Titanic Town (NR) No Rating
It's mom against the military as a gutsy, had-it-up-to-here housewife battles the British government and the IRA in this warmly told true tale.
Story
Julie Walters shines as Bernie McPhelimy, a working-class mother of four who is sick to death of living on the front lines. In curlers and a housecoat, she chews out a gunman shooting from her welcome mat as if he were a naughty child. But it isn't until her best friend is shot dead while looking after one of Bernie's kids that she turns from Valium to activism. Daring to criticize the IRA as well as the British army, Bernie becomes the town pariah, though her gumption turns her into an unlikely celebrity. Ostracized and bullied by their friends, her kids -- especially adolescent Ann, who just wants to keep her new boyfriend -- resent her and suspect all this fame is going to her head.
Acting
In her best film role since "Educating Rita," Julie Walters shows she still has a surplus of piss and vinegar. Her Bernie also displays a sardonic (if exhausted) wit and an all-too-human ego as her fame spreads. While Ciaran Hinds is effective as the ulcer-addled apprehensive husband and Nuala O'Neill gives an appropriately mopey, angst-ridden performance as Ann, vibrant supporting performances by the townspeople really bring soul and humor to this film.
Direction
Quite different from his last film, the glossy, fluffy "Notting Hill," Rodger Michell's "Titanic Town" is a small indie with many fine miniature moments, such as Bernie's preoccupation with the dust bunnies under the bed as British soldiers forcibly search her home. With a spate of IRA films preceding it, Michell's is the only one to really show "The Troubles" through a mother's eyes.
Bottom Line
Likable but slight, the film has both comedy and poignancy, but not enough of either. Luckily it has Julie Walters.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Starring Julie Walters, Ciaran Hinds, Ciaran McMenamin, Nuala O'Neill and Lorcan Cranitch.
Directed by Roger Michell. Produced by George Faber and Charles Pattinson. Screenplay by Anne Devlin. Released by The Shooting Gallery.
To get the full Quicklook Films experience, uncheck "Enable on this Site" from Adblock Plus
box office top 10
Challengers Released: April 26, 2024 Cast: Zendaya, Josh O'Connor 15M
Unsung Hero Released: April 26, 2024 Cast: Daisy Betts, Joel Smallbone 7.8M
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire Released: March 29, 2024 Cast: Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry 7.2M
Civil War Released: April 12, 2024 Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura 7M
Abigail Released: April 19, 2024 Cast: Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens 5.3M
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare Released: April 19, 2024 Cast: Henry Cavill, Eiza Gonzalez 3.9M
Kung Fu Panda 4 Released: March 8, 2024 Cast: Jack Black, Viola Davis 3.6M
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Released: March 22, 2024 Cast: Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon 3.3M
Dune: Part Two Released: March 1, 2024 Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson 2M
Boy Kills World Released: April 26, 2024 Cast: Bill Skarsgård, Famke Janssen 1.7M