Some Mother's Son (1996)

Memorable, crazy movie

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

I only loosely knew about the Irish Hunger Strikers when I saw "Some Mother's Son". It shocked me what the movie portrayed. It's about not only the men themselves, but how two of the mothers have to try and maintain hope as the men remain in jail, starving because they dared to resist the British occupation. True, the whole situation in Northern Ireland may be a controversial one, but this movie gives it all a humanizing aspect, showing what it really feels like to have to experience the oppression every day. Helen Mirren, as one of the mothers, turns in as good a performance as we can expect from her (why has she never won an Oscar?) as does Fionnula Flanagan, as another mother. Definitely a movie that I recommend.

Excellent movie, great soundtrack too. I thought that Helen Mirren was fantastic. She does the part of a very confused mother very well.Apparently there were some location snafus, as mentioned in the discussion group. So the movie isn't 100% accurate. But the basic storyline is accurate enough.The movie was also very realistic as far as the historical background goes. The British incompetence during the Hunger Strikes was so typical, and the movie makes note of that.It's nice to see a movie that shows the frustrations of the Irish in a clear light.Somebody get this movie out on DVD right away!!

With an excellent cast, soundtrack and photography this film's one flaw is that it must over-simplify a complex and pivotal episode in Irish history. Despite that it does a fairly good job of capturing the essence of what happened, smartly exposing the viewer to this rarely seen world through the eyes of a middle-class mother whose son, unknown to her, is caught up in the incendiary world of 'the Troubles' of Northern Ireland.Convicted of taking part in an attack on British forces as part of an IRA Active Service Unit, her son quickly finds himself the cell-mate of soon-to-be-IRA-icon/martyr, Bobby Sands. Although the film does not really explore the personality of this seminal figure (for ex: that he was a poet), it does convey the gravity of the situation he was thrust in as well as the huge impact the hunger strike had on the Northern Irish, indeed people around the world.But more so, this film is about the suffering that the women in these situations, particularly the mothers (hence the title) must endure. They have no choice in the tragedy that forces itself on their lives, yet they must find ways to overcome and affect what positive change they can.Some say there is not enough "action" in the film. It is not an "action" movie. There are plenty of Dolph Lundgren vehicles out there if that is all you want. This film is about how episodes of moving history effects everyday people's lives.

"Some Mother's Son" is yet another in a long list of films dealing with the strife in Ireland. This film examines the ebb and flow of policies and sentiments surrounding a hunger strike by IRS prisoners. As interesting as the divisive issue is the drama depicting how deeply into the "soldiers'" families the tragedy of the Irish conflict penetrates. An excellent shoot in full color (most of these IRA films are near monochrome) with superb performances and no agenda, "SMS" is a worthwhile watch for anyone interested in serious drama; especially Irish drama.