JEH-4

This is a difficult movie to comment on. The usual standards don't seem to apply. It is visually stunning, with numerous references to Bosch, Caravaggio and other painters. The music is appropriate and not intrusive. The performances are uniformly excellent.

Many reviewers have commented on the violence. Is this a violent film? Yes. Is it an exceptionally violent film? Yes. Is it an inappropriately violent film? I don't think so. Mel Gibson is asking the question "What was it like to die for the sins of the world? What did it feel like? Look like? Sound like?"

I expect it was a lot like this movie. We are right there, in the mob, screaming, vilifying, pounding in the nails. Satan glides through unnoticed, enjoying it.

This isn't an easy film, certainly not for children, but one that will make adults think about Jesus, think about themselves, and maybe even find some answers.

The Beach has a lot going for it - stunning photography, great music, a pretty good story - but in the end it fails to be more than light entertainment. The main fault is Leonardo di Caprio's inappropriateness for the role of Richard - an edgy, thrill-seeking Englishman in the book, a nice middle-class American boy in the movie. The character doesn't develop and Leo seems to have settled on three or four expressions that will do on all occasions. Tilda Swinton and especially Robert Carlyle act rings around Leo, bringing the movie briefly to life when they're on the screen.

Angela's Ashes is a gentle movie about love, suffering, striving, and eventually, triumphing. There are no explosions, no aliens, no car crashes, no easy answers. The acting is uniformly excellent with Robert Carlyle's performance as Malachy McCourt especially outstanding. Beautifully photographed, funny and devastating by turns, Angela's Ashes is an experience to be treasured.