Date: 26 August 2002 Summary: A towering cinematic achievement
Michael Collins is a towering cinematic achievement.Being of pure Irish
descent,I have always had a strong interest in books anf films about
Ireland,especially history.When my parents took my wife and I to see this,I
was totally blown away.It's depiction of the cruelty of the British and
Collins'fight against them is truly harrowing.Liam Neeson is the only actor
who could have realistically taken on the role of Michael Collins and he
delivers one of the finest performances I have ever seen.Alan Rickman also
delivers a masterful performance as Eamon De Valera.Some people had a
problem with this film's portrayal of De Valera,including my mother,who is a
native of County Clare,Ireland and views De Valera as a hero.Rickman brings
in some good nuances that help leaven the otherwise nagative portrayal of
"Dev".Aidan Quinn is also excellent as Harry Boland,and it is in the
depiction of the changing relationship between Mick and Harry that the film
is sometimes at its most powerful and heartbreaking.I didn't have as much of
a problem with Julia Roberts's portrayal of Kitty Kiernan(who was really
Mick's fiancee,she existed)as others do.I thought she did well.I also liked
Stephen Rea as Ned Broy and Ian Hart as Joe O'Reilly.Neil Jordan writes and
directs excellently,though he does sometimes play a bit fast and loose with
the facts.This movie inspired me to read Tim Pat Coogans excellent biography
of Michael Collins which I also recommend.This is one of my favorite films
ever. An enthusiastic 10 out of 10.
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