[traboule]

I just watched In the Name of the Father for the first time today and thought it was really a splendid film. I had enjoyed the previous Sheridan / Day-Lewis film, My Left Foot, but I think I like In the Name of the Father even more.

First of all, you have the harrowing story: a group of people, including Gerry Conlon and his father, who are wrongly arrested, tried and sentenced for an act of IRA terrorism they had nothing to do with, all because the police were looking for a scapegoat. It's a riveting story.

Then, there is the great character arc of Gerry Conlon, as portrayed by Daniel Day-Lewis. He starts out as a foolish young guy and gradually matures throughout the film. It's also a great father-son story.

I can see the Jim Sheridan touch in the themes of family and community that flow throughout the film - themes I had seen in his films, My Left Foot and In America. I was pleased to see that Terry George, director of Hotel Rwanda, was a writer, producer and second unit director in this film.

This is I think a 9.5 / 10 for me. It was nominated for a raft of Oscars, and I'm not surprised. Screencaps to follow in the next post.

[traboule]

[Ten Ton Alien]

I'm sure were all wondering the same thing, so how does it compare to In the Name of the King?

[Writer's Block Poet]

remarkable film...one of my all time favs

[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart]

8/10

I'm more a fan of My Left Foot but this is a very good film.

[Smalley]

Watched this last April, great film... 9-

[Noodles Redux]

It's my favorite Day-Lewis perfromance.

[traboule]

oh, I meant to mention in the first post, thanks to Hank_Venture for recommending the film. It was already on my radar and somewhere on my Netflix queue, but his enjoyment of it convinced me to finally get around to watching it.

[mbird7]

Originally Posted by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

8/10

I'm more a fan of My Left Foot but this is a very good film.

The only part I don't like about the film is how quickly public sentiment suddenly changes... near the end of the film DDL's lawyer says something like, "The people will be on our side!", and they randomly are. I thought it was unfortunate that the film simplified this aspect.

[Smalley]

Originally Posted by Noodles Redux

It's my favorite Day-Lewis perfromance.

Originally Posted by mbird7

The only part I don't like about the film is how quickly public sentiment suddenly changes... near the end of the film DDL's lawyer says something like, "The people will be on our side!", and they randomly are. I thought it was unfortunate that the film simplified this aspect.

Well...

Select the black box below with your cursor to view the spoiler text

it was revealed that the British police had concealed evidence in order to get the convictions; I'd hope that the public would change sides based on that...

[C-Misch]

It's a brilliant brilliant film! That being said, I still believe My Left Foot is the superior film. Be sure to check out The Boxer to complete the Day-Lewis/Sheridan trilogy.

[Sammael]

My only gripe is that horrendous U2 song that opens the film.

8/10

[Teffie44]

Originally Posted by C-Misch

It's a brilliant brilliant film! That being said, I still believe My Left Foot is the superior film. Be sure to check out The Boxer to complete the Day-Lewis/Sheridan trilogy.

I agrree, check out The Boxer

[Philip J. Fry]

80/100.
I loved Daniel Day-Lewis and Pete Postlewaite (sp?) here.

[traboule]

Originally Posted by mbird7

The only part I don't like about the film is how quickly public sentiment suddenly changes... near the end of the film DDL's lawyer says something like, "The people will be on our side!", and they randomly are. I thought it was unfortunate that the film simplified this aspect.

I suppose the film could have expounded a bit more on the change of the public's opinion of the case, but we know that Giuseppe has been writing letters to campaign for their cause, that the lawyer had been involved in some public protests of the wrongful conviction, and also we see at one point a newspaper article about Select the black box below with your cursor to view the spoiler text

Giuseppe's death

. Also more than a decade has passed since the initial trial and that passage of time is bound to have people looking with clearer hindsight than they were when they were still in the high emotions of the bombing's aftermath.

[Haldamir]

Wonderful film, has been one of my favourites for a long time.

[Hank_Venture]

You're welcome

Now I need to go rent My Left Foot...

[Tom o' Bedlam]

Brilliant film, my favorite from Sheridan, great acting, great writing, all the characters are balanced, a great film. DDL is amazing as always.

The Boxer is also very good, even though most people seem to find it a lesser work, I liked it alot.

[dreiser]

I came away loving Pete Postlethwaite's performance. Might have been my first exposure to him.

Quality film.

[mbird7]

Originally Posted by traboule

I suppose the film could have expounded a bit more on the change of the public's opinion of the case, but we know that Giuseppe has been writing letters to campaign for their cause, that the lawyer had been involved in some public protests of the wrongful conviction, and also we see at one point a newspaper article about Select the black box below with your cursor to view the spoiler text
. Also more than a decade has passed since the initial trial and that passage of time is bound to have people looking with clearer hindsight than they were when they were still in the high emotions of the bombing's aftermath.

Yes, I think you're right. But this aspect - the lack of expanding on the public's change of opinion - bothered me while I was watching it a year ago.

[traboule]

Originally Posted by dreiser900

I came away loving Pete Postlethwaite's performance. Might have been my first exposure to him.

Quality film.

I think I saw him first in Romeo + Juliet, but that was a supporting role. This role as Giuseppe Conlon was really affecting.