Waking Ned Devine
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Movie Reviews of Waking Ned Devine
Movie Review: A Classic!
Summary: 5 Stars
In the small town of Tulaigh Mhor, Ned Devine has just won the lottery. The only problem is, he died from the shock of it. Two local men, Michael O'Sullivan and Jackie O'Shea, then hatch a plot to impersonate Ned and claim the money. My favourite scene was at the funeral of Ned Devine, where the lotto man shows up and while making his speech, Jackie pretends it is Michael O'Sullivan who has died. He states, "Michael O'Sullivan was my great friend. But I don't ever remember telling him that. The words that are spoken at a funeral are spoken too late for the man who is dead. What a wonderful thing it would be to visit your own funeral. To sit at the front and hear what was said, maybe say a few things yourself. Michael and I grew old together. But at times, when we laughed, we grew young. If he was here now, if he could hear what I say, I'd congratulate him on being a great man, and thank him for being a friend."
This was a really cute movie, and it always kept me laughing. I'd recommend this movie to anyone who is a fan of international movies. It's definitely one of my favourites!
Movie Review: Charming: What a miraculous discovery!
Summary: 5 Stars
...This was quite a discovery. Director and writer Kirk Jones' only movie so far, "Waking Ned Devine" is a wake up call with its humor and its human touch. Taking place in an Irish village of 52 inhabitants, the movie deals with the very human reactions to winning a lot of money in the lottery, yet takes unexpected turns that bring it to a new dimension, where the people of the village all end up agreeing with a plan that reminded me of the plot in Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho's most recent novel, "The Devil and Miss Prym."I don't want to spoil the movie for you... Suffice it to say that from the first minute this charming Irish production will grab you and won't let you go, by stirring up emotions that go from deep laughter to sadness. The music, to top things, goes VERY nicely with most of the scenes, becoming a real driver that reinforces the moods conveyed by the actors. All in all, the movie is incredible, appropriate for the entire family and a leaves you wanting more of these British movies. ...
Movie Review: Another really fun foreign film
Summary: 5 Stars
Waking Ned Devine has made me a foreign film addict. The delightful shenanigans of the two central characters as they attempt to involve an entire Irish hamlet in a scheme to cash in on the winning lottery ticket of a deceased friend was almost as classic as a keystone cops routine. The plight of a small dying community in a world of big cities is hardly unfamiliar to me having spent some of my earlier years in a similar community in southern Minnesota. The formulaic activities of the elderly, left behind by the flight of the younger generation to the cities, is definitely illustrated, as are the narrow choices available to those young people who have chosen to remain in their native town. My favorite scenes are the motorcycle ride by the two elderly comrades through the backroads to beat the lottery agent to the winner's home, and the race of the village grump to the phone box to report the fraud. The scenery was totally gorgeous and almost makes me want to board an Aer Lingus for Ireland.Movie Review: a lovely spot to live, die, and be remembered
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie is so charming and delightful that I had to watch it twice, just to get back to that wonderful place. The characters are such fine people - wouldn't you like to know every one of them - and they're all amazingly real and believable, which is surprising, given the fantastic circumstances. I even believe that the Water Horse is still there in the lake, bigger now no doubt, but still pleased to come whenever a boy whistles.
The scenery was breath-taking; the music was hauntingly beautiful. The funeral scene, the final song, oh, just everything about it was so solid and good. Lots of little treasures, too: like when the main character is giving a speech and his wife silently steps through the door into the back of the room. The change in him while he continues the speech - the quiet love in his eyes - it is a lovely thing to experience. And let me just add that the experience is so worth repeating.
Think I'll go and watch it again.
Movie Review: Killingly, screaming, LOL funny. Worth 10 stars
Summary: 5 Stars
A not-to-be-missed movie about the collusion of the inhabitants of a remote Irish village into getting the national lottery money to divide among themselves. Trouble is that the holder of the winning ticket died of shock with the winning ticket in his hand when he heard his numbers called off, so someone must pose in his place when the detective comes to verify the ID of the winner. Things get stickier and more problematic as layer upon layer of inventive Irish complications are added to the stew.My favorite story about this movie has passed into family lore. I told my somewhat deaf mother she would surely enjoy it, and she persisted in mis-hearing me when I gave her the title. Ever since, in our family, it's Making God Divine or, her next best guess, Waking Teddy Klein. I finally told her to go to the video store and ask for either of those, that surely the guy behind the information desk would know what she was talking about...and he did.