Calvary
Studio: Fox Searchlight
Directed by John Michael McDonagh
Jul 31, 2014
Web Exclusive
After a parishioner confesses that he will murder him in a weeks time, small-town Irish priest James LaVelle has seven days to come to grips with his past, his present, and the knowledge that a member of his congregation wants him dead.
As the sophomore effort from writer/director John Michael McDonagh, Calvary shares its concerns and tone with the work of his older brother Martin, director of In Bruges and Seven Psychopaths, in that it explores ideas of faith, family and violence through a lens of pitch black humor. The film tackles serious ideas about morality and mortality, complete with beautiful, dreamy landscape shots and stare-into-the-camera confessional framing of its characters. It also possesses a strong sense of self-awareness which does not always work to its benefit. The meta aspect feels flippant and needless, especially when the characters themselves are amusing enough.
As Father LaVelle, Brendan Gleeson gives a career-best performance, synthesizing his typical gruff aggression with his equally typical quiet introspection to create a character who is resigned to seeing the worst in humanity even as he hopes for the best. McDonagh’s frequent close-ups of his weathered face and greying, red beard perfectly communicate the idea of man whose fire has long since gone out, making his pre-ordained fate all the more tragic. In turn, the supporting cast is a series of caricatures, some more welcome than others. Chris O’Dowd and Dylan Moran ride the comedy/drama line admirably as a loutish town butcher and a snobbish investment banker, respectively. Less entertaining is Game of Thrones’ Aidan Gillen as the snickering atheist doctor.
Calvary sets out to shock and challenge and occasionally succeeds at both. It’s difficult to say what the average viewer will think when exiting the theatre, but it’s doubtful anyone will feel indifferent.
www.foxsearchlight.com/calvary/
Author rating: 6.5/10
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