The Field Reviews

1990

Rated:
60
from 634 members

Based on a play by John B. Keane, THE FIELD tells the story of Bull McCabe (Richard Harris), a tradition-bound Irishman who fights to retain the land that his family has been farming for generations. McCabe, who rents the land from a young widow (Frances Tomelty), hopes to take full possession of it when the widow puts it up .. Read more

Starring	Richard Harris, Tom Berenger, John Hurt, Brenda Fricker
Director	Jim Sheridan
Genres	Drama

Sign up The Field DVD

Buy from LOVEFiLM Shop

Critics' reviews (3) of The Field
View all
Critics and audiences alike were rather underwhelmed by Jim Sheridan's follow-up to the phenomenally successful My Left Foot. The writer/director's attempt to create a rural drama akin to those premiered in the heyday of Dublin's Abbey Theatre results only in an overbrewed poteen that intoxicates only to leave you with a thick head and dulled senses. Richard Harris received an Oscar nomination for his imposing performance as the grouchy farmer fighting to save “his” land, but it is the understated playing of John Hurt and Brenda Fricker that provides the real backbone of this handsome, arresting production.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
John B Keane's play takes on some of the resonances of an Irish Lear in Jim Sheridan's adaptation. West Coast tenant... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008
Melodramatic domestic drama trying for a tragic dimension it cannot quite encompass.
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006
Most helpful members' reviews (3) of The Field
View all
10 out of 10 people found this review helpful

Awesome

When a friend recommended this film to me I was slightly dubious.

Nutshell version of the plot is as follows; Grumpy old man gets all uppity about a field in rural Ireland.

Based on this I was thinking that it sounded more like a badly conceived episode of Ballykissangel than Oscar material.

How wrong I was! Richard Harris gives possibly the best acting performance I have EVER seen in what is an emotional powerhouse of a film. Supported by a superb cast (including among others John Hurt, Sean Bean, Branda Fricker and Tom Berenger) it tells the story of The Bull (Harris), a brooding collosus of a man whose life work is the field he nurtures.

The passion and energy Harris puts into this role is literally breathtaking and I can't remember being so moved by a film since the black rabbit appeared at the end of Watership Down (come on admit it, you cried as well!).

So trust me, look beyond the cover and discover a true gem.
- - rodneytrotbags from Newcastle upon Tyne
  - Posted 11 Nov 2003 unknown
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

Evocative picture of rural Ireland

This tale of a tenant farmer's fight in modern day Ireland to avoid eviction from 'his' land is all about Richard Harris - his performance dominates the film and gives it impetus. But there is a well rounded picture of local society, and a story line which is believable. Occasionally violent.
- - A customer from Darlington, England
  - Posted 11 Oct 2004 21:50
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful

If you can't sleep...

Maybe it's just because I wasn't in the mood but having wondered if I should buy this film for quite awhile I was awfully pleased I hadn't! I only saw the first half hour or so and I fell asleep it was so tedious. A great disappointment.
- - A customer from York, England
  - Posted 19 Aug 2005 21:50
Most recent members' reviews (2) of The Field
View all
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

I loved it

I loved this film as I have not seen it before I mean to say it's about a field! (Though not necessarily) Thats why I did not want to see it when it first came out, well im more cultivated now if thats the right word and certainly more open minded.

Ok now... its a good film and I love Richard Harris as an actor, he brings to this role like other films a great sense of character that only he could play. Hes a bad tempered man but hay you either love him or hate him right? And I cannot put my finger on his sense of character maybe its an Irish thing, yes that must be it an Irish temperment, I'm trying to keep this as PC as possible ya know as theirs a thin line nowadays. The film is filled with tragedy, not as in steps the x band tragedy but human tragedy you can feel for the character in the end that Richard Harris plays.

