Apologies to Oscar Wilde.
The first fews scenes go down easy, like a sip of Bailey's, as, one fine day, Pádraig (Farrell) sets out for his customary meeting with his friend Colm (Gleeson) at the pub.
Then, with no explanation, Colm cuts him off. Mystified, hurt, angry, Pádraig, like the audience, searches for a reason. What follows is his personal journey from being 'one of life's good guys' to a man who can face the pain of real life full on.
At first, it's played for laughs, and the two go at it like Lucy and Desi. But then, as one thing leads to another with the force of a Greek tragedy, things get completely - uh - out of hand. Pádraig's sister, Siobhán (Condon) tries to intervene, but gets sucked into the maelstrom, along with the 'dim' Dominic (Keoghan), .
What takes it to the next level, however, are McDonagh's masterly directing, his trademark dark humor, the compassion, and the magical light of the West of Ireland.
By the time the magic is withdrawn and the credits roll, that sip of Bailey's has been distilled into a powerful draft. Lingering over all is the scent of the love motivating Colm's sacrificial ritual.
The first fews scenes go down easy, like a sip of Bailey's, as, one fine day, Pádraig (Farrell) sets out for his customary meeting with his friend Colm (Gleeson) at the pub.
Then, with no explanation, Colm cuts him off. Mystified, hurt, angry, Pádraig, like the audience, searches for a reason. What follows is his personal journey from being 'one of life's good guys' to a man who can face the pain of real life full on.
At first, it's played for laughs, and the two go at it like Lucy and Desi. But then, as one thing leads to another with the force of a Greek tragedy, things get completely - uh - out of hand. Pádraig's sister, Siobhán (Condon) tries to intervene, but gets sucked into the maelstrom, along with the 'dim' Dominic (Keoghan), .
What takes it to the next level, however, are McDonagh's masterly directing, his trademark dark humor, the compassion, and the magical light of the West of Ireland.
By the time the magic is withdrawn and the credits roll, that sip of Bailey's has been distilled into a powerful draft. Lingering over all is the scent of the love motivating Colm's sacrificial ritual.