Ash Wednesday (1973)

14% of critics liked it
(7 reviews)
52% of users liked it
(245 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

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 38 min.
Directed By: Larry Peerce
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Nov 1, 1973 Wide
On DVD: Jun 10, 1991
Studio: LionsGate Entertainment

Critic Reviews

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.
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.
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.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Another in the long string of mediocre films by Taylor.
, 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.
, Film4
A dreadful bit of mid-70s soap opera.

Read all 6 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Burger S

WRONG MOVIE POSTER! This is an Edward Burns movie. Pretty good too.

Cast

            Edward Burns as Francis Sullivan

            Elijah Wood as Sean Sullivan

            Rosario Dawson as Grace Quinonez

            Oliver Platt as Moran

            Pat McNamara as Murph

            James Handy as Father Mahoney

            Michael Mulheren as Detective Pulaski

            Malachy McCourt as Whitey

            Julie Hale as Maggie Shea

            Elizabeth Taylor as Barbara Sawyer

            Henry Fonda as Mark Sawyer

            Helmut Berger as Erich

            Keith Baxter as David

            Maurice Teynac as Dr. Lambert

            Margaret Blye as Kate Sawyer

            Andre Eszterhazy as Comte D'Arnoud

            Dino Mele as Mario

            Jill Pratt as Simone

            Carlo Purl as Paolo

            Dina Sassoli as Nurse Lisa

            Henning Schlüter as Bridge Player

            Kathy Van Lypps as Mandy

            Monique van Vooren as German Woman

            Ilina Wassilchikoff as Silvana Del Campo

            Jose De Vega as Tony Gutierrez

            Rodolfo Lodi as Prince Von Essen
See full cast