Calvary (R)
07/09/14 21:24 Filed in: 2014
Starring: Brendan Gleeson
August 2014
This review was originally tweeted in Real-time from the back row of a movie theater and appears @BackRoweReviews. Though efforts were made to tease rather than ruin this movie’s memorable lines and moments, some spoilers may exist in the following evaluation. The original tweets appear in black, while follow-up comments appear in red. For concerns over objectionable content, please first refer to one of the many parental movie guide websites. All ratings are based on a four star system. Happy reading!
But after the gun smoke dissipates, who will he confess to…another priest?
A startling opening line.
This is actually the second line spoken in the movie, the first by Gleeson. The opening line is definitely startling though, especially when considering the location and function of the discussion.
Redhead commits the “classical error.”
The redhead in question is Gleeson’s screen daughter in the film, played to perfection by Kelly Reilly. In case you’re wondering, Gleeson’s character sired her before he became a priest.
“Bi-polar or lactose intolerant. One of the two.” Ha!
Is this line overdetermined or are people really this dumb?
No asterisk after “Thou Shalt Not Kill.” Good conversation.
This scene contains some of the finest, most meaningful, dialog in the movie. Funny how it’s in our DNA to always look for loopholes.
The colossus pees on a painting. Strange!
Strange hardly covers it. This whole scene is extremely disturbing. Irish funnyman Dylan Moran (Shaun of the Dead) turns in a truly offbeat, creepy performance as the emotionally anesthetized rich man who’s relegated himself to a life of isolation and boredom…and truly bizarre behaviors.
The lectern held up well. Can’t say the same for the rest of the church.
The “third act revelation” is a touching scene.
This is the final and finest father/daughter chat in the film.
Sunday. Time to face the music.
Notice that the location of the climactic showdown is similar to where the earlier “third act” interchange took place. Symbolism?
Too much talk about sins and not enough talk about virtues. Good point.
Maybe people would sin less if their virtues were extolled more often.
Final analysis: a heavy film that asks big questions about the injustices of life.
Rating: 3 out of 4. A tremendous performance by Gleeson and gorgeous Irish vistas are pluses to the glum story.
Other than its trappings, performances and shockingly raw subject matter, what really sets this film apart is its unique twist on the murder mystery formula. To whit, Gleeson knows who the murderer is early on in the story, but the audience is left in the dark as to the identity of the killer—and there are plenty of possible suspects among the Irish village’s salty citizenry. The kicker is that the homicide hasn’t yet occurred and that the targeted victim is Gleeson. As a “good” priest, Gleeson will become the sacrificial lamb for the heinous transgressions (the kind you’ve heard about in the news) of unethical priests. Gleeson overcomes the urge to skip town and finds the resolve to face his accuser, a la Christ before Caiaphas, the high priest. As Gleeson approaches his would-be assassin and his own personal Calvary, the mystery transforms into a thriller that will leave the audience gasping for air. Cannily penned and helmed by John Michael McDonagh, Calvary is a multifaceted gem with much to say about the human condition. As Gleeson conducts his priestly duties, such as confession, communion, visitation, etc, the audience picks up clues along the way. This procedural element is a clever device for drawing us into Gleeson’s world while also introducing us to his parishioners, one of whom has murderous intentions toward him. The movie features numerous one-on-one conversations between Gleeson and one of the various supporting characters, and all of these exchanges are rich with meaning and laced with subtext. There’s a good deal of character complexity here and many questions are left unanswered, like: does Gleeson, who struggles with the bottle and shoots up a pub, even qualify as a “good” priest? Also, the startling final scene opens up mind-blowing implications and invites multiple readings. Any way you look at it; this is a smart, sullen and sordid story. However, if you disagree with my assessment, I’ll happily acquiesce. I’m not going to make this a hill to die on.