In the Name of the Father Reviews

• Justice by popular demand

  
  By AK6UVFSU07NXH on 2000-05-08
  This is not a film that I watch very often but "In the Name of the Father" is still one of my favorites. The reason I am not watching it regularly is that it is quite disturbing. It is loosely based on the true story of the Guildford four. A group of young people jailed for the bombing of the Guildford pub in London back in 1974.
  
  "In the Name of the Father" tells the story from the point of view of Gerry Conlon, played by Daniel Day-Lewis. Gerry starts out as a young man in Ireland. He is an unemployed lout who makes a little money on the side by stealing lead lining off neighborhood roofs. He is forced to leave Belfast due to the IRA's disapproval of his thieving activities.
  
  Once in London, Gerry and his friend Paul Hill move into a squat with a group of other flower children. It is not long before Gerry and Paul have to move out of their new home due to friction over one of the young ladies' relationship with Gerry. This leaves both Paul and Gerry in a public park on the night that the Guildford Pub is bombed.
  
  To make matters worse, the jilted boyfriend of the aforementioned young lady, goes to the police to finger Gerry and Paul as suspicious Irishmen. This is an opportunity too good to miss for Inspector Pavis. He is under great pressure to bring the guilty parties to justice.
  
  The next thing we know Gerry, three of his friends and the larger portion of his family have been arrested, tried and jailed. Only just short of being a kangaroo court, the prosecutor paints them as a vicious IRA cell. The atmosphere is such that even the flimsiest of evidence is seen as damning proof of their guilt.
  
  Up until this point in the film the story is told in retrospect, from many years after the event, by Gerry as he languishes in prison with his Father, Giuseppe. He is telling the story for a new barrister, Gareth Peirce, played by Emma Thompson. She is keen to have a retrial. The trouble is that Gerry is so cynical about English justice by this time, that he needs a lot of encouragement in order for him to participate.
  
  The rest of the film shows us, one layer at a time, all of the deceptions that led to the original convictions. False witnesses, false evidence, hidden testimonies, forced confessions and even the cover up of the confession of the real bomber. It all comes to a head in court, but not before the death of Giuseppe Conlon in prison, despite a compassionate appeal for early release. We also see Gerry's transformation from a callow youth into a dedicated campaigner for justice.
  
  What makes this film so disturbing is that the same forces that contributed to this outrageous perversion of justice are alive and well today. The passion with which the public calls for the conviction of anyone that is accused of a brutal crime, is equally as vivid now as it was then. It should not matter how brutal a crime is, we should call for the truth, not just revenge. And so we are left with the knowledge that history will repeat itself and probably is doing so at this very moment.
  
  

• Compelling, True Story

  
  By AE12AEJFCOGGY on 2000-05-24
  Gerry Conlon (Danie Day Lewis) was not an upstanding youth. He was a petty thief and layabout with little future. He was innocent, however, of the bombing of a London pub which killed four people in 1974. That did not stop an English court, however, from sending him, his father, and several other innocent men to prison.

  What makes this story so compelling is that it is true. Conlon really did serve 15 years in a British prison for a crime he did not commit. His conviction was finally overturned in 1989, upon the revelation that evidence which proved his innocence was deliberately withheld by the government.

  This film shows several chilling scenes where Conlon is psychologically and physically abused until he finally breaks down and confesses to the crime. He, along with the others, is then sentenced to a long prison term. As the presiding judge tells him, "I only wish I could sentence you to death."

  After Gonlon and his father Giuseppe (Pete Postlethwaite) enter prison in when the film's best moments come. The way that the relationship between father and son grows and matures is a pleasure to watch. This is one of the most compelling and moving displays of father/son love that I have ever seen in a film. The acting by these two men is nothing short of brilliant.

  Emma Thompson is also quite effective as the English defense attorney who works for their release. This is just another entry in a seemingly endless string of excellent performances by this gifted actress. She is an amazing talent.

  Much was made when this film was first released of the liberties that writer-director Jim Sheridan took with the actual facts of the case. That may well be true, but for the purposes of the film it is not really relevant. This is not a documentary or journalistic report, and the facts are close enough. It is a thoroughly enjoyable and engaging film.
  
  

• A brilliant, yet harrowing film

  
  By A3IB1W0SVED0Z3 on 2000-11-22
  "In the Name of the Father" is a brilliant and controversial movie which examines in some detail the case of the Guildford Four, and especially the case of Gerry and Giuseppe Conlon, who were wrongly convicted of bombing a pub in the town of Guildford, England, on October 5, 1974. This bombing, which took the lives of several innocent victims, was alleged to be part of an ongoing Irish Republican Army (IRA) campaign of terror that year. The convictions of the Guildford Four, it was later proved, were based on forced confessions, perjured testimony, and - at best - extremely scanty and questionable forensic evidence.

