In Dublin, 1967, a woman with seven children is suddenly faced with the travails of widowhood in `Agnes Browne,' directed by and starring Anjelica Huston. After the unexpected death of her husband, life becomes something less than a picnic for Agnes (Huston), what with children ranging in age from two to fourteen and no assets to speak of. She keeps her head above water and some food on the table by selling fruit at an outdoor market, but makes barely enough to make ends meet, while she awaits her widow's pension from her late husband's union. But even when and if it comes, she realizes it won't be enough on which to live. It's a bleak state of affairs for Agnes, who luckily has a dear friend, Marion (Marion O'Dwyer), who is always there for her; and with friendship, a sense of humor, and the dream of seeing Tom Jones in concert, it's enough to keep her going as she manages to take it all one day at a time. There are poignant moments in this character driven, heartwarming film, as well as some funny ones; Huston has done an outstanding job of creating a mood and an atmosphere that brings the Irish working class vividly to life, and she populates her landscape with characters who are not only real, but incredibly rich in their humanity. She captures the heart of Agnes and the others with an emotional depth that draws in the viewer and allows the empathy through which an intimate bond with the characters is established. And they quickly become more than just characters in a story; these are people you come to care about, and when something bad or untoward happens to any of them, you feel it just as deeply as they. Huston gives a terrific performance as Agnes, imbuing her with both a strength and vulnerability that make her real. She has a look of world-weariness about her, but there's a glint of hope and humor in her eyes, which are like a doorway to her soul; you need only look there to know what she is feeling inside. And Huston plays it all so perfectly. In her motion picture debut, O'Dwyer gives a memorable performance as well, as Marion; though nondescript in appearance, there is nevertheless something charming about this woman, and it has everything to do with `character.' Through her unwavering loyalty to Agnes she personifies the meaning of friendship, and exemplifies how invaluable a true friend can be, especially in times of need. It's a touching portrayal that is one of the strengths of the film. The supporting cast includes Niall O'Shea (Mark), Ciaran Owens (Frankie), Roxanna Williams (Cathy), Carl Power (Simon), Mark Power (Dermot), Ray Winstone (Mr. Billy), June Rodgers (Fat Annie), Jennifer Gibney (Winnie the Mackerel) and Tom Jones as himself. No stranger to all things Irish, Huston was the perfect choice to star in and direct this project. With `Agnes Browne,' she succeeds splendidly, with a film that is striking both visually and emotionally. And, lest it be taken for granted, one need but consider Alan Parker's `Angela's Ashes,' which visited the same territory but came off flat and uninspired, especially compared to Huston's film, which so distinctly and fervently imparts the essence of the proud Irish poor. Largely ignored during it's theatrical release, this film hopefully will find a second life on DVD and video, and realize the acclaim it so richly deserves. A real sleeper, this is a gem of a film just waiting to be discovered. I rate this one 8/10.
26 Reviews
A Sweet, Endearing Movie
thembonesz1 May 2003
This is definitely a chic-flick, but a very good one. Angelica Huston's Irish accent is absolutely fabulous (her bio says she went to school in Ireland). Angelica and her co-star Marion O'Dwyer bond very well together; I felt like I was glimpsing into a real true-life friendship. There is a very funny scene between the two when they are comparing their romances that is sure to make even the strictest of movie critics crack a smile. And the 7 children that play Angelica Huston's kids are an asset to the movie.
This is an endearing, quality independent film for those of us who love a good drama as well as some good chuckles! I am looking forward to reading the trilogy novels by Brendan O'Carroll--which was the basis of this film.
This is an endearing, quality independent film for those of us who love a good drama as well as some good chuckles! I am looking forward to reading the trilogy novels by Brendan O'Carroll--which was the basis of this film.
A Bittersweet Journey
Luvfilms-22 March 2001
Agnes Browne was a surprise and a delight. I love the relationship between the two women friends. I love Marion's approach to religion and Agnes's no nonsense child rearing. The way they mispronounce words and /or misuse them throughout the movie is amusing and endearing. The quaint open air market and the Irish loan shark add a colorful dimension to a fairly predictable story line. There is one well-done twist in the story that makes the whole journey bittersweet.
