Intermission

Plot synopsis:
Lehiff (Colin Farrell) is smooth-talking an attractive shop assistant (Kerry Condon) talking about love. Suddenly, his tone changes. He hits her and steals some money from the till.John (Cillian Murphy) splits up with Deirdre (Kelly Macdonald) but later he repents and says he only wanted to put her to the test. Soon she goes out with an older man. John has a dead-end job at a supermarket, and the audience can see he dislikes his boss, Mr Henderson (Owen Roe).Jerry Lynch (Colm Meany) is a tough cop who threatens Lehiff and pees on him. Jerry is going to be the protagonist of a documentary about his job.Sam (Michael McElhatton) also leaves Noeleen (Deirdre O'Kane) because he has just started a relationship with Deirdre. Soon afterwards, Sally (Shirley Henderson) and her mother meet Sam and Deirdre as a couple, but Sally completely rejects them and says so aloud, leaving the three of them speechless. Danny the bus driver, (Donagh Deeney) gets distracted because of the conversation between Sally and her mother on the bus. They get off the bus and five seconds after, the bus gets wrecked. Danny is suspended from his job, although he alleges that a boy threw a stone at the front mirror and that it wasn't his fault. Management doesn't believe him.Oscar (David Wilmot) goes to a sex shop to ask for some porn videos - questioning the manager (Tom Murphy) in a good-for-laughs scene and then jerking off in the privacy of his home.John pukes in front of Mr Henderson on purpose. He gives him the last notice: either he changes or he'll be sacked. Oscar and John go to a disco for older people. Noeleen and John seem to hit it off, the same as Oscar and Maura (Ger Ryan), who is Sally's mother. Oscar and Maura's relationship goes well, especially on the sexual side at the beginning. She likes hitting him a bit in the heat of passion. However, Oscar breaks up with her because she hits him.Danny speaks to Lehiff, who suffered a car accident in a stolen car because a boy had thrown a stone at him while he was driving. Lehiff proposes a bank robbery, and they also tell John. John tells Oscar, who wants to have nothing to do with it. They argue on the supermarket shop floor, so Mr Henderson dismisses John for good.Sally and Maura are interviewed because of the bus accident and the boy throws an egg at Maura's head and another at the camera. Sally feels ugly, until she and Oscar hit it off.Masked and armed, John, Lehiff and Danny break into Deirdre's home while she's with Sam. Sam is going to give John and Danny the money while Lehiff stays at Deirdre's with her as a hostage. Sam and Deirdre agree, but everything turns out badly when crazy Noeleen appears and beats Sam up. The police appear to stop the quarrelling couple and John and Danny run away. On the way to Deirdre's, Danny tells John to let him out. He has seen red-hooded biker boy Philip (Taylor Molloy), the boy who threw a stone at the bus. John runs to Deirdre, and sees she's been hit by Lehiff, so John and Lehiff also fight and Lehiff has to leave.Lehiff goes to meet the boy, Jerry, his journalist friend and the cameraman who is following him everywhere, and Danny in his car following Philip. Danny teeters on the edge of a sunken canal due to Philip. Lehiff shoots Jerry, and the journalist who has followed him everywhere kills Lehiff.Jerry is well, and tells his friend not to release the original film, as all's well which ends well. Lehiff is dead, and Danny has a wheelchair race at the pub. Sally and Oscar are together, and John and Deirdre make amends.Mr Henderson takes a holiday. He's obsessed with John's lack of acknowledgement of his managerial role. Philip appears once again, throws a stone at him while driving causing another road accident. Noeleen and John also reconcile, but she is much more domineering, - she won't put up with any nonsense from him any more.

Tags: violence, comedy, murder, romantic, flashback

Review:
This is a fascinating film that ingeniously weaves together a myriad of overlapping stories whose common thread is life among the Irish working class.The screenplay focuses on a group of seemingly unrelated people whose lives crisscross and intersect in so well crafted a way that, as the story develops, a fully connected narrative soon emerges.
This is one of those films in which the good people triumph over their failings, the not-so-good ones get the chance to make things right, and the irredeemable ones get their richly deserved comeuppance in the end.Colin Farrell, playing a violent, two-bit hoodlum, is the only "name" member of the cast, but the film boasts a whole gallery of fine actors and actresses who deliver heartfelt, winning performances.
Kelly MacDonald, Shirley Henderson, Deirde O' Kane and Colm Meany add more weight to a highly talented cast.The film follows the lives of several different characters in contemporary Dublin and how their lives intersect.
The fast pace of the movie holds the viewers attention fantastically well as we follow the lives of these highly likable characters(well maybe not Farrell but he is still compelling and hilarious to watch) while they search for love, happiness and the answers to life's complicated dilemmas.
