Evelyn (2002) User Reviews

An emotional mess..not the movie, ME!

[Boyo-2 · 8/10 · 27 August 2004]

Possibly you're a cynic and think the blarney is laid on too abundantly in this movie. Or you might be calling it "O'Kramer vs. O'Kramer" and this isn't too sappy and predictable to be taken seriously. Well, guess what, it is, and I loved every minute.

Pierce Brosnan, who I used to consider a cardboard cut-out of an actor, plays Desmond Doyle. He's fantastic as a father whose daughter and two sons are removed from their home by the government after their Mother ( in this case, the term can be used in the biological sense only) abandons the family. This being Ireland in the 1950s, there was a law that stated the government can intervene when one parent is found to be insufficient. Desmond has to quit drinking, deal with the death of his father, find a lawyer and rarely see his kids.

Its all okay at the end, and I have to mention that I hope the children's Mother and a certain Sister Bridget have the thankless job of eating ---- in hell for all eternity.

Worth mentioning from the cast is Alan Bates, a hard-drinking consultant to Doyle's case, and his wishes to hear (or not hear) a 'however' from the judges were hilarious.

I had a small problem with the fact that the Mother was not on trial, literally, because it was her abandonment of her family that led to them being separated.

Anyway, its a terrific movie. 8/10.

A hidden gem

[jjpoprac · 8/10 · 6 December 2004]

While I must admit this is a chick-flick, it is a very good one. A heartwarming story, very well acted by an excellent cast. At times it was a little difficult to understand some of the thick accents, but it's better than hearing someone like Kevin Costner speak with an American accent in Robin Hood. The child actors were very convincing, although with the habits they were wearing it was hard to tell the good nuns from the bad nuns. The screenplay had just enough humor to keep the movie from getting too sappy, which is critical if you want guys to keep from walking out. Much better material for Pierce Brosnan than the James Bond scripts.

A real jewel!

[pa6-5000 · 26 March 2004]

I loved this movie from the first time I saw it. It has all a good story needs. It's funny, moving and warm.

The story of Evelyn Doyle is told without too much bias, which is a nice thing to see. It paints a picture of 1950s Ireland that seems more optimistic. The movie is not all about misery. It's about life with all its ups and downs.

The cast is excellent, you just have to love all the characters. I'm especially fond of Pierce Brosnan's performance. You see a side of him that he doesn't get to show much on film. He even sings, what impressed me a lot. He makes you forget about James Bond; he actually becomes Desmond Doyle. I'd love to see him in more films of that kind!

Doyle...Desmond Doyle

[jpschapira · 7/10 · 29 June 2005]

They are generally from Disney or from many other studios now, and they contain a plot similar to the animated movies but are acted in live flesh and have fundamentals in people's feelings. They are also movies that have the best intentions and are directed to the heart.

MGM brings "Evelyn" and along with it brings Pierce Brosnan in an unlikely usual but pleasant role. I could only think of him saying: "I'm Bond…James Bond", and now he comes with this Irish accent with doesn't suit him right (and he is Irish!); but we forgive him. In fact, we forgive lots of things in movies like this. Brosnan ends up achieving a moving and dedicated performance, making us forget about his old spy roles. He plays Desmond Doyle, a father abandoned by his wife that has to leave their children to authorities due to a lack of money. Then, with strength and courage plus the help of some, they arrive to a trial…This is based in a true story.

