I Went Down

What a pleasant surprise! One of the earlier set of well-made Irish films with not a shamrock or a leprechaun in sight. The banter between Gleeson and McDonald is well-timed, realistic and naturally, hilarious. A film that somewhat reflects a 'real' Ireland that we can relate to(er, possibly without all the guns and violence). A film that shows what a talent we have here.

I went to see this movie and was enjoying it, and then it came to the bit where they were rescuing the hostage from the house. Imagine my surprise when I realised that the house in question was in fact my own one!! My girlfriend and I had just bought it a month before and knew nothing about the fact that it was used as a location in the movie....the surrounding woodland on the property was also used for other scenes. Needless to say our attention was rivetted to the screen from then on, but that said, it was a very entertaining movie anyhow. I do however think you need to have a certain understanding of the Irish psyche and way of life to get full value from the hilarious script. Brendan Gleeson and Peter MacDonald both excellent, even if they did have a shoot-out at my kitchen door!!

When I saw this movie, and after I had stopped laughing, I realised that it wasn't a film which was going to travel well. As an Irishman, I've been somewhat disappointed with the recent spate of melodramatic and formulaic films that have been leaving our shores in recent years (i.e. Michael Collins). "I Went Down" is a refreshing release from this trend.

Having read the 'net reviews it seems my fears have been realised. This movie doesn't hold back when it comes to Irish accents, figures of speech and wit. I know I was falling off my seat at the behaviour of the characters, the "Black and Amber" pub and the meeting in the bog. I hope people see it for it was intended to be, an Irish movie, and not criticise it because it doesn't fit under the Hollywood model.

dave.

I Went Down is a gem of a movie. Although it has been fairly overlooked, it in my opinion is one of the best Irish movies to date. Before films like 'Lock, Stock...' and 'Intermission' made these colloquial crime-capers the fashion, this fast-paced, funny and thoroughly enjoyable action movie hit the big screens. Brendan Gleeson, as ever, is outstanding in his role as Bunny Kelly, but he's not on his own by any means. There are no other big names, but there is some very big performances. Much like the aforementioned 'Lock, stock...' the dialogue is what steals the show, but it's also well shot, and plot is great. I Went Down shouldn't be missed.

"I Went Down" is a droll, sometime monotonous, sometimes clever comedy about a couple of guys who run an errand for a small time gangster and end up embroiled an underworld scheme of very limited proportions. The film spends most of its time studying the characters involved as its mildly humorous story unfolds leading to an eventful conclusion which may or may not be worth the wait depending on individual taste. "I Went Down", the title, is a double entendre representative of the very subtle humor the film embodies. A worthwhile watch for those who enjoy puns and dry humor.