  "In the Name of the Father" is a brilliant film on all levels. Daniel Day-Lewis turns in a tough, gritty, and realistic performance as the irrepressible Gerry Conlon - perhaps one of Day-Lewis' least known, but best movie performances ever. Pete Postlethwaite is magnificent as the gentle Giuseppe Conlon, who is the film's ultimate victim. And Emma Thompson rises to her usual level of brilliant acting as the tough-minded but emotional lawyer, Gareth Peirce.

  This movie does not pretend at any point to be an objective examination of the Guildford Four case. It is a strong advocate for the innocence of the people involved, and an unsparing critic of the British legal and penal systems. Some of the points made in the film border on the hyperbolic - for example, the interjection of the fictional IRA terrorist "Joe McAndrew," to press home the point that the British government knew of the Guildford Four's innocence, but, fearing a loss of confidence by the British public, chose to ignore evidence which exonerated them. Still, the film does not suffer any loss of credibility by so blatantly taking sides in such a politically and emotionally charged issue.

  This is one of those rare films which does three things very well. First: it entertains. This is a dramatic and exciting story, replete with wonderfully realistic characters that are easy to understand and relate to. Second: "In the Name of the Father" educates. Very seldom have I learned more about a particular time or set of circumstances than I have from this film. (I must note at this point that I was living in England in 1989 when this case came to a head. I followed news accounts of it with great interest.) Third: the movie persuades. It is both a scathing criticism of a legal and penal system gone awry, and an apt description of what can happen when a democratic system becomes afraid of its own people. At the same time, it's a wonderfully inspiring testimony to the ultimate strength of the human spirit in times when all seems nearly lost.
  
  

• Strange and difficult, but emotionally deep.

  
  By A1XX5797TIZT5Q on 2002-10-07
  I must admit, I encountered a major stumbling block in trying to watch this movie. All I can say is if you have as much trouble understanding heavy Irish accents as I do, watching a subtitled edition of this film might be a good idea.

  That's my problem, though, not the film's. In the Name of the Father isn't quite as dead serious as its cover suggests. While its soaring emotional peaks are just phenomenally powerful and its messages ring clear and true, the film also contains enough offbeat humour to make it a well-rounded experience.

  Daniel Day-Lewis gives a searing performance as Gerry Conlon, an Irish drifter wrongly accused of terrorism and imprisoned, a victim of a police conspiracy. Day-Lewis, an Oscar-winning actor who has done only five films in the '90s, gives his signature dedication, enormous charisma, and sense of humour to the role, and he is no less than amazing in any given scene. Pete Postlethwaite rises to the challenge as Conlon's father Guiseppe, a complete opposite to the deliciously diabolical turn he gave in The Usual Suspects. Here Postlethwaite is warm, complex, and painfully human, with all the strengths and vulnerabilities attached. And director Jim Sheridan's narrative voice is highly eccentric but engaging; the film moves in lurches and spurts, often with major plot points occuring very suddenly. Strangely enough, I was never lost. And Emma Thompson's work, when it finally surfaces (her character is mostly relegated to the last third of the film), is terrific as well, helping to anchor the final developments in the story.

  One of my favourite points about this film is that, while it vilifies the British characters, it also does not scorn to show their side of the story. The opening scene of the bombing grounds our awareness in the fact that, despite their incredibly brutal and unjust tactics, the police are simply crumbling under the pressure and trying to hide their folly, not plotting for the destruction of our central characters. Such moral complexities help enrich the thematic elements of the film, always a desireable thing when it comes to politically charged material such as this.

  You'll need to be patient with this film to enjoy it -- because of its two-hour-plus running length, the dense, accented dialogue, and idiosyncratic narrative approach -- but I am sure you will find it an emotionally resonant and relevant film, as I have.
  
  

• They can't block out the light in here.

  
  By A1GSR7RGCG1QYZ on 2006-03-22
  I am quickly becoming aware of the power that Jim Sheridan has behind the camera as well as in crafting genuine non-Hollywood films. As I watched In the Name of the Father unfold, I continually was impressed by the passionate camera angles, the conviction of the characters, and Sheridan's ability not to sway from his own personal heritage. He is a master storyteller. After watching this film, I am not afraid to confirm it. From the opening sequences of this film to the amazing direction to the dedicated actors, I knew that In the Name of the Father was going to be more than just your typical political "courtroom" drama. It wasn't until the film was finished that I realized Sheridan's power. I speak very highly of him in the opening of this review because I believe that if any other director would have been at the helm of this project that the final cut would not have been as immaculate. Typically with films of this nature we, as audience members, fall prey to there needing to be some sympathy for the opposing country. The British did unfairly treat the Irish in this film, but I believe any other director would have chosen a neutral ground instead of forging headfirst like Sheridan chose to do. I believe any other director would have focused more perversely on the courtroom drama aspect of this film instead of the compelling family epic that was being forged within the walls of Gerry's prison. Because of Sheridan, the masterpiece known as In the Name of the Father was crafted with genuine passion and superb direction.
  
