Confusing and repetitive with poor characterisation - full of stereotypes

Rating: 3/10 (12 January 2007)

I went to see the film on the basis of the awards that it had won, and curious to learn more about this phase of Irish history. The cinematography was excellent. The background music was good. Otherwise, this was a very poor film: basically an exploitation movie harping on stereotypes. Endless repetitive scenes of violence. I couldn't follow the story except in the broadest outline, so I left the cinema knowing no more than when I went in. The characters were cardboard cutout stereotypes of romantic revolutionaries and their long-suffering womenfolk. The Brits were caricatured as the worst stereotype of the Black 'n Tans. While I am believe some of the Brits were ghastly, I cannot believe they all uniformly were so. In summary, I neither learned anything much about the real personalities involved nor the history. Very disappointing.