Solemplex
To me, this movie is perfection.
Konterr
Brilliant and touching
Senteur
As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.
Lachlan Coulson
This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.
bob the moo
In 1975 in Belfast a group of young men, led by Victor Kelly start to get involved in the loyalist violence that goes on around them. However Kelly's enthusiasm and love for violence goes beyond the needs of the terrorist organisations and begins to spiral out of control.This story was written by Eoin McNamee based on his own book. He insists it is fiction but the film makers seem happy to forget that he said this and use it as truth at times. However this isn't as bad as things like Sunday, Bloody Sunday, Name of the Father etc, this doesn't seek to make political statements. What it does want to do is look at the character of Kelly and as such it is interesting if not informative.The level of violence is too high although it is delivered with style and energy. However this is a problem, the film wants us to look at Kelly as vicious taking pleasure in the killing, but it judges him as well. It judges him even though all the violence is stylish and almost glamorised. Double-standards? Have cake and eat it? The cast are good, but Townsend is the standout he is powerful in the lead role. Nesbitt is as good as he always is although his character is not really involved in the film and his presence is a little distracting at times. Hannah is good despite the moustache though mind you, after his embarrassment in the Mummy films, it's good to see him in anything.Overall this is watchable, but it has double standards. It is guilty of enjoying the violence and the life style just as much as Kelly does.
The_Triad
Resurrection Man focuses on sectarian violence in Northern Ireland in the 1970s. Concentrating on what sort of characters are involved in this lifestyle and their relationships, but doesn't really go into much detail why. Which makes the film into a more stereotypical "two gangs battling" film, focusing mainly on the relationships between the members of the protestant gang, and making it all very stylish. This is the film's main flaw, it's feels like you've seen it before, it has been done before and better by others. That said, Resurrection Man has some good performances and a decent soundtrack, but on the whole, unless any of the plot lines are of interest to you personally, you might be better off watching some of the established "classics" of the genre that are fairly well known.
swordfishontour
Making a film about any conflict is ambitious but making one during a conflict is even more so. This film tactfully tackles the story of the Shankill Butchers a gang that mindlessly slaughtered innocent civilians and got away with it because it was during the Troubles. Strong performances from O'Rawe and Fricker in creating authentic Belfast dialogue. Townsend is sensational as as Victor and Holmes music is as good as its gets - long love SugarSweet...! If this production had the same budget as Goodfellows I shudder to think how good it could have been. Open your mind and imagine what it was like to live in a western street in 1970 with the army running down it and bombs going off.
Theodore2
What a cruel, confused film . This could have been the definitive film dealing with the tribal hatred during the Irish troubles , but instead we get an incoherant , rather plotless tale of motiveless murdersI`ve never read the novel RESURRECTION MAN but it`s obvious the screenplay needs to be restructured since it tells us nothing of the reasons why Irishmen kill their fellow Irishmen. What made Victor Kelly this way ? Why is he regarded as a hero ? , and most importantly of all: Why are his gang called "The Resurrection Men " ? These questions are never fully explained
Worst of all the film seems to concentrate more on a wife beating Belfast journalist rather than Kelly . If the film had to revolve round him couldn`t he have been an English or American journalist ignorant of the complex situation of 70`s Belfast ? At least then they`d be some expositional context in the film. And on top of this major flaw most of the characters are superflious , they don`t contribute to the plot.I might be missing the point that many terrorists in Ireland (Especially Loyalists ) aren`t intrested in politics or religion but are more intrested in venting blood lust , and to it`s credit the film does in gory detail show the suffering of the victims of violence , but after viewing RESURRECTION MAN the viewer will probably be left feeling that the film ( Like political violence ) is a waste of time.For a detailed and informative study of Lenny Murphy ( Who Victor Kelly is based upon ) try finding Martin Dillon`s book THE SHANKHILL BUTCHERS:A CASE STUDY OF MASS MURDER