The mind-sets of Protestant militias and the IRA in Northern Ireland are not much different from violent gangsters the world over. This is the message of "Nothing Personal", an earnest, believable and overall moving second feature from Irish director Thaddeus O'Sullivan ("December Bride").
Distributor Trimark Pictures can expect mild interest on the select-site circuit. Judging from the reception of "Michael Collins", the familiar subject matter is of limited interest no matter how heartfelt the filmmaking and the message. "Nothing Personal" will open Friday in New York and Wednesday in Los Angeles.
Adapted for the screen by Daniel Mornin from his 1991 novel "All Our Fault", "Nothing Personal" takes place in Belfast in 1975. Most of the action is confined to a 24-hour period that begins with an IRA bombing of a Protestant pub.
A Catholic man who has not joined the struggle against Britain, Liam (John Lynch) is a single father with two children. Outside his apartment a street riot erupts after the bombing, and he fatefully decides to investigate.
While the story comes back to Liam from time to time, the scenario concentrates mainly on the activities of Protestant hit man Kenny (James Frain) and his overly enthusiastic comrade Ginger (Ian Hart).
During the intense street fighting, Ginger sets a Catholic boy on fire and Kenny is disgusted. So is the Protestant leadership, and Kenny's boss Leonard (Michael Gambon) wants Ginger eliminated. However, Kenny is a true believer in the cause and distrusts a truce that is declared. He also knows what drives Ginger to such extremes.
Although it's kept a secret for too long, one suspects there's a connection between Kenny and Liam, who is hurt in the riot and just happens to find shelter with Kenny's estranged wife Maria Doyle Kennedy). When Liam tries to return to his neighborhood, he's caught by Kenny and Ginger and badly beaten. His capture sets other events in motion, as Leonard realizes that Kenny and his crew are uncontrollable psychopaths.
Hart ("Michael Collins") won an award at the Venice Film Festival for his cunning performance. Along with Frain ("Shadowlands"), the antiheroes are more memorable than the innocent lead. Still, Lynch ("In the Name of the Father") has such a sorrowful, serious demeanor that when his character is driven into hysterics, the film searingly exposes the madness of Ireland's troubles.
NOTHING PERSONAL
Trimark Pictures
A Channel Four film
A Little Bird production
Director Thaddeus O'Sullivan
Producers Jonathan Cavendish, Tracey Seaward
Screenwriter Daniel Mornin
Executive producer James Mitchell
Director of photography Dick Pope
Editor Michael Parker
Production designer Mark Geraghty
Costume designer Consolata Boyle
Music Philip Appleby
Casting Ros and John Hubbard
Color/stereo
Cast:
Liam John Lynch
Kenny James Frain
Ginger Ian Hart
Leonard Michael Gambon
Ann Maria Doyle Kennedy
Running time -- 84 minutes
No MPAA rating...
Distributor Trimark Pictures can expect mild interest on the select-site circuit. Judging from the reception of "Michael Collins", the familiar subject matter is of limited interest no matter how heartfelt the filmmaking and the message. "Nothing Personal" will open Friday in New York and Wednesday in Los Angeles.
Adapted for the screen by Daniel Mornin from his 1991 novel "All Our Fault", "Nothing Personal" takes place in Belfast in 1975. Most of the action is confined to a 24-hour period that begins with an IRA bombing of a Protestant pub.
A Catholic man who has not joined the struggle against Britain, Liam (John Lynch) is a single father with two children. Outside his apartment a street riot erupts after the bombing, and he fatefully decides to investigate.
While the story comes back to Liam from time to time, the scenario concentrates mainly on the activities of Protestant hit man Kenny (James Frain) and his overly enthusiastic comrade Ginger (Ian Hart).
During the intense street fighting, Ginger sets a Catholic boy on fire and Kenny is disgusted. So is the Protestant leadership, and Kenny's boss Leonard (Michael Gambon) wants Ginger eliminated. However, Kenny is a true believer in the cause and distrusts a truce that is declared. He also knows what drives Ginger to such extremes.
Although it's kept a secret for too long, one suspects there's a connection between Kenny and Liam, who is hurt in the riot and just happens to find shelter with Kenny's estranged wife Maria Doyle Kennedy). When Liam tries to return to his neighborhood, he's caught by Kenny and Ginger and badly beaten. His capture sets other events in motion, as Leonard realizes that Kenny and his crew are uncontrollable psychopaths.
Hart ("Michael Collins") won an award at the Venice Film Festival for his cunning performance. Along with Frain ("Shadowlands"), the antiheroes are more memorable than the innocent lead. Still, Lynch ("In the Name of the Father") has such a sorrowful, serious demeanor that when his character is driven into hysterics, the film searingly exposes the madness of Ireland's troubles.
NOTHING PERSONAL
Trimark Pictures
A Channel Four film
A Little Bird production
Director Thaddeus O'Sullivan
Producers Jonathan Cavendish, Tracey Seaward
Screenwriter Daniel Mornin
Executive producer James Mitchell
Director of photography Dick Pope
Editor Michael Parker
Production designer Mark Geraghty
Costume designer Consolata Boyle
Music Philip Appleby
Casting Ros and John Hubbard
Color/stereo
Cast:
Liam John Lynch
Kenny James Frain
Ginger Ian Hart
Leonard Michael Gambon
Ann Maria Doyle Kennedy
Running time -- 84 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 4/24/1997
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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