In the Name of the Father

Rating: 7/10 (20 June 2010)

From Oscar nominated director Jim Sheridan (My Left Foot), I only discovered while watching what the theme was, but the leading star was the hook for me. Based on the true story, from the autobiographical book by the leading character called "Proved Innocent", Gerry Conlon (Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated Daniel Day-Lewis) is a small time crook living in Belfast, Ireland. After a IRA bombing of a pub killing several people in London, where Gerry is, he and four of his friends, and three other men, all named the "Maguire Seven" are made to look like, by the bullying police, to have carried out and confess to the crime. Gerry, his father Giuseppe (Oscar nominated Pete Postlethwaite), known IRA member Joe McAndrew (Don Baker) and the other four are falsely imprisoned for a sentence of fifteen years. Knowing their innocence, they are not all keen on prison life, so they start appealing for a case to prove themselves, with the help of compassionate British attorney Gareth Peirce (Oscar and Golden Globe nominated Emma Thompson). Trying to help Gerry, who has recently lost his father in the prison cells, Gareth has to get through to the leader of the investigation, Robert Dixon (Corin Redgrave), in order to get a case going. It is when covered up evidence appears that Gareth truly knows she has a chance to win the case and clear Gerry, his late father, and the others' names, and she does. Also starring Sliding Doors' John Lynch as Paul Hill, Mark Sheppard as Paddy Armstrong, Beatie Edney as Carole Richardson, Marie Jones as Sarah Conlon, Britta Smith as Annie Maguire, Father Ted's Gerald McSorley as Detective Pavis, Saffron Burrows as Girl in Commune, Johnny English director Peter Howitt as Remand Prison Officer and The Full Monty's Tom Wilkinson as Appeal Prosecutor. I'm afraid to say, that in certain moments, I agree with the critics that Thompson is miscast for her role, she may have some okay moments worthy of an Oscar nomination, but ultimately she just feels wrong. Anyway, Day-Lewis is a really good choice for the lead protagonist, Postlethwaite does very well as well, and I suppose it is a biographical drama that should be seen, at least once in my opinion. It was nominated the Oscars for Best Film Editing, Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium and Best Picture, and it was nominated the BAFTA for Best Adapted Screenplay, and it was nominated the Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture - Drama and Best Original Song for "(You Made Me The) Thief of Your Heart". Very good!