Michael Collins, o Preço da Liberdade

This is a very touching film. I was shocked to see the IMDb score of 6.8. The only major fault of this film is Julia Roberts. She really takes a wonderful film and turns it down a few notches. She can't keep an Irish accent, switching back and forth with her American accent throughout the duration of the film.

Anyway, Michael Collins is great to watch. The story is heartfelt, and the nuances between personal battles and patriotic duty are displayed in a very mature fashion - - to what extent will you go for your country? What will you lose? Who will you fight? Why will you do any of it? Who are your true friends? etc.

The music is FANTASTIC. Worth renting just for the listen. Of course Neison is great. So is Aidin Quinn (when I first saw this movie I thought Quinn was Irish given his name and his performance here). Alan Rickman is Alan Rickman - - which is great, though he doesn't pull off the Irish thing too well. However, given his character, Eamon de Valera, it isn't really a miscast, just takes time to get in.

If you can ignore how horrible Julia Roberts is and think about the heart and emotion behind this film while enjoying the awesome score you're in for a treat. A jewel in the rough. (my favorites)

I really enjoyed this film. I didn't enjoy Julia Roberts in it and thought that was about the worst attempt at an Irish accent I had ever heard. Being British and a Protestant, I didn't know how I would feel about the film, but I found it very enlightening. It has really changed my views on the British position on Ireland. The bloodshed and death seems so wasteful. Michael Collins seems like a very brave man and I think the worst decision De Valera made was not going himself and negotiating for the independence of Ireland. That was a very cowardly decision to send Collins. He was not a negotiator and De Valera would have done better, and that seemed like a very cowardly move. Anyway, the film really opened my eyes and gave me some perspective. I lived in Northern Ireland for five years and I am a Protestant, but to see what my people did in Ireland is really shameful. Nevertheless, a very enjoyable film.

An epic movie about the hero of the Irish revolution that commanded a guerrilla war and led an army against the British . It is set in Ireland 1916, Michael Collins uses terrorist tactics and organizing political assassinations . By 1921 The British are willing to negotiate. But Sinn Fein President , Eamon de Valera , doesn't accepts the result of the complex negotiation. As Collins is unwillingly drawn into a stateman's role as negotiations for an Anglo-Irish treaty begin in1921, ultimately dividing the country in two and leading to Collins to fateful consequences. As Michael Collins' dreams inspired hope. His words inspired passion . His courage forged a nation's destiny.

This is an epic tale of passion and fate whose starring has to face off several dangers , treason, and extreme difficulties to get his purports . The picture gets great production design , spectacular scenes , impressive movement of masses and a cast of thousands. Based on historical events about a revolutionary leader with the Irish volunteers, a guerilla force , an early version of the IRA, dedicated to freeing Ireland from British rule by any means necessary. Interpretations are pretty good , such as Liam Neeson giving a nice acting as the stubborn Michael Collins , Aln Rickman as the cunning Eamon de Valera and Aidan Quinn as Harry Boland . Accompanying the starring trio, there's a good support cast, such as : Julia Roberts, Stephen Rea, Ian Hart, Sean McGinley, Brendan Gleeson, Charles Dance, Stuart Graham and Jonathan Rhys Mayers, among others.

It displays a luxurious and colorful cinematography by prestigious cameraman Chris Menges. Likewise, an emotive and sensitive musical score by great composer Elliott Goldenthal, adding catching Irish songs. The motion picture was competently directed by Neal Jordan (Danny Boy , Mona Lisa , In company of wolves , Crying game , Breakfast on Pluto, Greta, Byzantium). Rating : 7.5/10 . Better than average . Essentian and indispensable seeing for historical cinema fans and Liam Neeson fans.

What worries me about films based on historical characters and events, is that a lot of people take them at face value and accept them as fact whereas very few of them are completely accurate, and this film is no exception. However, despite the inaccuracies and speculations, it's a good film. Liam Neeson in particular gives a great performance in the title role, really bringing the complexities of the character to life. Rickman is also good as DeValera. Julia Roberts is horribly miscast and I can only think she was in it to boost box office ratings - although I would have hardly thought that necessary with Neeson and Rickman as the main characters. To be fair her character was pretty superfluous anyway and only included to add some romantic interest.

Overall it's worth a watch, although if you really want to know about the British/Irish conflict read a book!

In 1916 Dublin, Michael Collins (Liam Neeson), Harry Boland (Aidan Quinn), and Éamon de Valera (Alan Rickman) are among the captured rebels in the Easter Rising. After being released, they are politically active. De Valera and the political leadership get arrested. Collins is tipped off by double agent police detective Ned Broy (Stephen Rea). Collins goes into hiding with his best friend Boland. He meets his love Kitty Kiernan (Julia Roberts). Collins and Boland lead a guerrilla war against the British forces. De Valera takes Boland with him to work diplomatically. Eventually, the Brits relent and De Valera sends Collins to negotiate. Collins returns with home rule and splitting off Northern Ireland with De Valera opposing him. In 1922, the Anglo-Irish Treaty is approved. De Valera and his men resign taking Boland with them. They start their own revolt against the Irish Free State Army headed by Collins.

This is an expansive epic historical drama. Liam Neeson leads this with his powerful presence. He looms over this movie like the leading man that he is. The actors are all great although Julia Roberts does stick out a little. It would have been more fitting to have an Irish lass. The movie does try to fit a lot into two hours. Some of it can feel a bit disjointed. Liam Neeson is big enough to tie it all together. It would also be nice for him to have a constant foil. Whether or not he deserves it historically, the movie seems to make De Valera Collins' foil. It would be great to fully embrace the conflict and give De Valera more screen time. Make this Collins versus De Valera.