These characters, the ones I like to call "helpers"; because they stay with the hero from the start until the end. They also carry on with specific plot obligations. Alan Bates plays the old fox Tom Connolly, who wants to take his glory days back, and he puts a lot of enthusiasm to the movie. Brian McGrath's Hugh Canning, Connolly's friend and newsman, who informs the results of the trials in the most cheerful way. Nick Barron, the lawyer who was first against, but then helped more than any other, played by Aidan Quinn with an elegant smile and charm. Stephen Rea shows to be in top form with his honest but shy lawyer Michael Beattie. And his sister, Bernadette Beattie, puts some love again in Desmond's life and is played by Julianna Margulies with innocence and wisdom. It is a wonderful showcase of performances; director Bruce Beresford seems to know them all and when everybody looks comfortable…

Still, from all these characters the one who highlights the most is Evelyn (Sophie Vavasseur), one of Desmond's children. I can clearly see the plot's interest in her, because of thefilm's title, but even when the bond between her and her father is strong, she shouldn't have been the plot's center; because it obligates us to give an importance to her that she doesn't probably have. There other two sons (I won't even mention their names because they don't even seem to be there) and Desmond's father Henry (a marvelous Frank Kelly), but we mostly see Evelyn in church with the nuns and no other relevant subplot whatsoever. However, young actress Vavasseur is a revelation and shows gifts of an immense talent; and that's a positive thing for pieces of this type.

We get the usual; including a script by Paul Pender full of phrases, as I said, "directed to the heart", that unite to that touching music and that captivating image in this movie, where everything is correct, but it ultimately depends of us…If we let it in or not.

Iresistibly Heart-Tugging

[noralee · 7/10 · 20 December 2005]

"Evelyn" is a well-done, star-cast, heart-tugging movie-of-the-week, Irish division.

Pierce Brosnan produced, as he has some other small movies like the charming "The Match," and this one has some personal autobiographical resonance for him.

For folks who only know him from TV's "Remington Steele" (sigh) or the Bond flicks, Brosnan has done a fair share of dramatic indies, including a previous colonial Brit film with the same director Bruce Beresford, "Mister Johnson," though his singing here is game but just adequate.

Just about everyone but a dour Stephen Rea twinkles in this film -- Julianna Margulies with a fair Irish brogue, Aidan Quinn and Alan Bates.

I would think it's impossible to resist the movie's teary charms, and the audience not only cried but applauded at the end.

It is certainly nice to see a strong movie about paternal affection and responsibilities, especially an Irish one with a minimum of drinking stereotypes.

The closing Van Morrison song is minor Van, but that's still better than most over-the-credit schmaltz.

(originally written 1/4/2003)

Great Performance by Brosnan

[jandersonpwco · 9/10 · 3 July 2004]

After years of seeing Pierce Brosnan play roles depicting him as the suave ladies man, I was skeptical when we picked this up in the video store and read the premise. I am not a Bond fan and I always considered Brosnan a lightweight actor.

Much to my surprise, Brosnan was dead on in his portrayal of an uncultured, heavy-drinking but loving father, who has his children taken away. It was obvious that he was very passionate about the role, and seemed to be on a mission to prove his mettle as a serious actor.

This is a very atypical movie, not really fitting into any of the usual, predictable genres. It has its funny moments, but it is mostly sobering and heart-wrenching. Aidan Quinn, Julianna Margulies (formerly of ER) and the little girl who plays Evelyn head an impressive supporting cast.

Those who require explosions and car chases need not bother with this one, but if you enjoy an intelligent, touching human drama, you will be in for an unexpected treat.

One man vs Ireland

[munnie · 10/10 · 13 March 2004]

This is the story of how Desmond Doyle fought the Irish government to have his children (Evelyn, Dermot, and Maurice) released back into his custody. After his wife desserts him, leaving behind the children also, the government takes his children until such a time as the unmarried, currently unemployed Desi "can improve his circumstances". Much to his naive and broken heart's dismay, he later realizes that once the government has them, it intends to keep them from living in a paternal, one parent home. It tells the story of this man's journey becoming a better man and father. It also tells the story of the incidents behind the over turning of an unconstitutional law which had never been successfully challenged. Played brilliantly by Pierce Brosnan (who was born in Ireland) with Alan Bates taking on the role of the ex-barrister (retired) who changed the course of Irish family history. Sophie Vavasseur does an excellent job in the title role of Evelyn. Not over played or pretentious, this is a quiet must see for those who like to see real life with some happy endings.

