Angela's Ashes (film)

Angela's Ashes
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Alan Parker
Produced by	David Brown Scott Rudin
Screenplay by	Laura Jones
Based on	Angela's Ashes  by Frank McCourt
Narrated by	Andrew Bennett
Starring	Emily Watson Robert Carlyle Michael Legge Ciaran Owens Joe Breen
Music by	John Williams
Cinematography	Michael Seresin
Editing by	Gerry Hambling
Studio	Scott Rudin Productions David Brown Productions Dirty Hands Productions
Distributed by	United States Paramount Pictures International Universal Studios
Release date(s)	December 25, 1999 (1999-12-25)
Running time	145 minutes
Country	United States Ireland
Language	English
Budget	$25 million
Box office	$13,042,112

Angela's Ashes is a 1999 Irish-American drama film based on the memoir of the same title by Frank McCourt. It was directed by Alan Parker and starred Emily Watson, Robert Carlyle, Joe Breen, Ciaran Owens, and Michael Legge (the latter three playing the Young, Middle and Older Frank McCourt respectively).

Plot

Angela's Ashes tells the story of Frank McCourt and his childhood after his family are forced to move from America back to Ireland because of financial difficulties and family problems derived from his father's alcoholism. The film chronicles young McCourt's life in Limerick, Ireland, during his childhood in the 1930s and 1940s, the difficulties that ensued, and finally Frank's way of earning enough money to return to the land of his dreams: America. Michael Legge was praised for his portrayal of the adolescent Frank. In particular, he was said to excel in his role as an innocent teenager growing up with typical coming of age rites involving sexuality, maturity and peer pressure in a Catholic Irish setting.

Cast

• Emily Watson as Angela McCourt
• Robert Carlyle as Malachy McCourt
• Devon Murray as Middle Malachy
• Joe Breen as Young Frank
• Ciaran Owens as Middle Frank
• Michael Legge as Older Frank
• Kerry Condon as Theresa Carmody
• Ronnie Masterson as Grandma Sheehan
• Pauline McLynn as Aunt Aggie
• Liam Carney as Uncle Pa Keating
• Eanna MacLiam as Uncle Pat
• Susan Fitzgerald as Sister Rita
• Eamonn Owens as Quasimodo
• Martin Benson as Christian brother
• Andrew Bennett as Narrator (voice)
• Alan Parker (cameo) as Dr. Campbell

Location

Although set in Limerick, many street scenes were filmed in Cork. For example, the 'fleas in the mattress' scene was filmed at Farren Street, Blackpool, whilst other scenes were shot at Roche's Buildings, Lr John Street, and Barrack Street.

Reception

Angela's Ashes currently holds a 52% 'rotten' rating and the consensus "In spite of its attempts to accurately record Frank McCourt's memoirs, the onscreen adaptation fails to capture any of the drama or humor of his life" on review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes.

Based on a $25 million budget, the film grossed a domestic total of $13,042,112, making it a box office bomb.

Soundtrack

The film soundtrack was composed and conducted by John Williams, and features songs by Billie Holiday and Sinéad O'Connor.

Despite the film's reception, Williams was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Score in 2000.

External links

• Angela's Ashes at the Internet Movie Database
• Angela's Ashes at AllRovi
• Angela's Ashes at Box Office Mojo
• Angela's Ashes at Rotten Tomatoes
• Angela's Ashes at Metacritic