Synopsis
Based on the best selling autobiography by Irish expat Frank McCourt, Angela's Ashes follows the experiences of young Frankie and his family as they try against all odds to escape the poverty endemic in the slums of pre-war Limerick. The film opens with the family in Brooklyn, but following the death of one of Frankie's siblings, they return home, only to find the situation there even worse. Prejudice against Frankie's Northern Irish father makes his search for employment in the Republic difficult despite his having fought for the IRA, and when he does find money, he spends the money on drink.
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Cast
- Emily WatsonAngela McCourt
- Robert CarlyleMalachy McCourt
- Joe BreenYoung Frank
- Michael LeggeOlder Frank
- Ciarán OwensMiddle Frank
- Ronnie MastersonGrandma Sheehan
- Pauline McLynnAunt Aggie
- Liam CarneyUncle Pa Keating
- Eanna MacLiamUncle Pat
- Shane Murray-CorcoranYoung Malachy
Recommendations
- 75
New York Daily News
The question is not whether the movie exactly duplicates the experience of the book, but whether the movie stands on its own. Angela's Ashes clearly does. - 75
Charlotte Observer
It really gets gloomy. - 75
Miami Herald
Something of Angela's Ashes does gets lost in translation -- mainly, its fiercely funny voice. - 75
Philadelphia Inquirer
Parker has honored the core of the work and in the process turned a great memoir into a memorable movie. - 70
Salon
Dramatic, massive in scale, at times very moving. And yet, somehow, it comes up short in terms of essential poetry. - 70
Los Angeles Times
If this beautifully made if flawed film sends people back to his book, it will have done good work for sure. - 50
L.A. Weekly
140 minutes of flat vignette, as dreary and uninvolving as the driving rain that never lets up on the benighted streets of Limerick. - 50
Christian Science Monitor
The end result smacks more of Hollywood melodrama than true compassion for the suffering poor.
