Anton (2008)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Graham Cantwell

Writer:

Anthony Fox (writer)

Release Date:

10 October 2008 (Ireland)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Plot:

When Anton O'Neill returns home after five years at sea, he finds that 1970's Ireland is a radically different place to the one he left behind...

Plot Keywords:

Irish | Irish Cop | 1972 | IRA | Based On True Story

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Gerard McSorley	...	Detective Lynch
Anthony Fox	...	Anton
Laura Way	...	Maria
Andy Smith	...	Brendan
Cillian Roche	...	Edward
Vincent Fegan	...	Diarmuid
Sean Stewart	...	Steven
Griet van Damme	...	Sophie
Ronan Wilmot	...	Johnny
Rachel Rath	...	Detective Byrne
Richard Wall	...	Detective Thornton
Rory Mullen	...	Detective Flynn
Patrick Clarke	...	Barrister Macken
Seamus Hughes	...	Tonto (as Seamus O'Haodha)
Lenny Hayden	...	Chief Prison Officer Swafford

Also Known As:

Trapped (International: English title)

Runtime:

Ireland:95 min

Country:

Ireland

Language:

English

Color:

Color (hd) | Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Ireland:16

Filming Locations:

Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK

Company:

Fox Glove Films

Trivia:

Irvine Welsh has a non-speaking cameo role.

Soundtrack:

One

Inspirational Irish Film

I gave Anton a 10 rating despite a couple of misgivings. The sheer ambition of this movie is inspirational! Ambition, something sadly lacking in Ireland, just look at RTE, TV3 and the morons who run the country. I can't recall an Irish film which dared to compete with Hollywood action thrillers, Recent Irish Films (A film with me in it, Middletown, Adam & Paul, 32a, Garage etc) have been slow paced and better suited for TV. Sorry about the rant! The recreation of the 70's period in this movie is flawless, the score, cinematography and most of the performances are incredible. On the downside, the filmmakers tried to cram so much in that the film losses focus at points. Gerard McSorley does his thing to great effect lending tremendous weight to the production, but it's the supporting performances that are surprisingly good. With Anton, Irish Film is getting on track, (not back on track, because it was never on track in my opinion) What Ireland needs is more people working in the film industry with balls and before you say, what about movies like, In the Name of the Father, The Boxer, Michael Collins, Veronica Guerin etc, yes they were good, great even, but these films were made by Hollywood studios so can't be considered true Irish Films.