Review of Fifty Dead Men Walking (2008) by Jesse O — 20 Jun 2010
A remarkable film; brilliantly executed and acted. Not something you'll forget any time soon--especially considering its context.
It took about 10 minutes or so to understand who was who and on what side, but once that was established the film became a frantic, agonizing experience.
No frills or long-winded speeches, the plot thrives on the sheer volume of violent events occurring in the 80's in Belfast. And it's not easy to watch at times.
The question that comes to mind--given my limited understanding of the conflict in Ireland in the 80's--is how conveniently the action all slips together to help the narrative arc. My experience in life is that nothing is ever that well piece together.
And the ending felt..well...too Shakespearean to be completely believable--bad as that sounds. But I can't imagine what true events could lead to a story like this. A world so far removed.
The film does a nice job of capturing the emotional, internal conflict McGartland (and others) must have felt during that time, the way their loyalties must have been divided.
This review of Fifty Dead Men Walking (2008) was written by Jesse O on 20 Jun 2010.
Fifty Dead Men Walking has generally received positive reviews.
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