Angela's Ashes [Blu-ray]
D**T
Sad but good story
Well worth the watch. The lead actor who plays the young version in most of this movie deserves an award. Phenomenal performance!
S**R
Angela's Ashes
This is an excellent movie. It will make you cry. It is a true story!
E**R
The affects of alcoholism on families
It’s a very sad but true devastation on all around people who have a family member suffering from this disease
V**S
So good!!
It was a great watch!!! Loved it!!
C**
Moving
I tried to get my husband to watch this for years. When he finally did he was enthralled.
C**E
Excellent movie
Great DVD. Excellent customer service from seller. Thank you.
S**O
Depression-era Ireland spot on
I wanted an insight into the social and economic conditions of late 1920s Ireland and this is it, without a doubt. If I was only interested in a drama of a simple Irish family, I could see where the one-star reviews are coming from. This movie (I haven't read the book) is a difficult-to-forget depiction of the wretchedness that was endured by a great many people in the Great Depression, almost like a Grapes of Wrath for Limerick, Ireland. I was stunned scene-after-scene in what the locals had to endure and made comparisons to what it's like in the U.S. today for most people (e.g., luxurious by comparison). The rainy, chilly, gloomy weather was the fitting back-drop for an existence that had an absolute paucity of any simple pleasure. My worse days today are vastly better than the best days depicted in the movie. Also highly informative is the overarching influence of strict Catholicism (I grew-up with a version of it). A person could not lift a finger without the bane of Catholicism come crashing down on it. Enjoyed the movie very much for it's insights.
J**N
Is the story true? I believe it is and here is why...
I read review after review about "Angela's Ashes" saying that the book about Frank McCourt's life is not truth but mearly a well written, sad, fictional story. In fact even some people that grew up with Frank McCourt say it isn't true at all. I did some research on Frank McCourt. He grew up Irish and Catholic in Limerick Ireland. I did too but not in Ireland. I grew up in Ohio. However, I know there are things like abuse that are not talked about either in the church or in the community. I couldn't go to my priest or my teachers at school and tell them I was getting beat every other day. Well yes, I suppose I literally could have but I doubt they would do anything back then. Priests and nuns back in the day were really mean people. If you are not Catholic then you do not understand. It was 35 years ago for me and perhaps now things are different. Up until the 1990's people didn't care nor did the police or community leaders. My step-father had the police called on him many times but either my mother would lie or most of the time the police did nothing. As far as I remember charges were never filed against him even after my brothers told the police of his abuse. Is it possible that a family can live a different life than the appearance other people see? YES! I know. I lived it.The famous actor Richard Harris called Frank McCourt a liar. They grew up in the same neighborhood. I BELIEVE FRANK. Why? My wife and I grew up in the same neighborhood, had the same friends and graduated from the same high school of 92 people. Until we started dating 4 years ago she never knew anything that went on in my home. It is amazing what people can hide if they want to. You see it all the time on the news. This couple has a hidden sex slave for years, or bodies buried in the back yard, or this abuse happened right under the nose of everyone else. Is it that much of a stretch to believe Frank's story?In Frank's book "Angela's Ashes" he makes it a point to convey how embarrassing it was for his family to be the poorest of the poor. Perhaps Frank did not get every fact correct and perhaps the movie did not represent the book well but let me leave you with something. When children are ashamed of the worst most horrendous things in their life like abuse and poverty they are not going to step up on a soap box and tell you - especially if they are afraid of the consequences. I did not grow up very poor but I am catholic and Scottish/Irish and was abused and NO ONE knew except my close relatives. There is also an argument that if you were very poor everyone else would know. Sure today that might hold water but back then everyone had it bad. Not even my closest friends knew how bad I had it. So, Frank, wherever you are, I believe you....RIP.
J**R
Absolutely Brilliant Film
What a fantastic film and acted brilliantly. If on occasions you are not happy with your life and feel sorry for yourself STOP and watch this film, this film shows you really what it means to be poor and desperate. It’s not easy to watch at times and a proper tear jerker but essential viewing and well worth watching, you’ll never forget it that’s for sure. My review sounds a bit depressing I know but I believe this film should be included in every household to remind people how lucky they are today compared to the hardships of our ancestors. Absolutely brilliant film
F**M
A remarkable film portraying Frank McCourt's humour in the face of utter desperation.
I purchased this DVD after reading 'Tis', the sequel to Angela's ashes. The advantage of buying the DVD as opposed to renting the film is that you get to see all the add-ons showing the making of the film and interviews with the actors and director etc. It is telling that the conditions in which McCourt was raised were so utterly dire that nothing like them existed any more when the film was made ,and had to be replicated by some truly amazing set builders. His childhood and relationship with his errant father clearly had a profound effect on McCourt who describes it in minute detail in the most engaging and humorous way.
T**S
The best biopic movie I've ever seen
I absolutely adore this film. Very heart wrenching and content hard to imagine that this really happened with factual narrating throughout & extremely true to Frank Mc Court's biography book about his childhood in impoverished Ireland, slums he lived in with his drunken father & desperate mother trying to survive. Its so hard to imagine people actually lived like that. Very gripping because it's a true story. A MUST SEE 👀 👌
S**R
Today's society should be made to watch this film.
So, very sad but top rated because it demonstrates how 'poor' really meant 'poor'. People today complain of being poor. This film shows how tough it really was to be 'poor' before we had the benefit of birth control, stopping unwanted pregnancies, how difficult it was to get the most meagre amount of financial support just taking taking you out of starvation and what the consequences were if, as in the film, one member of the family miss-appropriates what little money came by their way, squandering it selfishly with disregard to others in the family. It was/is a poignant reminder how life could be if we were not in today's more generous society and perhaps make people realize how fortunate we are and appreciate it better.
I**S
Really shows you what life was like in Ireland.
Being Irish myself, i heard about this film from my mother who praised it greatly, i decided to buy it online after it being about 15 years since i last saw it (i couldnt remember it as i was only 4 when i first watched it) and i was amazed, it opens your eyes up to all the things Ireland went through. My mother herself had to live through the same kinda thing, in the same situation, i dont see why this film has so many bad reviews, no, its not an action packed film with loads of star celebrities in it, its a drama that is factual, i for one love it, i would recommend it to anyone.
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