Mickybo and Me

I watched this film not knowing what to expect... and it was a great surprise!! The story's two main characters, Mickybo and Jonjo, are terrific actors who surely have great careers ahead of them. They play the parts so well anyone would have trouble not identifying with their vivid imagination, excitement and refreshing naivety when they were their age. I also think writer and director, Terry Loane, has manged to incorporate Ireland's troubled history without making it too much a part of the film so as to spoil what is an excellent story in its own right. I am only disappointed, though, that this film has not made much of an impact in the UK. Especially with tag lines stating that this film comes from the makers of Billy Elliott and starring Julie Walters, Adrian Dunbar, Ciaran Hinds and Gina Mckee, I would have thought this film would have been pushed a lot more, however I am sure you will enjoy the film as much as I did!

I made it my business to see this film on a recent brief visit to Dublin. I have no expectation that it will ever be released in the U.S. and more's the pity. It is quite charming and even clever. Using the "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" story as a backdrop and not being obvious (to someone who is not from Northern Ireland) about which boy was the Catholic/Protestant. Nice performances from the grown-ups, in the background. One reviewer had a problem with the geography of the locations. That happens in so many movies that it's only a minor distraction anymore. This is a fun and charming family movie. I didn't realize how much I enjoyed it until I heard myself describing it to friends when I got back to the U.S. Well done Terry Loane and all involved.

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.

The story is basically that of two young boys in Belfast in the summer of 1970 who come from opposite sides of the sectarian divide. Obsessed with the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, they decide to run away to Australia and leave their problems behind.

I've seen this film twice and would happily watch it again. The two young main characters, Jonjo and Mickybo, are wonderfully cast and the story dwells on their friendship and their need to escape their lives rather than being just another film about the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

The cast is excellent, Adrian Dunbar being a standout as the wastrel father. The film is definitely a crowd pleaser but the story is good enough to avoid being corny or sentimental.

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.