Fun, Fairy Tale of a Story
obrienl2124 January 2004
I think some of the others who commented on this movie were too harsh...it's not meant to be a human drama of great proportions. It's simply a fun, fairy tale that is a feel good movie. It's not made to make you think about the social plight of widowed Irish mothers in the 1960's...it's made to give you a good laugh and to leave a smile on your face.
And that it did. I particulary like the relationship between Agnes and Marion...I think it was a perfect display of women's relationships, and how they change and grow over time.
I admit I found the characters a bit "oirish" at times, but it was lovely and fun. I give it 7/10.
And that it did. I particulary like the relationship between Agnes and Marion...I think it was a perfect display of women's relationships, and how they change and grow over time.
I admit I found the characters a bit "oirish" at times, but it was lovely and fun. I give it 7/10.
Charming but insubstantial
FlickJunkie-22 November 2000
This bittersweet story focuses on the day-to-day lives of common folks in 1960's Ireland. At the center of the story is its namesake, Agnes Browne (Anjelica Houston), who has just lost her husband and is struggling to support her seven children. The film presents a slice-of-life of families struggling to stay afloat, but trivializes their plight by making its heroine's greatest ambition a trip to a Tom Jones concert.
While the story has some charming and poignant moments, it is mostly mundane and lacks the ability to keep all but the most sentimental viewer engaged. It skims the surface poverty but lacks the depth to draw us in. Unlike `Angela's Ashes' which gives a gripping account of poverty and its human cost, this film just tries to bounce merrily along and make the best of things. The humor was low brow and the Tom Jones ending was hokey in the extreme.
Two actors stand out, namely Anjelica Houston and Marion O'Dywer. Houston carries the entire cast with a standout performance that is spontaneous and heartwarming. O'Dwyer has a radiant smile and affability that makes her seem like she could be anyone's best bud. The chemistry between the two was excellent.
Overall, this was a human-interest story that was very human, but not very interesting. I rated it a 6/10.
While the story has some charming and poignant moments, it is mostly mundane and lacks the ability to keep all but the most sentimental viewer engaged. It skims the surface poverty but lacks the depth to draw us in. Unlike `Angela's Ashes' which gives a gripping account of poverty and its human cost, this film just tries to bounce merrily along and make the best of things. The humor was low brow and the Tom Jones ending was hokey in the extreme.
Two actors stand out, namely Anjelica Houston and Marion O'Dywer. Houston carries the entire cast with a standout performance that is spontaneous and heartwarming. O'Dwyer has a radiant smile and affability that makes her seem like she could be anyone's best bud. The chemistry between the two was excellent.
Overall, this was a human-interest story that was very human, but not very interesting. I rated it a 6/10.
The humor isn't always able to conceal the thin story line.
philip_vanderveken26 April 2005
I guess there were only two people in this entire movie I had ever heard of before watching it. One is Anjelica Huston, the director of the movie, but also one of the main actresses. The other one is Tom Jones who got a cameo in this movie. So why did I give it a try? Well, mainly because I saw a trailer that looked very promising. I hoped it would be a very funny movie and most of the time it was...
Agnes Browne is a recently widowed mother of 7 young children who has a very hard time making a living out of selling some fruit and vegetables on the daily market, which she does together with her best friend, who supports her in these difficult times. But the financial problems are never far away and she even has to borrow money from a loan shark who will not hesitate to do anything to get his money, including a huge interest rate, back. She wishes to escape her hard life for a few moments and dreams of finding enough money so she can go to a Tom Jones concert. She starts realizing her dreams when she goes on a date with the French baker who has been in love with her since the first time he saw her. But when everything seems to get better, new problems arise. But nothing will stop Agnes Browne and her family from finding happiness...
This movie certainly has some very good moments to offer that will definitely make you laugh out loud. But it just isn't enough to conceal that the story sometimes is a bit too easy and thin. It's as if nothing can stop her from being happy and being without worries. Problems never seem to be very hard to conquer and they always find an easy solution. However, that doesn't mean this movie isn't any good. It's still a nice portrait of Dublin in the 1960's and the way how people always try to help each other out, even when they don't have anything to spare. I reward the movie with a 7/10. It's certainly worth a watch, despite its flaws.
