Sum up this movie, Danny's life, the atmosphere, and Northern Ireland. Yet underneath it all lies just a little spark of hope. That love can prevail (trite but appropriate), that fighters can learn peace (after all that fighting and struggling, settling down can be difficult), and that the future will be better than the past. This movie also gives a very personal slant to 'the Troubles', bringing the death and destruction of lives and families home. Has Daniel Day-Lewis made a bad movie? (Well, maybe Age of Innocence but that wasn't his fault) Not yet he hasn't. This movie is not fun or enjoyable. But it is powerful, emotive, and moving. Worth a watch, even if just for a little insight into Northern Ireland which isn't packaged into news-style bite sized parcels.
