This film hit the headlines when female lead Rose McGowan stated if she'd be born in Belfast she'd have " one hundred per cent have been in the IRA " . Hmm I wonder if she'd have been born in the protestant areas of the city she might have been in the UVF or UFF ? Maybe if she'd been born in the Middle East she'd have moved to America and taken up flying lessons ? Who knows ? What is certain is she might have appeared in the film but failed to understand it in anyway because this - unlike so many films financed by American money dealing with the recent troubles - is not a flag waver for the fascist Provisional IRA . In fact it comes close to being the best film about the troubles but ruins itself in the final third
To elaborate the audience are given the background to how the troubles started so thankfully the producers aren't going to equate Irish good and Brits bad . Even better the audience are shown that the provisional IRA aren't the noble are courageous freedom fighters portrayed in the likes of THE DEVIL'S OWN . They rob , maim torture and kill members of their own community , a community they claim to to protect . Try and think of an Irish Joe Pesci in a Martin O' Scorsese picture where the gangsters don't stick to their own and you've got the idea. Apparently this idea is beyond Ms McGowan. In short this is a film dealing with complex and sensitive issues and for the most part deals with them very well . In short 50 DEAD MEN WALKING had me thinking it was going to surpass HARRY'S GAME as the best thriller set against the troubles but it sadly failed in the end
The problem lies in the storytelling . It's easy to overlook minor details such as Martin McGartland surviving a murder attempt in Canada when in fact the attempted assassination took part in Nothern England but what spoils the film is the need to bring OTT action sequences in it when the film doesn't need embellishment and was doing very well without it and for some reason the film contrives to bring more and more action to the story . Take for example the ridiculous shoot out in the pub which never happened in reality . This is followed by a riot where Martin is being held captive which didn't happen in reality followed by Martin's successful escape from the provos - just not as happened in real life . The only reason for changing this fact is to set up an " exciting it says here " car chase to the hospital with special branch policeman Fergus driving to the hospital with all guns blazing with the IRA in hot pursuit. Do I have to point out this sequence never happened in reality either ?
Dear oh dear . Yet another almost good film dealing with Northern Ireland where the truth would have been a bit more interesting than fiction . IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER also suffered from the same flaws by playing hard and loose with the facts but IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER still remains a compelling drama where as 50 DEAD MEN WALKING is ruined to a degree by wanting to be an action thriller when it worked best as a taut drama
To elaborate the audience are given the background to how the troubles started so thankfully the producers aren't going to equate Irish good and Brits bad . Even better the audience are shown that the provisional IRA aren't the noble are courageous freedom fighters portrayed in the likes of THE DEVIL'S OWN . They rob , maim torture and kill members of their own community , a community they claim to to protect . Try and think of an Irish Joe Pesci in a Martin O' Scorsese picture where the gangsters don't stick to their own and you've got the idea. Apparently this idea is beyond Ms McGowan. In short this is a film dealing with complex and sensitive issues and for the most part deals with them very well . In short 50 DEAD MEN WALKING had me thinking it was going to surpass HARRY'S GAME as the best thriller set against the troubles but it sadly failed in the end
The problem lies in the storytelling . It's easy to overlook minor details such as Martin McGartland surviving a murder attempt in Canada when in fact the attempted assassination took part in Nothern England but what spoils the film is the need to bring OTT action sequences in it when the film doesn't need embellishment and was doing very well without it and for some reason the film contrives to bring more and more action to the story . Take for example the ridiculous shoot out in the pub which never happened in reality . This is followed by a riot where Martin is being held captive which didn't happen in reality followed by Martin's successful escape from the provos - just not as happened in real life . The only reason for changing this fact is to set up an " exciting it says here " car chase to the hospital with special branch policeman Fergus driving to the hospital with all guns blazing with the IRA in hot pursuit. Do I have to point out this sequence never happened in reality either ?
Dear oh dear . Yet another almost good film dealing with Northern Ireland where the truth would have been a bit more interesting than fiction . IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER also suffered from the same flaws by playing hard and loose with the facts but IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER still remains a compelling drama where as 50 DEAD MEN WALKING is ruined to a degree by wanting to be an action thriller when it worked best as a taut drama