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Plot Summary
Desmond Doyle (Pierce Brosnan) is an out of work
painter and decorator. He has
three children and with little money coming in, it is difficult to make
ends meets. His wife reckons
the future is looking bleak. She
deserts the family and runs off with her English “fancy man”!
Doyle is left without a wife, a job, any prospects and three young
children.
The authorities intervene and claim that he is unfit
as a single parent to bring up his children.
They are sent to church-run-orphanages.
Doyle tries to pick up the pieces of his life so that he can get
his kids back but it’s not just a case of putting food on the table.
Doyle finds that there are legal implications and he will have to
do battle in court to get his children…
Review
This family court case drama is based on a true story
in 1950’s Ireland. The
story is well told even if it done in a somewhat predictable and
sentimental way. It is a
pleasant heart-warming “David and Goliath” story.
Doyle, an “ordinary Joe Soap” takes on the might of the State
and it is easy to get behind the underdog and cheer him on.
The story moves along at a good pace and concentrates
more on the characters than the legal or the judicial aspects of the
story. The scenes of 1950’s
Ireland seem authentic and there is always a certain novelty in
recognizing Irish locations as they appear in a “big screen movie”.
There is plenty of humour in the movie although there
is a few old Irish clichés but the heart of the movie is in the right
place and these can be overlooked.
There is a great cast in this movie.
Pierce Brosnan, Aidan Quinn, Stephen Rea and Julianna Margulies
(which most of you will know from "ER") give strong
performances. Surprisingly,
Pierce Brosnan might have tried a little too hard on the Irish/Dublin
accent which sounded a bit forced at times.
Aidan Quinn, Stephen Rea and Alan Bates make up Doyle’s legal
team in the movie.
Sophie Vavasseur plays young Evelyn, a picture of
“Irish cuteness” with her red hair and freckles!
Some of her lines were just a little too sweet at times to be
believable!
The Bottom Line:
Occasionally over-sentimental but nonetheless a pleasant
heart-warming family drama based on the true story of an important legal
case.
Lasting Thought:
Justice, and the Law are entirely two different things.
Reviewed by
Niall Quinn,
Premier Movie Reviews 2003
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