In this instance, Gleeson plays a catholic priest for a small Irish town, and in the very first scene, one of his parishioners threatens to kill him in a week. From there, we follow Father James around as he meets with the colorful inhabitants of the town, his daughter, and as he decides exactly how he's going to deal with the threat.
I'll admit, sometimes I thought the characters were a little too colorful, but by the end of the film, it feels less like a story striving for realism than one laying down a metaphor. The reputation of the Catholic Church has taken a beating in the last few decades, and that disrespect is palpable in this film. Is it possible for an honest Catholic priest to do any good, anymore?
Brendan Gleeson plays Father James as a smartly gruff and sarcastic man struggling with his role in the town. It's a strong performance, and a moving one, too. I'm not sure what the role of the Catholic Church is these days, but if I were Catholic, this is the man I'd want to be my priest.
This is an great film. It has a dark subject matter, but plenty of lighter moments along the way that will leave you chuckling. It will also spark conversation-- I recommend seeing it with a friend and grabbing a cup of coffee afterward for a quality discussion.
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