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| The film is right in never making the Irish problem a Catholic and Protestant conflict. Instead, it centers on the real problem -satanic hate, hence the title! |
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THE DEVIL'S OWN
(1997)
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By David Bruce |
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We truly become
like the evil we behold!
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Tom O'Meara: Harrison Ford, McGuire/Devaney: Brad Pitt
Sheila O'Meara: Margaret Colin, Edwin Diaz: Ruben Blades, Billy Burke: Treat Williams. Directed by Alan J. Pakula. Produced by Lawrence Gordon and Robert F. Colesberry. Written by David Aaron Cohen, Vincent Patrick and Kevin Jarre, based on a story by Jarre. Running time: 107 minutes. Classified R (for strong brutal violence, and for language). |
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| Gunmen burst into a peaceful house in Northern Ireland during a supper prayer and shoot the father right in front of his family. His 8-year-old son watches in horror. The film fast forwards to 20 years later when that same little boy, now a hardened IRA killer (Pitt), travels to America under an assumed name to buy missiles for the cause. He stays with the O'Mearas, an Irish family, that is totally unaware of his true identity. The opening scene with the O'Meara family picks up where Pitt's first family ended, during a dinner prayer. The Father (Ford) and Pitt hit it off acting like father and son. But when the talk turns to the troubles in Ireland, Pitt warns Ford, "Don't look for happy endings. It's not an American story. It's an Irish story." This is a key line in the movie, but Pitt is very wrong! |
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| The film is right in never making the Irish problem a Catholic and Protestant conflict. Instead, it centers on the real problem -satanic hate, hence the title! In a very peaceful and orderly scene the whole family with Pitt attend a Catholic Church service where the priest in his sermon says, "Your life should at all times reflect the goodness of Christ...Do you renounce Satan? Do you renounce Satan's earthly works? Do you renounce his empty promises?" Pitt does not renounce the Devil and continues in his hateful ways. Suddenly, the Irish problem becomes an American problem as thugs break in searching for Pitt. |
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| The story quickly demonstrates how such hate can turn in on itself, becoming Irish hating and killing Irish. Pitt kills an Irish police officer and shoots Ford. Pitt commits the same sin that his original enemy committed, the spilling of Irish blood! This is the point of the film. Violence breeds violence. Better to follow the words of the Irish priest, "Your life should at all times reflect the goodness of Christ." |
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| The opening scene in the film had the boy Pitt and his dad on the ocean in a very peaceful loving situation. The closing scene has Pitt back on a boat with his "new dad" who he has attempted to murder. Pitt's hate has now come full circle and destroys Pitt himself. |
| BULLETIN BOARD
BEST MOVIE I'VE EVER SEEN
May 14,1999. I Thought That This movie was the best I've ever seen I lived in Ireland for almost four years I know what it is supposed to be like.
From Venezia-Italia: The film's beautifull, unfortunately the play of Harrison Ford have ruined it a lot however they mark much, you wont much do make himself and try nothing succeed to obscure the play very good of Brad Pitt. Indeed from all this, Ford result in the end a second actor and not the first as woul'd he. The skill of Brad Pitt rise stage by stage and for merit at your play that the film from my self sight is result very good on all the aspects. A thank you of heart for all this at always much very good Brad
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