Ash Wednesday (1973)
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14% of critics liked it
(7 reviews) -
50% of users liked it
(261 ratings)
A relationship between two brothers literally becomes a matter of life and death in this drama from writer, director and actor Edward Burns. Francis Sullivan (Burns) was a street-wise thug with ties to the Irish mob until his younger brother Sean (Elijah Wood) was killed on Ash Wednesday in 1980… More A relationship between two brothers literally becomes a matter of life and death in this drama from writer, director and actor Edward Burns. Francis Sullivan (Burns) was a street-wise thug with ties to the Irish mob until his younger brother Sean (Elijah Wood) was killed on Ash Wednesday in 1980 while trying to protect Francis from gangsters who were out to kill him. Three years later, Francis is a law-abiding man who is trying to stay on the straight and narrow and keep his eye on Grace (Rosario Dawson), Sean's widow. However, rumors have begun to circulate that Sean's death was just a ruse fabricated by Francis and a sympathetic priest, Father Mahoney (James Handy), to get mobster Moran (Oliver Platt) off Sean's back. Some people have spotted someone who looks a lot like Sean wandering around the neighborhood, and Moran, who doesn't forget a grudge, begins scouring the neighborhood in search of Sean, while Francis has worries of his own about Sean, since his relationship with Grace has started to move beyond simple family friendship. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Larry Peerce
- Genres
- Drama
R,
- In Theaters
- Nov 1, 1973 Wide
- Studio
- LionsGate Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Variety Staff, Variety
Taylor, fashionably gowned and bejewelled carries the film almost single-handedly. Fonda is excellent in his climatic appearance, an usually superb casting idea.
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, Time Out
In what is little more than a homage to Taylor's face, the film spends a good deal of time looking at her reflection in the mirror and endorsing her Martini ad lifestyle up to the hilt.
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Vincent Canby, New York Times
This is not a male chauvinist's conception of a woman, but her hairdresser's, full of envy, awe and superficial compassion.
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The whole movie, indeed, feels longer than it is. It's 15 minutes short of two hours, and still it takes forever to be over.
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, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Another in the long string of mediocre films by Taylor.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
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Cast
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Edward Burns
as Francis Sullivan
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Elijah Wood
as Sean Sullivan
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Rosario Dawson
as Grace Quinonez
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Oliver Platt
as Moran
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Pat McNamara
as Murph
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James Handy
as Father Mahoney
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Michael Mulheren
as Detective Pulaski
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Malachy McCourt
as Whitey
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Julie Hale
as Maggie Shea
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Elizabeth Taylor
as Barbara Sawyer
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Henry Fonda
as Mark Sawyer
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Helmut Berger
as Erich
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Keith Baxter
as David
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Maurice Teynac
as Dr. Lambert
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Margaret Blye
as Kate Sawyer
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Andre Eszterhazy
as Comte D'Arnoud
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Dino Mele
as Mario
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Jill Pratt
as Simone
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Carlo Purl
as Paolo
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Dina Sassoli
as Nurse Lisa
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Henning Schlüter
as Bridge Player
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Kathy Van Lypps
as Mandy
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Monique van Vooren
as German Woman
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Ilina Wassilchikoff
as Silvana Del Campo
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Jose De Vega
as Tony Gutierrez
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Rodolfo Lodi
as Prince Von Essen