Hokey sentimentalism

[=G= · 6/10 · 22 June 2003]

"Evelyn" is tells of an Irish working class man (Brosnan) who mounts a campaign to change Irish law when his wife leaves him and his children are made wards of he state. The film fills the screen with good imagery, presence, and performances but fails with a transparent, predictable, hokey, and saccharine screenplay. Okay for sentimentalists into Irish period flicks but may gag others. (C+)

How Did This Film Get Overlooked?

[DiAyn · 10/10 · 8 August 2004]

I just watched this movie on pay per view, and I thought it was delightful. Pierce Brosnan does a fine job. So nice to see him really get a chance to act. And the supporting cast, including Alan Bates and Stephen Rea, is exceptional. The story is very believable and touching, probably because it is based on a true story. I just wonder why this film, directed by the talented Bruce Beresford, did not make any significant splash when it was released. It may have played in Austin, but I don't remember it. Just shows how marketing, or lack of it, can make a movie disappear. It's a shame it didn't get more attention. I heartily recommend it.

interesting story

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 10 February 2015]

It's 1953 Dublin, Ireland. Desmond Doyle (Pierce Brosnan)'s wife runs away with another man abandoning their three kids. He is unemployed and his mother-in-law reports him to the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children. The court takes Evelyn, Dermot and Maurice away to Catholic orphanages. Barmaid Bernadette Beattie (Julianna Margulies) sends him to her lawyer brother Michael (Stephen Rea). Evelyn gets hit by brutal Sister Brigid. Desmond cleans up his act and starts working. However, he's now required to get the consent of his wife. Nick Barron (Aidan Quinn) is Bernadette's American suitor.

It's an interesting story done with straight forward sentimentality. Little Evelyn is probably the most compelling character but this is more Pierce Brosnan's movie. At times, the movie gets stale with the David and Goliath legal battle. There is nothing surprising or terribly original in that. Sophie Vavasseur really wins in this movie but it just means that the movie misses her when it goes away from her. Desmond is not necessarily that sympathetic. He's a drunk and I get the sense that his story is whitewashed a bit.

James Bond Sings...

[LisaMMoran · 4/10 · 28 March 2003]

The story is that of Desmond Doyle (Brosnan), an unemployed painter and decorator in 1950's Ireland who is abandoned by his wife and left to care for his three young children. When the Irish courts suggest he puts them in to care while he finds work Desmond begins a long struggle to regain custody of the plucky Evelyn (Sophie Vavasseur) and her brothers from the Jesuits and Nuns.

This movie falls below average for me because it could have been so much better. The stellar supporting cast are excellent however it does appear to be a vehicle for Pierce Brosnan and Pierce Brosnan only. Not that I dislike Mr Brosnan I just think he is miscast in this film. This is most evident in one scene in the film when Desmond walks down the street with his legal team. He is advised by tidy himself up for court and yet there he stands amongst his besuited, and immaculate colleagues looking, well, just gorgeous. Pierce Brosnan unfortunately IS James Bond and no amount of stubble and thick Irish brogueing is going to disguise it. The accent is woeful by the way - how an Irishman can make an Irish accent sounds so forced I'll never know.

Julianna Margulies is shamefully under-used yet still manages to shine as the obligitory love-interest. She is never really allowed to say more then a few words at a time, AND still her Irish accent is more convincing.

Alan Bates is wonderful as the comical hard-drinking Family Law expert and former Ireland rugby player. Aiden Quinn delivers a solid performance as the American barrister and love rival. Stephen Rea is also under-used as Desmond's solicitor. All three supply the film's funnier moments.

This film never really raises itself above it's made-for-TV True-Life Drama feel and is neither inspiring nor gripping which means it simply plods to it's predictable and somewhat cheesy conclusion.

