Inside I'm Dancing (2004)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Damien O'Donnell

Writers:

Jeffrey Caine (screenplay)
Christian O'Reilly (story)

Release Date:

15 October 2004 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Live life like you mean it.

Plot:

When the kinetic Rory moves into his room in the Carrigmore Residential Home for the Disabled, his effect on the home is immediate. Most telling is his friendship with Michael, a young man with cerebral palsy and nearly unintelligible speech. Somehow, Rory understands Michael, and encourages him to experience life outside the confines of home.

Plot Keywords:

Cerebral Palsy | Unintelligible | Friendship | Love | Rain

Awards:

4 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Steven Robertson	...	Michael Connolly
Alan King	...	Tommy
Brenda Fricker	...	Eileen
Ruth McCabe	...	Annie
James McAvoy	...	Rory O'Shea
Anna Healy	...	Alice
Tom Hickey	...	Con O'Shea
Sarah Jane Drummey	...	Girl in Pub
Rachel Hanna	...	Girl in Pub
Emmet Kirwan	...	Angry Man
Romola Garai	...	Siobhan
Pat Shortt	...	Nightclub Doorman
Stanley Townsend	...	Interview Panelist
Derbhle Crotty	...	Interview Panelist
Donal Toolan	...	Interview Panelist

Also Known As:

Rory O'Shea Was Here (USA)

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

UK | Ireland | France

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M | Argentina:13 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Finland:K-3 | Sweden:Btl | Germany:6 | USA:R | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Dame Street, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

Company:

WT2 Productions

Trivia:

Originally, James McAvoy wanted to audition for the part of Michael until he auditioned with Steven Robertson and realized Robertson would be better at the part.

Quotes:

[before leaving the Carrigmore institution]
Rory: If I've said or done anythin' earlier to offend ya' at any time, then... good!

Movie Connections:

References Being There (1979)

Soundtrack:

Look of Love

F****N' Amazin'

I just witnessed a movie that by all rights should have been fodder for a second rate MOW on Lifetime...but trust the Irish to keep it from being anything but saccharine. The set-up all but SCREAMS "Here's a message concerning what's TRULY important in life" but the execution was way into the "Let's see just what we can get away with, here."

It helps to have two fantastic actors in the leads -- James McAvoy (as Rory) and Stephen Robertson (as Michael). While Rory is offered up as the near saintly one -- never mind the language and attitude, he's the "life force" in this piece and could easily have been insufferable in his ultimately "caring" attitude -- McAvoy keeps him sharp enough to keep him from being too sweet. But the revelation is Stephen Robertson as Michael. Not since Leonardo Di Caprio in "...Gilbert Grape" has anyone so perfectly captured a person with an affliction that I began to believe he really was an actor with cerebral palsy. And his eyes...my God, he can rip you apart with them.

This movie is, to paraphrase Rory, f****n' amazing. Go see it. Take a box of Kleenex and enjoy every well-earned tear...and laugh.