Michael Collins (1996)

Michael Collins: Directed by Neil Jordan. With Ian Hart, Julia Roberts, Richard Ingram, Liam Neeson. Neil Jordan’s historical biopic of Irish revolutionary Michael Collins, the man who led a guerrilla war against the UK, helped negotiate the creation of the Irish Free State, and led the National Army during the Irish Civil War.

“Fiction heavy bio-pic of the man who lived and died for Irish independence.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eHistory on film is a difficult beast at the best of times and no one – and I mean no one – could produce an uncontentious film about Michael Collins: The Irish rebel rouser and politician who helped (the key word) form the first Irish Free State.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eSadly writer/director Neil Jordan takes the view that the history book can be tossed away if it goes against his own agenda or hampers audience sympathy. He created a stick for reviewers to hit him with – and boy did the blows rain down on his head. These blows, alone, might have killed any chance this u0026quot;difficultu0026quot; film had at the box office.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003e(It went down like a lead balloon in America which shows that behind the bluster and flag waving most Irish-Americanu0026#39;s arenu0026#39;t really interested in their own history.)u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIf only they had stuck more closely to the uncontested facts film writers would have focused on the good things. Which include excellent cinematography (good use of filters) and first class performances from all bar the all-at-sea (and mostly unneeded) Julia Roberts.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eA perfect example of the Hollywood of today: All perfect teeth and good looks, but no ability to do characters or accents. I actually cringed while she was speaking in her u0026quot;Irishu0026quot; accent!u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003e(The producers donu0026#39;t help much either by dressing her in a range of expensive outfits that change between shots: Destroying any sense of her being a poor country girl! Indeed scenes of poverty seems to be avoided rather than played upon.)u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eLiam Neeson was born to play Collins both physically and temperamentally, a dream part for him. There isnu0026#39;t a second that I donu0026#39;t believe in him. Shame there isnu0026#39;t more parts like this for him to play.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI donu0026#39;t mind my country being the bad guy in this movie, because we deserve it. What we did in Ireland will always be a stain on our history, but where is the context? The two countries have always been closely intertwined – not only due to geography but also due to wealth and technology reasons.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAlso to be understood is that British troops had no experience of civil war or terrorism. They had been fighting wars against a uniformed enemy that stood in front of them. The people that joined up were often criminals or people that couldnu0026#39;t find alternative employment; or even wanted a bit of adventure in their lives. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eHere their enemy dressed in civilian clothes and shot at them in the street (often from point blank range) and then ran. The people they killed were often Irish police or suspected informers. It was very ugly, but it was ugly on both sides.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThere was also plenty of infighting (of the literal variety) that was more about gangsterism than Irish politics: A side road this film doesnu0026#39;t want to wander down.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe film also takes the view that u0026quot;violence was the only path.u0026quot; South African apartheid crashed without the blacks winning any kind of civil war – indeed theirs probably extended the run of the white elite. Times move on, to quote Ghandi, u0026quot;all tyrannies must fall…. however strong they appear at the time.u0026quot;u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eDespite everything this is an important film and Neil Jordanu0026#39;s best so far. It has too many little truths about power and real politics to be ignored easily and it does expose one u0026quot;Irish herou0026quot; as a weasel. Watch the film to see which one.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eA lot of responsibility fell on Neil Jordanu0026#39;s shoulders making this. It is a one-off deal. It isnu0026#39;t like a book, there wonu0026#39;t be another Michael Collins film next year. More people – world-wide- will gain information about him from this film than any other medium. Therefore the hodgepodge mix of fact and fiction makes me uneasy – especially when so many of the debates and politics that are raised here are still ongoing.”