Director: John Michael McDonagh
Starring: Brendan Gleeson, Kelly Reilly, Aiden Gillan, Chris O’Dowd, Dylan Moran, Isaach De Bankole, M. Emmet Walsh, Marie-Jose Croze, Domhnall Gleeson, David Wilmot
Running Time: 101 minutes
Certificate: 15
Extras: Interviews
As far as sibling pissing contests go, the McDonagh brothers are inseparable at this point. Each has given us two feature length films as director and each film has been a beautifully scripted triumph of great dark comedy and stirring emotions. CALVARY continues this run and employs many of the tropes we’ve come to associate with the McDonaghs without ever feeling tiresome or weary. There’s a very Irish feel to the whole film, black humour of the darkest variety, shocking moments of violence, and characters to actually care about.
The dramatic set-up is prevalent in the opening scene. During confessional an innocent priest is told he is going to be killed by a man who was sexually abused as a child by another priest. What sets this apart from most murder mysteries is that we’re told about the crime at the beginning and await to see if it is carried out, and the potential victim is fully aware of who the culprit is, though we as the audience are not. It gives a new sense of dread and non-negotiable certainty that feels both tragic and terrifying.
Gleeson, in a career best (which is truly saying something), acts as a snarky yet genuine priest who is forever flabbergasted by the people and world around him. He is constantly the butt of paedophilic priest jokes, is given the runaround after reported domestic violence, and is even chastised for merely talking to a young girl. The film eloquently questions the role of religion in society today as well as questioning those who would question it. Should Gleeson’s character be blamed for being part of an organisation that has done so many wrongs? Or should he be seen as the genuine man he comes across as? It will be a difficult film for the religious and non-religious alike, as it has no easy answers for very difficult questions.
“I first tasted semen when I was seven years old,” is an unforgettable and powerful opening line which denotes the dark tone of the film, but McDonagh’s expert writing also finds plenty of places for humour too. Perhaps because of this, the likes of Chris O’Dowd and Dylan Moran are cast is wonderfully funny, though also tragic roles. They keep the laughs coming, albeit begrudgingly, and allow for easy access on a human level. Stunning scenery and subtle music add to a truly great film. If you’ve yet to see CALVARY, you’ll be seeing it a lot more on the end of year best lists..
[usr=5]CALVARY is released on DVD and Blu-ray from 11th August and is out to Download NOW!
