Movie Review

Rating: 8/10 (22 October 2005)

COURTNEY VANDERPLUYM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER 'Well, I think they ought to take the word 'compassion' out of the English dictionary.' Jim Sheridan's In the Name of The Father is an emotional movie portraying the real life story of the Guildford Pub Bombings, and the people wrongly accused of doing it. You see an in-depth look into the corruption of the Authorities, the callousness of the IRA, the struggles of the innocent, the terrible events that bring a father and son from a cold relationship to a close one, and a lawyers ambition to uncover the truth.
On October 5, 1974 the IRA bombed a Guildford Pub in England, resulting in the deaths of five innocent people. The police, headed by Robert Dixon, became under intense pressure to find the bombers and make the public feel safe.
Meanwhile in another town in England, Two Irish boys, Gerry Conland and Paul Hill, were walking the streets, broke and looking for a place to stay. Gerry Conland, a mischievous, petty thief was sent over to England by his father to straighten his life out. Gerry was always getting in trouble with the IRA and his relationship with his father was cold and distant. Gerry, Paul and two other Irish People that were living in a squat with them, have their lives turned around when they are accused of committing the bombings.
Paul Hill was taken in to custody, and tortured until he admitted to the crimes and named others involved. Hill, being innocent, signs the confession and naming people who aren't in the IRA as his accomplices, assuming it would all be sorted out in court. Gerry, along with the others, are all threatened and hurt until they sign a confession.
Gerry's father, Guiseppe arrives in England to sort out the mess his son is in, but soon becomes arrested along with a few relatives and are accused of also being involved in the Bombings.
The court trial comes but the news is not so good, they are all found guilty, and sentenced to life changing jail time. Dixon, along with his colleagues, find there alibi's and know they are innocent, but corruption takes over, they hide the truth so they have people to pin the blame on, even if they are the wrong people.
Gerry, Giuseppe and all the other accused terrorists are sent of to jail, with four of them receiving life terms. Gerry and Giuseppe are sent into a jail together, soon to learn they are complete strangers, and don't know each other at all. Years pass, and jail began to take it's toll on the Conlands. Gerry has lost all hope in being saved, whilst his ill father fights for their innocence.
In their struggle to make it in jail, Gerry and Giuseppe soon become closer than ever, they get rid of their demons and are able to be close to each other. During this time, Giuseppe hires Gareth Pierce, a lawyer, to uncover the truth. The lawyer is passionate about the case and puts her heart and soul into helping them and putting a stop to the corruption. The real Guildford bomber is found and sent to jail, but the authorities turn a blind eye to it, leaving the blame on the Conlands.
Many years pass, Guiseppe soon passes away, leaving Gerry to fight for their innocence. In a twist of fate, Gareth uncovers the confession of a man who was Gerry's alibi. She takes the evidence to court, and with an emotional speech, which will surely be remembered, she Gets the Guildford four out of jail.
The movie ends on Gerry outside the court claiming his innocence and telling the crowd his will fight until his father is also found innocent.
The movie uses camera angles and lighting, which makes you realize who the innocent or that guilty are. Lighting is used for a mood setting, e.g. Blue lighting leading up to the moments before Guiseppe's Death. The music is used to set the mood, and build up to big moments in the movie e.g. Loud dramatic music is used during the bombings.
This emotionally charged movie, really made you question the corruption that takes place today, and the struggles and stories of the innocent people that become mixed up in it.