how do you pronounce Cillian? As an American I tend to see it as "Sillian". I'm guessing it's "Chillian", but there might be some further contraction or something that's not apparent.
Seana - Ta for that. Tony played the 'White Dove' character. I haven't actually seen the flick, I must confess, so not sure how big the part was.
Oh, and Cillian is pronounced 'Kill Ian'.
Cheers
gb
Adrian ,It appears you are right I have never seen a Protestant Northern Irishman as anything but a fanatic puppet of the British.I saw Five Minutes of Heaven and though the UDA/UDF man appears as the villain the roles of Nesbitt and Neeson appeared nuanced and sadly conflicted.No heroes or saints.I have bought Lorca's New York work on Amazon and will watch Bloody Sunday on Netflix.Glad you are challenging your readers vision of Ulster.It is sad when all ones finds on U-Tube is IRA Songs,Odes To The Republican Martyrs and caricatures of North Ireland's troubles via Rev.Paisley's diatribes.It appears Fordham University in New York has some tapes that paint a rather shabby portrait of some of today's "Peace Advocates."Best Alan New Mexico
Alan
Someday I'd like to write a piece for Sight and Sound about Troubles films (if Mark Cousins hasn't already done so) and in particular I'd like to rip apart the many cowardly decisions that went into the screenplay for The Crying Game.
Adrian,
I confess I liked Hunger and felt real sympathy for the guard and his wife.
But then I liked TWTSTB till Ken Loach proved to be such an ass.
The news about Irish DNA comes as a relief to me. Till now I was afraid I was some kind of inbred Neanderthal. I'm fine with being kin to the English but please - no Mumford and Sons.
Dear Adrian, Another 5 Star review of "Sirens" ,oh that was mine .Just finished "Bloody Sunday" spot on.The characters jumped out of the screen…the tormented parents,bloodlust filled teenagers and the quiet fanaticism of the IRA leader with a vested interest in seeing the "Peace Process Civil Rights Movement" fail.I could smell the fear in the British troops and the "US vs. Them attitude of some of the Paratroops who wish to take action as they are tormented with rocks ,insults and the odd gunman. I wish you would write an article for Sight and Sound as to how "The Troubles" were perceived by many Protestant Irishmen who are weary of the stereotypical portrayal of the" gallant lads of the IRA and their evil counterparts.".Best Alan New Mexico
Alan
Appreciate the review, mate. Every single one of those matters. Without a publicity budget or any advertising the only way people can find out about the book is randomly on the internet and thats where those amazon and good reads reviews come into play!
Neil Jordan's first film was Angel (Northern Ireland is caught in an internecine cycle of violence devoid of a specified political context and were all just killing ourselves) starring Stephen Rea, a Troubles based remake of Point Blank. This makes it sound better than it is (you probably saw it on Film on Four in the early 80s and have forgotten about it ). The first 15-20 minutes are really good set in the world of ulsters rural dance halls but then it degenerates into pretentious shite replete with leaden Joyce references and some awful acting from Rea (and I'm a fan.) Then again the whole who the fuck knows what's going on/hero being manipulated by forces greater than himself might appeal to you.
And what do you think of Lenny Abrahamson (Adam & Paul, Garage and What Richard Did) ?
Anon
I do remember Angel. Well, vaguely. I remember being quite excited about it when it was on Channel 4 but I recall absolutely nothing of the story or the plot. Neil Jordan's other good one back then was Company of Wolves. Do you remember that one? That one really got me because it was based on an Angela Carter story and at that time (and still) I was a HUGE Angela Carter fan.
I did really like TCOW when I it came out but I haven't seen it in the intervening 29 years either. I didn't read Angela Carter until much later; I loved The Bloody Chamber and Wise Children but was less impressed by Nights at the Circus which while funny at times, the self-concious "ludic game" can you see what I'm doing here? smartarsery began to grate.
Anon
Yeah, her early slightly unhinged 70s feminist work was the high point of her career. Bit of a decline in the 80s as she tried - in my opinion - to compromise and appeal to a broader public.
Anon
Yeah, her early slightly unhinged 70s feminist work was the high point of her career. Bit of a decline in the 80s as she tried - in my opinion - to compromise and appeal to a broader public.
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