Middletown
2006
After almost an entire lifetime spent in religious instruction, Gabriel returns to his small Irish town as the new preacher. But the town is full of drinking and gambling, and Gabriel's younger brother Jim and sister-in-law Caroline are no exceptions. Soon Gabriel learns that Caroline does not attend church, runs the local pub .. Read more
| Starring | Eva Birthistle, Gerard McSorley, Charlene McKenna, Daniel Mays |
|---|---|
| Director | Brian Kirk |
| Genres | Thriller |
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Critics' reviews (4)
View all -
This Irish period drama finally gets a release just weeks before coming out on DVD an admission, perhaps, of its... read more on Time Out
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Superbly acted by all concerned and exquisitely crafted in every department...it exercises a powerful grip
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Entertaining...shot through with menace and dread
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Most helpful members' reviews (3)
View all -
9 out of 15 people found this review helpful
Papists
More Catholic bashing, isn't religion terrible, backwards Irish Catholics etc. Smarmy metropolitan atheists will lap this up. I've never met anyone like this, cliched 1 dimensional stereotypes.
Ballykissangel from hell, don't bother. -
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Celluloid Marmite
Opinion is clearly divided with regards to this film, and I thought that it was excellent. It was well- paced and moving with some superb performances from a strong cast. Far from mere 'Catholic-bashing', I found this a highly relevant piece on the fallibility of all organised religion in the interpretation of any holy text (I know how boring that sounds, but it is a genuinely gripping story). Without wanting to give away the ending, the Reverend manages to justify his actions to himself by quoting bible verse- a chillingly familiar scenario in modern times, whether in the form of right-wing Christian evangelists or militant Islamic fundamentalists.
I don't really take the time to review many films here, but the score really belies the film's quality. Also, I felt compelled to do so after reading the one-star review containing the phrase:
'I rented this film hoping to see Matthew MacFadyen looking dishy'
No. Just no. -
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Middletown is striking and moving!
This is one of the most stiking films I've seen in a long time. Great performances and bold cinematography make for an intense journey.
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Most recent members' reviews (2)
View all -
9 out of 15 people found this review helpful
Papists
More Catholic bashing, isn't religion terrible, backwards Irish Catholics etc. Smarmy metropolitan atheists will lap this up. I've never met anyone like this, cliched 1 dimensional stereotypes.
Ballykissangel from hell, don't bother. -
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Masterpiece
This is a gritty drama,well acted and powerful that shows how religion and mans interpretation of the bible can lead to destruction in peoples lives.
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9 out of 15 people found this review helpful
Papists
More Catholic bashing, isn't religion terrible, backwards Irish Catholics etc. Smarmy metropolitan atheists will lap this up. I've never met anyone like this, cliched 1 dimensional stereotypes.
Ballykissangel from hell, don't bother. -
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Celluloid Marmite
Opinion is clearly divided with regards to this film, and I thought that it was excellent. It was well- paced and moving with some superb performances from a strong cast. Far from mere 'Catholic-bashing', I found this a highly relevant piece on the fallibility of all organised religion in the interpretation of any holy text (I know how boring that sounds, but it is a genuinely gripping story). Without wanting to give away the ending, the Reverend manages to justify his actions to himself by quoting bible verse- a chillingly familiar scenario in modern times, whether in the form of right-wing Christian evangelists or militant Islamic fundamentalists.
I don't really take the time to review many films here, but the score really belies the film's quality. Also, I felt compelled to do so after reading the one-star review containing the phrase:
'I rented this film hoping to see Matthew MacFadyen looking dishy'
No. Just no. -
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Middletown is striking and moving!
This is one of the most stiking films I've seen in a long time. Great performances and bold cinematography make for an intense journey.
-
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Masterpiece
This is a gritty drama,well acted and powerful that shows how religion and mans interpretation of the bible can lead to destruction in peoples lives.
-
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Customer Review
Watching this film was like waiting for a meal when you are starving and being served up a measly portion of prison slops. The only emotion it stirred in me was anger that I had wasted 80 minutes of my life- voluntarily. Give it a miss.
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2 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Unrelentingly Dull
After 15 mins of watching this (still nothing had happened) I said to my wife 'this is going to take us down to a deeply depressing place and just leave us there'. And this is exactly what it did; it's dreary, and depressing and worst of all pointless.
Whose to blame? The writer? The Director? Or maybe just the Irish Film body that provided finance for this. A compete waste of time, money and my life. Terrible. -
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Boring as hell.......
sorry but i woudl save two hours of your life!
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1 out of 2 people found this review helpful
God awful MIM (More Irish Misery)
I'm 49 and a Dubliner living in London these 22 years; I, like most of my friends in our mid 20s ran out of Catholic Ireland to get away from many things. They did the same in the 50s, 60s, 70s. One of the things we wanted to be free of is the Catholic church's vile and sickening hold over everything in the Emerald Isle - and the last thing I need is this film reminding me and everyone else just how utterly subserviant the Irish were/still are to that ludicrous child-buggering filth.
Avoid like the plague!
Watch 'The Matchmaker' or 'Laws Of Attraction' if you want Irish charm.
Yours sincerely
Not in the least bit incensed! -
oh dear!!
if you want to know what religion is like without the Spirit of God.......watch this and be warned.
Critics' reviews (4)
-
This Irish period drama finally gets a release just weeks before coming out on DVD an admission, perhaps, of its... read more on Time Out
-
Superbly acted by all concerned and exquisitely crafted in every department...it exercises a powerful grip
-
Entertaining...shot through with menace and dread
-
Startling performances
Buy from the LOVEFiLM shop
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- Middletown
- DVD: £6.93
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After almost an entire lifetime spent in religious instruction, Gabriel returns to his small Irish town as the new preacher. But the town is full of drinking and gambling, and Gabriel's younger ... -
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