Father's Day Movie Reviews

Related Subjects: Kids_and_Teens Stories_and_Poems
Family movie reviews for "Father's Day" sorted by average review score:
In the Name of the Father
Released in DVD by Universal Studios (02 September, 2003)
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Director: Jim Sheridan
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis
Based on a true story, this rousing and tough-minded film details British overzealousness in prosecuting an IRA bombing in the 1970s. Grabbing up a pair of small-time thieves (Daniel Day-Lewis and John Lynch) and their families, the government concocts a conspiracy case against them and tosses them all in jail. Until then, Day-Lewis has been a ne'er-do-well, an apolitical goof looking for a quick score. But confronted with the toughness of his own father (Pete Postlethwaite) in the face of British torture, he begins to realize just what the stakes are. In the Name of the Father is at times grueling and never less than compelling, with a complex performance by Day-Lewis and a strong one by Emma Thompson, as the lawyer who finally cracks through the British obstructions to the truth. --Marshall Fine
Average review score:

In The Name of Cruelty
This film shows the great injustices done by the British government against Irish native Gerry Conlan, his father Guiseppe, and the entire Conlan family. Takes place during the 1970's in terrorism torn Belfast and London. When Gerry and his friend Paul are falsely accused of being the IRA terrorists responsible for the bombing of the Guilford Pub which left five innocent victims dead, the police investigators use brute cruelty to force a confession by all of the accused. The Conlans are sentenced to terms in prison ranging from 4 years to life without parole. When Gerry's father, Guiseppe, dies in prison, Gerry sets out to clear his father's ( and his own) name. A touching real-life masterpiece that reveals a corrupt system of justice. A must see.

One of the best movies ever done on its genre!
For whom this is a first approach to the movie, expect a memorable experience in the last scene, when the the charges are dismissed in the appealing trial of Gerry Conlon (Daniel Day-Lewis) and his acctitude toward his new possibilities of life, a performance that will touch you in deed. But, if you are of the lucky ones who had the chance to see the movie in home theathers, you will certainly miss the very well known U2 song which uncomparable enhanced the impact of Daniel Day-Lewis and Emma Thompson performances at the culminating scene. Simply memorable.
Anyway, despite of this, the DVD release of this movie really worths it and it's a "must have" if you are addicted to this genre.

Almost too good to be true
This movie should have won an Oscar and Daniel Day-Lewis should have won one too (Both were nominated). He did a magnificent job as a petty crook in Northern Ireland, who gets in trouble, and moves to London, where he gets in much bigger trouble when he is falsely accused of blowing up a pub in Guildford, and thus becomes one of the "Guildford Four."

Although the other three have minor parts, this movie is about Gerry Conlan (Day-Lewis), and his father Giuseppe, expertly played by Pete Postlethwaite, who turns in an Oscar-type performance himself. The touching scenes between Gerry and his father, show how their relationship changes over the years.

Emma Thompson, as lawyer Gareth Pierce, is the one, however, who manages to unravel the government's reason for keeping these innocent prisoners locked up. Using a cunning devise, she manages to get the necessary details from official British documents, which allows her to prove the innocence of the prisoners. Thompson does a superb job, as she takes it on her own, without any coaxing by Gerry, to win this case.

Everyone should love the ending of this DVD, as justice is finally served, after 15 hard years in jail for the "Guildford Four."

Father's Day/Forget Paris
Released in DVD by Warner Home Video (18 November, 2003)
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Director: Ivan Reitman
Starring: Robin Williams and Billy Crystal
Average review score:
No reviews found.

Related Subjects: Kids_and_Teens Stories_and_Poems