The Butcher Boy (1998)

Excellent, a Must See

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

Neil Jordan co-wrote and directed this hilarious Irish film. A boy growing up in the early 1960's is surrounded by a drunken father, a crazy mother and an assortment of oddballs. With the background of the Cold War, using actual clips of JFK's warning of a nuclear apocalypse, the people of a small Irish village pray to the Virgin Mary for salvation. Meanwhile, the kid has a personal battle with a Mrs. Nugent, who makes his life miserable. Sinead O'Connor appears to him as Our Lady. The story is a rollicking ride with no apologies to its' sometimes sacrilegious world view. As a retired Catholic, I was not offended. Just sit back and be prepared to laugh your ass off.

Talented filmmaker Neil Jordan provides - with the help of even talented Irish actors - a peculiar overview of life in a small Irish town in the 1960ies, long before Ireland began to enjoy its economic success and openness to the rest of the world, even to rest of Europe. Through the eyes of an uncertain yet sensual boy Francie (splendidly performed by Eamonn Owens, definitely in my Top10 list of child actors), the viewers get a picture of issues and phenomena in a closed and conservative, rather poor society, with religion prevailing in virtually all layers of everyday life. Advancing is hard, there are different fears and setbacks, and all this is easily combined with growing pains - resulting with the fate we see by the example of Francis. True, there are bright moments and phenomena, but there is often laugh through tears, well, you can seldom laugh, just giggle at best. Nevertheless, the approach is nuanced, and character actors like Stephen Rea or Fiona Shaw provide additional, valuable angles.All in all, The Butcher Boy is another coming off by Neil Jordan. His admirers will not get disappointed. Probably others, too, unless they have black-and-white world view or are very religious. And it is hardly an educational family film...

great performance. smart script. wise manner to direct. and an extraordinary Eamonn Owens. Irish poor family is subject of few interesting films. so, The Butcher Boy is not original. only different because it explores childhood in a fascinating, realistic manner. lead character is a victim. but one who makes his personal definitions about life and world. for many people, imagination is an escape/refuge. for young Francie, it is a gun who transforms him in version of legendary Oskar Matzerath. an Oskar who has as drum only his life. his glasses is more fragile than a window. his revolt seems be crumbs from knights stories. his sensitivity is touching. a man under society pressure. or, maybe, only a parable about existence and fight against its traps.

to whoever wrote the comment about the accents and it being glad the film wasn't set in the USA. your comments were nice but displayed appalling ignorance. the film is based on a book by pat McCabe set up in north west Ireland which is the north west of Ireland so you'll excuse the actors for having Irish accents. the book is much darker and is a kin d of comment on the darker aspects of Irish society back in the 19860s. READ THE BOOK. also why does every film have to be set in the USA to be good? the film is wonderful and the whole surreal and narrator thing is the whole point. the narrator is Francie grown up. please do some more research and come back and post comments then. the ignorance is embarrassing and also makes Americans look really stupid although they are not