Mickybo and Me (2004)

Director:

Terry Loane

Writers:

Terry Loane (screenplay)
Owen McCafferty (play)

Release Date:

25 March 2005 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

We all need heroes

Plot:

The film tells the story of two boys who become friends at the start of the Troubles in 1970. The boys share an obsession with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, with the consequence that they run away to Australia.

Plot Keywords:

Children | Belfast | Based On Play

Awards:

1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

John Joe McNeill	...	Mickybo
Niall Wright	...	Jonjo
Julie Walters	...	Mickybo's Ma
Ciarán Hinds	...	Jonjo's Da
Adrian Dunbar	...	Mickybo's Da
Gina McKee	...	Jonjo's Ma
Susan Lynch	...	Torch Woman
Laine Megaw	...	Auntie Rita
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Barbara Adair	...	Elderly Wife
Hannah Carnegie	...	Niamh
Patricia Carson	...	Annie
Brendan Caskey	...	Gank
Charlie Clarke	...	Fartface
Maria Connolly	...	Travel Agent Lady
Chris Corrigan	...	Policeman 1
Brian Devlin	...	Rifle Stall Owner
Gerry Doherty	...	Policeman 2
James Doran	...	Barman
Anthony Finigan	...	Barney
Dan Gordon	...	Preacher
Conor Grimes	...	Policeman 3
Niall Hanna	...	Shoe Shop Boy
Vincent Higgins	...	Con
Ashley Hillis	...	Mary
Gemma Hillis	...	Dee
B.J. Hogg	...	Sydney
Paul Jennings	...	Security Guard 2
Tim Loane	...	Barman Present Day
Michael McElhatton	...	Mechanic
Paula McFetridge	...	Shoe Shop Boys Mum
Christina McQuillan	...	Roisín
Andy Moore	...	Policeman 4
Antoinette Morelli	...	Chippy Van Attendant
J.J. Murphy	...	Elderly Husband
Paul Newman	...	Butch Cassidy (archive footage)
Sheelagh O'Kane	...	Nosey Neighbour
Owen O'Neill	...	Adult Mickybo
Robert Redford	...	The Sundance Kid (archive footage)
Martin Rogan	...	Security Guard 1
Pascal Scott	...	Garda
Paddy Scully	...	Bank Teller
Bronagh Taggart	...	Fusco's Ice-Cream Waitress

Also Known As:

Jonjo Mickybo (Ireland: English title) (working title)
Mickybo & Me (Ireland: English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and brief sexuality.

Runtime:

UK:95 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M | Spain:13 | Singapore:PG | USA:R | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Australia

Company:

Working Title Films

Goofs:

Continuity: The theater is obviously on the protestant side of the bridge. Catholic bullies will not cross the bridge at the beginning of movie, but are routinely seen at the theater. They even tell the protestant at the theater to go back to his own side of the bridge, implying that it is on the Catholic side.

Quotes:

[repeated line]
Mickybo: Beazer!

Movie Connections:

Features Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

Poignant and funny

The story is basically that of two young boys in Belfast in the summer of 1970 who come from opposite sides of the sectarian divide. Obsessed with the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, they decide to run away to Australia and leave their problems behind.

I've seen this film twice and would happily watch it again. The two young main characters, Jonjo and Mickybo, are wonderfully cast and the story dwells on their friendship and their need to escape their lives rather than being just another film about the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

The cast is excellent, Adrian Dunbar being a standout as the wastrel father. The film is definitely a crowd pleaser but the story is good enough to avoid being corny or sentimental.