The luck of the Irish

[george.schmidt · 30 December 2002]

EVELYN (2002) *** Pierce Brosnan, Stephen Rea, Julianna Margulies, Aidan Quinn, Alan Bates, John Lynch, Sophie Vavasseur, Niall Beagan, Hugh McDonagh, Mairead Devlin, Frank Kelly. Heart-tugging melodrama based on a true story about a working class Irishman named Desmond Doyle circa 1950s attempted to regain full custody of his three beloved children (including the cute-as-pie Vavasseur as the titular daughter) after their mother abandons them making them wards of the state with stints in a Catholic institution. Brosnan acts up a storm with brio and has able support from Rea, Bates and Quinn as his legal brothers in arms and Margulies as the local barmaid/love interest. Warm-hearted and predictable but none-the-less crowd pleasing. (Dir: Bruce Beresford)

Sweet and simple

[~AleXa~ · 6/10 · 11 June 2005]

Evelyn (2002) is a heart-warming film based on a true story about a man, Desmond Doyle (Pierce Brosnan) who finds himself down and out when the Irish courts rule that his three children, Evelyn (Sophie Vavasseur), Dermot (Niall Beagan), and Maurice (Hugh McDonagh) are to be remanded into the custody of a Catholic-run orphanage after his wife leaves him the day after Christmas.

This film tugs at your heart strings, but surprisingly not to the point of tears. And, as it is based on a true story, it brings that much more warmth to your heart. Pierce Brosnan and Sophie Vavasseur really shine in their respective roles. Certain scenes are a bit to-the-point, as if a little more dialog could've been added and the film is relatively short, clocking in at an hour and a half, but nevertheless, it still succeeds in taking you on a journey with Desmond Doyle as he fights for his family.

VERDICT: A lighthearted fare that any parent can appreciate and that pretty much anyone sympathize with. Recommended to any parent or anyone in search of a light, heart-warming film.

6.5 out of 10.0

Pierce Brosnan's Best Movie!

[predator_silver77 · 7/10 · 16 December 2008]

The Plot: From the director of Driving Miss daisy comes this compelling, heartwarming and inspiring true story of a father (Pierce Brosnan) who faces impossible odds to keep his family together. Times are tough in Dublin, Ireland. But no one has it tougher than Desmond Doyle when his wife runs off and his beloved daughter Evelyn and two young sons are sent to an orphanage by the government. Enlisting the help of loyal friends (Julianna Margulies, Stephen Rea) and a feisty American lawyer (Aidan Quinn), he takes his case to Ireland's Supreme court in a history-making quest to topple an ironclad law...and win back custody of his children! My Spiel: This is truly a touching movie. I remember renting it on a whim. At a time when Pierce Brosnan was big in the 007 scene, he managed to spit this one of a kind great movie out. Granted I am a fan of some of his 007 work. But this was a step above all that, the story is great, the actors play it perfectly. But the only down side is that you can't watch this over and over. It's a joyful movie but for some reason it's not a movie I feel I can truly watch again and again. It's more of a once viewing in 2 months period. But that doesn't in the lest say this is a bad movie, it's a great movie "heck I should know, I bought it". Based on a true story and a true quest to find was is truly important in one mans life (A great feel good movie). If you think Perce Brosnan is only fit for the 007 action pack movies, just watch this you are sure to be surprised! Evelyn (2002) Review: 8/10

harmless, solid feel good movie

[DrDVine · 7/10 · 8 April 2003]

in fact there is not much to say about this film. simple story: father looses children to custody, fights against state and church to get them back and in the end succeeds. You got the usual subplots, like children vs. nuns, lawyer vs. judge etc. This mixed up with some laughs, some tears, some values and some prayers. Altogether well acted, well produced. Shallow but solid. I guess you can see a lot worse in cinema, but of course you also can see a lot better.

Evelyn, At the Heart of the Matter ****

[edwagreen · 10/10 · 28 February 2006]

Something totally different for actor Pierce Brosnan, and he makes the best of it in a terrific performance.

