'In the Name of The Father' is a 1993 biographical courtroom drama directed by Jim Sheridan and stars Daniel Day Lewis, Emma Thompson and Pete Postlethwaite. I came across this film while doing a feature on Daniel after his victory of Best Actor Award for 'Lincoln'. I first watched it in year 2013 I guess and wanted to write immediately about it but as it happens with me, some other emotions of work took over me and I didn't do what was required. However, the movie and its portrayal of 'Guildford Four' or IRA's conspired 'Guildford Pub bombing' has ever since been etched in my memory.
Jim Sheridan had previously directed Daniel in 'My Left Foot' and it got both of them Oscars. Daniel Day Lewis since then has established himself as one of those 'untouchable' acting deities of World. Three Oscar Wins as Best Leading Actor.....no one has ever done that in Oscars history and this film gives us the glimpses of his earliest acting potential. But before all that swooning over Daniel's performance, there was something else in the film that hooked me from its first minute. It was Bono and Gavin Friday's Title Song: 'In the Name of the Father'......the accompanying music and lyrics of the song characterize so much of the chaos Northern Ireland and Belfast in particular was experiencing in the time. The time period we are talking about here is 1970s-1980s when Irish People considered Britishers their only enemy. It's an adrenaline-pumping song that gets you in the mood in a jiffy. Then there is another song that appears in dying moments of film and also in closing credit. It's Sinead o Connor's 'The Thief of My Heart'.....it's been one of my most favorite songs for last 3 years....so beautiful, so touching.
The film was marred by some controversies too upon its release. The accusation was of misrepresentation of historical facts. The credibility of British Legal System is one of the chief targets of this movie and 'Guildford Four' incident is undoubtedly one of its blackest blots. Jim Sheridan has definitely taken some creative liberties while making this film but as he clarified in year 2003, this film was really not a political commentary, instead it was a representation of the relationship between a father and his son where father was seen helping his son through everything that's morale-damping and utterly discouraging.
Pete Postlethwaite here plays the father and he was an actor whom Speilberg accredited as 'best in the world' while filming his third Jurassic Park movie with him. As I have mentioned in the world that very few could speak of the acting prowess that could topple Daniel's, here is Pete, acting as his father Patrick 'Giuseppe' Conlon, trumps him in full glory. Daniel hasn't given an inch to Pete but Pete acquires ground beneath his feet without ever letting Daniel know about it. This is a masterpiece in acting and both these masters must be hailed for their superlative performances. It's really bewildering that a film featuring Emma Thompson doesn't really talk about her performance but she really has become a sidenote in this film and that's not really her fault as it has so much to do with IRA, the Conlons and British legal system.
At the end, it's an important film for it tells us a story of a time-period of world history that has been trampled like our own Independence story. You could know much more about English and Irish history only by watching Conlons' story here. I'm feeling relieved and much obliged that I have finally managed to write something of note commemorating this film. It's absolutely phenomenal and you could take my word for it!!!!
Adios!!!!
Jim Sheridan had previously directed Daniel in 'My Left Foot' and it got both of them Oscars. Daniel Day Lewis since then has established himself as one of those 'untouchable' acting deities of World. Three Oscar Wins as Best Leading Actor.....no one has ever done that in Oscars history and this film gives us the glimpses of his earliest acting potential. But before all that swooning over Daniel's performance, there was something else in the film that hooked me from its first minute. It was Bono and Gavin Friday's Title Song: 'In the Name of the Father'......the accompanying music and lyrics of the song characterize so much of the chaos Northern Ireland and Belfast in particular was experiencing in the time. The time period we are talking about here is 1970s-1980s when Irish People considered Britishers their only enemy. It's an adrenaline-pumping song that gets you in the mood in a jiffy. Then there is another song that appears in dying moments of film and also in closing credit. It's Sinead o Connor's 'The Thief of My Heart'.....it's been one of my most favorite songs for last 3 years....so beautiful, so touching.
The film was marred by some controversies too upon its release. The accusation was of misrepresentation of historical facts. The credibility of British Legal System is one of the chief targets of this movie and 'Guildford Four' incident is undoubtedly one of its blackest blots. Jim Sheridan has definitely taken some creative liberties while making this film but as he clarified in year 2003, this film was really not a political commentary, instead it was a representation of the relationship between a father and his son where father was seen helping his son through everything that's morale-damping and utterly discouraging.
Pete Postlethwaite here plays the father and he was an actor whom Speilberg accredited as 'best in the world' while filming his third Jurassic Park movie with him. As I have mentioned in the world that very few could speak of the acting prowess that could topple Daniel's, here is Pete, acting as his father Patrick 'Giuseppe' Conlon, trumps him in full glory. Daniel hasn't given an inch to Pete but Pete acquires ground beneath his feet without ever letting Daniel know about it. This is a masterpiece in acting and both these masters must be hailed for their superlative performances. It's really bewildering that a film featuring Emma Thompson doesn't really talk about her performance but she really has become a sidenote in this film and that's not really her fault as it has so much to do with IRA, the Conlons and British legal system.
At the end, it's an important film for it tells us a story of a time-period of world history that has been trampled like our own Independence story. You could know much more about English and Irish history only by watching Conlons' story here. I'm feeling relieved and much obliged that I have finally managed to write something of note commemorating this film. It's absolutely phenomenal and you could take my word for it!!!!
Adios!!!!
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