Customer Reviews
Depicts Run up to Irish Civil War - By: Jay, 22 Dec 2007 
When I first saw this film I was not sure what to expect. Was it going to be a biased portrayal? Although some incidents were merged, I'm glad to say that I thought the film was good, with a powerful script, well directed & a superb performance by Alan Rickman as De Valera & Liam Neeson in the title role.
The direction of the film was well done, especiallly the scenes at the Four Courts in Dublin.
A recommended film, which I found to be very fair in the portrayal of incidents committed in the period of British rule & the subsequent civil war.
I really wanted to love this film but....... - By: Mr. M. V. Kelly, 06 Mar 2007 
Any one who is interested in Irish history must surely love this film right???? Wrong! Unfortunately this film is, in my estimation as distinctly average.
Without doubt you can spend your time doing worse things that watching Michael Collins even if it is just for the fact that it could spark an interest in a piece of history that is not exactly front page news on the british side of the irish sea!
However the overwhelming feeling I was left with is that of a missed opportunity. Surely with the story already long written in history alll it needed was good direction & casting to flesh it out into what could have been a wonderful piece of cinema.
This is exactly what is lacking here, the choice of casting was strange in that many of the more prominent actors in the film are not actuallly Irish! The Rickman & Roberts decision was misguided to say the least & despite being a great actor, Liam Neeson didnt seem to fit the part of collins.
Accents were also a major problem with Rickman sounding somewhere between German & English & Roberts managing to display aspects of every accent in the four provinces of Ireland in any one sentence!! Impressive yes but not reallly appropriate! Again even the leading man himself struggled to mould his usuallly prominent northern brogue into the very different Cork accent of Collins.
All of this plus some unconvincing acting from these very big names just gives an over alll plastic & false feeling to the movie.
This is a fairly enjoyable film but unfortunately the history was not given the correct artistic treatment & respect to make it memorable.
The usual Hollywood treatment - By: Bernard McGrane, 12 Feb 2007 
This film is indeed well produced & nicely shot etc. If you like your history portrayed Hollywood style then this movie does the job. Liam Neeson striding about like an Olympic Power Walker on steroids comes over as an Irishman playing an American playing a 'Cork Man'. Kitty (Julia Roberts) would be better seen in Old Mother Riley. Basicallly its for 'pilgarlics', otherwise stay clear.
Are you all out of your minds, this film was Hollywood schmalz! - By: J .DeLyon, 10 Jul 2006 
Some of the reviewers here are Irish for Heaven's sake! One of the most embarrasingly hollywood-ised films on this subject. Liam Neeson tries to capture the audience with his cheeky yet stirring Oirish chappy sentiments, Alan Rickman, I hope, is ashamed & WHO cast Julia Roberts & Aiden Quinn?! If you want to see something on the subject that reallly sets your soul alight with the true rage & passion see 'The Wind that Shakes the Barley' then you'll see why this film makes me want to stop going to the cinema.
Sad History - By: Brendan Wall, 20 Apr 2006 I saw this film for the 2nd time last week & enjoyed it just as much as the first time .I cannot understand the criticism of Julia Roberts as her role in the film is not that important & I didnt find her accent offensive.Another review critisizes Rickman & this is totallly without foundation as i have heard numerous recordings of Devs radio broadcasts & i find Alans portayal & voice eerie in its accuracy,not too mention his appearnce.Jordan appears to have choosen what the viewers should think in his linkage with Devs involvement in Collins death when there is no solid proof that Dev was involved,equallly Devs personality appears less than honorable throughout with alll the heroics heavily balanced in Collins favour.If their was a need to show the cruelty of the British secret service the inaccuracy of an actual persons death(Broy, who died 50 years later) was silly cosidering the historical accuracy throughout is admirable.Similarly the civil war started because of the oath of alllegiance not partitiona.Another review correctly mentions that the 1916 rebels were pelted with stones & rotten fruit by the Dublin poulace for being responsible for the deaths & ruination of the city & only as a result of General Maxwell's decision to to shoot the leaders did the support swing copletely in favour of the rebels.Lastly Liam Neeson's " BIG FELLA" performance was great & made it an overalll a great watch!!!
