Rousing Film About the Triumph of Justice

Rating: 8/10 (9 February 2009)

Following closely on the heels of another movie about the IRA, 1992's "The Crying Game," came Jim Sheridan's effective and rousing "In the Name of the Father," the true story of a group of men wrongly accused of participating in a series of IRA bombings.
This film is fun to watch for its period detail and for the predictably excellent performance of Daniel Day-Lewis. But Emma Thompson, playing the attorney of Day-Lewis and his father (Pete Postlethwaite), though given a much smaller role, really brings some fire to the proceedings through her energetic performance. Thompson had just been discovered by American audiences in "Howards End" the year before, and was also winning acclaim in "The Remains of the Day" even as she was making her appearance in this one, and it was refreshing to see her in a more contemporary role.
Though nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Day-Lewis), Best Supporting Actor (Postlethwaite), Best Supporting Actress (Thompson) and Best Director, the film was shut out.
I'm not a huge fan of Jim Sheridan's movies in general, but I liked this one.
Grade: A