Danny Boy

It's hard to believe that Toby Jones has only the one BAFTA, He is Fast approaching national treasure status. It seems everything he appears in he is always the best actor on display and that's very much the case in Dannyboy.

Jones plays a hapless lawyer convinced that British soldiers have committed crimes against humanity whilst serving in Iraq. Anthony Boyle plays The soldier chiefly responsible for these crimes. What follows is a series of well-made flashbacks to what happened very well filmed just outside Watford not Iraq!

The only disappointment with this 90 minute one-off drama is the disappointing ending.

7/10.

The Danny boy battle was fought by a seemingly inexperienced and frightened group of British soldiers in the Basra area in 2004. They entered the battlefield with fixed bayonets, expecting to be met with stiff resistance, but nonetheless it was a battle they won, taking some prisoners.

The problems that emerged which resulted in a prosecution by human rights lawyer Phil Shiner focused on the fact that the army was fighting simple farmers who were known to carry guns for their day to day work and the terrible reprisals and bloodshed was uncalled for. Apparently in Iraq it was common for Iraqi soldiers to pose as farmers to escape engagement. This biopic though interesting never really solves the problem and one suspects that they were indeed hard line soldiers after all. Phil Shiner's job would appear to have been a thankless task, on the whole. Good acting and huge sympathy for the soldiers made this a good watch. Phil Shiner seemed worn out by the demands of balancing the law against the needs of the military.

Is just 01:25 min but look like 03:25min, boring same things repeating over and over again, film with low budget or looks like, you see a battle field looks clear is just filled somewhere in England, nothing new just cliche movie and boring!

The true story of courage, resilience and incredible bravery. Titled 'Danny Boy' to reference the battle of the same name in Iraq.

The true story of a young soldier's journey from hero to alleged war criminal, the determined lawyer on his tail and their search for truth in the fog of war. Brian Wood is among several British soldiers accused of committing war crimes in Iraq.

Less than 90 minutes, the watch is classified as a TV movie, and mirrors a similar reflection in its outward tone and structure. The melancholic, slowness of the spectacle gives it a documentary TV feel which leisurely unfolds series of its chain of events. Sam Miller (director) saw his production starring Anthony Boyle, Toby Jones, Alex Ferns and Leah McNamara receive a positive reception from critics, The Guardian praising Boyle's performance deeming it as 'essential viewing'. Anthony met with Brian Wood prior to filming, stating it was 'extremely enlightening' to experience the empathy and truths behind the challenging success story. The slow pace is what allows the Northern Irish actor to thrive, encapsulating the scarred mind and fragile soul of the army soldier.

The film matches the traditional Irish melody of 'Londonderry Air' by English songwriter Frederic Weatherly in 1913. The ballad was played at Elvis' wedding, lyrics that were supposedly written by angels. An emotive and powerful film that captures the stress and strain instilled into a soldier post-war and how it impacts their families lives as well as their own.

A moving, touching and overall telling tale, that everyone ought to be aware of.

In 1973-74 Thames Television produced a 26-part series, "The World at War" (WW2). It should be compulsory viewing for anyone who wants to be in government. Also for media influencers: editors, bloggers, writers, know-alls, angry shouters and hate-speechifiers. Because what we call "civil society" should be the complete opposite of what modern warfare really is: the organized destruction of civilization and civilized values.

The movie "Danny Boy" introduces us to a fundamental contradiction: how to assess battlefield behaviors using the cultural machinery of the lawyer's office and the wood-paneled courtroom. "It's normal for farmers there to carry guns. Does that make them soldiers?" The answer, I'm afraid, is yes. (Keep this in mind, all you NRA fanatics.)

A democracy tries to train its military personnel to be peace-defenders, but occasionally it sends them on anti-peace operations. A few days as a soldier in Iraq (the Bush and Blair Splendid Military Adventure) and I'd be ready to shoot anyone who wasn't wearing our uniform. But I'm prepared to believe that you, gentle reader, would be capable of more restraint.

Toby Jones dominates every scene he's in. The idealistic lawyer's office looks authentic, but the film's battle environment lacks the terror, the paranoia, and that hallucinatory menace and mania which left so many vets suffering from PTSD.

You want to take sides as you watch this movie? If you do, you're burning up your brain with futile emotion. "Danny Boy" just tells us how things were, how they are, and how they will be next time.