The film starts when John (Cillian Murphy) decides he needs a break or intermission from Deirdre, (Kelly Macdonald) his girlfriend.
Darkly Funny Gem. Intermission starts with a bang and just keeps going, following the intertwined lives of its characters who are in search of either love, money or fame.
This darkly funny Irish film speeds along, delivering numerous memorable scenes and a variety of interesting characters.
The direction shows a true love a film making - a desire to make something lively and entertaining and funny, yet truthful and touching.Despite the multiple story lines and players, Intermission holds together, arriving at its final destination at just the right time.
I thought the acting was very good, which is typical of European films, but be warned that you might want to use the subtitle option (unless you're Irish) because the Irish accents are so sharp, especially Colin Farrell, that it's often hard to understand what's being said.
And I will go on record as saying:THIS FILM IS AWFUL.It is not quite as bad a something like "The Most Fertile Man in Ireland" but it definitely does not stand up there with other Irish films such as The Commitments, I Went Down or Michael Collins.Some aspects of the film are actually quite funny, such as Colm Meaneys American-style garda.
I think she should leave her god-awful stand-up and focus more on her acting.All in all, its does in no way live up to the expectations put on it by the Irish press or deserve to be even considered as one of the best Irish films ever.I'm expecting a backlash from these comments because most people I have spoken to have said it was great.
Still, the film was funny, interesting and involving enough to be enjoyable.The script was good and was it's pleasing that each of the numerous characters of this ensemble cast had resolution in their tales.
i agree that the dialog was refreshingly witty and interesting, and i loved the subtle nuances brought into the dialog, like the whole background story and bit with the brown sauce i thought was a great addition to the movie, as well as the mustache bit with sally, and the paralyzed old man in the pub.
there are many finer points of the dialog that would require a basic knowledge of irish culture/slang.recommended if you like interesting and different movies..
"Intermission," a story about the inter-related lives of a group of Dublin men and women, mostly either working- or criminal class, has its moments but overall it's a disappointment.
Caricatures rather than characters dominate the movie.Colin Farrell pulls off his role as a thug with no personal attributes- it's impossible to care about him or even ponder his brutal and dumb acts.
I liked the quirky story (even though I feel that "Pulp Fiction" was the most over-rated movie since "The English Patient") and found the characters unrealistic but interesting.
But overall- Don't bother unless you love irish accents so much that you can watch mediocrity and it is rescued by everyone sounding like the Lucky Charms elf -an American fetish that has catapulted some truly crappy movies to success..
It did deliver its entertaining and surprise-filled climax but I did not exactly want that clichéd approach of film-making especially when the movie started with a promise to be something different.The actors did a fine job altogether, especially the always-interesting Cillian Murphy and Kelly Macdonald.
this movie is pretty weird, think love actually but Irish and a lot less safe with absurd characters.
each character in this movie faces their own problems and seeks something, yet whether or not they find it is a different story.i'm a fan of colin farrell and will admit that it was disappointing to see that he didn't have much screen time.
cillian murphy is the lead and he is a pretty good character though he is completely normal compared to colin farrell.
and i was quite impressed by the character of Oscar, i'm unsure of the actor (i assume he is fairly unknown) who is an unconfident young man who wants a relationship.this movie does have a few moments that i didn't particularly like, such as sally who would be a reasonably attractive girl, but seeing her 'ronnie' is disturbing.
You also have Neil Jordan who infrequently works on projects that concern his native land (Michael Collins, though not particularly good, and the Butcher Boy represent the obvious exceptions.There have been many great Irish films, such as Cal or December Bride or Hush-A-Bye-Baby that, though high in quality, have made little impact in America.
Intermission, a new and very Irish film, announces John Crowley as, perhaps, the next Irishman to join the ranks of Jordan and Sheridan as a world-renowned director.Deftly weaving the intricate stories of Mark O'Rowe and employing a large, Altman-esque cast, Crowley creates a convincing portrait of contemporary Irish life.
It's a terrific piece of editing and directing and acting and it's truly among the greatest opening scenes in recent years.But I've spent much time praising the film for its Irishness and little praising its other qualities.
InterMission is one of those movies that's being promoted in a very misleading way -- from the print ads you'd think it's a love story/comedy, but in fact it's anything but funny or loving; it's downright mean-spirited, with a bunch of characters whom I cared absolutely nothing about (although of course I felt compassion for how badly the female characters were treated - there's a lot of completely unnecessary violence directed toward them).
