UnowPriceless hyped garbage

CommentsXp Best movie ever!

ThedevilChoose When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

Kayden This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

seanpjs93 I think mainly you have to understand that in the 1930s The Catholic Church was above all, they invoked huge fear into people and people knew no better, and they were in a life where they had to live in a way that would not go against the church's teaching. This film really give the best historical account of Irish life of the 1930s, it shows the old parish dances and the way people worked, and how their lives were so set out in a way that wouldn't really give them much freedom. This is shown especially in the scenes where the locals go to Croagh Patrick, the priest tells them that they all are expected to be there, that coming from a priest back then was like an order from the president. Also in the scene where Fiona sneaks over to see Kierán after he was told in confession to stop seeing her and not kiss or think "unclean thoughts" of her anymore, that particular scene shows the fear and gullibility of the Irish Catholics of the time. Afterwards in the barn where Kierán tells Fiona that he asked god to help him to stop thinking about her and it hasn't stopped, this kind of showed a form of thinking that if you pray for help and the help isn't given, what you feel is how you're meant to feel. All in all it's a brilliant film and account of Irish life in the 1930s

emuir-1 This is the tragic Ireland of "The Field" and "Falling for a Dancer", and "The Wind That Shakes the Barley" and is not to be confused with John Ford's whimsical Ireland of "The Quiet Man". In this Ireland, no resentment, slight or grudge is ever forgotten by this or succeeding generations. People are held in esteem not for their achievements, but for their place in a hierarchy of which ownership of land is the peak. The church rules with a tyrannical iron fist, and any attempt to escape the established order is met with the threat of eternal damnation, for it is essential to keep the people in the place to which they were born.This review may contain spoilers ahead.The story focuses on Keiran was a "poorhouse bastard" and was regarded as the lowest form of life. He was taken in by a childless couple of tenant farmers to work their land in return for his keep. Sadly, there was no way he could ever improve his lot. Being illegitimate barred him from entering the church as a priest, and being poor and landless barred him from any education or advancement in any way, not to mention marriage prospects. I was not sure whether Keiran was a little "slow" or whether he was a result of a brutal poorhouse childhood and inadequate education. When Keiran had the misfortune to fall in love with the daughter of the widowed owner of the farm, this was considered an affront to their little hierarchy. Marriage was out of the question, at least to each other. Propriety demanded that the girl be married off as quickly as possible and a suitable widower or older bachelor would be found. A similar situation occurred in another Aidan Quinn film, The "Playboys" where the young woman outraged and scandalized the village for staying unmarried.There was not a flawed performance in this film and it was wonderful to see Irish actor Donal Donnelly again as Mr. Mahney, especially when he cursed the spiteful widow, and her all descendants who remained in Ireland, for the grief she had wrought. I found myself thinking "Now that's a curse!" through my soaked Kleenex.It used to be that women watched tearjerkers for a good cry, which made them feel better. The popular British singer, Gracie Fields, had a song which went: "Oh I never cried so much in all me life" yet you knew she had enjoyed her good weep. This film, which has all the tragedy of a modern day Romeo and Juliet, is that kind of experience. The tears will flow, but you want to watch it again for the release of having a good cry.I gave it a rating of 9 as I felt that the story line involving the nephew and the local girls was corny and could have been cut out completely. It did nothing for the narrative flow. Although it is used often in books, I don't care for the device where someone is exploring the past in flash back/flash forward while re-enacting the same events. It was used in "Heat and Dust". I find it tedious and wishing that they would get back to the main story.Overall, I would highly recommend this film.

pacieterra-1 Although beautifully filmed in Kildare, Ireland, this mini-epic of two families intertwined history does not fulfill its promise. James Caan tries diligently to portray the American son of an Irish farmer he never knew existed and a mother who has blocked the love-of-her-life from her children. The three brothers Quinn produced this film, and gave the tragic, starring role to Aiden. He is the heart and soul of the saga, with John Cusack adding a small, comedic, interlude. Moya Farrelly is all heart and sadness as the lost love who grows into old age with her secrets.There is a lot going on in this story, interweaving various themes that can easily be missed. Interesting flashbacks of the young Aiden Quinn's father character, juxtaposed with the present-day,aging Caan son"s character, makes for a strange plot device.Overall, this is a worthy film, but leaves many questions unanswered.

pjnbarb While the movie was OK, I was terribly upset by the accurate portrayal of how the church affects people, not only in Ireland where the film takes place, but all over the world. People seem to give credit to God when good things happen, but after a tragedy they say "The Lord works in mysterious ways." It sickens me to see the hold that the church (ALL churches) has over the peoples of the world .. and films like this bring it to the fore. I read that someone in the Quinn family tells this as a true story. It made me wonder who this "Quinn" was, and how she was related to Aiden and his brothers. I do recommend the movie .. it was very moving and sad.