Academy Awards, USA 1991
| Nominated Oscar | Best Actor in a Leading Role Richard Harris |
Avenue Pictures
Directed by Jim Sheridan
My rating: 2 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Artisan)
Elderly farmer Richard Harris has deep roots to his plot of land in the Irish countryside. When the owner decides to sell, he fully expects to be the only bidder. However, outsider Tom Berenger is an American entrepreneur with different ideas. When Berenger refuses to back down, Harris resorts to violence to get his way and his land. Even worse, he puts the blame for his act on his son and faithful friend. When they turn on him, he drives his cattle off a cliff in a final act of madness. Harris overdoes it in a story that is already heavy handed. In the key scene between Harris and Berenger, it's so overacted as to be almost comical. Throw in some Irish folk dancing, simulated acts of animal cruelty and a romantic subplot between Harris' son and a "bad girl", it becomes impossible to take seriously. However, it is nicely photographed on Irish locations by Jack Conroy.
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