An Everlasting Piece (2000)

48% of critics liked it
(46 reviews)
75% of users liked it
(1,664 ratings)

Director Barry Levinson attempts to repeat the success of several recent, low-budget British imports such as The Full Monty (1997), Waking Ned Devine (1998), and Saving Grace (2000) with this comedy about a pair of prison barbers trying to make a success of a hairpiece business in Northern Ireland.… More Director Barry Levinson attempts to repeat the success of several recent, low-budget British imports such as The Full Monty (1997), Waking Ned Devine (1998), and Saving Grace (2000) with this comedy about a pair of prison barbers trying to make a success of a hairpiece business in Northern Ireland. Colm (Barry McEvoy), a Catholic, and George (Brian F. O'Byrne), a Protestant, are friends who toil away in a lackluster job cutting the hair of convicts in a prison for the insane where Colm's girlfriend Bronagh (Anna Friel) also works. When the two lads hear of a prisoner nicknamed The Scalper (Billy Connolly), they learn that he was the only seller of hairpieces in the country, and decide to begin crafting their own toupees for sale as a way to start their own business. As they ply their wares through the war-torn country, the friends are not above using their respective religions to make sales, but competition soon arrives in the form of Toupee or Not Toupee, a rival company, and a race to be the first outfit to sell 30 units quickly ensues. Politics, business, and religious beliefs soon intersect to cause big trouble for both men. Actor McEvoy also wrote the script for An Everlasting Piece, loosely basing his character on his real-life father. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 43 min.
Directed By: Barry Levinson
Written By: Barry Levinson
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Feb 1, 2001 Wide
On DVD: Aug 7, 2001
Studio: Dreamworks Distribution LLC

Critic Reviews

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
The humor is slight, but the actors make the blarney go down easy.
David Germain, Associated Press
The comedy inherent in toupee gags gradually runs dry, and the interplay between the main characters sometimes doesn't offer enough sparks to pick up the slack.
(CNN.com) Paul Clinton, CNN.com
This little film tries too hard to charm, and in the process loses its bite.
Jay Carr, Boston Globe
A slight but diverting series of set pieces.
A.O. Scott, New York Times
The director serves up a nice helping of blarney, but he seems to have left his schmaltz in Baltimore.
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
A comedy of high and zany spirits that effortlessly touches on matters of moral choice, reconciliation and forgiveness and the value of the generous gesture.
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
Its charms are too slight and fleeting.
Blake French, Filmcritic.com
There aren?t any corny bald jokes: The movie is smart enough not to waste it?s time with lame humor about hair thinning.
Harry Guerin, RTE Interactive (Dublin, Ireland)
'In trying to tackle the bigger issues the film loses what made it so quirky in the first place.'
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Charms aren't quite enough to take this modest comedy over the top.
David Luty, Film Journal International
It's unpretentious almost to the point of indifference, and thus never quite wrangles enough passion or conflict to fuel the story forward.
Renee Scolaro Rathke, PopMatters
'Maybe,' I thought, 'This film will be different.' Then again, maybe not.

Read all 12 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Cynthia S

This movie from Ireland was a hoot! Like most Irish movies, I found the subtitles absolutely necessary. The dialect is often quite difficult to understand, and it's nice to have some assistance. Another underrated gem, in my opinion.
Lucas M

A interesting plot with a good screenplay, nice actings, just like Levinson's direction, An Everlasting Piece, is a unforgettable film, entertaining and funny. Fresh.