Intermission (2003)

73% of critics liked it
(96 reviews)
74% of users liked it
(9,827 ratings)

In the suburbs of Dublin, more than a dozen strangers find their paths colliding in sometimes violent, sometimes absurd ways in Intermission, the first feature from director John Crowley. Setting the chain of events in motion is Lehiff (Colin Farrell), a small-time crook whose most recent petty… More In the suburbs of Dublin, more than a dozen strangers find their paths colliding in sometimes violent, sometimes absurd ways in Intermission, the first feature from director John Crowley. Setting the chain of events in motion is Lehiff (Colin Farrell), a small-time crook whose most recent petty theft has him on the run from Jerry (Colm Meaney), a self-aggrandizing police detective who's even more full of himself now that he's being constantly trailed by a TV news documentary crew. Meanwhile, Lehiff's friend John (Cillian Murphy) is going though a trial breakup -- or "intermission," as he calls it -- with his girlfriend, Deirdre (Kelly Macdonald), who has promptly taken up with the older, more conventionally responsible bank manager Sam (Michael McElhatton). When Lehiff suggests that the answer to all of his and John's troubles is to set up Sam and rob his vaults, John's too eager to comply -- and their plan spells dire consequences for everyone in their immediate circle of relations. Also starring David Wilmot, Brian F. O'Byrne, and Shirley Henderson, Intermission had its premiere at the Galway Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award, and secured berths at the Edinburgh, Telluride, and Toronto festivals. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 42 min.
Directed By: John Crowley
Written By: Mark O'Rowe
Genres: Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 1, 2003 Wide
On DVD: Oct 19, 2004
Studio: IFC Films

Critic Reviews

Anthony Lane, New Yorker
The great thing about Intermission is that you barely have time to spot the gaps.
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star
Not real Irish, but the movie kind: the latest to stumble off the [John] Ford assembly-line.
Stephen Cole, Globe and Mail
Such are the dangers of teaching foreign cultures to yelp like Reservoir Dogs.
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer
Intermission bursts with the energy of a documentary filmed on the run with a stolen camera.
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
Intermission is the first movie in ages to show us what Irish native Hollywood star Farrell is capable of.
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press
One of those films that should keep you entirely entertained but that disappears from memory almost immediately.
Nick Rogers, Suite101.com
"Intermission" is a bloke-and-smoke spin on "Love, Actually." It's for women seeking a romantic comedy that doesn't reduce relationships to cutesy-poo homilies. By adding shootouts and car chases, it's slso for guys who are just not that into goo, either.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
A direção bem-humorada e a montagem ágil exploram bem o ótimo roteiro e o elenco impecável.
Oz, eFilmCritic.com
A gritty Irish Love Actually. No, you heard right...
James Plath, Reel.com
Satisfying on an intellectual level, but less so emotionally.
Jay Antani, Los Angeles Alternative
Dizzily paced and structured, the Irish import Intermission charms with a never-let-'em-see-you-sweat exuberance
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...the performances keep things moving, even through some of the more superfluous moments.
Alex Ramirez, Cinenganos
Una de esas que, al salir de la sala, te deja con la maravillosa sensación de haber disfrutado una buena película.

Read all 13 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Conner R

A very interesting ensemble drama. I loved a lot about most of the stories, but there were some that were not so great. It had a great sense of humor thrown in that was brilliantly played out by the actors. Cillian Murphy was definitely the standout, being a completely lovable loser.
Luke B

After one of the greatest and most unexpected openings to a film I've ever seen the film is off to a good start. It begins as though it may be some kind of Irish Mike Leigh film. Unfortunately it goes down a convoluted route of too many characters in an intertwining plot similar… More
After one of the greatest and most unexpected openings to a film I've ever seen the film is off to a good start. It begins as though it may be some kind of Irish Mike Leigh film. Unfortunately it goes down a convoluted route of too many characters in an intertwining plot similar to Lock, Stock. The performances and execution are both brilliant. It's an impressive looking film with lots to like unfortunately there isn't a single character one can relate to. Rather than blurring the lines between good and bad most people are just scum or act in irritating ways. It hurts a film that's script is in dire need of surgery. Still it manages to nail dark/disturbing comedy.
Michael S

entertaining and witty Irish ensemble piece.
Al S

A fresh, stylish, funny, and furiously entertaining and original comedy. It pack's humor, crime, violence and love into one leathal dosage of Trainspotting meets Pulp Fiction. The cast is remarkable. One incrediably entertaining movie.
Aaron N

