Stilted appreciation.

Rating: 5/10 (25 June 2006)

One cannot accuse Ken Loach of familiarity or limitations. His films are bold be they small in scope as Sweet Sixteen or larger in scope as Land and Freedom. As to what one makes of The Wind That Shakes The Barley is something having seen Ken Loach's other work. Having set the film in the Ireland of the 1920s, a turbulent Ireland, and brought us into the lives of its protagonist brothers, the film starts offering something unique, personal and insightful only to become tediously slow and even dragging. Its high points come without emotional punch and feel like story telling by the numbers. The cinematography is too kitchen sink at time just as is the direction while the performances appear to fleet in and out as if one was actually watching a workshop on acting. I think winning a prestigious accolade is no measure of whether the movie is good or great because in this case it is only average.