Angela's Ashes (1999)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Bethany M

  
  Fantastic film. Could watch this over and over again. The cast were fantastic and the acting was even better. A poignant story that had you reaching for the tissues because you were either laughing too hard or crying.

• Daniel J D

  
  I'm pretty interested in reading the book now. As much as goes on in this film, I can't imagine it picked up on all the wonderful subtleties you can put in a book. It's not an easy film to watch, but all the difficult parts are worth it to see the beautiful moments.… More
  I'm pretty interested in reading the book now. As much as goes on in this film, I can't imagine it picked up on all the wonderful subtleties you can put in a book. It's not an easy film to watch, but all the difficult parts are worth it to see the beautiful moments. They're especially powerful if you've ever, like Frank or his mom, had to seriously juggle strong religious devotion with harrowing life situations.

• familiar s

  
  Would have given it more, but didn't just out of spite.

• Wahida K

  
  The Hopes of a Mother. The Dreams of a Father. The Fate of a Child.

• Anthony L

  
  A bit hard going at times but very entertaining!

• Pierluigi P

  
  Alan Parker's incredible vision of Frank McCourth's bleak and harrowing story set in the slums of the poverty stricken ireland. a little gem that will earn more recognition with time.

• Lafe F

  
  A harsh life is depicted, but it's an engaging experience.

• Bannan i

  
  Well, so I read this book just a few months ago and loved it. And guess what? It stayed very true to the book, I mean they cut out some parts but the story in its entirety was there. The characters were simply perfect and the dialogue was still as hilarious as it bit through the… More
  Well, so I read this book just a few months ago and loved it. And guess what? It stayed very true to the book, I mean they cut out some parts but the story in its entirety was there. The characters were simply perfect and the dialogue was still as hilarious as it bit through the misery the family went through. Robert Carlyle played the part of the drunken father with good intentions so well and Emily Watson just seemed to fit Angela perfectly. Granted, the little children at the beginning of the movie were well how children usually are in movies. Yet, as they brought the older actors it showed how well they could portray such a difficult era in history. I laughed, and cried. And would recommend this movie to anyone interested in the depression of Ireland or anyone who has read the book. Quite enjoyable, considering the author was heavily involved in the creation of this film. Simply stunning!

• Dean M

  
  Extraordinary and powerful autogiographical film of Irish expat Frankie McCourt in his childhood as the poverty.

• Tom E

  
  Good material, but REAL slow going --

• Luke B

  
  An amazingly depressing and boring film. It looks bleak and it sounds bleak. Although not a bad thing it also lacks characters we can connect to. Perhaps the film was made this way to represent how bad things were at the time, but I doubt it.

• Naughtia N

  
  I've read the book before seeing the movie and I thought that the movie tells the story very well. This is a tragic story about a poor Irish family in crisis trying to scrape every little food they can get. This is based on a true story told by the son in the family. You really… More
  I've read the book before seeing the movie and I thought that the movie tells the story very well. This is a tragic story about a poor Irish family in crisis trying to scrape every little food they can get. This is based on a true story told by the son in the family. You really get to appreciate your life and your wealth after you have seen this movie.

• Mike T

  
  The content of the source material doesn't appear to translate perfectly. At times, the film is too cyclical and the story structure is frustrating. Nevertheless, the content itself is engaging and it's a well-made movie. The acting is strong from everyone involved, with a… More
  The content of the source material doesn't appear to translate perfectly. At times, the film is too cyclical and the story structure is frustrating. Nevertheless, the content itself is engaging and it's a well-made movie. The acting is strong from everyone involved, with a particularly intricate performance from Robert Carlyle. The way he brings pathos to a potentially despicable character is fascinating to watch. Gorgeously lensed, with locations that amplify its visual beauty.

• Erin C

  
  Very sad. I didn't care for the ending, but I thought the majority of the movie was very good. It was a little long, but it wasn't unbearable.

• Audrey L

  
  Bad movie...having had the pleasure of reading the book and catching the subtle and not so subtle humor within the tragedies recalled by a child narrator,I was very disappointed in the film.It was relentlously depressing and sad (like the book) but missing the core element of a… More
  Bad movie...having had the pleasure of reading the book and catching the subtle and not so subtle humor within the tragedies recalled by a child narrator,I was very disappointed in the film.It was relentlously depressing and sad (like the book) but missing the core element of a child's tale told through childish perceptions that were laugh out loud funny in the book.Perhaps my Irish heritage helped see the comedy within the tragedy.The movie failed miserably.

• Daisy M

  
  From author Frank Mc Court 's book comes Angela's Ashes. a very well made picture, I guess one of the best movie that came out that year directed by Alan Parker. The picture produced a feeling of sorrow for the young Frank McCourt, in a tale that never had any answers, it… More
  From author Frank Mc Court 's book comes Angela's Ashes. a very well made picture, I guess one of the best movie that came out that year directed by Alan Parker. The picture produced a feeling of sorrow for the young Frank McCourt, in a tale that never had any answers, it was just left open. The acting is superb, mainly by Emily Watson as the loving mother Angela and Robert Carlyle who gave his best performance here as the father with almost three different personalities. As the young Frank went through three periods of his life in the poverish Ireland, it thankfully turned out ok in the end. That made the film even better. Along with a gentle and moving score,this film was very provocative, touching and dramatic.

• Sarah B

  
  Tries to be depressing and uplifting at the same time, what a surprise it doesn't work. Robert Carlyle is good though, as always.

• John A

  
  Based on the real life and autobiography of Frank McCourt, Alan Parker's 'Angela's Ashes' is a remarkable and fascinating insight into the poverty and harsh living conditions of Depression era Ireland, and despite such a bleak atmosphere the film remains a… More
  Based on the real life and autobiography of Frank McCourt, Alan Parker's 'Angela's Ashes' is a remarkable and fascinating insight into the poverty and harsh living conditions of Depression era Ireland, and despite such a bleak atmosphere the film remains a testament to the power of the human spirit in such hardship, a sense of triumph echoing when the credits begin to roll. The film follows Frank from a young schoolboy, to a working teenager and finally a sixteen year old almost ready to reach the land of his dreams: America. Parker keeps the three acts cohesive and well timed and paced, so the film's long running time is perfectly appropriate. The direction is impeccable - the dark cinematography and convincing set designs and costumes really pull the viewer into the era, and nothing is shyed away from. While Emily Watson and Robert Carlyle provide stellar support as Frank's parents, it truly is his film, and each of the three actors who portray the character excel in their roles. While the narration is sometimes distracting or unnecessary, it is for the majority the perfect overlay to connect the audience with Frank, and we are inexplicably drawn into his life and world so we empathise on a truly human level - from dealing with his drunken father, to begging for food from the church who look down upon his family for doing so. Yet still, it is the jolts of humour, the illogical mannerisms of his devout grandmother, and the carefree innocence of childhood that blanket the film with a light-hearted tone we eventually admire, as Frank appears to. Parker opts for simple observation, realism and anecdotes to propel the story into the heart and mind of the viewer, creating a truly empathetic picture, worth more than it has currently been given credit for.

• Timothy O

  
  This is an amazing film. I have met Frank McCourt, and this mild-mannered man brought to the written word, and the filmmakers the word to screen an amazing slice of life. You can feel how difficult The McCourt's had it. You can smell the poverty.

• Linda K

  
  The film is good but you are better off with the book. Its more personal and interesting from the author.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings