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Angela's Ashes
1999
ANGELA'S ASHES is the true story of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Frank McCourt (played at various ages by Joe Breen, Ciaran Owens, and Michael Legge), whose personal memoir became a worldwide phenomenon. When eldest son Frank's baby sister dies and father Malachy (Robert Carlyle) can find no work, the McCourt family is forced .. Read more
| Starring | Robert Carlyle, Emily Watson, Joe Breen, Ciaran Owens |
|---|---|
| Director | Alan Parker |
| Genres | Drama |
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Angela's Ashes
ANGELA'S ASHES is the true story of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Frank McCourt (played at various ages by Joe Breen, Ciaran Owens, and Michael Legge), whose personal memoir became a worldwide phenomenon. When eldest son Frank's baby sister dies and father Malachy (Robert Carlyle) can find no work, the McCourt family is forced to leave America and return to their native Ireland, where conditions are even more destitute than in Brooklyn. Malachy's northern accent is frowned upon in Limerick, keeping him on welfare and the family living in poverty. Things turn even more sour when two more children die and Malachy leaves the family to go to work (or, better yet, drink) in England. He never returns. Frank struggles through the poverty and his new role as man of the house, but throughout the seeming hopelessness his dream of traveling to America keeps him determined and optimistic. The three little-known actors playing Frank are impressive, and Emily Watson gives a quiet, impassioned performance as Frank's mother, Angela. Michael Seresin's photography underscores the deft direction of Alan Parker (THE COMMITMENTS, EVITA), infusing the story with beauty even at its most desperate moments. Includes book.
| Starring | Robert Carlyle, Emily Watson, Joe Breen, Ciaran Owens, Michael Legge, Pauline McLynn, Ronnie Masterson, Liam Carney, Eanna MacLiam |
|---|---|
| Director | Alan Parker |
| Studio | 4 FRONT VIDEO |
| Run time | DVD: 2 hrs 25 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Dubbed | German |
| Subtitles | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 18 Jul 2000 Production year: 1999 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (5)
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Frank McCourt's bestselling, Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir is brought vividly to the screen by Alan Parker with a good cast and top-of-the-line production values. The result is a faithful, sometimes pedestrian movie that feels considerably longer than its 139-minute running time, perhaps due to the unending squalor. Parker's decision to film the terrible poverty of the McCourt family — first in America, then in Ireland — with artistic, anaesthetising cinematography is a touch misguided, and Robert Carlyle as Frank's alcoholic dad has much less to do than Emily Watson. But the three boys playing Frank at various ages are all good, and McCourt's early memories of school and church provide some humorous respite, even if, at times, it's hard not to feel manipulated by the film's endless exhibition of misery and despair.
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Based on a best-selling memoir, this puts a Hollywood gloss on the rain-soaked poverty it depicts which, coupled with miscasting of the leading role, mutes its impact; it sputters only sporadically to life.
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Most helpful member's review
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6 out of 7 people found this review helpful
People moan about our welfare state (or percieved lack of!) This film is a timely reminder of what life could be like if we didn't have it at all. This is a film that richly deserves the praise that it has had. The true story of Frank McCourts early life in 30's Limerick is not pretty but makes compelling viewing. It has its funny moments and also moments of pathos. The cast are brilliant in their understated acting, making all characters "real" and 3 dimentional. I wish I'd watched this sooner.
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Most recent members' review
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Read the Book !
If I had seen the film first, I may have thought better of it but having finished the book a day before, I don't think this was done justice by the film. The book was honest, soul searching and touched on the deepest feelings of Frank and his thoughts on the poverty and death surrounding him, as well as his religion and absent father. I don't think this translated well at all into film and I would suggest you read the book first, so that you can at least fill in the huge gaps and have some idea of what Frank really thought of his childhood.
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ANGELA'S ASHES is the true story of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Frank McCourt (played at various ages by Joe Breen, Ciaran Owens, and Michael Legge), whose personal memoir became a worldwide ... -