Don't want to spoil it for you if you like your Drama rent this film today..
- - philphull from Co. Antrim
  - Posted 22 Mar 2005 17:54
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

Evocative picture of rural Ireland

This tale of a tenant farmer's fight in modern day Ireland to avoid eviction from 'his' land is all about Richard Harris - his performance dominates the film and gives it impetus. But there is a well rounded picture of local society, and a story line which is believable. Occasionally violent.
- - A customer from Darlington, England
  - Posted 11 Oct 2004 21:50

10 out of 10 people found this review helpful

Awesome

When a friend recommended this film to me I was slightly dubious.

Nutshell version of the plot is as follows; Grumpy old man gets all uppity about a field in rural Ireland.

Based on this I was thinking that it sounded more like a badly conceived episode of Ballykissangel than Oscar material.

How wrong I was! Richard Harris gives possibly the best acting performance I have EVER seen in what is an emotional powerhouse of a film. Supported by a superb cast (including among others John Hurt, Sean Bean, Branda Fricker and Tom Berenger) it tells the story of The Bull (Harris), a brooding collosus of a man whose life work is the field he nurtures.

The passion and energy Harris puts into this role is literally breathtaking and I can't remember being so moved by a film since the black rabbit appeared at the end of Watership Down (come on admit it, you cried as well!).

So trust me, look beyond the cover and discover a true gem.
- - rodneytrotbags from Newcastle upon Tyne
  - Posted 11 Nov 2003 unknown
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

Evocative picture of rural Ireland

This tale of a tenant farmer's fight in modern day Ireland to avoid eviction from 'his' land is all about Richard Harris - his performance dominates the film and gives it impetus. But there is a well rounded picture of local society, and a story line which is believable. Occasionally violent.
- - A customer from Darlington, England
  - Posted 11 Oct 2004 21:50
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful

If you can't sleep...

Maybe it's just because I wasn't in the mood but having wondered if I should buy this film for quite awhile I was awfully pleased I hadn't! I only saw the first half hour or so and I fell asleep it was so tedious. A great disappointment.
- - A customer from York, England
  - Posted 19 Aug 2005 21:50
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

I loved it

I loved this film as I have not seen it before I mean to say it's about a field! (Though not necessarily) Thats why I did not want to see it when it first came out, well im more cultivated now if thats the right word and certainly more open minded.

Ok now... its a good film and I love Richard Harris as an actor, he brings to this role like other films a great sense of character that only he could play. Hes a bad tempered man but hay you either love him or hate him right? And I cannot put my finger on his sense of character maybe its an Irish thing, yes that must be it an Irish temperment, I'm trying to keep this as PC as possible ya know as theirs a thin line nowadays. The film is filled with tragedy, not as in steps the x band tragedy but human tragedy you can feel for the character in the end that Richard Harris plays.

Don't want to spoil it for you if you like your Drama rent this film today..
- - philphull from Co. Antrim
  - Posted 22 Mar 2005 17:54

< Prev
1
Next >

Critics' reviews (3)
Critics and audiences alike were rather underwhelmed by Jim Sheridan's follow-up to the phenomenally successful My Left Foot. The writer/director's attempt to create a rural drama akin to those premiered in the heyday of Dublin's Abbey Theatre results only in an overbrewed poteen that intoxicates only to leave you with a thick head and dulled senses. Richard Harris received an Oscar nomination for his imposing performance as the grouchy farmer fighting to save “his” land, but it is the understated playing of John Hurt and Brenda Fricker that provides the real backbone of this handsome, arresting production.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
John B Keane's play takes on some of the resonances of an Irish Lear in Jim Sheridan's adaptation. West Coast tenant... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008
Melodramatic domestic drama trying for a tragic dimension it cannot quite encompass.
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006

Buy from the LOVEFiLM shop

- The Field
  
  Based on a play by John B. Keane, THE FIELD tells the story of Bull McCabe (Richard Harris), a tradition-bound Irishman who fights to retain the land that his family has been farming for generations. McCabe, who rents the land from a young widow (Frances Tomelty), hopes to take full possession of ...