Intermission (2004)
Colm, Cool, tough as nails c__t!
Starring: |
Collin Farrel |
Released By: |
IFC Films |
Released In: |
2004 |
Rated: |
R |
Reviewed By: |
Adam Mast |
Grade: |
A- |
Intermission, for my money, belongs right along side Passion of the Christ, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Touching the Void as one of the best films of 2004, and even though it's only April, it's shaping up to be one hell of a year. While not necessarily as epic as Passion or mind bending as Eternal Sunshine, the hilariously mean spirited Intermission is a burst
of energy and features outstanding performances, interesting (and colorful)
characters, and a nifty plot structure.
At a glance, the film's rhythm and spontaneous bursts of violence reminded me of the works of Quentin Tarantino (most notably Pulp Fiction), but ultimately, director John Crowley and screenwriter Mark O'Rowe make this film their own, and while much of the movie has a mean streak running through it's veins, it has surprising amount of heart.
I really enjoyed some of the seemingly irrelevant moments in this picture. For instance, there's a moment in which a young man is hit on by an older woman in a bar. While the scene has nothing to do with the rest of the picture, it's absolute magic (words don't do it justice), and I love that Crowley and O'Rowe leave these small little details in the film. There are other touches like this throughout Intermission.
Intermission isn't so much story driven as it is character driven. This low budget indie takes place in Dublin, Ireland and features several characters who's lives intersect in unique and unexpected ways.
All the performances are outstanding, but I did think there were specific standouts. Colin Farrell will no doubt garner the most press for the
picture, and as energetic as he is as petty crook Lehiff, I'd like to mention the lesser known talent on display in this movie.
Colm Meaney is a riot as Detective Jerry Lynch, a cop who thinks he's all that. I really love the career path this terrific actor has taken. While he was at one time in danger of being forever remembered as a supporting player on Star Trek: The Next Generation, he has since gone on to appear in several independent gems including Stephen Frears' The Van. Meaney excels here, playing a man with enormous self confidence (perhaps too much), and what's
most amusing is that he's oblivious to the fact that he's quite often being mocked by those around him. Not only does he offer up the film's funniest moment (his reaction to a partner goofing on him had me laughing for ten minutes), but what a face this guy has. He really is a commanding screen presence in this picture.
Cillian Murphy is outstanding as John, a slightly ill tempered young man who will do nearly anything to get his ex-girlfriend (Kelly McDonald) back. From the moment I saw this actor in 28 Days Later, I assumed he would become a
major talent, and he's terrific as one of the lead players in Intermission.
Shirley Henderson (Bridget Jone's Diary, Topsy-Turvy) is quietly sweet as the homely Sally, a woman who has much built up hostility because of a relationship gone bad. For much of the film, this cute, squeaky voiced actress is made fun of because of a noticeable facial feature, and I loved her courage. She has a moment in this picture that was absolutely heartbreaking, so much so, that I think I heard the Boneman sobbing. (leave me alone).
As I stated, Intermission certainly has darker, mean spirited moments, but some of the reviews I've read for this movie have been fairly misleading, as many of them suggest that Intermission is full of characters without heart.
I must have been watching a completely different movie, because I found that most of these characters were surprisingly... normal. Sure, some of them do stupid things, but in the end, they all had a heart in some capacity. That is with exception of a youngster who spends most of the picture creating mischief for the rest of the characters to navigate around.
Intermission offers up plenty of twists and turns and it is violent at times, but at it's core, this is really a movie about love. In some shape or
form every major character in Intermission is motivated by love and a yearning to be desired. Even Farrell's Lehiff is in love, of sorts, with
committing crime while Meaney's Detective Lynch (who's always hot on Lehiff's trail) is clearly in love with himself. And as a sprawling, often hilarious look at romance, I was far more entertained by Intermission than I was by the sporadic Love, Actually (I really that this film is better developed).
I had some issues with Intermission. I didn't really care for the manner in which John and Deirdre's situation was resolved, and their were a couple of sequences that were a little too broad (including one in which John gets into an altercation with his boss at work), but ultimately, I found this to be a truly exhilarating movie experience. It was funny, well paced, incredibly well acted and unpredictable. And any film that can initiate a passionate discussion after you've left the theater is a winner in my book. Seek this gem of a movie out.
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