  What initially struck me as pivotal in this film were the actors. For a film of this high of emotion and intensity to work, there needed to be key players involved that knew how to handle the truthfulness of it all. Sheridan hit a bulls-eye with Daniel Day-Lewis in the key role of Gerry Conlon (which I think most directors do when they choose to hire one of our greatest cinematic heroes), but it was the surprise performance by the typical secondary character actor Pete Postlethwaite that shook me to the core. I have seen quite a bit of films that used the talent of Pete Postlethwaite, but I must admit, this is the first time that I have seen him take control of his character and give it his full devotion. Perhaps it was the dedication that Daniel Day-Lewis had to his character that rubbed onto the other actors, or again, maybe it was just the skillful direction of Jim Sheridan, but I will be the first to say that Postlethwaite stole this film. He didn't just capture the individual scenes in which he was present, but he embodied this entire film. He successfully portrayed the ultimate father figure. The man that many of us would look up to with admiring respect. Postlethwaite's father figure was there for his son, he put himself in danger for his son, and most importantly he taught his son the truth of the world. He was phenomenal in the small role that eventually captured the entire film. It is the belief of this reviewer that Pete should have been awarded for an Oscar for this role, instead of Tommy Lee Jones. I was also impressed with John Lynch whom I had only seen in some smaller roles since this. He fully embodied the frightened youth that didn't know better than to finger his friends to save his life. Then there was Emma Thompson. I do not believe I have seen her in a "bad" role yet. She was subtle in this film. She didn't try to dominate her scenes, but instead be a helpful part to the eventual emotional ending. Her role was short, sweet, and to the point, which I think is another prime example of why Sheridan's direction is so acute.
  
  Strong direction. Strong acting. One could say that the rest could have been rubbish and I still would have enjoyed it. Not true. With both of these elements in place, I needed to make sure that Sheridan wasn't cutting corners. I have not read Proved Innocent, but I do not think that Sheridan went too far off course with his adaptation. The story is what kept me glued to the screen. I knew from the awards that In the Name of the Father was honored with that it was great in the direction and acting respects, but it wasn't until I watched the entire film that I realized the power of the story. We don't watch Gerry grow up. We don't see his dysfunctional relationship with his father. We don't see the impeding chaos in Britain. We don't see a lot of back items that would have taken this film into the three-hour zone. Instead, Sheridan crops the film into three distinct moments. Those are Gerry prior to jail, Gerry and his father in jail, and finally, Gerry gaining the wisdom from his father. I enjoyed the fact that Sheridan didn't focus so intently on the trial, but instead the growth of Gerry and the developing relationship between him and father. It was like watching a child grow before our eyes. The only disappointment that I had with the overall story was the quickness of the ending. I do believe Sheridan could have traveled it out for another twenty minutes to give us the full effect of the climactic courtroom scene, or those moments when Gerry decides to learn about British law himself. I just felt that the last half-hour seemed to fly by because there were so many loose ends to tighten. If it weren't for this mad sprint at the end, I believe Sheridan would have had a flawless masterpiece.
  
  Overall, I thought this film (despite the quickness of the ending) was engrossing to watch and exciting to see. It frightened me to watch it in a post-9/11 world because it makes us question our current government's hastiness to find answers and make executive decisions. It makes you wonder about the detainees of Iraq and if we, as a nation, are not discovering that our government is jailing the innocent. Living in today's society and watching this film, it spoke to me on two levels. Sheridan successfully brings the emotions of aggravation and frustration to the peak of the screen with the events surrounding the Conlon family. He makes you feel for these innocent bystanders living in a corrupt nation. It spoke to me on that level as I am probably one of those simpletons watching innocent people jailed for no reason outside of probably "oil" prices. The second level was that of family. It made me happy to have the father that I currently have and appreciate the wisdom that he has handed down to me. Family is one of the most important elements in your life, and I believe that what Sheridan was trying to demonstrate with this film is that until you accept that, you will never find stability and security. What an amazing film!
  
  Grade: **** out of *****
  
  
• heartbreaking and bittersweet
  By A2B7BUH8834Y6M on 2003-12-22
  Gerry Conlon (Daniel Day Lewis) was a small-time petty thief in the early seventies and found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time when IRA terrorists bombed a pub in 1974 - killing 4 people.

