evelyn
Directed by Bruce Beresford
2003 PG
Evelyn is one of those
movies that I didn't really fancy, like the
astonishing
Pianist,
but I went along on the spur of the moment because
something within me told me I would be glad
I did.
Based in 1950's Ireland and upon a "true story",
Evelyn kicks off with
Pierce Brosnan rowing with his Missus, who is portrayed as a bit of a
ratbag. She runs off to Australia with her bit on the side. Meanwhile
Brosnan is struggling to raise his kids, burning himself on pots and pans,
that sort of thing.
The authorities soon stick their nose in and declare him an unfit dad. His two
sons, whose story this movie is not really concerned with, are marched off
to some horrid boarding school. His young daughter, Evelyn, is doted on, the
favourite of both dad and of the movie, is locked up in a nunnery.
The task of relinquishing the girl to the nunnery
falls to her grandfather, a man with the kindliest
face I have ever seen, so kindly that even Satan
would see the error of his ways. But not so
kindly as to soften Brosnan's mother-in-law.
Evelyn's fate is in the hands of a squad of
beastly nuns, cold as penguins, lead by the
wickedly brutal Bridget. They snatch the daughter
away and inflict torments upon her and her friends.
Brosnan is not one to take this chaos lightly
and endeavours against ridiculous odds to get
his kids back through the legal system. Steven
Rea, Aidan Quinn and Alan Bates get drawn into
Brosnan's scrap. The chief pleasure of this
movie is in the interaction of those characters.
Then there is Evelyn herself, who, in a climactic
scene, nails it. The writing, acting, music,
tone, everything is pleasing. Having said that
about the acting, I thought Brosnan was not
quite up to it, he was not powerful or convincing
enough in the role. He was OK for a "star"
I suppose. They should have given this job to
a real actor, like Daniel Day-Lewis (
Gangs
of New York), now
that would have
been great.
Evelyn is not particularly deep, but it is that
increasingly rare modern movie aimed at people
with a mind and humanity, rather than the MTV
droids, which is why I enjoyed it all the more.
The movie is hearty but the feel-good stuff
goes easy on cheap, sugary smaltz. And it in
places
Evelyn is funny too. At one point a pub
landlord complains about getting a decent television
picture.
It will never catch on, he
grumps.
If
only that were true.
Warning:
Evelyn has a love-interest plot, but
this is mercifully kept minimal.
Like so many movies, this movie is beastly to
the English. But seeing as the
UK
is going to the dogs, that doesn't bother
me as much as it did: the politicians, esp.
Tony Blair, and their PR-crazed spin doctors
have alienated me to such a degree I feel no
patriotism what-so-ever, not a shred.
None! Hurrah to the begrudging mother-in-law!
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