Sunburn (1999) User Reviews

irish kids find jobs on long island

[ksf-2 · 7/10 · 15 March 2023]

A real early role for cillian murphy. And his first as lead, according to the trivia. Young irish lads come to montauk to work at jobs in murrica on a work permit. The usual shenanigans, in between jobs. When they can find jobs. But some of the problems they thought they were leaving behind follow them to new york. Ireland is not as far away as they thought! Davin is trying to escape his pattern of goofing things up in his life. Robert is inexperienced, but has already met a woman who may or may not still be married. It's good! A young cillian murphy and his electric eyes. Co-stars barry ward and paloma baeza. It moves along. A coming of age film, with the added ireland connection. The only film directed by nelson hume. So far.

engaging, good story, terrific new actors, great photography

[hbg2 · 10/10 · 29 March 2001]

Sunburn was shown at the Irish Film Festival in New York City last year and that is where I saw it. The writers and director are Americans who have created an engaging and very sensitively performed coming-of-age story about Irish young adults who spend a summer working on Long Island. The interweaving of characters, their histories and feelings is very well accomplished and the cinematography is so beautiful as to almost be distracting. This is a film that would please a large audience of varied ages. Really delightful.

Sensitive, lovely, bitter-sweet, coming-of-age, feel-good film

[Darwin-9 · 10/10 · 22 October 1999]

This is a beautifully filmed work with excellent performers and an engaging story. The characters are sensitively developed by the director (Hume) and the cinematography is almost distractingly lush - the film has a distinct "look". I saw it at the Toronto Festival where it seemed to be enthusiastically received by an audience of mixed ages. It is very enjoyable and should be seen.

A Sweet Summer Movie

[trrzmicaela · 10/10 · 18 March 2021]

This movie feels like a real summer. You easily take a liking to all of the characters and the storyline. It does not have any unnecessary drama, it is simply a realistic sweet movie.

sweet,coming of age mini saga of young Irish immigrants summering in Montauk,sensitively written and filmed

[garrahan · 10/10 · 26 November 2006]

A sensitive portrayal of young Irish immigrants who come to the United States to work. They enjoy a casual lifestyle while enjoying the company of each other for one summer. It evolves as a "coming of age" mini-saga.The players interact romantically and emotionally whilst seeking to find work and support themselves. Interestingly, it appears that for most of the actors, this opportunity to film in the US was their first acting gig.As a result, the film imparted a sweet, truthful feeling. The writing was smooth; the filming transitionally lovely. While some scenes were of a sexual nature, I would recommend this film as a 13 plus target group without hesitation.

Sweet little film

[PeachHamBeach · 10/10 · 20 April 2011]

After several months of watching nine to ten minute chapters at a time, I finally finished SUNBURN last night and I really enjoyed it! It's not anything monumental, just a cute, sweet and sometimes sadly and refreshingly honest story about a group of Irish kids who immigrate to the U.S. and try out the American dream, living in Mantauk, Long Island. They get odd jobs, party, fall in love and make the kind of mistakes kids often make trying to figure themselves out. Davin McDerby (Cillian Murphy) isn't a perfect person or character. He's made quite a few stupid mistakes in life, the worst occurring right before he leaves Ireland. While in Mantauk, he falls for Aideen (one of Murphy's BFFs, Paloma Baeza who is great as always!). They'd make a perfect pair, but when Aideen accidentally finds out that Davin has a big secret, she's hurt and angry, and instead of being in denial about his huge mistake, he's forced to acknowledge it.

There are several people in the film, but the only other two who are well developed are Robert Fiske (Barry Ward) and a woman he falls in love with, Carolyn (Ingeborga Dapkunaite). The end of the movie is a little sad, but at the same time, rather fun to watch, romantic in a surprising way. Why this film isn't available on Region 1 DVD is a mystery to me!

Loved it

[npafyjvni · 8/10 · 27 April 2024]

Such a cute movie. Very '90s vibe. I can't believe how good Cillian Murphy has always been and at the same time what an artist he has become. Very nice comedy, quite relaxing, a movie you want to watch when you want to clear your mind and just chill out. Being a kid of the 90s I kind of recognise some of the themes and the American dream that European kids used to have to go and live the life. It's such a simple movie that I really enjoyed it and felt for every character, a fun bunch all with very different personalities and troubles. They are crossing together this very specific time of their life and after that, who knows maybe they won't see each other again, just like friends you met in summer camp. It gave me a nostalgic vibe but again loved it.