The Devil's Own (1997)

A police officer uncovers the real identity of his house-guest, an I.R.A. terrorist in hiding.

Director:

Alan J. Pakula

Writers:

Kevin Jarre (story), David Aaron Cohen (screenplay)

Stars:

Harrison Ford, Brad Pitt, Margaret Colin

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Harrison Ford	...	Tom O'Meara
Brad Pitt	...	Rory Devaney / Francis Austin McGuire
Margaret Colin	...	Sheila O'Meara
Rubén Blades	...	Edwin Diaz
Treat Williams	...	Billy Burke
George Hearn	...	Peter Fitzsimmons
Mitchell Ryan	...	Chief Jim Kelly
Natascha McElhone	...	Megan Doherty
Paul Ronan	...	Sean Phelan
Simon Jones	...	Harry Sloan
Julia Stiles	...	Bridget O'Meara
Ashley Carin	...	Morgan O'Meara
Kelly Singer	...	Annie O'Meara
David O'Hara	...	Martin MacDuff
David Wilmot	...	Dessie

Storyline

A thriller about an IRA gunman who draws an American family into the crossfire of terrorism. Frankie McGuire is one of the IRA's deadliest assassins. But when he is sent to the U.S. to buy weapons, Frankie is housed with the family of Tom O'Meara, a New York cop who knows nothing about Frankie's real identity. Their surprising friendship, and Tom's growing suspicions, force Frankie to choose between the promise of peace or a lifetime of murder.

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Plot Keywords:

terrorist | murder | police officer | northern ireland | friendship | 

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Taglines:

One man trapped by destiny, and another bound by duty. They're about to discover what they're willing to fight, and to die for.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong brutal violence, and for language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 March 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Enemigo íntimo

Filming Locations:

Baruch College, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$86,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$18,063,265, 30 March 1997, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$42,868,348

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$81,500,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Film debut of Rob McElhenney

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Goofs

In the 1st shootout in Ireland, when Franky is looking out the window BEFORE the shooting starts there are already bullet marks in the wall around the window. Sure enough that's where the bullet's hit when the shootout commences

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Quotes

[first lines]
Frankie's Mother: How was your day?
Frankie's Father: It was a bit cold.

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Connections

Referenced in Spoiler Wars (2002)

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Soundtracks

There Will Never Be Another You
Written by Harry Warren & Mack Gordon

User Reviews

Why must Hollywood meddle in things it doesn't understand?

I say this making no pretense at completely understanding the Irish conflict myself (you'd have to ask someone with experience of Belfast for a more authentic take on the situation), but the irresponsible way the troubles were used here as a backdrop to what is supposed entertainment staggers me. It isn't as if it needed this detail; the terrorist could have been from any unspecified organisation. In the incompetent handling of sensitive issues that the makers really have no idea of, the production team involved in this really have let themselves down. Brad Pitt realised this too late and henceforth disowned the film, a fact which made me admire and respect him even more.

For this I wanted to hate the film, and yet found myself unable to. Beneath the misbegotten attempts at 'political comment', there is a decent little thriller struggling to get out. Pitt is great as the terrorist (dodgy accent aside) and Ford is as reliable as ever in the role of the honest cop. Director Pakula keeps the story moving at all times and stages the action well. Despite all these pluses, I constantly felt uncomfortable at the ways in which the script tried to manipulate my sympathies. While it's not quite enough to make me downgrade the film on an enjoyment level, it loses big points from an ethical perspective. Shame on you Tinseltown.