Movie Description
ANGELA'S ASHES is the true story of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Frank McCourt (played at various ages by Joe Breen, Ciaran Owens, and Michael Legge), whose personal memoir became a worldwide phenomenon. When eldest son Frank's baby sister dies and father Malachy (Robert Carlyle) can find no work, the McCourt family is forced to leave America and return to their native Ireland, where conditions are even more destitute than in Brooklyn. Malachy's northern accent is frowned upon in Limerick, keeping him on welfare and the family living in poverty. Things turn even more sour when two more children die and Malachy leaves the family to go to work (or, better yet, drink) in England. He never returns. Frank struggles through the poverty and his new role as man of the house, but throughout the seeming hopelessness his dream of traveling to America keeps him determined and optimistic.
The three little-known actors playing Frank are impressive, and Emily Watson gives a quiet, impassioned performance as Frank's mother, Angela. Michael Seresin's photography underscores the deft direction of Alan Parker (COME SEE THE PARADISE), infusing the story with beauty even at its most desperate moments.
| Credits | | Producer: | Alan Parker, David Brown, Scott Rudin | | Cast: | Pauline McLynn, Robert Carlyle |
| Details | | Edition: | Sensormatic |
Notes
DVD Features
Region 1
Keep Case
Sensormatic
Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.78
Single Side - Dual Layer
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Additional Release Material:
Audio Commentary - 1. Alan Parker - Director
2. Frank McCourt - Author
Making-of
Production Interview - 1. Cast & Crew
Trailers - 1. Original Theatrical Trailer
Interactive Features:
Interactive Menus
Scene Selection, Frank McCourt continued his life story in 'TIS.
Composer John Williams won a Grammy for Best Instrumental Composition for "Theme from ANGELA'S ASHES."
Editorial Reviews
"...Beautifully crafted....ANGELA'S ASHES is amazingly faithful to its source material..."
Sight and Sound - p.40-2 - Nick Roddick (01/01/2000)
"...Well-crafted and touching..."
Movieline - p.33 - Stephen Farber (02/01/2000)
"...[The filmmakers] have treated ANGELA'S ASHES with scrupulous respect and care..."
Los Angeles Times - Kenneth Turan (12/24/1999)
"...A movie of great craft and wonderful images....It is impossible to conceive of better casting of Angela..."
Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert (01/21/2000)
"...Parker skillfully leavens the heavy grimness with some funny, well-observed moments..."
Total Film - Emma Rowley (08/01/2000)
"[O]ne of the better rites-of-passage pictures of recent years."
Uncut - Robert McTaggart (08/01/2000)
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