Desmond Doyle (Brosnan) is a poor Irish father, married with 3 children. His wife deserts him and as he has no finances, the state takes his loving children away and places the boys in one school and his daughter, Evelyn, in a convent.

His lovely daughter meets up with one kind nun but one so vicious played by a lady whose last name is Irvine. I haven't seen such cruelty displayed by a nun since Gladys Cooper in "The Song of Bernadette."

Brosnan, a house painter and part-time singer, shows tremendous depth in this role of a hard-drinking, heavy smoking individual whose love for his children transcends all.

He engages two attorneys played by Stephen Rea and Aidan Quinn to help him. In turn, they pursue another retired attorney, the late Alan Bates, who provides comic relief with his performance.

The picture focuses on the attempts of the attorneys to change Irish law that would allow one parent in such a situation to decide what's right for his child.

Irish eyes are certainly smiling on Doyle, he immediately touches the hearts of the people in his plain, sympathetic style. Heart-wrenching and a joy to view. Don't miss it.

Surprising good

[Erik_Stone · 7/10 · 16 February 2022]

A bit slow at the start, but overall, the pacing works. It's a pretty balanced film with humor and drama.

It's a difficult movie to watch for Dads that have had their wives/government steal their kids (keep in mind that when wives steal kids, it's only through government).

Although it's not completely accurate, it is a good dramatization of the true story.

Very Touching, Involving Story

[ccthemovieman-1 · 9/10 · 24 August 2006]

This is a wonderful movie.

I admit this movie is manipulative, and probably exaggerated for purposes of drama, but what based-on-a-true story movies aren't? At least it goes after the right things: a father having custody of his kids, rather than them being forced to live in an "institution."

The story is based a true situation in the mid 1950s Ireland in which, in the end, the Irish Constitution was amended because of this case. "Desmond Doyle" (Pierce Brosnan) is the loving father whose wife runs off one day with another man, leaving him with three little kids and little visible means of support. Since he didn't have enough finances, the government makes the kids wards of the state and places them in Catholic schools-homes (institutions?).

On that Catholic, or "religious," angle, you get a lot of positive and negative scenes here. You have a bad, nasty almost sadistic nun "Sister Brigid," but the others are fine caring ladies, as they should be. Overall, however, you see a lot of faith portrayed in this film and it's mostly good. Of course, that faith was more out in the open in the '50s than today, but it was inspiring to see in many parts.

Brosnan is excellent in the lead role, a man everyone can identify with: a loving but flawed man. He drinks too much, he swears, he doesn't have a steady job but he has great heart and has great determination to the right thing. One has no trouble rooting for him in this story. I think it's the best role he has ever played, far better than his superficial James Bond or thieves roles he normally plays.But nobody hits you as emotionally as little Evelyn (Sophie Vavasseur), one of Doyle's three kids and the one that is focused upon here. (The two little brothers are not given much screen time, for some reason.) Brosnan's allies in here - the two lawyers (played by Stephen Rea and Aiden Quinn) are likable as is Alan Bates who plays a rugged ex-barrister who winds up helping the team. Bates might have had the best role for the supporting actors.

This is such an involving story, one that you really care about the people, it can bring a tear or two in the end, but what's wrong with that? When you are finished watching this film, you feel good.

Pierce Brosnan can act!

[asticht · 9/10 · 4 December 2003]

I have to admit, I was skeptical and anxious to see Pierce Brosnan in a serious dramatic role. His characters are usually very debonair and have an air of superiority about them that makes him seem to be better than the rest of us. I was pleasantly surprised seeing his true to life performance as Desmond Doyle an unemployed father of two boys and a girl named Evelyn. Evelyn is the eldest of the three children and has a special bond with her father which is the basis of the whole movie. Pierce Brosnan plays his character with a delicacy and dedication in which you the viewer completely forget him as Pierce Brosnan and start to really believe that this is a documentary type movie and not a Hollywood production. As Pierce Brosnan is Irish by birth it is not surprising how well he can pull off a moderate Irish accent but it is still a bit shocking considering how English he usually seems when he is seen on-screen. Stephen Rea, Alan Bates, Aidan Quinn and Juliana Margulies round out the rest of the adult cast and all put in performances that are worthy of their talents. Juliana Margulies being an American born actress is able to portray an Irish woman with accent very convincingly. This movie is without a doubt one of the better films of 2002, it is unfortunate that it was not widely known as a potential Oscar favorite.

can you say treacle?

