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Created Jul 03, 2011 12:30AM PST • Edited Jul 03, 2020 06:37AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   OK 2.5

   A story of brothers ripped apart by revolution should be better than the formulaic The Wind That Shakes the Barley. Cloaked in the emerald charm of Ireland, yet curiously unengaging, it’s more socialist screed about the Irish republican revolution than ripping good yarn.

   The Irish revolution deserves a great movie. This ain’t it.

   “At various points, the accents are so thick that it becomes problematic to hear every word, although it’s not hard to surmise the intent in most of those cases.” BigD correctly points out that not understanding every word ain’t the problem.

4. Acting

   Good 3.0

   Cillian Murphy distinguishes himself as an effete revolutionary. The rest of the cast, not so much.

5. Male Stars Good 3.0

6. Female Stars OK 2.5

7. Female Costars Good 3.0

8. Male Costars Good 3.0

10. Film

    OK 2.5

    British socialist Ken Loach apparently takes grim satisfaction directing a film that is more screed than satisfying story. From each according to his ability, or his worldview, in this case.

11. Direction OK 2.5

12. Play OK 2.5

13. Music Good 3.0

14. Visuals Good 3.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 2.2

    Fingernails get ripped out. ’nuff said.

17. Sex Titillating 1.6

18. Violence Brutal 2.7

19. Rudeness Salty 2.4

21. Reality

    Glib 1.1

    Political revolutions so often end up savaging themselves. The movie suggests the Irish Revolution became a pale green echo of the previous century’s French Revolution. Thus the continuing wonder at the healthy American Revolution. Exceptional indeed.

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.3

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0