"Evelyn" is a well-done, star-cast, heart-tugging movie-of-the-week, Irish division.
Pierce Brosnan produced, as he has some other small movies like the charming "The Match," and this one has some personal autobiographical resonance for him.
For folks who only know him from TV's "Remington Steele" (sigh) or the Bond flicks, Brosnan has done a fair share of dramatic indies, including a previous colonial Brit film with the same director Bruce Beresford, "Mister Johnson," though his singing here is game but just adequate.
Just about everyone but a dour Stephen Rea twinkles in this film -- Julianna Margulies with a fair Irish brogue, Aidan Quinn and Alan Bates.
I would think it's impossible to resist the movie's teary charms, and the audience not only cried but applauded at the end.
It is certainly nice to see a strong movie about paternal affection and responsibilities, especially an Irish one with a minimum of drinking stereotypes.
The closing Van Morrison song is minor Van, but that's still better than most over-the-credit schmaltz.
(originally written 1/4/2003)
Pierce Brosnan produced, as he has some other small movies like the charming "The Match," and this one has some personal autobiographical resonance for him.
For folks who only know him from TV's "Remington Steele" (sigh) or the Bond flicks, Brosnan has done a fair share of dramatic indies, including a previous colonial Brit film with the same director Bruce Beresford, "Mister Johnson," though his singing here is game but just adequate.
Just about everyone but a dour Stephen Rea twinkles in this film -- Julianna Margulies with a fair Irish brogue, Aidan Quinn and Alan Bates.
I would think it's impossible to resist the movie's teary charms, and the audience not only cried but applauded at the end.
It is certainly nice to see a strong movie about paternal affection and responsibilities, especially an Irish one with a minimum of drinking stereotypes.
The closing Van Morrison song is minor Van, but that's still better than most over-the-credit schmaltz.
(originally written 1/4/2003)