[bitter_old_dude · 1/10 · 8 May 2005]

Oh my gosh, this one is just awful. It's one of those movies where, after you've watched it, and spit up whatever you just ate, you have to say, "Why did all these quality people agree to appear in this pitiful movie?" Aiden Quinn sleep-walks through it, at least Alan Bates (who has sadly gotten old; I kept thinking about 'An Unmarrried Woman' through all his scenes)gets to have a little fun, but Juliana Margulies? Has there ever been a less appealing role for a somewhat talented actress? Pierce Brosnan is sure good looking. He can't sing. Ireland is pretty. And that's not enough to float this pitiful little flick, unless you love child actresses who chew scenery, and a screenplay that'll make you spew sugar tablets.

My kids enjoyed this

[real-roger · 10/10 · 16 January 2006]

This is the true story of a father who battled some unfair Irish child custody laws about 50 years ago. He puts his kids in an orphanage, and then cannot get them back. He suffers from a prejudice that only mothers can raise kids.

I liked this movie because I identified with the father. To my surprise, my kids love this movie also. They've watched it about 10 times. This is partly because they've been the victims of a court-ordered custody change. But also, my daughters find the Evelyn Doyle character inspiring. She is calm and courageous and sensible in the face of a wrong system.

An Anti-"Angela's Ashes"?

[fred-287 · 1 January 2003]

Those of us who endured the gruelling "Angela's Ashes" a few years back probably came away with the impression that living in 1950s Ireland was like living in hell, or maybe slightly worse. We were treated to the dysfunctional family to end all: the father was a mean drunk, the mother was nuts, the kids were brats, their relatives were all vicious (or nuts), they were poorer than dirt, they lived under the heel of a Stalinist Catholic Church, and it NEVER STOPPED RAINING. I left the cinema wondering not why so many Irish had left their country, but why any had stayed.

Now along comes "Evelyn" which also is about poor people in 1950s Ireland, but this seems to be the Hallmark greeting card version. The father (played by Pierce Brosnan using, I imagine, his native accent) does drink, but he's not at all mean about it, his kids are angelic and the mother who abandons them only gets about five minutes of screen time and is soon forgotten. There are relatives who may not like one another but are united in their love for the kids (an enjoyable scene has Evelyn, the daughter, running back and forth conveying messages between two of them). There are a lot of well-meaning friends and acquaintances. They live in a nice home and don't seem to be starving or barefoot. It almost seems no big deal when the mother leaves; if anything, one supposes what little money they have will go further, with one fewer mouth to feed (there's an obligatory scene with Brosnan versus a boiling pot because, of course, all men are morons in the kitchen).

So it seems a little odd when government minions step in and announce that nice Mr. Doyle whose wife left him can't keep his kids any more. Now I know this is based on a true story and I know from other sources there was indeed a vast orphanage gulag (complete with slave labor) in Ireland, partly so that church and state could pretend it's possible to have a functioning country without divorce or abortion (and there was always nearby England). Some of that background would have been fascinating in "Evelyn," but maybe too depressing. So we just have to accept that here's this quaint country with this goofy law arbitrarily taking people's kids away. Doyle readily accedes to the removal, then abruptly wants them back. His efforts make up the remainder of the movie.