You have your stars like Cillian Murphy and Kelly MacDonald leading the way (and Colin Farrell is kind of there as a marketing ploy as he's featured heavily in the film's marketing, yet only really appears in the form of an extended cameo – not to say he isn't fun and evil all at the same time!).Intermission isn't a family film.
He will need people for it, so he approaches bus driver Mick(O'Byrne, kind but needing money for the missus, or, more appropriately, her plans for new floors, a shed, and...), whose friend John(Murphy, nice but keeps his feelings bottled up) misses his ex Deirdre(MacDonald, sweet) who, get this, has already gotten together with Sam(McElhatton, defensive) who left his wife of 14 years for her, understandably making her a bit upset.Thus this weaves the people and story lines in with one another, often letting us spend just a little time with one situation, allowing it to be, as the film is, fairly fast-paced, effective in its establishing and developing of characters, plot and the dark, quirky and harsh comedy, and, in spite of everything being set up and paid off on, immensely surprising.
You can read the blurb to hear some of the storyline if you like so my job is to tell you that this is a very entertaining movie which adheres beautifully to the Irish sense of humour (spelled humour btw ha).Watch out for the young rebel in the red jacket, ten years old if he's a day, throwing rocks and causing scenes; therein lies the beauty of the humour and the tragedy of this film (thats film pronounced filim).Enjoy this movie people....!!.
Say what you will about anti-gay comments just being used to show how bigotted a character is, it ruins my enjoyment of a movie when one of the "good guys" of the film (as in "Intermission") uses them freely.
Well put-together Irish movie of intersecting lives, loves, small time crime capers and remarkable incidents.
"Intermission" is a mediocre but well managed dark comedy which takes the slices of life of a bunch of Dubliners (mostly bad people with bad attitudes) and shuffles them like a deck of cards while keeping sufficient interconnectedness to hold the film together ala "Magnolia".
A high energy misanthro-pic built on a good cast in Dublin, "Intermission" has very little heart and an abundance of a**holes which will make it a less than enjoyable watch for all but those who can appreciate annoyingly bellicose films such as 'Lock Stock...", "Pulp Fiction", etc.
2 hours, and some very colourful language later, I was pleasantly surprised at how entertaining it actually was.Set in Dublin, Intermission is a tough comedy/drama about the interweaving lives of some very different characters who are all desperately trying to find love or hold onto love (think an Irish, more light-hearted Magnolia-without the ensemble sing along or raining frogs.) Working with a plot, loosely centred round a robbery, first-time director, John Crowley, ensures that the character's weaknesses are highlighted through their ongoing struggles to produce some genuinely touching scenes.
The performances are all excellent, from Colin Farrell's portrayal of violent, young, thug, Lehiff, right down to his law-enforcing adversary, Detective Jerry Lynch (played to great comic effect by Colm Heaney.)This ensemble cast shines, partly due to their superb acting abilities, but also down to the hilarious dialogue (thanks to writer Mark O'Rowe).
The witty observations on Irish life and human emotion, along with the excellent ensemble cast make this film a highly recommended piece of entertainment.
But it has a good script, nice sound and that thick accent is funny as hell.As some other guy here said, movies that show a lot of interconnected subplots that elevate the level of intimate knowledge about the characters is unlikely to get old, at most it is in danger of being done to death.Bottom line: this is an Irish "Crash".
Most of the things this globalization brings is good for a certain section of the population, mainly the moneyed classes, but nothing for those that have to take menial jobs because they have nothing to contribute, or are in the margins of that society, or are rebelling against the changes.The characters in John Crowley's film are not the new privilege class being created by the advent of new business and technology, but those that are still struggling with a daily existence, trying hard to make ends meet, but not succeeding at it.The opening scene with the magnificent Colin Farrell is something not to be believed.
I realise it is a movie for people with a certain dry sense of humor.A previous reviewer commented that the actors did well with the Irish accents!
It's got the feel of one of those hip, cocky Sundance movies, but set in Tallaght!The opening scene with Colin Farrell is great, playing against the audience perception of him from his previous roles.
"interMission" can be seen as either an Irish take on Guy Ritchie's bumbling but violent crime comedies, such as "Snatch," or a gritty, urban take on charming, eccentric Irish communities like in TV's "BallyKissAngel" or the movie's "Waking Ned Devine."  The local pub turns the city into a small town of connected characters, all offshooting from the decision of John (Cillian Murphy with his native brogue and the most irresistibly doleful eyes now onscreen) to test an "intermission" from his girlfriend.
These are the overall failings of the film; a segment that tries to make sex or themes of a sexual nature 'quite funny' and it just fails for anyone not familiar with the dry and tasteless humour usually found in a tabloid newspaper.But when Intermission isn't dealing with John and his buddy, it focuses on a couple of other colourful characters in and around Dublin.
