Brendan Gleeson is the priest of a very, very small parish in Ireland. The movie starts with a dire threat in a confessional, but that threat - which would seem to be the focus of the movie - really dies away and sits on the back burner for most of the movie. Yes, there is tension increased in quiet moments when you think about the impending confrontation, but the story just kind of unfolds around it.
This movie has a similar feel to it as The Guard, and that movie was fantastic. This movie doesn't quite measure up to that movie's awesomeness, but this is also a different kind of movie. They both are basically dramas with heightened dark comedy intertwined within, but The Guard definitely had more comedy, and it was generally more engaging. While we learn to like the main character, and even a few of the ancillary characters in this movie, we don't really get enough to make a decision on them one way or the other.
One character in this movie that is not listed in IMDB is the island nation of Ireland. The cinematography and direction really make the landscape part of the story. The lush green hills and rocky coastline get sweeping shots and set the mood for the movie in a way that implies that the film couldn't be taking place anywhere else. The beauty of this movie is unassailable.
Brendan goes about his daily life, interacting with all of his parishioners, his daughter, played by the VERY Irish Kelly Reilly, and dealing with some of the quirkiest people the writers could come up with and still have even remotely realistic. As they sit, they are at least somewhat believable and they are, more importantly, also somewhat entertaining. Even the scenes where people are insulting each other or threatening each other has an undercurrent of dark comedy interspersed.
Direction was very good
Acting was good
Dialogue was excellent
Cinematography was excellent
Story was okay
Bottom Line: A slow movie, but a good one.
3.75/5