Agnes Browne is a recently widowed mother of 7 young children who has a very hard time making a living out of selling some fruit and vegetables on the daily market, which she does together with her best friend, who supports her in these difficult times. But the financial problems are never far away and she even has to borrow money from a loan shark who will not hesitate to do anything to get his money, including a huge interest rate, back. She wishes to escape her hard life for a few moments and dreams of finding enough money so she can go to a Tom Jones concert. She starts realizing her dreams when she goes on a date with the French baker who has been in love with her since the first time he saw her. But when everything seems to get better, new problems arise. But nothing will stop Agnes Browne and her family from finding happiness...
This movie certainly has some very good moments to offer that will definitely make you laugh out loud. But it just isn't enough to conceal that the story sometimes is a bit too easy and thin. It's as if nothing can stop her from being happy and being without worries. Problems never seem to be very hard to conquer and they always find an easy solution. However, that doesn't mean this movie isn't any good. It's still a nice portrait of Dublin in the 1960's and the way how people always try to help each other out, even when they don't have anything to spare. I reward the movie with a 7/10. It's certainly worth a watch, despite its flaws.
Hope and humor brighten working-class Ireland in the 60's!
pied4 September 2000
I thoroughly enjoyed this directorial effort by Angelica Huston. Her acting, as well as that of the actress who plays Marion Monks, was outstanding.
Left a widow with seven children, Agnes Browne, is undaunted in her spunk and determination to rise above adversity. Agnes' best friend nearly steals the movie with her believable, heartwarming performance as the down-to-earth, pungently irreverent, Marion Monks.
The children, (all seven of them) never seem like actors. The French baker next door also adds flavor as the love interest.
Working-class Ireland in the poor section is seen realistically but with much more kindness and hope than Frank McCourt's world of Angela's Ashes.
Excellent and underrated film--highly recommended.
Left a widow with seven children, Agnes Browne, is undaunted in her spunk and determination to rise above adversity. Agnes' best friend nearly steals the movie with her believable, heartwarming performance as the down-to-earth, pungently irreverent, Marion Monks.
The children, (all seven of them) never seem like actors. The French baker next door also adds flavor as the love interest.
Working-class Ireland in the poor section is seen realistically but with much more kindness and hope than Frank McCourt's world of Angela's Ashes.
Excellent and underrated film--highly recommended.
Average film that tries unsuccessfully to be more.
lschmalz22 January 2002
This film relates the story of a recently widowed Irish woman's attempt to keep some semblance of normalcy in her life and those of her seven children. Sadly however, it's nearly impossible to feel any empathy for Agnes, as Agnes doesn't really seem to mind being widowed, which threads a line of disbelief into the entire plot. That said, the movie plods along through Agnes's life, as she quickly jumps into flirtations with the town baker, leading me to wonder if the corpse was even cold yet. Agnes also simultaneously battles an evil loan shark and his bully buddy who torment her young son, gives comfort to an ill friend and schemes to win concert tickets. This movie tries very hard to make the anguish of Agnes's life interesting, but it switches gears on the viewers too fast and too often. It's as if the writers couldn't figure out whether to create this into a comedy, a drama, or a love story, so they tried to pull all the punches in ninety-two minutes. What we are left with however, is a film that, while witty and sentimental at times, is void of emotional impact; and that's a shame really, for it could have been a contender.
Well done, Ms. Houston
strat-821 July 2006
Yet another hidden gem. As a dealer in new and used movies, especially since I specialize in unusual, out-of-print, Indies, foreign, and other non-mainstream titles, I have the opportunity to discover many films in the hidden-gem category, like this one. Films get my attention when the demand is unusually high. This is no guarantee that the film is a good one, but if other factors are favorable, I may watch it. This one's a winner.
On my first viewing I thought it was a nice little film but nothing special. Mild thumbs up. I'm not sure why, but about a year later I decided to watch it again. I enjoyed it more the second time. Six months later I watched it a 3rd time and it seemed better yet. Today I watched it for the fourth time and I enjoyed every moment of it tremendously. The opening scene is just delicious, and hilarious. Even though I have a pretty good ear for the Irish idiom, I turned on the English subtitles and caught some bits of dialog that were not clear before.
