BELFAST is a moving period piece set during a child's idyllic youth interrupted with the street violence of hooligan factions during civil unrest in 1960s Northern Ireland, but despite wonderful performances by its cast, the film fails to capitalize on its own premises.
THE GOOD: Performances are stellar. Jamie Dornan and Judi Dench are standouts, and young Jude Hill is thoroughly captivating as Buddy. A heartfelt, fully owned ensemble makes this whole affair watchable.
THE BAD: The film's premise is centered on sectarian violence between warring religious factions, but we never come close to a payoff there, only seeing a blocked off street and the occasional angry interlopers to remind us there's a fray at hand.
THE UGLY: The production decision to present in black-and-white with the out outward-in color insertions was as pretentious a choice as I've seen in quite some time.
CONCLUSION: If you've nothing else to do with your Saturday night, by all means give this a watch, but you may find yourself wishing you'd made plans instead.
THE GOOD: Performances are stellar. Jamie Dornan and Judi Dench are standouts, and young Jude Hill is thoroughly captivating as Buddy. A heartfelt, fully owned ensemble makes this whole affair watchable.
THE BAD: The film's premise is centered on sectarian violence between warring religious factions, but we never come close to a payoff there, only seeing a blocked off street and the occasional angry interlopers to remind us there's a fray at hand.
THE UGLY: The production decision to present in black-and-white with the out outward-in color insertions was as pretentious a choice as I've seen in quite some time.
CONCLUSION: If you've nothing else to do with your Saturday night, by all means give this a watch, but you may find yourself wishing you'd made plans instead.