This film seems to have been overlooked and forgotten over the years, especially in comparison with Steve McQueen's "Hunger," which came out in 2008. I'm not sure if this issue was too raw to deal with in 1996, and was more palatable in 2008 when more time had passed, but I think this is the much better film about Bobby Sands and the hunger strike that took place in 1981. Not that "Hunger" is bad...it has its moments, and Fassbender goes "full method" on losing weight as Bobby Sands. But "Hunger" has a lot of "art for art's sake" shots, and doesn't really give you much context or backstory, so if you don't know much about this historical event, you're not going to be given too much insight while watching this picture.
"Some Mother's Son," on the other hand, just tells the story so much better, and because of that is more entertaining to watch. Helen Mirren, who was pretty much unknown in America in 1996 (I'm American), does a great job as the naive mother of one of the terrorists who then becomes politically active and savvy on the IRA vs. England. Think of all the Jane Fonda films in the 70's like "Coming Home" and The China Syndrome" where she plays a naive character who becomes educated in the politics of that subject and era.
I do think "Hunger" tries to provide some balance between the IRA and England better than what is done in "Some Mother's Son," but other than that, I feel that "Some Mother's Son" is the superior film.
"Some Mother's Son," on the other hand, just tells the story so much better, and because of that is more entertaining to watch. Helen Mirren, who was pretty much unknown in America in 1996 (I'm American), does a great job as the naive mother of one of the terrorists who then becomes politically active and savvy on the IRA vs. England. Think of all the Jane Fonda films in the 70's like "Coming Home" and The China Syndrome" where she plays a naive character who becomes educated in the politics of that subject and era.
I do think "Hunger" tries to provide some balance between the IRA and England better than what is done in "Some Mother's Son," but other than that, I feel that "Some Mother's Son" is the superior film.