Darragh Kelly Movies
Taking inspiration from Saint Columcille, a nine year-old boy recently diagnosed with a terminal illness sets out to locate God before the all-powerful deity finds him first. With nothing more than a ramshackle boat with neither sail nor oars to propel him, young Seamus soon comes into contact with compassionate strangers James and Darry. At first it seems as if Seamus and his fellow travelers share little in common, though as the quest continues it gradually becomes apparent that they are just as much in need of healing as the ailing young adventurer himself. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ciaran Flynn, Shane Brolly, (more)
In the suburbs of Dublin, more than a dozen strangers find their paths colliding in sometimes violent, sometimes absurd ways in Intermission, the first feature from director John Crowley. Setting the chain of events in motion is Lehiff (Colin Farrell), a small-time crook whose most recent petty theft has him on the run from Jerry (Colm Meaney), a self-aggrandizing police detective who's even more full of himself now that he's being constantly trailed by a TV news documentary crew. Meanwhile, Lehiff's friend John (Cillian Murphy) is going though a trial breakup -- or "intermission," as he calls it -- with his girlfriend, Deirdre (Kelly Macdonald), who has promptly taken up with the older, more conventionally responsible bank manager Sam (Michael McElhatton). When Lehiff suggests that the answer to all of his and John's troubles is to set up Sam and rob his vaults, John's too eager to comply -- and their plan spells dire consequences for everyone in their immediate circle of relations. Also starring David Wilmot, Brian F. O'Byrne, and Shirley Henderson, Intermission had its premiere at the Galway Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award, and secured berths at the Edinburgh, Telluride, and Toronto festivals. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Colin Farrell, Shirley Henderson, (more)
Producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Joel Schumacher take on the real-life story of an assassinated Irish journalist in the dramatic thriller Veronica Guerin. Cate Blanchett appears as the title character, a relentless crime reporter for The Sunday Independent during the early '90s. Guerin's violent murder in 1996 led to a revision of Ireland's laws and the creation of the Criminal Assets Bureau. The movie picks up with her pursuit of the underground drug trade in Dublin, which she suspects is led by mobster Martin "The General" Cahill (Gerry O'Brien). When Cahill's gang is attacked, she suspects mobster Gerry "The Monk" Hutch (Alan Devine) is responsible. Not deterred by threats or gunshot wounds, she uses thug John Traynor (Ciarán Hinds) as an informer to help out her investigation of psychotic mobster John Gilligan (Gerard McSorley). Schumacher's protégé Colin Farell appears in a small role. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cate Blanchett, Gerard McSorley, (more)
- 2002
A young Irish servant girl travels to Newfoundland in an attempt to build a new life for herself and her infant daughter in director John. M. Smith's Gemini Award-winning miniseries. Mary Keane (Aoife McMahon) is a humble servant who has been raped and abused her entire life, but she's determined that her young daughter will not suffer the same grim fate. Now, after departing from their native Ireland, Mary and her daughter wind up at an isolated fishing station run by benevolent soul Thomas Hutchings (Colm Meany). But sickness and starvation run rampant in this harsh environment. Perhaps if all of the fugitives and lost souls who have wound up in this unforgiving no man's land can band together and make it through the hard times, there will finally be hope for the future. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Colm Meaney, Aoife McMahon, (more)
The thriller Boxed addresses the little-known fact that the Irish Republican Army would bring in sympathetic priests to administer last rites to those they were about to execute. The film analyzes the fallout that occurs when one of these priests ha a change of heart, deciding to fight for the life of the captive. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- 2001
A visit from an old flame turns a wife and mother's life upside down in a tense psychological drama. Ten years after leaving her native Holland to start over in Ireland, Maria (Ellen Ten Damme) is content with the new life she's made for herself; she's married to a man named Antaine (Darragh Kelly), and they live with their nine-year-old daughter in the small coastal town of Conamara. However, Maria is unexpectedly confronted by a bit of her past when Axel (Andreas Schmidt) pays her a visit. Maria and Axel had been involved years ago when they both lived in Holland, and while she's not adverse to him coming by to say hello, Maria wasn't expecting him to ingratiate himself back into her life. With no place to stay, Axel becomes a guest in Maria and Antaine's home, and persuades Antaine to join him in a new business venture. But as Axel attempts to curry Antaine's favor, he also attempts to renew his relationship with Maria, and soon Axel and Maria are having an affair behind Antaine's back. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ellen Ten Damme, Darragh Kelly, (more)
- 1994
A quiet man's obsession with a vibrant woman provides the focus of this dark tragedy. Miles Butler seems to be a regular guy with a regular life and a nice girl friend. But things change after the accidental electrocution of his landlord Mr. Johnson. Campbell Rourke, an interesting young woman moves into Johnson's apartment and Miles slowly becomes obsessed with her. Though he is crazy about her to the point of stealing her mail and alienating his own girlfriend, Miles never speaks to her. When Campbell has a baby girl, Ailsa, Miles goes mad. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brendan Coyle, Andrea Irvine, (more)
- 1991
- PG
Neil Jordan's lyrical Irish romance takes place in the small seaside town of Bray (near Dublin) and concerns two teenage friends, Jimmy (Niall Byrne) and Rose (Lorraine Pilkington). They spend their days roaming the cobblestone streets and waterlogged piers. To while away the time, Rose and Jimmy make up stories about strangers on the street. One day, while watching people at the train station, a sophisticated and glamorous older woman, Renee Baker (Beverly D'Angelo), stands out so imposingly from the drab townsfolk that Jimmy and Rose decide to follow her, obsessed with knowing everything about her. They follow her to the beach and at last Renee speaks to them. When she looks at Jimmy, he's immediately smitten by this mysterious woman. Rose, who has feelings for Jimmy herself, decides to make him jealous by trying to attract a young lion tamer from a traveling circus. But Jimmy is completely attached to Renee and his desire leads him to fateful consequences. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Beverly D'Angelo, Donal McCann, (more)