  Totally innocent, Conlon is treated with contempt - even physically tortured and terrorized until he confesses only to make the torture stop.

  Soon his father and most of his family are also convicted of bomb making and being part of larger conspiracies including being deeply entrenched in the IRA.

  His father Giuseppe (played masterfully by Pete Postlethwaite) and most of his family are also rounded up and promptly convicted - from the youngest cousin to an elderly grandmother - all wrongly convicted and sent to bleak, dank prisons for very lengthy terms.

  What makes this so compelling and tragic is that this is entirely a true story. Conlon really served 15 years in prison and thanks to his diligent attorney and the discovery of withheld evidence that freed him in 1989 - otherwise he may well still be languishing in jail, with little sympathy from the outside.

  The only good side of this horrific twist of justice was the closeness Gerry ends up having with his father. Once somewhat distant, they find themselves as unwilling cellmates in prison. As miserable as they both are at the situation, the fact that they can keep each other company is a bittersweet comfort.

  They grow closer than they likely would have ever gotten had they not been imprisoned together. Compounded by age and the damp, awful conditions of the prison, Giuseppe finds himself sicker and sicker until he is finally taken to the hospital all too late. Gerry is not permitted to be at his father's side as he is taken to the hospital, only to find out later that his father has died, leaving Gerry alone with no one to console his broken heart.

  The injustice done to the "Guildford Four" in a small way was a necessary evil, in that it so shocked the conscience of British common man, that many reforms were put in to place to help prevent this sort of thing from happening again.

  While Emma Thompson's character (Conlon's lawyer) doesn't make an appearance until near the end of the story, her presence is powerful and an important balance for the film.

  Only someone with the stoniest of hearts will not feel at least a lump in their throat at many scenes of this well acted, compelling, real-life drama - nor will you finish watching it and not be changed in some way.
  
  

• The IRA Trilogy.
  By AD0J5KK4WQXNS on 2005-02-09
  Three films that stand out in terms of explaining the movement of the Irish Republican Army are Michael Collins, Bloody Sunday and The Name of the Father, viewed in that order. Michael Collins explains the 1916 Irish Rising against British rule and the subsequent assassination of Collins for making a deal with the British to allow them to keep the North, a problem that still exists to this day, albeit calmed down somewhat because of the peace agreements. Bloody Sunday is about the armed assault by British Paratroopers that shot up a catholic peace protest in 1972. It is like watching Saving Private Ryan in the streets. That court case is still ongoing today. The Name of the Father is in Britain and is worth seeing again because of new events.
  
  In 2005 The Prime Minister apologised for one of the worst miscarriages of British justice - the jailing those accused of the Guilford IRA bombings. This film is about what happened. Eleven people sent to prison over the attacks in Guildford and Woolwich in 1974. They were subject to such a horrific political ordeal and a deep miscarriage of injustice. The wrongly convicted were members and friends of two Irish families living in the UK at the time - the Conlons and Maguires. Although the Conlon father and son never did meet in prison (like they do in the film) it is still pretty much an accurate portrayal or police brutality and the corruption of the justice system.
  
  In many ways the film has been deemed "inappropriate" along side other films such a "Bloody Sunday" because apparently they do not add anything of value to restoring peace, but the truth is that this kind of material has been censored in Ireland and the UK until the 1990s when for the first time the party of Sinn Fein was allowed a voice to represent Catholics in Northern Ireland - Jerry Adams was actually allowed to appear on the news and talk.
  
  The problem is that the government is not responsible for the courts which allowed people to be subjected to the kind of ordeal that these two families went through, scapegoats for a political body that wanted to keep censoring the full extent of the troubles in the North.
  
  This is a well-made movie with some great acting. Riveting stuff through and through and one of the best prison/court dramas who can get your hands on. In light of the Prime Minister's apology, this is work looking into again.
  
  
• Emotionally harrowing
  By AHRSDAKFHXEUX on 2002-02-20
  This is a powerful story, and watching it absolutely wrings you out. You should see this movie, because the story is so emotional. You should also see it because of the quality of the acting. Daniel Day-Lewis' and Pete Postlethwaite's performances are so raw and perfectly understated that they make the film seem like the reality the story is based on.

  Readers can get the gist of the plot from other reviews here, but there are a few remarks that should be made.

  In this post-September 11 world, it should be noted that the thing that enabled these injustices was a bill that allowed British officials to hold suspected terrorists for up to 7 days without charging them. This gave these officers all the time they needed to beat and intimidate Conlon into confessing something he didn't do. The kind of power such a bill provides requires more responsibility than this.

