Bloody Sunday, a really quick and dirty movie review.
I rented this having heard of the incident through ongoing reports of the recent 5 year inquiry and of course, that song that Jesus and his band, U2 sing.
My wife, the 12 year old and the 4 year old went shopping last night, leaving the TV open to me and Hazel. A perfect viewing opportunity...sleeping baby and no interruptions.
It opens with a disclaimer that says that the movie production company or its distributors don't necessarily agree with the comments or implications of the film. I took this as a good sign.
I won't belabor the story. It's about a planned peaceful march, an attempt by local police and English Regular Army and Special forces to quell any possible violence and the outcome of some basic human folly that turned bloody.
The dialogue seemed so natural, I find it hard to believe that it was scripted. I was completely enveloped in how the sound was mixed. No apparent overdubs here, baby! It sounded like the whole thing was recorded by one mic and was at times, purposely garbled. The docudrama feel never lets up save a few moments in the beginning when we catch glimpses of folks in their private moments...to help us "like" the characters. Americans may have some trouble with the dialects and the DVD clears this up with fairly true closed captioning. It doesn't catch everything though...so it's helpful to pause and replay scenes to hear every nuance. I was amazed at the number of dialects within the Irish that I could hear. Really cool.
Either the editing was flawless or there was great crowd direction as many of the scenes appeared to be done with one take. With so much happening at once, the whole thing seemed very natural. A directors nightmare in my eyes...and amazing to see. The scenes are punctuated by washes to black...giving those of us who grew up on TV, the feeling that a commercial was eminent.
There's one bit of dialoge I'd like to point out. After the gunfire had ended, four soldiers stood around bragging about their kills, while one looked on in horror and commented, "But you fired on civvies. I saw you shooting civvies!" (civvies meaning civilians...non enemy combatants) The other soldier replied, "Aw, c'mon, they're all terrorists!" I felt like I'd been punched in the throat on that one. The same word that Bu$h and his thugs use to describe the Axis of Evil, being used to describe...well...folks like me.
I never noticed any soundtrack music my first viewing. I'll have to go back and listen for it. That's how engrossed I was. My wife came home toward the end and she said later that my mouth was open, and I just looked horrified. Indeed, I was.
The disc has an audio commentary that I feel I want to skip work to go listen to...I just want to know how they made this film look so damn real.
The enigmatic thing about this film is that it's drawbacks are what make it beautiful. The shaky camera, the numerous voices all at once that make it not seem like a film you're watching...but you're being provided a vision.
My only complaint is that Sunday, Bloody Sunday the Song is tacked on the end credits. That song just sounds trite. Even a well intentioned pop song seems out of place on such a memorial.
I'll be using this film in one of my Anger Managment classes next week...which means I get to use company funds to buy a copy for myself.
Anyway...this movie is a triumph. Please...regardless of which side of the issue you fall upon, please share this film with your children (lots of language and mild gore and intense battle...so older children please.) Share it with your siblings, your co workers...and pray that with this Friday's conclusion to the inquiry on new evidence, that a clearer picture of the actual events is brought to the surface.
Learn more: http://www.bloody-sunday-inquiry.org.uk/index.htm
Yours,
PRH
