Harshly truthful biographical tale. Brutal in nature, yet with a subtle beautiful aspect brought on by the directing. It does take a while to get to the good parts, but at least the beginning segments offer some effectively visceral moments without dialogue. The ending is worth the trek.
mitchellyoung 05/16/2012 (0 of 0 found this helpful)
Rating of 3/4
The documentary-like feel that doesn't shy away from anything is what makes this grueling drama so touching and emotional. The filmmakers don't need to add any cliche symbolism or exposition, but simply let the camera capture the suffering and resolve the IRA prisoners suffer during their hunger strike. Smack in the middle of the film is a powerful, seventeen-minute-long unbroken sequence of catharsis that is a masterpiece of writing and acting. Difficult to watch, but brutally redemptive.
Chris Kavan 04/25/2010 (0 of 0 found this helpful)
Rating of 3/4
Compelling drama that builds slowly but is punctuated by scenes that will linger in your mind long after the credits have rolled. It's by no means a pleasant experience, but it's one that should be seen because the impact is undeniable.
I only give this movie 2 stars because there was a 25 minute conversation which slowed down the movie so much that I was angry. I wanted to see what happened but I couldn't. I think that scene could have been shortened to 5 minutes. Decent.
Difficult to watch, but utterly compelling, this film is like nothing you've ever seen. Christian Bales weightloss for the machinist is now old news, as Micheal Fassbender takes it two steps further. Its slow, like Van Sant's Elephant, lingering on moments and emotions, but it creates a unique atmosphere, one of boredom and despair.