  While the British government does come out looking very bad in this film, it must be fairly pointed out that you can see why these officers were initially convinced of the Four's guilt: they had been lied to by someone who disliked Gerry Conlon. Naturally, at first, the police thought the Four were just lying to evade prosecution. However, much later in the film, we see that Conlon's innocence had been proven to at least some of the officers a month or so after his arrest. However, this was concealed from the rest of the judicial system, and the Four were still incarcerated.

  I have to mention that some of the most powerful moments in the film actually come from Pete Postlethwaite's performance as Giuseppe Conlon. His attempts, while in the middle of these horrible circumstances, to draw closer to his son are so genuine and heartfelt that it makes you want to cry. This gentle, nice man's life was surrendered to these injustices, and all the while he still tried to teach his son to be good, to be honest, and to have ethics - in other words, to be a man.

  There has been some commentary as to whether the Guildford Four were really innocent. It should be stated here that the judge who released them - chief justice Lord Lane - stated that he felt the police involved in the case "must have lied." Also, aside from an official apology from Tony Blair, the British government has made financial restitution to the Four. I think that's enough to decide that they were probably innocent.

  While occasionally seeming over-dramatized - like all films based on factual events - this movie succeeds in riveting you to the screen. This is a good rendering of events that prove how tragedies can occur when you have people with too much power and not enough conscience.
  
  

• Powerful and Disturbing.....
  By A3CWLBSGRN7N1W on 2001-11-26
  This movie, based on a true story, is vivid and shocking indictment of the English criminal justice system. It depicts a British society so obsessed with IRA terrorism that they would stop at nothing, even physical torture and near police state conditions, to bring a "guilty person" to justice. It shows a system in which when the truth is uncovered that Conlon and his family were in fact blameless the authorities refuse to acknowledge this fact and allow to Conlon's to remain in prison. Also shocking are the scenes in which not only are the prisoner's visits monitored but a transcript is taken of the conversations. However, not everyone victim of the British system was guilty. This is the story of Gerry Conlon (Daniel Day Lewis) a young Irish man caught in the wrong place and the wrong time and is implicated and ultimately convicted in an IRA bombing attack on a British pub. The movie takes the viewer through this process. From his time in London to his arrest and torture, both physical and psychological, at the hand of the British police during his interrogation to his 15 year incarceration in a maximum security facility to his triumphant appeal and release. The interrogation sequences are most disturbing in their depiction of the combination of physical and mental abuse used to wear down a suspect to the point where he or she will admit and confess to any thing in order to end the abuse. We also see how the police arrest Conlon's entire family including his father as co-conspirators. Ultimately, they are all convicted and sentenced to varying term in prison. Conlon and his father Giuseppe are cell-mates and the movie goes on to explore the transformation of their relationship from a rather distant and cold one to a caring and loving one as the years of their incarceration drag on. Daniel Day Lewis turns in a memorable performance in his monument to excesses of Britain's war on domestic terrorism. Emma Thompson is OK in her role has a stalwart supporter of the family and their cause but her role could have been bigger. This movie is not intended to be in any way balanced whatsoever. The viewer is supposed to be sympathetic toward the Conlon family and have nothing but contempt for the British authorities. The aforementioned instances and more make this emotional connection very easy to make. That is a little more than disturbing. As with other fact based movies, "JFK" et. al., we are getting a one sided view of the issue. In many cases the makers use artistic license to "tweak" the plot in one way or the other. As a result, viewers who may not be as up to speed on these issues may accept these interpretations as gospel when in fact they are not. I am suggesting that viewers should not just accept at face value the opinions or views of very often biased director and producers who are out to make a political point.
  
  
• A VERY MOVING AND EMOTIONAL MOVIE
  By on 1999-08-05
  This movie will leave you thinking about it for days after you first view it. Don't be discouraged for its seemingly lighthearted begining with Daniel Day-Lewis and friends running around. It becomes very serious when Day-Lewis and friends are picked up and accused of bombing a pub. The scene with Day-Lewis being forced to admit to the bombing is so incrediable. His acting is just magnificent and he should have one the Academy Award for it. He cries and acts as if it's really happening to him in real life and his acting gave me goosebumps as I watched it. My favorite and I think most dramatic scene in the movie is where him and his father are together in the cell before the trial and Day-Lewis goes off and tells his dad what he really has been going through all of his life. The line "I've been like this since I was seven", said when he was discribing how he felt to his father, just touched me so strongly that I couldn't help thinking that it was his real dad he was talking to and he really felt that way about him. This movie is one of my favorites and I often think about it to this day and I still can't believe that it was a true story. I'm only 15, but please listen when I recommend this to anyone who loves a good drama and the convincing and moving acting of Daniel Day-Lewis that accompanies him with every movie he's ever been in. YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS!!!!!!
  
