Film review – John – 7/2/97
So what do you expect from a movie such as this? Thrills? Despair? Enlightenment?
“Michael Collins” tackles a subject that even now has to be regarded as controversial. The film ambitiously traces historical events which are probably still not very well understood outside Ireland.
Michael Collins was one of the founders of the IRA. Starting after the “Easter Uprising” in 1916, he
determinedly and single mindedly set about forcing the British rule in Ireland to a state where they had no option but to negotiate a settlement. Having reached such a point he – through no desire of his own – was placed in the position of leading the team that negotiated with the British Government to secure a treaty guaranteeing the formation of “The Irish Free State”. This treaty saw the division of Ireland into two halves. A large number of Collins’ colleagues and Irish nationalists refused to accept the
treaty he had negotiated on their behalf, which led to a bloody encounter between fellow countrymen.
“Michael Collins”, the film, tells the story of all this history with straight forward directness and sometimes shocking realism. These were gritty and hard times, and for the most part this film does not gloss over the realism or over romanticise the facts.
It does tell the story of someone who must be regarded an extraordinary man no matter one’s view of the right or wrong of what he did. Here there are moments of real insight into the humanity behind the gun. Perhaps the most telling scene shows Collins hiding in a Hotel room waiting and agonising while his men are out assassinating the complete special British team who were supposed to be there to “clean up the mess”.
Liam Neeson portrays Collins with a harsh realism which does not forego the humanity of the man. Alan Rickman plays De Valera who is more of the politician than Collins. A totally convincing performance from both brings to life the internal tension of the period.
Inevitably there are comparisons to be drawn between “Michael Collins” and “In the Name of the Father”, the other well known film in recent years to tackle modern Irish history and its effect on the people involved. “Michael Collins” is perhaps more closely related to historical fact than “In the Name of the Father”, but both films have the capability to make one stop and consider the nature of conflict and the realities of life in such a situation. I think that “Michael Collins” in the end is quite positive as it really encourages one to feel that one person can make a difference.
