Review of Angela's Ashes (1999) by Parker M — 11 Feb 2011

2.5 Stars out of 4.

Angela's Ashes, an enigmatic title, has all the right spaces for an adaptation movie, but not enough heart. Director Alan Parker (The Wall, The Commitments) imbues the film with gorgeous cinematography, but in a sorrowful and nostalgic way. You feel for these characters, mainly because of the strong performances by Emily Watson (the passive mother Angela), Robert Carlyle (the soused father Malachy), and Michael Legge (oldest Frankie).

The film is spawned by the 1996 novel by Irishman and Limerick-born Frank McCourt, who lived in the Republic of Ireland in the 1940s - a time of the struggle for emancipation and perpetual endemics. It was rare when an immigrant family migrated back to the old country. The McCourt's left New York at the death of their new born daughter and returned to Limerick, Ireland where famine and disease welcome them.

It is difficult for Malachy to find a job, because of the high demand. The family coasts at home, with Angela idling in fear and helplessness. Frankie and his brothers whine, go to school under a very paternalistic system, and then come home and plead for food again. These were strenuous times, where everyone (more or less) were in similar predicaments. So why is Frankie's story so special or important? It is not I think. Frankie's experience have an omniscience over all the little boys and impotent families. His life speaks for all others in Limerick.

The story follows through time as Frankie becomes Frank (his preciousness) and deals with more life challenges such as sexuality and the expectations to find a job. Religion though predominates Frank's and every Irish folk's life. Catholicism was great reassurance (and excuse) for people to sin and absolve in the Church. During these times, people had to sin to get by and the Church was their salvation and provided that they could go out and sin again. It reminded me of Scorsese's Mean Streets, when Charlie (Harvey Keitel) had to sin in the streets because it was a netherworld of bad actions. The Church was the only sanctity. Just a thought.

I somewhat enjoyed Angela's Ashes. But the film was long, probably to appease the novel, which won the 1997 Pulitzer Prize for Biography. Next to that, I felt the film lacked lyricism and maybe some drama. Even when Frank endures moments of utter penitence we only partially commiserate. Perhaps I demanded more comical dimension to it, to supplement the film with a poignant ruefulness. This is a slow film, but realistic to its time and it has the texture of a desperate era - so I think that's about right.

Others would disagree. Angela's Ashes, the book at least, was criticized for misrepresenting Limerick in the 1940s. Irish artist Richard Harris claimed McCourt had a too cynical and harsh attitude towards the Limerick people. But the one criticism that caught me was by radio host Gerry Hannan. He states how he wanted to have McCourt on his show to discuss his newest novel, that is Angela's Ashes, but he never showed up. After reading the book twice, Hannan was disappointed and ambivalent to McCourt's depiction despite its excellent wit, compassion, and prose.

Hannan said: "I was touched by specific parts of the book but not enough to warrant any great praise." Funny, I felt very similar about the movie.