Angela's Ashes (1999)

Based on the best-selling autobiography by Irish expatriate Frank McCourt, Angela's Ashes follows the experiences of young Frankie and his family as they try against all odds to escape the ... See full summary »

Director:

Alan Parker

Writers:

Frank McCourt (book), Laura Jones (screenplay)

Stars:

Emily Watson, Robert Carlyle, Joe Breen

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 5 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Emily Watson	...	Angela McCourt
Robert Carlyle	...	Malachy (Dad)
Joe Breen	...	Young Frank
Ciaran Owens	...	Middle Frank
Michael Legge	...	Older Frank
Ronnie Masterson	...	Grandma Sheehan
Pauline McLynn	...	Aunt Aggie
Liam Carney	...	Uncle Pa Keating
Eanna MacLiam	...	Uncle Pat
Andrew Bennett	...	Narrator (voice)
Shane Murray-Corcoran	...	Young Malachy (as Shane Murray Corcoran)
Devon Murray	...	Middle Malachy
Peter Halpin	...	Older Malachy
Aaron Geraghty	...	New Born Michael
Sean Carney Daly	...	Baby Michael

Storyline

Based on the best-selling autobiography by Irish expatriate Frank McCourt, Angela's Ashes follows the experiences of young Frankie and his family as they try against all odds to escape the poverty endemic in the slums of pre-war Limerick. The film opens with the family in Brooklyn, but following the death of one of Frankie's siblings, they return home, only to find the situation there even worse. Prejudice against Frankie's Northern Irish father makes his search for employment in the Republic difficult despite his having fought for the I.R.A., and when he does find money, he spends it on drink.

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Plot Keywords:

irish | limerick | based on autobiography | 1930s | ireland | 

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Taglines:

The Hopes of a Mother. The Dreams of a Father. The Fate of a Child.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content and some language

Details

Country:

USA Ireland

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 January 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Las cenizas de Ángela

Filming Locations:

Rainsford Street, Dublin, Ireland

Box Office

Budget:

$50,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$54,628, 26 December 1999, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$13,038,660, 21 May 2000

Company Credits

Production Co:

David Brown Productions, Dirty Hands Productions, Scott Rudin Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

145 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Pierce Brosnan and Stephen Rea were considered for the role of Malachy.

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Goofs

Frank uses the volume knob to change the station on his neighbor's radio (at 1:34:51).

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Quotes

Young Frank: In the name of the father, the son and the holy toast.

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Connections

Referenced in Siskel & Ebert: The Cat in the Hat/The Cooler/In America/The Last Samurai (2003)

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Soundtracks

The Mummy
from The Mummy (1932)
Music by James Dietrich

User Reviews

An evoking look at Irish life

Angela's Ashes is a well made picture, and one of the better movie to come out this year. Also, this film is Alan Parker's best since Pink Floyd's The Wall. The picture evokes a feeling of sorrow for the young Frank McCourt, in a tale that never has any definite answers, it just leaves them open. The acting is superb, mainly by Emily Watson as the loving mother Angela McCout and Robert carlyle who gives his best performance since Trainspotting here as the father with almost three different personalities. We watch as young Frank goes through three periods of his life in the poverish Ireland and thankfully in the end everything turns out OK. This makes the film even better. Along with a gentle and moving score (by oscar winner John Williams), this film is very provocative, touching and dramatic. Well done.