The Field (1990)
"Bull" McCabe's family has farmed a field for generations, sacrificing much in the name of the land. When the widow who owns the field decides to sell it in a public auction, McCabe knows that he must own it. While no local dare bid against him, a wealthy American decides he requires the field to build a highway. "Bull" and his son decide they must try to convince the American to let go of his ambition and return home, but the consequences of their plot prove sinister.
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Waste of time
good back-story, and good acting
Excellent adaptation.
A Disappointing Continuation
I swear, the amount of killings and the fact the film took really long, made me very bored and confused to what the hell was going on! Yeah I know what the story was about a farmer who wants the field from a widow but with so much things going on with this film, I just can't keep up with it! It was rather long and depressing too, the large amount of killings made me understand less on why some characters had to be killed off. I'm pretty sure this wasn't the Godfather, Love/Hate or any gangster film that involves a large amount of killings. What was the point of it anyways even if it was a thriller?I shouldn't have even stepped on this film, it was just terrible and if the play version of it came to my local theatre, I would happily avoid it! It just was a very depressing, boring and stupid Irish movie you would ever see in your entire life!
Being an avid follower of the Oscars ever since the 1984 ceremony has sometimes served to alert me about small movies which had nevertheless obtained at least one major accolade; this powerful Irish drama was just such a case and, appropriately enough, it has taken me all of 18 years to finally watch it! Richard Harris deservedly received his second personal Academy Award nomination (and the film's sole Oscar nod) for his riveting portrayal of an old farmer who is not about to let a visiting Irish-American (Tom Berenger) take away the titular plot of land which he has slaved for years over to breathe new life into. The colorful cast of characters is rounded up by John Hurt (as the mischievous village idiot), Brenda Fricker (as Harris' wife whom he has not spoken to for 18 years, since the accidental death of his son, despite still living under the same roof with her), Sean Bean (as Harris' immature other offspring) and Jenny Conroy (as the sultry village hussy whom Bean eventually takes up with over Harris' objections). The film which opens with the startling donkey disposal incident and closes with the mass suicide of a herd of cows that has tragic consequences is often beautiful to look and has a fine Elmer Bernstein score into the bargain but, truthfully, its real trump card remains, as I mentioned above, Harris' tour-de-force central performance.
I simply don't like cultural stereotypes -- it's lazy and emotionally stunted thinking. While we are given many extrapolations about the Irish (I'll leave it to the Irish to interpret them), we have a galling stereotype of an American. It's no more "right" than the stereotypes of the Irish seen in some Hollywood films (as a UK reviewer observed). You're insulting my people -- something that isn't right no matter whose people are being insulted. But then one person's bigotry is another's righteous opinion, it would seem.The film itself is about a half hour too long. Harris is wonderful but then he's always wonderful. The themes and ideas I'll leave to the Irish to judge.Now enjoy clicking "No" to the review.
generated images of the Irish people and Ireland - Forget it! This film has made a bigger impression upon me than any other I have witnessed, i was mesmerised during and contemplative afterward, to the extent that visiting Ireland became a personal obsession (now thankfully realised.The film is dark & depressing and does not have a remotely happy ending, it delivers realism something Hollywood all too often fails to accomplish.The film discusses many, many issues (its a legitimate argument that there are too many) and makes few, if any judgements, thats left to you the viewer, apply your own morals and interpret the issues yourself.I guess i really enjoyed the rawness of the film's subject, whilst in contrast the filming and acting was anything but raw, it is simply superb. Harris, Frecker, Bean & Hurt are excellent, the atmosphere of Ireland is tangible. In short, this a film to experience not merely watch.Watch it if you want provoking, if your looking for simple light entertainment you'll likely be disappointed.