Bloody Sunday (2002)
Note: Spoilers.
If you've ever wondered what U2's
song "Sunday, Bloody, Sunday" was about, speculate
no further. The song is based on a true incident in
Irish history sometime in the 1970's and the film
"Bloody Sunday" is an amazing and reflective picture
about that event. I am glad, however, that I got to
see this film knowing absolutely nothing about it
before it unspooled. It helped me to see what a truly
amazing film it is.
Now, with it's ominous title and
the immediate suggestion that the film is taking place
in Ireland in the 70's, I knew right away that this
would have something to do with the IRA fighting the
Brits. And that, indeed, is a part of the story. But
there is far more going on here. Although as much
a "war film" as a historical period piece, the film
is also deeply human and complex in its characterizations
of the people involved.
Writer/director Paul Greengrass
creates a mesmerizing and engrossing film even though
the actors on screen have such thick accents it is
often impossible to understand what they are saying.
By utilizing a "You Are There" documentary approach
to the film, Greengrass creates a vivid and intense
sense of verisimilitude that has us deeply involved
in the film. From start to finish, the film is aggressive
in its presentation of events to us as they unfold
on the fateful day. Even though I did not know the
exact story here, nor what exactly was going to develop,
while I was watching "Bloody Sunday," Greengrass creates
such a sense of impending doom that I buckled in my
seat expecting the worse. And the worse thing one
can imagine does indeed come.
James Nesbitt, in the role of Parliament
member Ivan Cooper, is nothing short of amazing. As
our tour-guide to the plot, we watch him begin his
day with a number of people counting on him to organize
and execute the days events, a civil rights march
through the streets of Derry. Nesbitt, as Cooper,
is a whirlwind here of action, politics, horse sense
and real man. He propels this film at breakneck speed
through a day compromised of so many meetings and
so much expectation that we are literally breathless
viewing him. It is a stunning performance.
Then, when the climax comes, Nesbitt's
amazed and reflective reaction is one of the most
poignant and sorrow-filled performances you will ever
see on screen. His character's arc, from truly concerned
political whirlwind and civil libertarian to shocked
and grief-stricken witness to mass murder is astonishing.
We share in his sorrowful awe at what the film enacts
at its climax.
There is not much reason to discuss
else about the film. I will grant the naysayers the
opinion that this film is very one-sided and seems
to border on propaganda but that is little matter.
What we see here is so astounding in its depiction
of the horror of war, of man's inhumanity to man,
of man's inability to curb his aggressive nature that
we cannot help but be shocked, amazed and awe-stricken
ourselves. "Bloody Sunday" is as important as any
historical document.
Note:
The U2 song is played over the end
credits. (Other then the actors/extras portraying
the demonstrators in the filming singing some protest
songs, I don't remember any music in the film. However,
Dominic Muldoon is credited with a score.
Jim Sheridan is credited as a producer.
A cinema's marquee in one shot reads
"Sunday Bloody Sunday" as if it were showing the John
Schlesinger film at the time the events here take
place. That would make this film's supposed time setting
to be somewhere around 1971.
Viewed at the Dobie in October 2002
at a press sneak. I talked to Martin from the "Reel
Deal" and Keith, the Dobie manager, about seeing "Jackass"
the night before. Henry, the rep who works for the
marketing firm that handles Warner Brothers product
made me write down my name and the name of the website.
