A Shine of Rainbows (2010)

Wonderful Movie

Sadly Over-hyped

Beautiful, moving film.

Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

The film truly captures the spirit of the book which I read first. I have only one quibble ... seeing as the book is set where I come from: Lilian Beckwith lived in the village of Elgol on the Isle of Skye. John Bell is a Scottish actor from Paisley. Why on earth transpose the whole thing to Ireland? What's wrong with keeping it where it belongs? That aside, the film was beautifully acted and never descended to mere sentimentalism. Never were you made to squirm. This is a film which could be recommended to any family. It deals with the really difficult issues of life ... loss, acceptance and how unconditional love can cause a person to grow into who they can truly be inside. Also how unconditional love can heal.

This is a feel good movie if ever I had to describe one. Yep, it will leave you with a warm and fuzzy feeling at the end and might even make you more cordial towards others for a day or so. If this sounds way different than other reviews of this movie, it's not because I'm being cynical or trying to be funny; I'm not. This movie type requires a building of good feeling followed by a sudden very sad tragic event so that the redeeming third phase can effectively lift your spirit through a positive 'good can come from bad situation'; it's classic and it's a tried and true formula.The movie is as close to a fairytale as a definitively not fairytale can be. Connie Nielsen is the best looking adoptive mother you'll ever see and plays an ideal loving wife. I was envious of Aidan Quinn who plays Nielsen's husband, but only for a while because, hey, it's just a movie. So you get that Nielsen is charming as hell. Read the storyline and you'll get an idea of what you can potentially be watching, assuming you haven't yet seen the flick. Luckily, Nielsen's character dies before the abundance of sweetness she spreads turns you into a diabetic. Yea, that bit is a little cynical and perhaps funny to some. Don't get me wrong, I love Nielsen as an overly optimist character because it's just what the young boy she's adopted needed, unfortunately it renders the middle of the movie utterly predictable; as previously commented, she dies. This may sound odd but her heart of gold character in this movie made me have a flashback moment to another character, very nice contrast, she played in "Devil's Advocate". Sorry about that; I write it like I feel it.The end of the movie is pretty much predictable but you'll watch it anyway to see Quinn's smile one time before the credits start rolling; the true reason you will is because you will have come to the realisation, by then, that it's a good movie well acted. The part of the movie that, to me, makes it stand out from other movies with more or less similar story lines is that the adoptive boy, very well played by John Bell, deals with the death of his adoptive mom not like what movies are suppose to show but like the character would react if he was real. That grieving period for the boy is not a quickie scene or two but full part of the movie; it is at the core of the movie's message and it required Bell to do some acting you won't see too many actors his age deliver (best I've seen). If you need to get back in the good graces of your wife or girlfriend, or if you just need a girlfriend to warm up to you a little by showing your sensitive side, bring her to see this movie or rent it for the occasion; telling her it was depressing or boring would be a very bad idea. Resist speaking; take out the tissues and snuggle up close.

There are people in this world with what could be called "hearts of gold". One such person is Mary O'Donnell, the attractive woman who is unable to have children. Adoption is her way of sharing her love with the child she could not have. When she visits the orphanage, Mary falls in love with Tomas, a young boy with an unhappy look in his face.The arrival in Corrie is not exactly what Mary was expecting. Her husband, Alec, does not know how to deal with the boy. Mary shows incredible patience with Tomas, as she tries to acquaint him with the new home. She takes him to the beach where she teaches the boy how to call the seals that populate the waters nearby. Mary promises that by whispering to these animals, they have the power to bring whatever messages are trusted to them to the right persons. Tomas realizes how much he owes to Mary; he wants to call her 'mom', something that brings happiness to her.Unfortunately, happiness is short lived because Mary is a sick woman. She has to be taken to the hospital. Tomas' heart is broken because losing Mary will only mean one thing, he will be returned to the orphanage and his old life again. Little does he know that Alec learns to accept him, and eventually love him as his own son.The film is directed by Vic Sarin, who also contributed with Catherine Spear and Dennis Foon to the adaptation of the novel by Lillian Beckwith. It is a feel good movie in spite of the tragedy Tomas experiences at such a young age. The message is basically how love given to a complete stranger can transform people in such a positive way. While Tomas seems to be the one that has to gain the most, it is his adoptive father Alec the ones that benefits because the love Mary brought to the situation.Connie Nielsen makes a wonderful Mary O'Donnell. Ms. Nielsen is a welcome addition to any film in which she graces with her personality. Aidan Quinn spends most of the film being in a foul mood as he cannot accept the presence of a stranger in his own home. The boy actor John Bell appears to be a natural. The setting of Corrie island adds another layer to the film. The gorgeous photography by its director Vic Sarin is a pleasure to watch. Keith Porter contributed with the musical score.

During a previewed screening of this film the only shine throughout the whole movie was that of the light that burst through the door as I opened it mid-way the films screening as I left the theater. The film started with a boy in an orphanage and we as viewers are given the impression that he is unhappy; like anyone in an orphanage is. He is then adopted by a woman and taken to her home on an island off the Irish Sea. The rest of what I saw of the film is complete dribble and carries no interesting plot development. Aidan Quinn plays the husband and foster father to this boy. He is bitter and seems to dislike the boy. The mother is chipper and excited for the boy, although we find out that she has medical issues that will enviably lead to her death. This tear-jerking Irish film gets two-thumbs down! It is boring and poorly acted. I feel more pain and sadness for the viewers of this film than the characters in it.