The problem here is what psychologists call "cognitive dissonance": on the one hand we're constantly reminded that the struggle of Doyle and his supporters against the church/state hierarchy is "hopeless," on the other hand, there's never really a sensation of hopelessness or desperation. There's a kind of amiable smoothness to the events, and frequent humorous moments. This may be partly due to the guiding hand of director Bruce Beresford who has never met a dramatic situation that he couldn't make cozy, whether it was the Boer War in "Breaker Morant," Southern racial tensions in "Driving Miss Daisy," capital punishment in "Last Dance" or Japanese POW camps in "Paradise Road," the latter also with J. Margulies from "ER." The orphanages in which the kids live don't even seem that unpleasant aside from one fascistic nun whose misdeeds get exposed anyway. The real horror of the Irish orphanage gulag was that it was swept under the rug for decades. This movie functions under a "sunshine law," literally; I don't want to "spoil" the big climactic scene for anyone, but let's just say that if they ever do another version of "Alice in Wonderland," spunky little Sophie Vavasseur is just the one to stand up (and up, and up) and tell all the high muckamucks they're all just a pack of cards.

I hope this isn't making it seem I didn't enjoy the movie; quite the contrary. I especially liked the ordinary-joe quality of Brosnan's Doyle, neither sinister nor saintly, fumbling his way toward becoming a better man for his kids' sake. If anything, I wish they'd given him a few more "warts," if only to make the point that if a parent is not clearly abusing his or her kids, then those kids belong with the parent, and not with the sodding government, or church. Nice to see some of my favorites like Stephen Rea and Aidan Quinn and Alan Bates being such good sports. Julianna M. gets probably her most "normal" film role yet, and shows (at least to me) why she should be a major star. She exudes realness. When male characters contend for her, I buy it. Can't say that about every actress, some of whom probably get paid a lot more for their roles (sorry, Sandra Bullock).

Basically this is a "feel-good" flick, and we can always use those. But like the orphans still behind the walls at the end, there is a darker theme still waiting for it's moment in the sun.

By the way, dog-racing's not a very nice thing either.

The names Doyle....Desmond Doyle!

[davyeturner · 10/10 · 3 April 2005]

I'd borrowed the DVD of 'Evelyn' several weeks ago but only got around to watching it tonight and then wished I'd watched it several times in between before returning it to the person who loaned it to me....Brilliant is the only expletive to describe this warm, heartfelt story the likes of which 'they don't make anymore'. Pierce who in my mind has been the best Bond in the business (excluding Connery who being first gets originality) and was good for 2 or three more at least, proves again, as in 'Grey Owl' he is a first rate actor who shouldn't be judged simply as another 'Bond action man'. He acts his heart out in this role and brings the viewer a lovely story that probably wouldn't have been told without his personal support. More please Pierce, if the Bond producers can't recognise talent and the public great judgement, more 'Evelyn' type stories please Pierce and the Oscar should be just around the corner. Congrats to all involved.

Brothers?

[Sparklyruby · 5/10 · 29 March 2003]

What were her brother's names and why were they so blatantly neglected by their Dad, sister, and the world in general? I suppose the film title is entirely appropriate, but if you didn't pay attention you could be forgiven for thinking that Evelyn was an only child.

Sweet little thing

[Luminaria · 8/10 · 3 October 2005]

This a sweet little movie that details a real-life legal battle that took place in Ireland in 1953, when an unemployed alcoholic father who's wife runs off to New Zealand has his three children taken away "because that's the law" and placed in church-run orphanages. He petitions the Irish Supreme Court and sets a new precedent for Irish parental rights. Everyone who seems amazed that Pierce Brosnan can play the part of an average working guy (Desmond), will probably be astounded to find out that he is doing his own singing in the pub! The beginning of this film moves slowly, and it almost falls into anti-Catholic stereotypes, but although it skirts the edge, it never quite tips over. Characters are real - Desmond reacts as many a father would in such a situation - at first he falls into despair, but then he pulls himself together and fights back. The "victory" speech at the end, by the little girl, Evelyn, is predictably sweet, but Evelyn did speak at the trial, and the law did change, so one can forgive the sweetness.