  
• Bold but Brilliant!!
  By A1B6V0R85SAQO9 on 2002-11-06
  This is a bloody brilliant film. Its shows what pure bastards the Brittish were to us,the Irish, in the past. The Brittish who did this were never brought to justice but at least tis film gives the poor innocent irish who suffered some compensation even just the fact that now the world knows how much we suffered.
  
  
• Amazingly Emotional
  By on 2004-03-17
  Originally I bought this movie as part of a class I am taking called Northern Ireland Peace Process. The professor showed the video in class and I was so moved I bought it.

  I literally wanted to throw my shoe through the TV out of frustration for the lead characters involved. Whate made it more frustrating, the fact it was based on a true story.

  The movie caught the times of Belfast in the 70's when the violent Troubles began in the conflict. It's completely biased for the lead character but, it was his story and amazingly told. The entire way through the movie you were right there with him and cheering all the way.

  I highly recommend this movie, but I also state that it is easy to get caught up in its emotions.
  
  

• FIND A DULL MOMENT IN THIS TERRIFIC DRAMA!
  By A1L8HRCM60W0W7 on 2005-03-17
  During a spate of IRA-triggered bombings in the early 1970s in the UK, the beleaguered British government created a haphazard "Prevention of Terrorism Act" which allowed the arrest of any individual on the flimsiest of suspicions.
  
  When explosions rocked two pubs in Guildford (London?) a group of four Irish junkies -- Gerry Conlon (Daniel Day Lewis) and three others -- were wrongfully arrested in what we are led to believe was a miscarriage of justice.
  
  The movie is based on Gerry's memoirs, so it cannot be passed off as impeccably "factual" but if some memories have been bent into formulaic shape for entertainment purposes, the truth still remains: these people were not murdering masterminds.
  
  There are really two stories working in the film:
  
  (1) The steamrolling of the "Guildford Four" by the British government; and
  (2) The atavistic relationship between Gerry and his father Guiseppe while the two were in prison
  
  Each of these stories would have made a taut and fascinating film by itself, but combined they're an incredible force. Gerry's interrogation is an immemorable moment in cinematic history, including disconcerting scenes of police officials watching the torture in silence.
  
  The film doesn't let up for a moment. The courtroom drama is clearly peripheral to the theme, but it provides some of the film's most nailbiting moments. A few bits in the latter half of the movie may seem a bit redundant (similar things happening over and over again in prison) all that is obscured by the sheer screen presence of Daniel Day Lewis. In fact, the only time you are not riveted by the all-round powerhouse acting is when U2's poignant background score has taken center stage.
  
  An absolute must for fans of political films, and a terrific drama for the rest of us. Highly recommended.
  
  
• Fiction presented as truth
  By on 2000-07-25
  Sheridan changed an awful lot in making this film. Although you might consider it irrelevant this movie undermines an awful lot of people. Most notably, The Maguires, Sarah Conlon and Alistair Logan (The solicitor who actually worked for the four's release, Gareth Pierce had very little to do with it) It fails to accurately encapsulate Northern Ireland realisticaly and is an insult to all those who have suffered at the hands of 'British Justice'. The changes give kudos to those who still believe the Guildford 4 and the Maguire 7 were guilty of those bombings. If you want to see a realistic version of events, Frank Cvinatovich's Dear Sarah should be seen. Remember an awful lot of Sheridans critics were the people he was supposed to be representing
  
  
• In the Name of Daniel Day Lewis
  By A2LOTKB5T4V45 on 2004-05-27
  Daniel Day-Lewis, in another brilliant, Oscar-nominated performance. In the Name of the Father is a gritty, gut wrenching drama by the talented Irish film maker Jim Sheridan. Daniel Day-Lewis proves why he is so respected and revered as an actor. Though his role as Gerard Conlon received less press than his turn as Christy Brown in My Left Foot, or Bill the Butcher, in Gangs of New York, he bristles with intensity as the troubled Conlon. Day-Lewis proves why he is one of the finest actors of his generation. A true method actor, Day-Lewis is said to have gone through interrogations from police to lend true authenticity to the role. He has a rare and unequaled fire in his eyes that made me an immediate fan.I could simply not take my eyes off of him. He is not just another pretty face...although, what a face...he is without a doubt a very gifted actor.
  Day-Lewis and Pete Postlethwaite are just riviting on screen together. Their portrayl of father and son sings and stings with realism and sincerity.
  This film has somehow gone largely unnoticed, however, it is a must see for those of you who enjoy a dose of reality with your drama.
  Based on the book of the same name, written by Gerard Conlon himself, the movie does not cast a favorable light on the British Judicial system and their need to place blame on someone, despite their innocence. Your heart will break as you watch Guisseppe and Gerard fight for their case to be heard.
  The movie, while placing focus on Day-Lewis's character, is an excellent forum for the wonderful character actor that Postlethwaite is. Their moments together are powerful and passionate. To find a better suited pair for father and son, one would indeed be hard pressed.
  This film does exactly what it intended to do. 1. It creates and maintains a realistic relationship between father and son. Gerard's reaction when his father is imprisioned with him is a classic.
  2. It is engaging. From begining to end this film will keep even the most hard-core action enthusiast engaged in the story.
  3. It is honest. It does not sugar coat the facts as recalled by Conlon and it does not pretend to give a balanced view of events. Instead, it boldly makes a statement about profiling and what can happen when parinoia strikes those who are supposed to be objective and seek truth.
  This film is a triumph.
  