If you are a film student, this a good one to study. It is extremely well crafted. Yes my dears, with no big stars and a small budget, you can make a fine film. The camera work is first class. Lighting is perfect. The colors pop out at you. No doubt Ms. Houston sought to bring her Ireland to life with all of it's vivid vitality, and she succeeded. She squeezed a lot into a small film. Humor, music, romance, pathos, and even a little suspense. Perfect editing. The film never lags. Perfect pacing. Perfect storytelling. Nothing is unnecessary and nothing is missing.
Yes, it is a bittersweet tale, but so is life. We have all been there. Agnes Browne and her brood are good souls, instantly likable. The beaming faces of those kids, ah, they'll steal your heart. That's what makes this movie a winner above all else. It's a movie with heart.
On my first viewing I thought it was a nice little film but nothing special. Mild thumbs up. I'm not sure why, but about a year later I decided to watch it again. I enjoyed it more the second time. Six months later I watched it a 3rd time and it seemed better yet. Today I watched it for the fourth time and I enjoyed every moment of it tremendously. The opening scene is just delicious, and hilarious. Even though I have a pretty good ear for the Irish idiom, I turned on the English subtitles and caught some bits of dialog that were not clear before.
If you are a film student, this a good one to study. It is extremely well crafted. Yes my dears, with no big stars and a small budget, you can make a fine film. The camera work is first class. Lighting is perfect. The colors pop out at you. No doubt Ms. Houston sought to bring her Ireland to life with all of it's vivid vitality, and she succeeded. She squeezed a lot into a small film. Humor, music, romance, pathos, and even a little suspense. Perfect editing. The film never lags. Perfect pacing. Perfect storytelling. Nothing is unnecessary and nothing is missing.
Yes, it is a bittersweet tale, but so is life. We have all been there. Agnes Browne and her brood are good souls, instantly likable. The beaming faces of those kids, ah, they'll steal your heart. That's what makes this movie a winner above all else. It's a movie with heart.
Anything is possible.
paulcreeden10 June 2001
So, you think, "This film must be great. Stars Angelica Huston. Directed by her. Good supporting cast. About the country where Angelica grew up, as the daughter of one of the world's most famous directors and actors. It's impossible for it to be a boring, badly written, badly directed, badly acted, badly staged piece of network-TV movie tripe." Well, dear friend, anything is possible.
One of the best films set in Ireland
mulvihill1 March 2002
Truly a heartwarming story of friendship with Marion and Agnes, but when the whole community is thrown in what an amazing film about friends and friendship. Angelica Huston has captured the essence of Ireland , it's people and their language.
Tossed with a bit of Tom Jones and.......
Tossed with a bit of Tom Jones and.......
A complete miss-hit!
weezetka1 May 2000
Maybe the second part of the movie was better than the first, but I wouldn't know cause I left during the break. Can I still write my review without having seen the total picture? I think I can. In this review I do describe a scene but it doesn't give away any crucial part of the plot. I experienced this movie as being a total miss-hit. The jokes were never funny, well maybe one but I can't really remember which one so it probably didn't make that much of an impression. In the beginning daddy dies and the whole family + extras follow the coffin to the burial-ground. On the coffin the word Daddy is written in flowers. It's really, REALLY hard to miss. What does the group do when they finally arrive at the gates of the cemetery, the coffin gets mixed up with one that doesn't have the big words DADDY on it and they all just follow the wrong coffin. And they end up at the wrong place. Hahahahahahah......Are they all dumb in Ireland or is it just this movie, I will guess the second. This was supposed to be funny but at the end it just came out completely stupid. During the whole(first have that is) I could never really care about the characters, and even scene's that were supposed to be emotional, one were Agnes was crying, it just seemed ridiculous. I guess it was supposed to be a dramatic piece, like so many Irish movies(only some kind of diet coke version, not like Angela's ashes) but at the break I just couldn't care less. I hate leaving during the break cause I always feel that I need to see the ending but this was just to stupid. So my advise is: never enter the cinema for this movie. See another....
Poetry, compared to other recent movies about working-class women in Ireland
a.sandham9 March 2000
This is an excellent picture of the life of working-class women on the housing estates ('projects' to Americans,probably as true now as in the 'sixties, as well as being a very good movie for women actors. The men are cyphers but the women and children are real enough. The colour is almost real (compared to Angela's Ashes), the dialogue believable, the dress and make-up accurate, in fact the design of the whole piece is convincing and satisfying visually and its sentimentality is not so sweet as to stick to back of the teeth. Anjelica Huston is unselfish. I have my doubts about Tom Jones' scenes at the end, but nothing's perfect. I find it growing on me as I look back on it.
