Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Latest
    • 3627. I Believe In Miracles (2015)
    • 3626. The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)
    • 3625. Ode To Joy (2019)
    • 3624. One Chance (2013)
    • 3623. Falling For Figaro (2020)
    • 3622. The Polka King (2017)
    • 3621. Spies In Disguise (2019)
    • 3620. Friendzone (2021)
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Home
    • Blog
      • All Posts
      • Best Of The Year
        • Best Of 2015
        • Best Of 2016
        • Best Of 2017
        • Best Of 2018
        • Best Of 2019
        • Best Of 2020
        • Best Of 2021
        • Best Of 2022
      • The Decade In Review
      • Box Office Analysis
      • James Bond
      • Oscars
      • RANKED
      • Star Wars
      • The Big Questions
      • Top 10
      • World Cinema
    • Ratings
      • Top 250
      • Top 100 Foreign Films
      • Bottom 50
      • 0 – 1.9
      • 2 – 3.9
      • 4 – 5.9
      • 6 – 7.9
      • 8 – 10
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Anthology
      • Animation
      • Christmas
      • Comedy
      • Crime
      • Documentary
      • Drama
      • Fantasy
      • Film-Noir
      • History
      • Horror
      • Kids’
      • Musical
      • Psychological
      • Romance
      • Sci-Fi
      • Short
      • Silent
      • Sport
      • Superhero
      • Survival
      • Thriller
      • Western
    • Release Year
      • 2020s
      • 2010s
      • 2000s
      • 1990s
      • 1980s
      • 1970s
      • 1960s
      • 1950s
      • 1940s
      • 1930s
      • 1920s
    • Country
      • Afghanistan
      • Argentina
      • Australia
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Brazil
      • Cambodia
      • Canada
      • Chile
      • China
      • Colombia
      • Costa Rica
      • Czechoslovakia
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • East Timor
      • Faroe Islands
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Georgia
      • Greece
      • Hong Kong
      • Hungary
      • Iceland
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Iran
      • Iraq
      • Ireland
      • Israel
      • Italy
      • Japan
      • Latvia
      • Lebanon
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Mexico
      • New Zealand
      • Nigeria
      • North Korea
      • Norway
      • Paraguay
      • Peru
      • Philippines
      • Poland
      • Romania
      • Russia
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Singapore
      • South Korea
      • South Africa
      • Soviet Union
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • Syria
      • Taiwan
      • Thailand
      • Turkey
      • Uganda
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
      • Uruguay
      • Vietnam
      • Zambia
    • About
    The Mad Movie Man
    You are at:Home»Review»3511. Belfast (2021)

    3511. Belfast (2021)

    0
    By The Mad Movie Man on October 13, 2021 2021, 8 - 10, 90-99 mins, Drama, Movies Of 2021, Oct 21, Review, United Kingdom
    8.1 A soaring crowd-pleaser
    • Acting 8.2
    • Directing 8.1
    • Story 8.0
    • User Ratings (0 Votes) 0

    Starring: Caitríona Balfe, Jamie Dornan, Jude Hill

    Director: Kenneth Branagh

    Running Time: 97 mins


    Belfast is a British film about a young boy who grows up in a tight-knit Protestant family at the outbreak of the The Troubles, which threaten to pull his family away from its home city.

    A soaring crowd-pleaser through and through, Belfast is an absolute delight of a film, featuring intimate, passionate directing from Kenneth Branagh, a lovable ensemble cast, fantastic humour, and emotional depth that might just leave a few tears in your eyes come the end.

    Set amidst one of the darkest periods of recent British history, it almost seems jarring to see such a lively, uplifting film set in the era of The Troubles. However, more than a historical insight into the conflict in Northern Ireland, this semi-autobiographical account of life in Belfast at its outset is far more personal, and far more touching.

    The story revolves around a Protestant family who, in the face of rising tensions in their area cause by Protestant militants, consider moving away to England to give themselves a better chance in life.

    However, as a film full of love for its title city, that decision isn’t easily made, and Belfast delivers highly as a love letter to the Northern Irish capital, and the tight-knit and diverse community that was so unfairly ripped apart by religious extremism at the end of the 1960s.

    At the centre of it all is Jude Hill, who plays Buddy, the family’s young son. With much of its attention on the children of Belfast, this film is able to direct its eyes away from the grittier parts of the conflict, and give a nostalgic portrayal of innocence and joy thriving in a situation which seemed so helpless.

    As we see Buddy play and grow up against the backdrop of conflict, Belfast emerges as a film on a similar level to Innocent Voices and Hope & Glory, where the innocence of childhood always wins out over any evil and division that others may try to stoke.

    Coupled with Jude Hill’s wonderful performance that makes Buddy such a lovable character, along with the brilliant turns from his family members Jamie Dornan, Caitríona Balfe, Judi Dench and Ciarán Hinds, Belfast becomes a deeply touching, uplifting story about the strength of a kind-hearted, loving family.

    All of this is tinged with a clear passion and nostalgia from director Kenneth Branagh, who uses Roma-style black-and-white cinematography to great effect in further bringing out that rosey-eyed perspective of the past.

    Further bolstered by gorgeous humour and spellbinding moments of colour, this is one of the liveliest, most soaring films you’ll see all year, so much so that it might even leave you with tears of joy in your eyes. So, that’s why I’m giving Belfast an 8.1 overall.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Website
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    The Mad Movie Man, AKA Anthony Cullen, writes articles and reviews about movies and the world of cinema. Since January 1st, 2013, he has watched and reviewed a movie every day. This is the blog dedicated to the project: www.madmovieman.com

    Related Posts

    7.1

    3627. I Believe In Miracles (2015)

    5.8

    3626. The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)

    7.9

    3625. Ode To Joy (2019)

    Follow Me Online!
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Tumblr
    New Releases
    5.3
    January 17, 2022

    3620. Friendzone (2021)

    7.1
    January 10, 2022

    3612. The Lost Daughter (2021)

    8.0
    January 7, 2022

    3609. Licorice Pizza (2021)

    7.2
    January 7, 2022

    3608. Lamb (2021)

    7.4
    December 30, 2021

    3599. The King’s Man (2021)

    6.3
    December 29, 2021

    3598. The Matrix Resurrections (2021)

    8.4
    December 28, 2021

    3597. West Side Story (2021)

    6.3
    December 27, 2021

    3596. Gunpowder Milkshake (2021)

    Recommended Movies
    8.4
    Review
    January 16, 20190

    2420. Support The Girls (2018)

    9.3
    Review
    October 27, 20130

    330. The Dark Knight (2008)

    8.7
    Review
    November 26, 20140

    763. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014)

    8.7
    Review
    February 6, 20170

    1647. Alphaville (1965)

    8.1
    Review
    October 10, 20130

    311. Chronicle (2012)

    Popular Posts
    7.1
    January 24, 2022

    3627. I Believe In Miracles (2015)

    5.8
    January 23, 2022

    3626. The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)

    7.9
    January 22, 2022

    3625. Ode To Joy (2019)

    7.4
    January 21, 2022

    3624. One Chance (2013)

    6.3
    January 20, 2022

    3623. Falling For Figaro (2020)

    7.5
    January 19, 2022

    3622. The Polka King (2017)

    6.0
    January 18, 2022

    3621. Spies In Disguise (2019)

    © 2022 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.