I Went Down
| I Went Down | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Paddy Breathnach |
| Written by | Conor McPherson |
| Starring |
Peter McDonald Brendan Gleeson |
| Music by | Dario Marianelli |
| Cinematography | Cian de Buitléar |
| Edited by | Emer Reynolds |
| Distributed by | BBC Films |
Release dates | June 24, 1998 |
Running time | 107 minutes |
| Country | Ireland |
| Language | English |
I Went Down is an Irish comedy crime film by director Paddy Breathnach released 3 October 1997.
Plot
After serving an eighteen-month sentence for breaking and entering, Git Hynes, (Peter McDonald) walks into trouble on the day of his release from jail.
He goes to meet his ex-girlfriend Sabrina Bradley, (Antoine Byrne), who has dumped him for his best friend Anto (David Wilmot). When Git goes to confront Anto about this, he learns that the latter's gambling addiction has left him heavily in debt to the bookies, who are about to take his fingers as collateral. Git jumps in and saves his friend from a beating, but uses a broken bottle to permanently disfigure the ringleader, who happens to be the nephew of mob boss Tom French (Tony Doyle).
At a sit-down, Tom French decrees that Git must work off Anto's debt as punishment for his interference. He is ordered to drive to Cork to find French's associate Frank Grogan (Peter Caffrey); and bring him back to Dublin. Holding Anto as a hostage, French pairs the reluctant Git with half-wit and heavy-handed mobster, Bunny Kelly (Brendan Gleeson). While bickering and dodging bullets, the two encounter mayhem and discover each other's deepest secrets. An unlikely friendship begins to develop between them.
Cast
- Peter McDonald as Git Hynes
- Brendan Gleeson as Bunny Kelly
- Tony Doyle as Tom French
- Peter Caffrey as Frank Grogan
- Antoine Byrne as Sabrina Bradley
- David Wilmot as Anto
- Carly Baker as Caroline
- Michael McElhatton as Johnner Doyle
- Joe Gallagher as Steo Gannon
Reception
Critical response
Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a score of 84% based on 19 reviews.[1]
The New York Times reviewer praised it for "steering clear of Irish movie stereotypes and instead showing off a spare and quizzical indie spirit".[2]
Rogert Ebert gave it 3 out of 4 stars.[3]
Awards
The film won several awards. Paddy Breathnach won Best New Director and the Jury Prize at the San Sebastian Film Festival and won Best Director at Thessalonica 1997 and Best Film at Bogota International Film Festival 1998. Screenwriter Conor McPherson also won awards and acclaim for his script.[4]
Home media
The film was released on DVD in Ireland only in December 2011.
References
- ↑ I Went Down at Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
- ↑ Maslin, Janet (24 June 1998). "FILM REVIEW; Cavorting In Irish Gangland". The New York Times.
- ↑ Roger Ebert (July 1, 1998). "I Went Down". Chicago Sun Times.
- ↑ http://www.iftn.ie/whoswho/Producers/whoswhosub/filmproducers/?act1=record&aid=24&rid=289&only=1&force=1&tpl=whoswho_dets
External links
- Gerry McCarthy. "I Went Down". Film Ireland 61 (Oct/Nov 1997) (Film Base).
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