I saw Black 47 in Dublin last evening with my 23 yr old son and we both loved this movie, but in different ways. I thought it was a magnificent piece of movie making -historically and sadly accurate, as well as being an exciting revenge thriller in the style of any great Clint Eastwood western. My son simply loved the action and thrill of the central characters's chase - for him, the famine was just a background to the action.
Director Lance Daly and his writers have managed pull off the difficult feat of making a film about the Irish Famine, a universal soldier's lot, and a stubborn individual set on justice for the wronged, that is both resonant, thought provoking -not all the villains are English- and yet completely, absorbingly, thrilling. Even the end feels true to life and nicely ambiguous.
Charismatic acting from the leads, the great Hugo Weaving (Hannah) and newcomer James Frecheville (Feeney), gives a throbbing heart to the action, with Freddie Fox I-want-to-smack-his-smug-gob-perfect as a by-the-book arrogant military counterpoint . I am amazed to see Frecheville is actually Australian, his red bearded look and his English /Irish accent are so spot on (a comparative rarity in films set in Ireland :-).... ). His thousand yard stare is right up there with Clint Eastwood's, and his fight scenes are convincingly violent, dirty and nail biting.
The bleak Irish land plays a big role in Black 47, well served with beautiful cinematography - many shots look good enough to hang on any wall. Language is used to great effect - showing how it could be a big handicap for the poorest, categorise and divide the social classes and even yield a few sly laughs here and there.
The rest of the actors are well cast and deliver authentic performances - notably Stephen Rea playing a jaded professional story teller, guide and sleeveen to a tee and Jim Broadbent (once again) delivering a complex but repulsive portrayal of an English landowner.
There is a lot to think about in the film - for example I never really considered that not all parts of the country were equally blighted during the famine - some made out quite nicely thank you very much. So Black 47 is a history lesson wrapt up inside a gripping action move - you can enjoy it either way. I predict this will be a big hit in Ireland.
Voir plus 
