Calvary

The director and Brendan Gleeson did it again. They mesmerized me with a movie that may not necessarily be funny, but that is really dark and above all contains the amazing atmosphere of the Irish countryside. But it’s not only about the beautiful landscapes that you get to see in the movie. It’s also about the story, which is essentially very simple and straightforward, but which definitely provides a lot to think about. And last but not least, I mustn’t forget the actors. While in the USA some TV show actors have trouble switching from a comedy role to a serious one, here Dylan Moran and Chris O’Dowd do it with a flick of their finger. Obviously, I shouldn’t forget about the very interesting and likeable Kelly Reilly or Aidan Gillen. They all put in divine performances and Brendan is in charge of all that. I don’t know about you, but it’s been a long time since I saw a movie where I’d fall for so many characters at once and that would sweep me off my feet with the story and the atmosphere of the setting. An absolutely clear five-star review and not a star less than that. (04.11.2014)

I'd much rather see the more famous one of the McDonaghs to make it as a theater performance, since although the other one nicely tries to take the biggest Irish skeleton out of the closet using reasonable means, but he is not very successful in doing so at the end of the day. On the one hand, it seems subversive, but it still has too much respect for the seriousness of the topic. That wouldn't happen to the "more famous" one. In any case, it can often be impressive in detail, but as a whole it is basically exactly what you would expect. (17.03.2015)

En comparación con la anterior película del director, El Irlandés, hay menos humor en el drama titulado Calvary, pero sigue habiendo elementos cómicos, si uno tiene sentido del humor negro y es al menos un poco cínico. Brendan Gleeson debería recibir rápidamente algún tipo de premio porque su actuación en el papel protagonista es sobresaliente. El resto del reparto no le va a la zaga, porque tienen mucho que interpretar: todos los personajes están realmente bien escritos y la película hace gala de una historia sólida y cuidadosamente construida, diálogos ingeniosos con tintes filosóficos y un guión inteligente que no se anda con chiquitas. Y lo mismo puede decirse del propio director. (07.07.2014)

The subject matter, the cartoonishly overwrought characters, and the structure of the scenes make this a classic nightmare. And in this case I mean that catechetically and existentially. Which strikes me as a pretty compelling testament to writer/director McDonagh's abilities. "I didn't realize how much you hate me." "I don't hate you. I'm saying you're have no integrity. Which is the worst thing I can say about anything." (07.07.2021)

A good movie that stands out primarily because of the interesting characters. Brendan Gleeson shows that he can handle the main role excellently. However, the whole environment and of course also how the characters behave towards each other and what they say is important. It's like the life of a priest - but not necessarily just a priest - is truly a Calvary that not everyone can undergo. (20.03.2015)