Gritty, Youthful, Energetic

Rating: 9/10 (18 November 2000)

Alan Parker worked miracles with a group of (largely) young non-actors. The joy and fun of this movie is palpable, but it's not a fairy-tale. The band's travails end in tears, but the final scenes are perfect, the soundtrack's wonderful. I can't say enough about this picture. Despite the grit and grot, I wanted to fly Aer Lingus to Dublin the minute the movie was over, to sup Guinness and have some talkative Irish fellow tell me about his band that soared and flopped...