  
• Incandescent and savage film!
  By A16CZRQL23NOIW on 2004-09-30
  The tension state and the indignation will involve you and all your senses with this unfair process when an innocent Joseph Condon and his father are blamed of a murder they did not commit .
  based on real facts and designed with superb artistic and art direction and a kinetic script , the film is simply ravishing . Emma Thompsom makes an unforgettable role and Daniel Day Lewis confirming his masterful magnetism and his charismatic presence , and showing his Academy Award was not a random fact .
  Jim Sheridan has made until now a real masterpiece ; and the Hollywood attitude with this film was another unforgiven mistake .
  But the time which is the supreme judge will put in order that unhappy decision . Remember for instance , Citizen Kane against The grapes of wrath , Dr. Strangelove against My fair Lady or the Judgemnent at Nuremberg to name just a few .
  A classic film!
  
  
• "Daddy, Daddy! The IRA's got our Gerry!"
  By A38I00SO3D9ZSM on 2006-05-16
  In the Name of the Father is superb. It is both entertaining and moving. Well-scripted, it shies away from the romanticism or melodrama that tends to muck-up films about legal injustices (e.g. The Hurricane - "Hate put me in prison. Love's gonna bust me out.") There's not a bad performance in the movie. Day-Lewis, as Gerry Conlon, is nothing short of brilliant. The same is true for the rest of the cast.
  
  On a superficial level, it's a near-perfect guy movie. It has everything the lads could want: riots, prison life, father-son bonding, IRA encounters, interrogations, courtroom drama, some comedy and a great soundtrack.
  
  As a DVD package, it offers virtually nothing in the way of extras. Don't expect anything of interest beyond the film itself.
  
  
• Innocent?
  By A1M3C8AT07G5SN on 2001-05-31
  This film will doubtless appeal to those naive enough to believe the Guildford Four and Birmingham Six are innocent and that the IRA are a loveable gang of carefree Gaelic rogues.
  
  
• Being Irish Means Your Gulity...
  By on 2001-07-07
  "...once again England's name is sullied in the eyes of honest men.." Excellent protrayal of an Irish family caught up in the twilight zone called British Justice. When you watch this it just seems totally unbelievable. Unfortunately it was all very real for the entire Conlon family. The sad thing is it is one of many that will come to light over the next few years as British dirty laundry is put on display for the whole world to see. Great movie and of course an excellent potrayal of the adage that truth is stranger than fiction....
  
  
• Best Film ever
  By A3KC06EWBSIGRC on 2002-02-13
  This film may be biased but it never pretends to be anything else. Gerry Conlon was a petty thief who lived in Belfast, did they disguise this? No, they made him to be everything he was a liar, petty thief and drug taker but the fact remains he was dealt with very very unjustly.
  Daniel Day Lewis was made for this role, he is Gerry Conlon, he was real the perfect actor to play this role. The supporting cast made the film, Giuseppe, Paul, etc.. came alive because they played their parts so well. Being from Ireland this film really touched me and made me feel for the people involved.
  Emma Thompson was excellent as the British attorney, i don't think anyone else would ave fitted the part.
  The location, Kilmainham Jail in Dublin, which ive visited many times was perfect because it actually was a jail, and made the film even more alive.
  Although the film left out a lot of details such as the lives of Paul Hill, Paddy Armstrong and Carol Richardson and their attorney, which many people argue, it was meant to be the biography of Gerry Conlon and his Da hence the title.
  If your lookin for a reccomendation......BUY IT!!!!!
  
  
• Brilliant film, but...
  By A3OYWJLYOWOHEP on 2005-06-09
  bit sick of seeing the comments from some Irish-Americans etc, who seem to think the IRA are a bunch of noble freedom fighters.
  
  The same irish-americans who are, unbeknownst to them, a source of ridicule in their mother country because of their overly sentimental views of Ireland and beliefs that irish folk like nothing better than to sit round a table drinking guinness and sing Danny Boy.
  
