Anna Friel, Anne Friel, Barry McEvoy

It's hard to believe that a movie about two hairpiece salesmen in war-torn Northern Ireland--a comedy, no less--could work at all, but An Everlasting Piece does work, though perhaps not in the ...( read more  read more... )way one would expect. Colm (Barry McEvoy, who also wrote the screenplay) is a new barber at a mental institution and bonds with his fellow barber George (Brian F. O'Byrne) even though Colm is Catholic and George is Protestant. A new patient arrives, who turns out to have been the owner of the only wig company in all of Northern Ireland. Figuring that having a monopoly means easy money, Colm and George convince the new patient to give them his client list, and they're off on a series of rambling comic adventures, aided by Colm's girlfriend Bronagh (Anna Friel, A Midsummer Night's Dream). But when a wig is found at the site of an act of IRA sabotage, the salesmen's lives get suddenly complicated. What makes An Everlasting Piece work is not that it ignores the Irish conflict, but that it pays close attention to it; in fact, the tension of civil strife is a crucial element of the movie's humor, allowing it to dip into a more serious mood without becoming preachy or pretentious. The actors are uniformly excellent; Friel is particularly charming. A comedy about wigs sounds like goofy slapstick; An Everlasting Piece is actually thoughtful and richly human. Directed by Barry Levinson (Diner, Rain Man, Wag the Dog). --Bret Fetzer

Flixster Users

74% liked it

1,565 ratings

Critics

53% liked it

45 critics

R, 103 min.

Directed by: Barry Levinson

Release Date: February 1, 2001

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DVD Release Date: August 7, 2001

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Flixster Reviews (80)


  • July 11, 2007
    Now this comedy may look stupid, but it gives hilarious British comedies (although technically the film is directed by an American) such as 'Snatch' and 'Divorcing Jack' a run for their money.

    The idea is a fresh one, the acting is convincing (Anna Friel, as Colm's girlfriend, h...( read more)as clearly taken some acting lessons from her spouse David Thewlis) and the wit is sharp. Even Barry McEvoy provides something to look at as Colm.

    The only thing wrong with the movie, I'd say, is that it begins as being a bit confusing. But that sorts itself out soon enough, and then the hilarity really begins! 4/5
  • July 12, 2007
    A comedy about toupee salesmen is Northern Ireland during "The Troubles". And it's very funny.
  • July 3, 2007
    Let's do an irish wig!
  • March 19, 2007
    This movies is funny and up-lifting. I haven't seen it in forever on account that blockbusters no longer carries it.
  • March 13, 2007
    no wan has ever seen it___but its got mrs doyle in it_____its a belfasty film an is pure funny!
  • March 5, 2007
    piece people, p i e c e ya get it...
  • November 4, 2006
    Starring Des Braiden & Billy Connolly, BRILLIANT !!!
  • September 25, 2006
    repeat viewer also-- it's hilarious :O)
  • August 18, 2006
    great little film on ireland.
  • March 18, 2006
    One of the best Irish films of all time. I give them immunity, for being North Irish. Your feet shall be smooth!

Critic Reviews


February 6, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

The humor is slight, but the actors make the blarney go down easy. full review

December 25, 2000
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

The director serves up a nice helping of blarney, but he seems to have left his schmaltz in Baltimore. full review

December 22, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The movie has the ring of old, beloved and partially but not entirely true stories. full review

View more An Everlasting Piece reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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