Film Review - Intermission (2003)

Starring Cillian Murphy, Colin Farrell, and Kelly MacDonald

May 9, 2009

Intermission is a twisted and hilarious Irish film written by Mark O'Rowe and directed by John Crowley.

Irish writer Mark O’Rowe’s Intermission has often been referred to as the so-called film child of Trainspotting and Love, Actually, or as the Irish version of Trainspotting, minus the drugs. Interestingly enough, Intermission does share two actresses with Trainspotting – Kelly MacDonald and Shirley Henderson – but it certainly doesn’t need the comparison to Danny Boyle’s cult classic to hold it up. Intermission can stand very well on its own as a well-written, well-acted film.

Mark O’Rowe demonstrates an incredible talent for intertwining the stories of multiple characters with Intermission. John (played by Cillian Murphy) and Deirdre (Kelly MacDonald) are on a break from their relationship when he discovers that she has started dating a “baldy fella” named Sam (Michael McElhatton). In the meantime, John’s friend Danny (Donagh Deeney) has just lost his job as a bus driver and is in need of some financial assistance.

John and Sam are approached by Lehiff (Colin Farrell), who proposes that they kidnap a bank manager – Sam – and his girlfriend – Deirdre – for ransom, and they agree. In the meantime, Sam’s wife, Noeleen (Deirdre O’Kane), whom he left for Deirdre, starts seeing John’s best friend, Oscar (David Wilmot). When things don’t work out between them, Oscar falls for Sally (Shirley Henderson), Deirdre’s sister, who rescued people from the bus that Danny crashed, which led to him losing his job. The rescue was covered by Ben Champion (Tomás O'Suilleabháin), the ambitious news reporter who wants to cover more exciting stories, and as a result gets involved with tough-guy cop, Jerry (Colm Meaney), who just happens to be after Lehiff. And that’s just the start of it.

Despite the complicated nature of the story, each and every character is not only easy to identify, but easy to identify with, and before long, you will find yourself emotionally invested in each of their stories. Cillian Murphy is particularly likeable as John, who is equally pitiful after his breakup with Deirdre, and laughable due his odd quirks and nasty temper. Colm Meaney delivers an outstandingly funny performance as Jerry Lynch, the quintessential “hard man,” always out to impress. And stealing many scenes with his endearing honesty, David Wilmot does a fantastic job as the awkward and lovesick Oscar.

So ultimately, if you combine the action and attitude of Trainspotting (and the excellent soundtrack) with the romantic comedy of Love, Actually, and then mix in the multiple characters of both, it’s true, you do end up with a brilliant little film called Intermission – it’s definitely not to be missed.

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