In America
Dec. 11th, 2003 10:53 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
yendiMermaidblue and I saw In America, the latest film from Jim Sheridan. I knew almost nothing about the movie heading into it, other than that it was about an Irish family living in New York, and that it was somewhat autobiographical.
I had no idea that it was going to be such a powerful, well-done film. I'm not a huge Sheridan fan (other than The Boxer), but this was just fucking powerful. The only actor I'd heard of was Samantha Morton, but the entire cast was just superb. That said, the two little girls, played by real-life sisters Emma and Sarah Bolger, absolutely steal the movie. I'm not usually a fan of movies that give excessive screen time to cute six-year-olds (ET aside), but the younger sister in this manages to be utterly adorable without ever being cloying. And the older sister (played by Sarah Bolger), manages to play the wiser-than-her-years ten-year-old perfectly, walking a very fine line between gravity and levity. She also reminds me of what I'd imagine![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
raptorgirl would have been like at ten if she were Irish, although I suspect that might have much to do with the girl constantly holding a videocam to one eye as anything else).
One warning: Although this is a powerful, wonderful, and uplifting movie overall, it has some gut-wrenching moments thrown in. It doesn't take much to make me cry at a movie (pretty much anything more poignant than The Matrix will do it for me, especially movies dealing with father/child relationships), but trust me -- this is a "bring some kleenex" movie for just about anyone.
It also gets bonus points for being one of those rare films that actually felt like it was set in New York. Too many films use it as a location, but use it almost interchangeably with any big city. This was clearly a film set in New York City.
I had no idea that it was going to be such a powerful, well-done film. I'm not a huge Sheridan fan (other than The Boxer), but this was just fucking powerful. The only actor I'd heard of was Samantha Morton, but the entire cast was just superb. That said, the two little girls, played by real-life sisters Emma and Sarah Bolger, absolutely steal the movie. I'm not usually a fan of movies that give excessive screen time to cute six-year-olds (ET aside), but the younger sister in this manages to be utterly adorable without ever being cloying. And the older sister (played by Sarah Bolger), manages to play the wiser-than-her-years ten-year-old perfectly, walking a very fine line between gravity and levity. She also reminds me of what I'd imagine
raptorgirl would have been like at ten if she were Irish, although I suspect that might have much to do with the girl constantly holding a videocam to one eye as anything else).One warning: Although this is a powerful, wonderful, and uplifting movie overall, it has some gut-wrenching moments thrown in. It doesn't take much to make me cry at a movie (pretty much anything more poignant than The Matrix will do it for me, especially movies dealing with father/child relationships), but trust me -- this is a "bring some kleenex" movie for just about anyone.
It also gets bonus points for being one of those rare films that actually felt like it was set in New York. Too many films use it as a location, but use it almost interchangeably with any big city. This was clearly a film set in New York City.
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(no subject)
Date: 2003-12-11 07:59 am (UTC)I thought the "scary black man has a heart of gold" element was hackneyed to the point of cliche, and the medical-bill problems (and their resolution) wee pure formula.
But yeah, there are some nice, nice moments in the film.
(no subject)
Date: 2003-12-11 09:35 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2003-12-11 07:59 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2003-12-11 08:13 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2003-12-13 01:04 am (UTC)I haven't heard of this movie...guess I'm slipping.