First there's Pulp Fiction, then there's Guy Ritchie movies, then some other stuff, then there's the Irish Pulp Fiction, this movie.
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic][color=green]"Intermission" is about a varied collection of people careening off each other in Dublin, with a small amount of coincedence added in for good measure. Among the collected individuals are a bus driver, brutal policeman, two supermarket… More
[font=Century Gothic][color=green]"Intermission" is about a varied collection of people careening off each other in Dublin, with a small amount of coincedence added in for good measure. Among the collected individuals are a bus driver, brutal policeman, two supermarket workers and various women who were all jilted at one time or another. This kind of movie is hard to pull off at the best of times but here there is no focus. The script is especially weak on providing chracterizations. I found very little of this movie to be credible, with an emphasis on cheap humor, vulgarity and embarrassment. "Intermission" tries to be about the working class but it just seems to be about characters who cannot take orders from people in authority. It is a shame that the movie wastes an especially good cast including Kelly MacDonald, Colin Farrell(never better), Shirley Henderson and Colm Meaney. [/color][/font]
Stephen E

Intermission follows in the footsteps of many comedies before its time. It presents to us a handful of characters and their tales, and then proceeds to connect them together through a string of seemingly unrelated events. It's clever in its own way, though. The characters are… More
Intermission follows in the footsteps of many comedies before its time. It presents to us a handful of characters and their tales, and then proceeds to connect them together through a string of seemingly unrelated events. It's clever in its own way, though. The characters are likable enough to catch our attention, the situations they are involved in are realistic and relatable, and on top of all of that, it's funny. What I liked the most about Intermission is that it doesn't try to convince me that it was a great film. It did what I did and even though I may not have liked a particular scene or two, I enjoyed the film for its pure absurdity. I also liked how honest it was. How honest its characters and the words they spoke were.
Daniel P

Despite the energy of the cast, there's not really much here worth bothering with. <i>Intermission</i> uses the then trendy device of characters that have connections with each other and plots that blur, merge, and dovetail. The problem is, none of the characters are… More
Despite the energy of the cast, there's not really much here worth bothering with. <i>Intermission</i> uses the then trendy device of characters that have connections with each other and plots that blur, merge, and dovetail. The problem is, none of the characters are especially interesting, the script equates comedy with liberal use of the words "fuck" and "cunt", and the storylines are weak and often as not don't go anywhere. Repeated jokes about brown sauce and moustaches wear out their welcome after 20 minutes and the film takes ages to end. Wearying.
Stephen E

Intermission follows in the footsteps of many comedies before its time. It presents to us a handful of characters and their tales, and then proceeds to connect them together through a string of seemingly unrelated events. It's clever in its own way, though. The characters are… More
Intermission follows in the footsteps of many comedies before its time. It presents to us a handful of characters and their tales, and then proceeds to connect them together through a string of seemingly unrelated events. It's clever in its own way, though. The characters are likable enough to catch our attention, the situations they are involved in are realistic and relatable, and on top of all of that, it's funny. What I liked the most about Intermission is that it doesn't try to convince me that it was a great film. It did what I did and even though I may not have liked a particular scene or two, I enjoyed the film for its pure absurdity. I also liked how honest it was. How honest its characters and the words they spoke were.
Daisy M

Some movies are just awesome and great and some don't. and some of them fell just in between. Intermission fell in between for me. It was not an awesome and great movie, but it was not bad either.Director John Crowley was able to maintain a logical storyline despite having so… More
Some movies are just awesome and great and some don't. and some of them fell just in between. Intermission fell in between for me. It was not an awesome and great movie, but it was not bad either.Director John Crowley was able to maintain a logical storyline despite having so many mixed characters and he was able to develop each character enough to make them interesting. In my opinion he could have sacrificed a couple of the minor characters to make the others richer. Acting was good, which was typical of European movies only I should have used the subtitle option, cause the Irish accents were so difficult to understand. The plot involved many characters in separate story lines, they were engaging and sometimes funny. Intermission would not be a movie that anyone will like, but it was interesting and worthy a watch.
Erin C

I really wanted to like this, but it was really stupid. Good cast, but it was so pointless and just not good.
George K

Great movie! If you enjoy films that have interweaving storylines...then this John Crowley movie is for you. Crime, adultery, sexual dysfunction...and relationships that take an "intermission".
Adam M

A couples sudden break up seems to set off a chain of events in an irish town with dodgy police,small time crooks and seemingly normal people all getting caught up in some interesting moments that involve an affair,robbery,fighting,getting fired,documentry making and sexual… More
A couples sudden break up seems to set off a chain of events in an irish town with dodgy police,small time crooks and seemingly normal people all getting caught up in some interesting moments that involve an affair,robbery,fighting,getting fired,documentry making and sexual frustration! Colin Farell and Cillian Murphy in particular give very good performances but overall the whole cast is good in this gritty,clever and funny film.
Chosen 7

Great film, alot of irony. One of the best independent films I've ever watched.