I watched this film as an introduction to modern Irish history, in preparation for a forthcoming Ireland trip. The movie fascinated me from its opening scenes to its bitter and unexpected ending. Since then, I've read Tim Pat Coogan's biography of Collins, and I'm surprised at all the claims of historical inaccuracies. Coogan has his biases, but the movie is a faithful rendition of that book. Liam Nelson is outstanding. Although taller than the real-life Collins (and with better teeth), he captures the restlessness, the unfailing drive, and the charisma of his subject seemingly without effort. Collins doesn't walk into a room; he explodes into it. He is something of a controlled volcano, always aware of his potential for violence but managing to divert it into - into the violent murders of others under his control? Maybe, but it is difficult to feel any sympathy for the British occupiers we see here. Charles Dance - aka Tywin Lannister - brings the veiled menace that made his GOT villain so bone-chilling to his role as a UK police enforcer here, and I don't think I was the only one who cheered when he met his wholly deserved demise. There are echoes of other 20th century histories, too, as Collins basically invented modern-day guerilla warfare. My parents lived in Palestine under the British Mandate, and I grew up hearing stories of the Irgun blowing up the King David Hotel in Jerusalem and employing other Collinsish tactics to harass and eventually end UK control. I'm always delighted to see cinematic Nazis die (loved Inglorious Basterds), and from Neil Jordan's POV the Brits are the baddies in this scenario, and they get what is coming to them. Later I learned that future Israeli prime minister Itzhak Shamir studied Collins' methods and used the code name "Michael" while fighting with the Irgun before 1948. Apparently Fidel Castro was also a fan ... Many reviewers complain about Julia Roberts, and of course one can't help but see how the love story has been shoehorned into this film, but it did happen, and Kitty Kieran was in fact shopping for her wedding gown when Collins was assassinated. Frankly, she didn't bother me, but as a Yank I didn't notice her accent, or lack of it. For me, the only jarring note was Alan Rickman as DeValera. "OMG it's Professor Snape!" It is difficult to overcome the image of him as the ominous but also somewhat silly cartoon menace from the Harry Potter movies. I kept wanting to giggle whenever he spoke - until the end, when his contrition over what he, intentionally or not, set into motion lent his character some necessary dignity and grace. We see Collins as a spontaneous, uncensored, and ultimately overly trusting character, while DeV is a buttoned-down, rather prissy sort who reprimands Collins' frequent profanity. Nice touch, Mr. Jordan! A riveting, fast-moving illumination of a man whose.
Review of Michael Collins
