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Thought this was McDonagh's best film and probably the best film of the year (not that it's perfect). A very good score by Burwell, too.
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For those interested in the Bulgarian love chant that somewhat incongruously bookends the film (and might help secure Burwell an Oscar, in the way of such things -- not that he doesn't deserve it):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woSZMkzFgyk
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Imagine, on Craggy Island, if Ted, all of a sudden, decided he didn't like Dougal anymore.
That he was just fed up with his wittering on and on, and there just weren't enough hours in the day to be doin' with it anymore.
That he had other things to do, like writin' tunes and stuff.
None of us are gettin' any younger, are we.
But would that be fair?
What would it do to Dougal? Simple, harmless, dull old Dougal.
It's a small island after all. Hard to avoid each other like.
Oh, and who's dat company Hans Zimmer works with on dem BBC Nature Docs?
Yeah...Dem 'n' all.
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Posted: |
Mar 15, 2023 - 5:57 PM
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By: |
Howard L
(Member)
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Let this token American member throw in his tuppence.
I went into the film around a fortnight ago with little to go by save for the entire Irish of it all including the era in which it takes place. From the very beginning I was utterly taken in. My goodness the acting, dialogue, story, cinematography, music, deadly earnest characters, and humor—some laugh out loud stuff like the pub owner and customer who all he could do was echo the words of the former, no more; and the more plentiful subtle character-driven kind like the village idiot who is actually more discerning than the rest of the lot. Then there’s the horror of the digital kind, something I could have done without. In fact, when the dog picked up a certain implement and wandered outside, I was screaming at the screen, “Oh no! No! Not again! Argh!!”
For me the film is something of a cross between 1. Nobody’s Fool for the provincial setting where they all know each other’s business and have to deal with one another at the end of the day whether they like it or not, 2. Local Hero for much of the same with a bit of the mystical thrown in (the old lady who did everything but the old double, double, toil and trouble bit) and 3. Ryan’s Daughter for the lush country/waterside setting that dwarfs the simple island villagers in a similar era and culture.
Re the latter, here it felt like a stage play had been opened up for the screen. And what a screenplay. Oh what went on in the confession booth was a riot. But what Colin Farrell did with what I imagine has been considered a thankless role with duh-huh dialogue is simply a wonder. Magnificent performance. Haunting. As were the rest of the performances.
One final note as to the score: what Mr. Burwell did was compose music that did not underscore so much as create an atmosphere between scenes. And what a “psychological” atmosphere akin to something the great Alex North was a particular master at with dialogue heavy works such as this. His approach was the right approach considering the pervasive dread running throughout the story. A popcorn flick this most definitely was not. A shattering cinematic experience this most definitely was.
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I enjoyed–if that's the right word–this droll and surprisingly brutal movie.
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Brilliant film though! 
