Danny Boy (2021 TV Movie) User Reviews

Danny Boy

[Prismark10 · 5/10 · 21 May 2021]

There is something that is just too small scale about Danny Boy and it never came alive as it tried too hard to be even handed to all sides.

In 2004, Sergeant Brian Wood (Anthony Boyle) and his unit in Iraq were ambushed. He was awarded the Military Cross for his bravery as they held off the militia.

Some years later, Wood and his men were accused of unlawfully killing and torturing Iraqi detainees at The Battle of Danny Boy.

Wood argued the Iraqis they encountered were soldiers and not farmers as now claimed.

Leading the case against him was human rights lawyer Phil Shiner (Toby Jones) who had earlier been successful in the Baha Mousa case.

Wood was a technical advisor in this drama. It was more successful in dealing with his trauma and reconnecting with his family. His bewilderment at being abandoned by the army when he was charged for war crimes.

As for Shiner who later was struck off as a lawyer and his firm went bankrupt. He seemed to have been treated more lightly in this drama.

Shiner might have had cause to investigate any alleged abuses by British soldiers. However he also smelled money hence why Shiner having to admit that he paid an Iraqi middleman to find suitable victims. It turned out that the farmers were indeed militia.

Somehow it was too dry for my liking. Apparently this was meant to be a two parter with courtroom scenes but instead it was made into a cut down television movie.

Lawyers and human rights.

[handcrafted · 6/10 · 12 May 2021]

A very interesting drama of a true story...nobody knows what happens in a war situation especially in a country like Iraq it must be difficult to know who your enemy is.

Iraqis that want to kill soldiers do not wear an army uniform they blend in with locals maybe as farmers.

Walk in the boots of a soldier and then decide.

A pretty good watch.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 7/10 · 25 May 2021]

An interesting, emotive topic, and one which will have conversations going on both sides.

A pretty good watch, for such a dramatic situation, this was quite a low key affair, I appreciate subtle, but it just needed a little more passion injected into it.

I enjoyed the way the story was told, you quite literally see Bryan Wood's journey from national, decorated hero, to possible war criminal, and the role of Phil Shiner, was he after the truth, or was he out to vilify brave soldiers such as Wood? Make your own minds up.

Very well made, the action sequences looked terrific, best of all though was the acting, three top notch performances, Toby Jones, Anthony Boyle and Alex Ferns.

An interesting choice for the BBC it's fair to say, but it's well made and absorbing, I must also say how refreshing to have a one off, ninety minute drama, as opposed to yet another six part series.

Subtle, but good, 7/10.

Toby Jones shines in interesting true drama

[peterrichboy · 7/10 · 13 May 2021]

It's hard to believe that Toby Jones has only the one BAFTA, He is Fast approaching national treasure status. It seems everything he appears in he is always the best actor on display and that's very much the case in Dannyboy.

Jones plays a hapless lawyer convinced that British soldiers have committed crimes against humanity whilst serving in Iraq. Anthony Boyle plays The soldier chiefly responsible for these crimes. What follows is a series of well-made flashbacks to what happened very well filmed just outside Watford not Iraq!

The only disappointment with this 90 minute one-off drama is the disappointing ending.

7/10.

Rough justice for all

[mgumsley · 7/10 · 13 May 2021]

The Danny boy battle was fought by a seemingly inexperienced and frightened group of British soldiers in the Basra area in 2004. They entered the battlefield with fixed bayonets, expecting to be met with stiff resistance, but nonetheless it was a battle they won, taking some prisoners.

The problems that emerged which resulted in a prosecution by human rights lawyer Phil Shiner focused on the fact that the army was fighting simple farmers who were known to carry guns for their day to day work and the terrible reprisals and bloodshed was uncalled for. Apparently in Iraq it was common for Iraqi soldiers to pose as farmers to escape engagement. This biopic though interesting never really solves the problem and one suspects that they were indeed hard line soldiers after all. Phil Shiner's job would appear to have been a thankless task, on the whole. Good acting and huge sympathy for the soldiers made this a good watch. Phil Shiner seemed worn out by the demands of balancing the law against the needs of the military.

"You live in that grey area."

[aethomson · 7/10 · 6 April 2022]

In 1973-74 Thames Television produced a 26-part series, "The World at War" (WW2). It should be compulsory viewing for anyone who wants to be in government. Also for media influencers: editors, bloggers, writers, know-alls, angry shouters and hate-speechifiers. Because what we call "civil society" should be the complete opposite of what modern warfare really is: the organized destruction of civilization and civilized values.

The movie "Danny Boy" introduces us to a fundamental contradiction: how to assess battlefield behaviors using the cultural machinery of the lawyer's office and the wood-paneled courtroom. "It's normal for farmers there to carry guns. Does that make them soldiers?" The answer, I'm afraid, is yes. (Keep this in mind, all you NRA fanatics.)

A democracy tries to train its military personnel to be peace-defenders, but occasionally it sends them on anti-peace operations. A few days as a soldier in Iraq (the Bush and Blair Splendid Military Adventure) and I'd be ready to shoot anyone who wasn't wearing our uniform. But I'm prepared to believe that you, gentle reader, would be capable of more restraint.

Toby Jones dominates every scene he's in. The idealistic lawyer's office looks authentic, but the film's battle environment lacks the terror, the paranoia, and that hallucinatory menace and mania which left so many vets suffering from PTSD.

