In America Review
by David N. Butterworth (dnb AT dca DOT net)January 13th, 2004
IN AMERICA
A film review by David N. Butterworth
Copyright 2004 David N. Butterworth
*** (out of ****)
Not since Mary and Madeleine Collinson first exposed their lust for a vampire
in the Hammer horror "Twins of Evil" have two sisters made such an impression (I was 11 when the former Penthouse playmates took a crack at "acting" opposite
such stalwarts as Peter Cushing and Dennis Price; clearly they were destined for better things). "In America"'s Bolger sisters (Sarah and Emma) should not be confused with the Collinson twins by any stretch of the imagination yet their
presence in Jim Sheridan's latest film is just as eye catching. Sarah plays the 10-year-old Christy to Emma's 8-year-old Ariel who, with their Irish immigrant
parents Johnny and Sarah, move to Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen in the early 1980s
(Dad's an illegal hoping to pursue his acting career). Sarah narrates this tale with ardent assurance and her sister Emma is on hand to appreciate the burgeoning wonders through a child's eyes; the two girls share a comfort and affinity that might otherwise be hard to capture on film. Based on Sheridan's own experiences--the film is co-written by his daughters Naomi and Kirsten and bears an epitaph that addresses the deep undercurrent of sadness that permeates
the film--"In America" also features Samantha Morton ("Minority Report") and Paddy Considine, the latter quietly confident in the little-seen "Last Resort."
Sheridan, who made "My Left Foot" and "In the Name of the Father," lovingly details the sense of time and place but missteps with a subplot about an African
neighbor ("Amistad"'s Djimon Hounsou) dying of AIDS. One minute the girls are trick-or-treating at this door, the next minute Johnny and Sarah are naming their new daughter after him. Simply stated things unravels way too quickly to be convincing. Nevertheless, largely due to the Bolger sisters, "In America"
is a radiant, intelligent, and thought-provoking piece.
--
David N. Butterworth
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Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
