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SoTrumpBelieve Must See Movie...

Erica Derrick By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Gary The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

Martin Bradley Whatever qualities are to be found in Pat O'Connor's film version of Brian Friel's "Dancing at Lughnasa" they are certainly not the qualities that made the play one of the masterpieces of Irish theater. Indeed, if anything, this screen version is something of a travesty. In adapting the play Frank McGuinness has not only abridged it but has virtually rewritten it, taking out passages that were in the original and inserting scenes and characters that are either pure invention or were only spoken of in the stage version.On the plus side, it is well-acted. As the Mundy sisters Kathy Burke, Brid Brennan, Sophie Thompson and Catherine McCormack are excellent. Surprisingly, it's Meryl Streep, in the pivotal role of the oldest sister Kate, who lets the side down. It's almost as if Streep was afraid to outshine her co-stars and was holding back; it's one of her least good performances. On the other hand, both Michael Gambon as the returning brother, (a part blown up from what it was in the play), and Rhys Ifans as the man who has impregnated the youngest sister, are fine. The film, too, isn't bad for what it is; what it isn't is a screen version of the Brian Friel play.

indexed-savings I saw this play turned into a movie with my wife from a TIVO copy. We were so moved by its beauty, reality, pathos, characters, and what we took to be an authentic depiction of people and scenery in Ireland, at the time of the Spanish Civil War (1936), and of a certain simplicity in an insecure rural life, that I rushed upstairs to this computer to find out who wrote it--and what others may have made of it.I landed here--where several reviewers confirmed my belief that this is a "keeper". I will save it to be seen (and not to be missed) by all my children and grandchildren. I believe it is a rare chance to meet people whose world is very small, and often very plain, whose words you don't want to miss.

phasermuse This is a lovely film with a simple story line: the day to day lives of a family (all women, though one brother who very much counts at least in his ruined optimism) and a (love) child and a father. I found the group very loving and burning deep inside for life to bring them something each wanted. The terminal sadness lay in the fact that none of them were able to rise to a powerful and charismatic persona that conquers the world, which has so often been used in other films (Seldom in plays. They are too real and difficult.) to satisfy our need to live through the character(s) and become a force to be reckoned with. I never read the play (to my chagrin) nor did I see the Broadway show which I recall received much praise, but though I too was saddened as the family structure unravels, I felt it was so true that I had to accept the way the story comes to a close.I didn't view the film with the thought of this family being staunch Catholics, with the fervid strictness imposed on the lives of believers (in that country, particularly). Nevertheless I found the dance (where Danny tries to overwhelm Rose, and thanks to her brother does not succeed) alarming and disquieting, whereas the dance performed by the five sisters was alive with joy and desire-- abandon--which when the music stops, they each fall into self-consciousness at the revelation of their deep feelings.I give the movie a 9 only because I do not have the technical, critical, artistic knowledge to give it the 10 I believe it deserves.

Figtree This is a pretty film visually, and some of the acting was good. Although I have not seen the play on which it was based, it seemed to me that this would be better as a play than a film. My favorite films are those that make me think, or evoke strong emotions. This one did neither. It did have a nice aesthetic content, visually. And, Meryl Streep gave one of her usual masterful performances. But, I didn't care about any of the characters, except the little boy. The film just left me cold, and it didn't seem memorable.