You wouldn't think that a film full of characters that are depressed, angry, frustrated, and lonely could ever be funny. Yet, Intermission, a film directed by John Crowley, manages to be just that. Even though the film is classified as a Comedy/Crime/Drama, I feel this dark comedy will have you laughing more than anything else. Whether it's because of the funny situations the characters find themselves in or the way the actors deliver their lines, Intermission is one of the funniest films I've watched.
The film takes place in a suburb of Dublin, Ireland, where it was filmed on location. It uses an ensemble Irish cast, although American audiences will surely recognize actors Colin Farrell and Cillian Murphy. Like most ensemble featured films, Intermission has various story lines and runs the danger of an audience becoming confused with what's going on. With this film, however, that never happens because the story lines are clearly written. More importantly, the characters in this film are well developed and performed, thus allowing the audience to follow along easily.
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John (Cillian Murphy) and Deirdre (Kelly Macdonald) |
While these two fellows go looking for love or are learning to cope without it, we follow the story of John's ex-girlfriend, Deirdre (Kelly Macdonald) and her new "married" boyfriend, Sam (Michael McElhatton). Meanwhile, Sally (Shirley Henderson), Dierdre's younger sister, mourns her scorned past as she proudly wears a "Ronnie" (moustache) as a badge of shame. Henderson's performance as Sally is one of my favorites, although I'm sure it was a rather tricky one to pull off. She plays the character with obvious anger and hidden depression, yet she remains likable throughout, and that's a credit to her skills and charm as an actress.
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Jerry Lynch (Colm Meany) |
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Lehiff (Colin Farrell) |
The climax of the film nicely brings all the storylines together to a satisfying end. Intermission isn't a fast paced film, although the beginning of the film might have you believe otherwise. It takes its time, yet it's still enjoyable and never slow. It is full of many comical characters, funny facial expressions, and a heist that you just know will not end up well.
For more information visit there IMBD page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0332658/