Review of Michael Collins (1996) by Alex C — 24 Apr 2008

Interesting companion piece to Julia Robert's 'Mary Reilly'. Both feature her sporting a highly credible Irish accent and were made in 1996. I wonder if she told her agent "I'll appear in any half-decent Irish flicks being made," so as not to waste her well spent efforts learning the twang? This isn't to detract from the film, which is tres rousing.

Although I found it weird that the soundtrack seemed to recycle music from 'Interview with the Vampire' at times. Obviously both were directed by Neil Jordan but it turns out that both scores were composed by Eliot Goldenthal.

I believe this kind of cross-over usage of (admittedly cool) orchestral licks is distracting. I also think Liam Neeson deserved an oscar for his turn as Collins (who died aged 31. Whoa!). He has a world-class 'strut'.

The scene where the british army opens fire on a crowd of Gaelic footaball supporters is almost identical to the scene in 'Ghandi' where Edward Fox's character inflicts a 'lesson' on bla bla.

I wonder if Jordan was trying to point out that the British Empire had a nasty habit of out terrorising the so called terrorists in the 20th Century? Who knows. This is the kind of film you should watch on the upside of a massive hangover, allowing you to nod your head sagely and pretend you're immune to prejudice.

All in all much better than 'Saving Private Ryan' and a lot less full of it's own self importance. Oh and (a phrase I borrow from 1990s film critics) when will Ian Hart get an honorary oscar for being the best character actor of the 1990s?