Yet every once in a while one of my friends or I has this itch to rent a different film and although most of the times we have met with disaster once in a while we have picked out gems like Lock Stock or Waking Ned Devine and so we keep trying these experiments, our experiments with comedies have largely been unsuccessful and I have come to realise the British-Irish-comedy movie formula a bit.This movie is an attempt at mixing two classics (Lock Stock and Love Actually) with the similar theme of seemingly unfamiliar peoples lives intersecting.
(the love actually part).Common themes are the large number of characters who are related somewhat and others who are absolutely unrelated all coming together in the end.Now this sounds like being tailor made for all audiences including lovers of British comedy, women, the adventurous, the drama lovers, and obviously those who swear by the festival films.Except that somehow it ends up pleasing none of them.Some scenes are worthless and humourless to boot.Leading to large stretches of boredom.The humour is so dry that forget us lovers of loud humour even those who like their humour subtle will struggle to find it.Lovers of drama will find the lack of sadness and long conversations unappealing.The romantics will find the romance lacking and will be surprised by the absence of good looking people.The big end is actually not that big, nor that funny, nor that profound.The only people who will come out happy will be the festival lovers who will bask in the boredom and find meaning the meaningless scenes.There were positives to the movie though.Even though I don't have the superior intellect (or the drive to be different) like the festival fanatics I like movies that let you infer what the scene has to say and not have everything in black and white.
IRISH Movie-making by first-time director, John Crowley.
number three(3): it doesn't come right out and slapp you with the comedy...i feel terrible when i laugh at this movie because i know a lot of people like the characters and they're exactly that.
As a result of what the previous reviewer had to say about this movie it really goes to show that to understand this flick and many others like it (The Commitments, The Van etc) you really do need to either be Irish or have spent enough time there or with Irish people to understand the Dublin/Irish culture.) Because its a far cry from the the foreign idea that was thrown around with films like Far and Away and The Quiet Man. Ireland is a 21st century country with 21st century problems like everywhere else.
I had to use the subtitles on the DVD because of the accents, and actually had to work a little at it to understand some of the terms - like a "ronnie" - but this film sets up the scenes perfectly.
Everyone is terrific, particularly Colin Farrell, whose Lehiff is as unpredictable as he is wacky; Cillian Murphy (John), who is a treat as the good guy pining for his girl; and David Wilmot (Oscar) as John's best friend and quite a comic relief.Excellent film, which makes you cheer and leaves you smiling.9/10.
In Dublin, we watch as Colin Farrell's thug, Cillian Murphy's ordinary Joe and Colm Meaney's detective, among others, try and sort out their lives, with the help of the people around them.Despite a directorial approach that is heavily reminiscent of Danny Boyle's, John Crowley's film is a breath of fresh air among the disappointments that continue to populate modern cinema.
Watched this movie to see Colin Farrel struggling again with an Irish production filmed in his beloved Dublin.
This is by no means a "Hollywood blockbuster" movie, by which I mean Colin F is not a hunky hero (he is a low-life Irish thug), there is no formula (except sort-of a happy ending) and the people don't look like they never use the loo.It's real, it's funny (not American humour, though - most Americans won't get it, probably) it's sad.
With Colin Farrell and Colm Meeney putting in great performances, this is a movie not to be missed by anyone and if you dont laugh a good few times!!
Not too smooth like many Hollywood movies are.Colin Farrell was a brilliant bad guy, Shirley Henderson a touching young girl with an excess growth of facial hair, Cillian Murphy and David Wilmont friends with problems with women, and life in general.
The script is devilishly clever and delivered hilariously by first class performances from Cillian Murphy, Shirley Henderson, Deirdre O'Kane and in particular, the brilliant Colm Meaney as the hard lined, uncompromising and ultimately pathetic Garda detective Jerry Lynch.On occasion, `Intermission' can be found guilty of looking for the cheap laugh-at-the-Irish gag so typical of Irish films such as the Barrytown trilogy, but for the most part succeeds in creating genuine laugh-out-loud moments.
Noeleen Intermission is one of those modern multiple story line films in which a group of characters lives intertwine and their convoluted journeys in the search for some kind of love.
There are intertwining stories, great (though sometimes subtle) humor, and fun acting.I'm not sure how authentically Irish this movie is, as an Irish user seemed to think in his review that it was made to reflect what Americans thought of Ireland...
Cillian Murphy is also quite good: American audiences might know him better as the bad guy in "Red Eye." Colm Meaney also provides a strong support for the movie.In a nutshell, this is a film that manages to have a LOT of fun without resorting to the xXx Syndrome, where everything is basically blown up.