The Field (1990)

43% of critics liked it
(14 reviews)
79% of users liked it
(2,634 ratings)

Richard Harris was nominated for several awards (including the Oscar and Golden Globe) for his performance in The Field. The time is the mid-1930s; the place, western Ireland. For many years rugged individualist Bull McCabe (Harris) has been cultivating a small plot of rented land, nurturing it from… More Richard Harris was nominated for several awards (including the Oscar and Golden Globe) for his performance in The Field. The time is the mid-1930s; the place, western Ireland. For many years rugged individualist Bull McCabe (Harris) has been cultivating a small plot of rented land, nurturing it from barren rock into a fertile field. Now, however, the widow who owns the land plans to sell it at auction. The infuriated Bull shows up at the bidding, secure in his belief that none of his neighbors will dare bid against him. But Bull has not taken into consideration a wealthy Irish-American (Tom Berenger), who intends to pave over the land and bring new industry to the area. "This is deep, very deep, deeper than you think" warns Bull, as he sends his grown son (Sean Bean) to "persuade" the American to withdraw his bid. Armed with the foreknowledge that Bull's tenacity has caused heartbreak and tragedy in the past, the audience steels itself for the awful consequences still to come. Punctuating the storyline are the periodic appearances of the toothless village idiot, played by John Hurt. Originally produced for British television, The Field was based on the landmark play by John B. Keane, and directed by My Left Foot's Jim Sheridan. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 53 min.
Directed By: Jim Sheridan
Written By: John B. Keane, Jim Sheridan
Genres: Art House & International, Drama

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1990 Wide
On DVD: Feb 26, 2002
Studio: Live Home Video

Critic Reviews

Vincent Canby, New York Times
The Field is a movie that all too often reveals its origins as a play.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
As overwrought as [My Left Foot] was understated.
Eve Zibart, Washington Post
A painfully overwrought combination of A Touch of the Poet and Zorba the Greek.
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
Sheridan seems out in left field here, undone by the sheer hokum of the material.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The Field is a grim allegory of hard life on the land -- a symbolic play, transplanted uneasily to the greater realism of the film medium, where what we might accept on the stage now looks contrived and artificial.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
There are no special features in the first-time DVD edition (April 2006) but it offers a chance for those interested in Sheridan's career to see a film that, despite Oscar nomination for lead Richard Harris, was both an artistic and commercial flop.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
One of Jim Sheridan's weakest and most propagandistic films, this Iriah social melodrama was made between two highlights: My Left Foot and In the Name of the Father.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
Richard Harris's standout performance elevates this simple fable into a near classic.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
A gut-wrenching drama pulsating with Shakespearean passions
Chuck Rudolph, Matinee Magazine
The astonishing Richard Harris can't overcome the underwhelming narrative. A rare misfire from Jim Sheridan.
Chris Hicks, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
Predictable and interminably slow-moving, The Field appears at times to be an uneven blend of John Ford's The Informer and David Lean's Ryan's Daughter.

Read all 11 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Marcus W

Seen Daniel Day Lewis in There Will Be Blood? Thought he was good? Me too, till I saw Richard Harris in this. The film itself is very good but it's Harris' stunning performance that grabs you and holds you taught right to the very end when it seems as though even the film… More
Seen Daniel Day Lewis in There Will Be Blood? Thought he was good? Me too, till I saw Richard Harris in this. The film itself is very good but it's Harris' stunning performance that grabs you and holds you taught right to the very end when it seems as though even the film can't keep up with him. This is the finest and most powerful performance by an actor I have ever seen. Outstanding.

Cast

            Richard Harris as "Bull" McCabe

            John Hurt as "Bird" O'Donnell

            Tom Berenger as Peter the American

            Sean Bean as Tadgh McCabe

            Frances Tomelty as The Widow

            Brenda Fricker as Maggie McCabe

            Jenny Conroy as Tinker Girl

            John Cowley as Flanagan

            Sarah Cronin as Girl at Dance

            Rachel Dowling as Girl at Dance

            Brendan Gleeson as Quarryman

            Mairtin Jaimsie
            
            Tom Jordan as Villager

            Eamon Keane as Dan Paddy Andy

            Peadar Lamb as Paddy Joe O'Reilly

            Ruth McCabe as Tinker Woman

            Malachy McCourt as Sergeant

            Sean McGinley as Father Doran

            Bina McLoughlin as Villager

            Johnny Choil Mhike as Villager

            Aine Ni Mhuiri as Priest's Housekeeper

            Noel O'Donovan as Tomas

            Jer O'Leary as Tinker Girl's Father

            Sara Jane Scaife as McRoarty Girl

            Joan Sheehy as 2nd Tinker Woman

            David Wilmot as Boy at Dance

            Ronan Wilmot as Tinker

            Nuala Moiselle
            
            Frank McDonald
            
See full cast