MovieChat Forums > The Devil's Own (1997) Discussion > One of the worst I ever saw

One of the worst I ever saw

posted 19 years ago by Yossarian-8
23 replies | jump to latest

Apart from how cheesey, cliched and boring this was, it's the simplification of the political situation that riles me the most.

I'd all but forgot this film til I saw "The Year London Blew Up" on Channel 4. And I thought, "You could never have shown this before Sept 11. In England and Ireland people would have said "don't bring up the past! Think of the peace process!" In America, those that even noticed wouldn't have cared for the film; "But they're FREEDOM FIGHTERS!"

Now, "ALL terrorism is bad". And of course it was "topical" I guess, after Julys bombings.

So in this climate a film of tosh like The Devils Own would never get made.

And yet...there are still people here talking about "occupation" and suggesting us Brits are the real terrorists...

Does anyone here seriously feel sympathy with the IRA within the confines of this film or in real life???

They didnt give a damn WHO they killed in the name of "The Cause" as the Channel 4 film showed!

Even Brad Pitt was ashamed to have made this crud. I could forget propaganda like this if it were'nt for the footage of a grinning Gerry Adams at the end of "The Year..." hugging those bl**dy murderers as they got out of prison. It made my blood boil - as did this film.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] Yossarian-8 19 years ago

Maybe you want to go for a smoke and a pancake with Osama?

(Kevin Barry had it coming - good riddance).

[–] mmunier 19 years ago

I feel sad when I see someone who misses the point so badly. I guess you're punishing yourself more than others. Perhaps you've got your reason. But has one of the comment states so rightly this is fiction. And probably made to make us think. One can hate the situation, but the movie is not the situation, neither does it glorifies it. MB

[–] jackmoss88 19 years ago

It's incredibly tasteless fiction. The IRA did some utterly brutal things, and killed many innocent people (not soldiers). To portray what are undeniably terrorists in a heroic or noble light is just totally unjustifiable. It's almost a subliminal message that the IRA are in the right to knee-cap, shoot, stab and blow up people in the name of "freedom". Fiction may be fiction, but any fiction glorifying an enemy of America wouldn't be accepted, and neither should this, least of all an obviously mass-market film.

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[–] johnny_bags 19 years ago

Don't forget that the IRA army council is in many peoples eyes the legitimit government of the island of Ireland.

[–] faffing 19 years ago

Errr. Guildord? Birmingham? Harrods? Brighton? Omagh? To name but a few.

Speaking as a Brit I have no strong preference about whether NI is part of the UK or Eire, with continuing Euopean integration it all seems slightly moot.

However, to tell me that planting a bomb in a busy street full of innocent people is justifies as an act of fighting for freedom is facile and shows such a limited grasp of reality that I am frankly staggered that such people exist. There must be serious failings in the education system of wherever aquitas comes from
I did not actually see this movie as pro- IRA particularly, simply sympathetic to the cause if NI freedom which it has every right to be.

[–] Island_Of_Ireland 19 years ago

The ira have never planted a bomb in a busy street filled with innocent people

And let me say this kid,The program your talking about is biased propaganda,the IRA gave warnings before detonating any bombs in london (except for the thatcher attempted assassination)the people who "refused to leave or bow down to terrorism" got what they deserved

[–] alastairward 18 years ago

The ira have never planted a bomb in a busy street filled with innocent people

And let me say this kid,The program your talking about is biased propaganda,the IRA gave warnings before detonating any bombs in london (except for the thatcher attempted assassination)the people who "refused to leave or bow down to terrorism" got what they deserved

Read the sunday papers, there's an article on the Claudy bombings and suspected involvement of a priest of all people. It happened that a busy street was bombed with 3 car bombs, when the IRA tried to ring through a warning but found they themselves had actually blown up the telephone exchange before and couldn't warn anyone...

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[–] RCD1321 17 years ago

Sorry to bring back an old board but I feel I must put my .02 in... as a proud Irish American (and I'm protestant so you can't pull the sympathy card with me) I feel like the Irish have been wronged (as have the Scots- the other half of my family) by the Brits... do I need to bring up the events of 30 January 1972 when 13 people were killed by British Paratroopers in Derry, Ireland, during a peaceful protest? Or how about hundreds of years before that in Scotland when British lords were permitted to kill anyone who spoke out against the king, bed newly wed wives on their wedding nights, and take a "lord tax" from the people in the villages they presided over? So I'd say who is more wrong? For American's George Washington and Thomas Jefferson (along with others) were "freedom fighters" but to the British government back then they were considered "terrorists." Remember the old saying "One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter."

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[–] cosmic_quest 18 years ago

If any of you knew anything about Irish history, whatsoever, you would know that ever since Britain took over Ireland, the IRA has existed in some form, name, or fashion. THEY ARE NOT terrorists.

The IRA bleat on about atrocities committed decades ago as if they happened last week. The Scots hardly enjoy being tied to London either but we don't go around planting bombs in shopping centres so children can be blown up for our 'cause'. The IRA lost any chance they had of sympathy when they blew up Warrington, Omagh, Birmingham, to name but a few (the majority of their victims being innocents, including children). Even the Americans see the truth now after they've seen the effects of living under the fear of terrorism.

"I always pretend to root for Gryffindors but, secretly, I love my Slytherin boys."~ Karen, W&G

[–] exxponyc 18 years ago

Heck I only watched this movie because a few scenes were filmed in my neighborhood and I was lucky enough to get Harrison Ford's autograph. Overall though this movie could have replaced the high-profile actors and it would have made a decent "movie of the week" on tv...not bad but not great...

Exxpo

[–] tenkisoratoti 18 years ago

Yes they existed prior to the English invasion as well in the form of raiders who attacked English ports, raping, burning and pillaging...

I guess the English got a bit pissed off and took over your miserable rock as retaliation.

[–] theB9er 18 years ago

Wth are u talking about this is not a documentary nor a true story .It,s a pretty straight forward thriller

[–] mmunier 18 years ago

I guess paranoia is a sickness well alive, but I have to admit the premise that states " The fact that someone is paranoid does not necessary means that in reality no-one is after her or him" has its merits too.
Now wether the movie had an agenda or not and wether this agenda was biased, I think it much of a personal matter. I enjoyed the movie, I was interested in the characters portrayed. As for the political situation, I see myself as a member of the human race, not to a member of any group that dictate my behaviour. Well to each its own, even if it's the devil!

[–] LNMaguire 18 years ago

Neither did the Brits when they ruled Ireland.
"Our revenge will be the laughter of our children" - Bobby Sands 1954-1981 R.I.P.

[–] midev 14 years ago

I don't think there were many good guys on either side. I guess the reason the IRA planted bombs in the mainland UK was to instill fear among the population. I am sure they saw any civilian victims as collateral damage (as does the US with drone bombing). It was to test the patience and the willingness of the UK to continue with the "fight against terrorism" or finally give in to stop the carnage.
Did it work? Would a passive peaceful continuous protest have worked? I guess we will never know.

[–] Flanged 14 years ago

Yossarian, if you don't like people simplifying the political situation in Ireland during those times, then don't do it yourself by trying to suggest that the Brits were all saints and the IRA were all murderers. As you should know, it's a lot more complicated than that. This film is still stupid though.
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