You want to take sides as you watch this movie? If you do, you're burning up your brain with futile emotion. "Danny Boy" just tells us how things were, how they are, and how they will be next time.

An Honest Showing of Pain and Anguish

[Jackblyth8 · 7/10 · 15 July 2022]

The true story of courage, resilience and incredible bravery. Titled 'Danny Boy' to reference the battle of the same name in Iraq.

The true story of a young soldier's journey from hero to alleged war criminal, the determined lawyer on his tail and their search for truth in the fog of war. Brian Wood is among several British soldiers accused of committing war crimes in Iraq.

Less than 90 minutes, the watch is classified as a TV movie, and mirrors a similar reflection in its outward tone and structure. The melancholic, slowness of the spectacle gives it a documentary TV feel which leisurely unfolds series of its chain of events. Sam Miller (director) saw his production starring Anthony Boyle, Toby Jones, Alex Ferns and Leah McNamara receive a positive reception from critics, The Guardian praising Boyle's performance deeming it as 'essential viewing'. Anthony met with Brian Wood prior to filming, stating it was 'extremely enlightening' to experience the empathy and truths behind the challenging success story. The slow pace is what allows the Northern Irish actor to thrive, encapsulating the scarred mind and fragile soul of the army soldier.

The film matches the traditional Irish melody of 'Londonderry Air' by English songwriter Frederic Weatherly in 1913. The ballad was played at Elvis' wedding, lyrics that were supposedly written by angels. An emotive and powerful film that captures the stress and strain instilled into a soldier post-war and how it impacts their families lives as well as their own.

A moving, touching and overall telling tale, that everyone ought to be aware of.

Victim Culture Typical Of The BBC

[kookiegurl-78133 · 1/10 · 16 May 2021]

This chronicles the battle of Danny Boy where.two troops of British soldiers fought off several dozen Shia insurgents in a battle that finished hand to hand fighting. Several military awards were handed out but several years later a public inquiry was set up in Britain to look in to claims of war crimes submitted by human rights lawyer Phil Shiner

My husband is a soldier who served in Iraq and Afghanistan so I have followed these conflicts most of my adult life and wondered how the BBC might portray this farce of an inquiry which involved.£25 million of British taxpayers money.

Typically and predictably it portrays poor Phil Shiner as being the real victim of the Iraq conflict. What this "based on a true story" fictional account doesn't do is tell the truth. The truth was Shiner paid people to hunt down "Victims of British war crimes"while the claims became more and more outlandish so much so that they could and should have been dismissed out of hand but for some ridiculous reason the British government went along.with calling for this expensive inquiry where it became established that claims of murder were outright lies.and that it was Shiner's law firm that echoed these lies .

Watching Danny Boy you'd think Shiner was a hapless victim rather than the major antagonist and his fate where his law firm was closed down and he was struck off for major professional misconduct is reduced to a blink and you'll miss it caption . I read somewhere that this was supposedly 2 episodes of 90 minutes and that's why the ending is rushed but more likely the BBC probably couldn't bring themselves to take the side of soldiers over a middle class professional liberal like Shiner. My TV licence is up for renewal very soon but might just save myself the money . If I do end up in court I can console myself that Phil Shiner won't be defending me.

Save your 90mins

[danielkilleen-43432 · 3/10 · 16 May 2021]

Save your 90 minutes, I really wish I had. This could've been such a great film or better still miniseries, but as it is it's poorly edited jumps all over the place and is in substantial in the extreme. Just as you feel it's getting going, it's over. To any of the real people involved, I think it's awful that this is supposed to represent what you endured. You deserved better from the system AND the makers of this film.

Justice is lost in the crossfire .

[hartj-75983 · 10/10 · 29 May 2021]

Michael Spicer was a solicitor who committed the unpardonable sin in UK society of fighting for the rights of the weak and the powerless against the British state so when he made a grave error the entire weight of the UK establishment from the media to the courts came down on him and destroyed his life.

Brian Wood was a British soldier who was deployed in Afghanistan and who may or may not, whilst under the worst kind of pressure broken international law.

Who was right? Who was wrong? Was justice actually served in this matter? Who knows?

This is a tale of our time. In an age when assumptions about the innate superiority of white people is challenged more and more people will find it ever harder to look the other way or turn the page when they hear reports of atrocities committed against non white civilians in war zones.

To its credit this drama shows the virtues and suffering of both of the central protagonists and showed a balance which is something that the BBC often does best.

Wasted

[ajmiff · 4/10 · 15 May 2021]

This film could have been so much better but instead they wasted an opportunity. Could have taken this story and dug a lot deeper into this kind of crime. Turned it into a dull mess.

Should not have been made

[LegioXEquestris · 1/10 · 11 July 2021]

Hopefully this will disappear into obscurity.

British soldiers endure enough. Why they cannot get the support that American soldiers do is a reflection on some parts of Britain.

For those that want the BBC to have its license taken away this is yet another justification.

That Toby Jones is in this is just heart breaking, I thought he was a good guy. They should have made Sniper One into a film instead..

boring movie

[iAmHalili · 1/10 · 15 July 2021]

Is just 01:25 min but look like 03:25min, boring same things repeating over and over again, film with low budget or looks like, you see a battle field looks clear is just filled somewhere in England, nothing new just cliche movie and boring!