  The British are responsible for terrible miscarriages of justice and have blood on their hands.
  
  However, next time you think in admiration of those plucky irish rebels, please also spare a thought for the two kids, Jonathan Ball, 3 and Tim Parry, 11 who were blown up and killed by an IRA bomb planted in a bin on Bridge Street in my hometown of Warrington, England, in 1993.
  
  
• EXCELLENT!
  By A3KB1H0S7T6JX1 on 2005-11-13
  A truly outstanding movie, In the Name of the Father, brings to the screen the true story of a young Irishman who was wrongfully detained by the British forces in Northern Ireland in connection with an IRA bombing.
  It is a film about human relations, hope and second chances, but most importantly about trust, love, and inner strength.
  Daniel Day-Lewis, Pete Postlethwaite, Emma Thompson, and the rest of the cast, have truly outdone themselves with their performances, which are exceptional to say the least! All the actors, without exceptions, give it their 100% and it really shows (the chemistry is AMAZING)! Very well written and very well presented, the movie is without a doubt guaranteed to provide more than just a few tears. The film is simple enough, but does a great job of describing the complexity of Northern Ireland.
  The setting, the plot, the dialogues and the music are all wonderful!
  In short, In the Name of the Father is a movie definitely worth watching and one to seriously consider adding to your movie collection!
  
  
  
• heartbreaking, inspiring story of justice
  By A1LDAIGOQ6N4DW on 2006-08-11
  first, anything with daniel day lewis is a must-see. though his work is sporadic, he is one of the best actors of his generation. throw in emma thompson, director jim sheridan, a great supporting cast and an inspiring true story and you have a great movie.
  
  
• great
  By on 1999-11-10
  i liked it. it was very suspensful and had lot of detail. and to think that it was actually based on a true story was amazing. i saw it in one of my high school classes the other day and it was very shocking. but it was great!
  
  
• Great movie
  By on 1999-04-04
  The only dissapointing factor of this movie is that it's not totally true. The victims which were the father and his son were portrayed as such when we are not totally sure if they were indeed involved in the Ira. All in all though a great film. Daniel Day-Lewis is just a brilliant actor and one of my favourite.
  
  
• Honor among thieves.
  By A2FFCPU3E93XDB on 2005-09-02
  In what may be his best performance, Daniel Day Lewis portrays a young Belfast thief whose juvenile antics land him on the wrong side of the law, and the IRA, forcing him to move to England where he wrongly becomes the center of an investigation around the bombing of a London pub. His experiences would be frightening if they were fiction, but are made all the more terrifying by the fact that the movie tells a true story. The movie grips the viewer from the opening scenes and never lets go. An excellent movie; one of the best you'll find.
  
  
• Wrong Place At The Wrong Time
  By AMKZHBOK7VMQR on 2008-04-07
  A remarkable film based on the true story of Gerry Conlan, In The Name Of The Father has one of the most gripping opening 20 minutes of any movie I have ever seen. The entire film is incredibly well written and superbly acted.
  Essentially a tale of the miscarriage of justice and the abuse of police powers during the troubles, the film begins in Belfast with the British troops mistaking Conlon (Danile Day Lewis) for an IRA sniper and chaos ensues. This is just a foretelling of a much more serious mistake in identity that results in his being accused of being one of the Guilford Four bombers after being picked up by the police in London where he and his friend have gone to escape the dangers of Belfast.
  
  Lewis is amazing in the lead role and the rest of the cast is fabulous as well. In the Name Of The Father is a story that serves as a cautionary tale regarding the abuse of power and how being the in wrong place at the wrong time can have devastating consequences.
  
  
• Hail The King, Pete Postlethwaite
  By A1T9SAVDQ6358R on 2000-02-16
  The whole film was a masterpiece but special attention is due to Pete Postlethwaite. No other actor, in my humble opinion, can touch him. Who else can portray such rage, frustration and at the same time such quiet dignity without hamming it up or going OTT? This man has an outstanding talent and is one of, if not the best actor of our time.
  
  
• in the name of the father
  By A1LTYFJLXU1QKO on 2000-03-14
  it is a great movie to watch and is easy to do a film rewiew on i would have to rate it out of 100 i would rate it at 99% excellent
  
  
• DAy-LEWIS = BEST ACTOR ALIVE
  By A32DTCFBBB9WIV on 2000-05-04
  No PAcino, no De Niro, no Norton, no Hanks. Day-Lewis is clearly the best actor in the business. I just ask him do do more movies than he has made! in this one, everything works perfectly, all the cast is great, based on a true history.
  
  

• The Boxer (Collector's Edition)
• My Left Foot (Special Edition)
• Michael Collins
• The Wind That Shakes the Barley
• There Will Be Blood