First of all....I didn't overly care for it, but you may like it. Here we have the true story of an Irish family and the many struggles they face. And yes they do face some pretty serious struggles and contend with tragedy around every corner.
Unfortunately, the film is not able to adequately portray these tragedies so that the audience member can be emotionally moved by them. Now while this film is based upon a bestseller, which will undoubtably bring countless patrons to the theater to see it. I suggest that if you want to truly identify with the story, then read the book.
I will attempt to briefly describe this movie for you...it's a story of an Irish Catholic family who comes to America only to turn around and go home when things don't turn out well for them. However in Ireland they face even worse hardships, but are at least close to family. But the family is definitely dysfunctional, so they probably should have stayed put in the USA.
Now I am not trying to make light of their tragedies, but after watching 3-4 children die in their family and the father not being able to find a job for 15 years of daily looking, something should kick in and say you need to do something different. Everyday you watch the children get taunted by their peers at school and then return home to a parents who can't provide them food or proper shelter.
That in itself makes the story sad, especially when you know it's true, but it's presented so repetitively that one gets bored watching it. Parts of the story are interesting, for instance, watching the unique relationships between the family members that are based upon the person's religious upbringing or where in Ireland they were born. But these interesting parts are not enough to bring this film to the level of recommending it.
Bottom line...I provide this film with the rating I did, not because it deserves it, but because I too am an Irish Catholic and don't want to face the guilt of giving it a lower rating.
Unfortunately, the film is not able to adequately portray these tragedies so that the audience member can be emotionally moved by them. Now while this film is based upon a bestseller, which will undoubtably bring countless patrons to the theater to see it. I suggest that if you want to truly identify with the story, then read the book.
I will attempt to briefly describe this movie for you...it's a story of an Irish Catholic family who comes to America only to turn around and go home when things don't turn out well for them. However in Ireland they face even worse hardships, but are at least close to family. But the family is definitely dysfunctional, so they probably should have stayed put in the USA.
Now I am not trying to make light of their tragedies, but after watching 3-4 children die in their family and the father not being able to find a job for 15 years of daily looking, something should kick in and say you need to do something different. Everyday you watch the children get taunted by their peers at school and then return home to a parents who can't provide them food or proper shelter.
That in itself makes the story sad, especially when you know it's true, but it's presented so repetitively that one gets bored watching it. Parts of the story are interesting, for instance, watching the unique relationships between the family members that are based upon the person's religious upbringing or where in Ireland they were born. But these interesting parts are not enough to bring this film to the level of recommending it.
Bottom line...I provide this film with the rating I did, not because it deserves it, but because I too am an Irish Catholic and don't want to face the guilt of giving it a lower rating.