Mickybo and Me

The world could be much better and easier if the children were heard or if they could speak more. The real world problems and boring routine are fantasy and dream for the kids.

Mickybo and JonJo are two of these young beings who simply don't see the things the way we adults too. They love cinema and have a special passion for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. After watching their heroes at the movie theatre they see daily life as a scenery for the adventures they create on their fresh minds.

They live in Belfast, a beautiful city that is unfortunately terrorized by bombs and religious division. They live on opposite sites of the place, but the imagination and sense of adventure they share make their friendship develop fast. This is a nice film that makes us see the hard reality through the eyes of these kids who do their best to make their dreams come true. We learn a lesson out of it: we should never stop dreaming.

As a former serving soldier in Northern Ireland, during the "Troubles " - my first tour was 1969/70 - I found my eyes wandering to desperately identify places in Belfast where I had done a thousand F.P.'s (foot patrols) and was delighted when I spotted a place I recognised. As another reviewer said, it wasn't about the "Troubles" or our presence over there, but it was a magnificent backdrop to the film.

The acting was outstanding, the location work terrific and the two young lads at the centre of the film were simply awesome. The accents varied a little and I spotted a couple of the actors contriving the Belfast brogue - esp Julie Walters, but, hey, who cares, as she is one of the finest actors in the world - but in general, it was a poignant and moving tribute to an incredible, relationship which stretched beyond the sectarian divide.

Belfast went mad in 1970 and this movie accurately conveys that.

I would recommend this film without hesitation.

I loved this film! The boys were a delight, I laughed so hard, and must admit I saw a bit of my husband as a child in Mickeybo. I enjoyed the adventures, or rather misadventures, of the boys, and enjoyed watching their characters develop. I am sure we all knew a Mickybo when we were kids, and as mad as we might have thought they were at times, we admired them as wished we could be a bit more like them. As for "treacle-coated ending", as one review said, it was no such thing. I felt it showed that things are not always as they seem and through it all, people can learn to to understand and accept each other. And not before time. I highly recommend this film!

I felt so comfortable, and uncomfortable watching Mickybo and Me. It reminded me of my (happy) childhood but also of the bigotry (or, should I say ignorance and fear) which is still rampant in my country. The movie sums up succinctly how things spiralled out of control here

It was like this for me - I was the age of the characters as I grew up in Belfast. It was a great adventure to see red glows emanating from a Catholic ghetto when (I did not understand at the time) it was attacked by hoards of ignorant, angry and frightened individuals whose insecurity was used for the political ends of their religious and political peers. The majority of my friends were Protestant and I never hear a bigoted word from any of them. I was that unique individual. A Catholic, living in a middle class Protestant neighborhood, with a mother who converted to marry my Catholic father - and the crap that ensued from that.

The movie is an excellent first feature for it's director. The art direction and camera work is excellent as is the acting talent of all leads. It's great to see someone from Belfast doing so well - creatively - i.e. writer/director Terry Loane.

peace, Stephen.

Agree with all the previous positive comments about this terrific, underrated little movie. Julie Walters is as always quite wonderful in her role, but the movie is of course stolen by the 2 young leads who display a wonderfully natural talent in roles which could have been written for them. This take us back to more innocent times when young lads were more interested in cowboys than girls. I's particularly poignant that it is set amidst the tragic troubles which blighted Belfast for so long.In reply to the earlier reviewer wondering when it will be released on DVD I have some good news. Unlikely as it may seem it's just been released by Universal DVD Germany under the title 'Mickybo & Ich'. It's a Region 2 & 4 release with a variety of audio and subtitle choices. Should be easily available from Amazon.de.