A Wee Green One- Full O' Surprises
rob_fearnside18 April 2002
What a refreshing and delightful movie, depicting the conquering of the human spirit in the face of adversity in a humorous, yet profound way. This is probably one for the more 'mature' in life, thus the low ranking. The acting is superb, the casting brilliant, the directing great.. it's a top movie in my books! Anyone who has ever tried, or is trying, 'single parenting', will really relate to this one in a special way. I had heaps of laughs and lot of tears too. Not bad for a male who also likes movies like the 'Fight Club'.
simply lovely
Sarjenka7 April 2002
I have seen this movie on 21 March 2000. It was the Sneak Preview that day in my home town cinema. I really loved the story. You shouldn't think too much of the story though, since (for example) the Tom Jones Part is really dumb. But I suppose the director put this part in as a joke.
I had a great time watching. Several times I needed extra oxygen (so to speak), 'cause I had to laugh so loud. Especially the scene where Agnes is burying her husband is hilarious!
I shall rent this flick on DVD some time to watch it again (and again and again....)
I had a great time watching. Several times I needed extra oxygen (so to speak), 'cause I had to laugh so loud. Especially the scene where Agnes is burying her husband is hilarious!
I shall rent this flick on DVD some time to watch it again (and again and again....)
A Little False and Cartoonish
anduarto20 September 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Flipping channels the other night, I came upon the opening frames of AGNES BROWNE on the Sundance channel. It looked charming and I was intrigued by Angelica Houston playing against type as a working-class widow struggling to support her seven children in the hard-scrabble word of 1960's Ireland. Ultimately, however, the movie proved disappointing.
There were faint warning bells almost from the onset. As Agnes and her best fried Marion make their way through the halls of Irish bureaucracy just hours after the death of Agnes' husband, the dialogue is just a little too clever, the emotional tone just the slightest bit false. But these concerns are slight and we're willing to put them aside for the moment and see what's to come. A few scenes further on, when the mourners at Mr. Browne's funeral realize they're at the wrong grave site and make a crazy, rollicking dash through the cemetery to the correct one, we realize we're in serious trouble. There's a cartoonish broadness to AGNES BROWNE. Something about the film just seems a little off.
Angelica Houston, for all her appeal, is miscast as the lead. She simply doesn't do "earthy" convincingly. The emotional stakes throughout seem false. The crisises, such as Marion's collapse from cancer, seem forced. The script's machinations are ham-fisted and obvious. But most disturbingly, the depictions of the Irish and of Irish life are chock-full of cliché and stereotype. Here are the Irish having a rollicking good time at the pub. Here are the Irish banning together to help one of their own. Here are the Irish being moved and touched. Here are the Irish dancing a jig. Here are the Irish bouncing back with wit and tough humor. And at all times, they are very, very IRISH! The film comes off more as someone's fantasy of what Irish people are like more than anything real.
One of Agnes Browne's dreams is to attend a Tom Jones concert.Two-thirds of the way through, I was simply persevering to get a look at Mr. Jones He does show up eventually, but even that seems a little odd (that's not a spoiler, he's in the credits, you know he's coming one way or another). He remains a phenomenal performer but, after the film's haphazard attempts at a gritty realism, watching the 60-ish Jones portray his 20-something self is just bizarre.
Thankfully the children make AGNES BROWNE bearable. Each a quirky individual in his or her own right, they provide the film with some of its truest moments and best performances. AGNES BROWNE is not without its charms, but in other hands - and most importantly, with better writing - it could have been a much better movie.
There were faint warning bells almost from the onset. As Agnes and her best fried Marion make their way through the halls of Irish bureaucracy just hours after the death of Agnes' husband, the dialogue is just a little too clever, the emotional tone just the slightest bit false. But these concerns are slight and we're willing to put them aside for the moment and see what's to come. A few scenes further on, when the mourners at Mr. Browne's funeral realize they're at the wrong grave site and make a crazy, rollicking dash through the cemetery to the correct one, we realize we're in serious trouble. There's a cartoonish broadness to AGNES BROWNE. Something about the film just seems a little off.
Angelica Houston, for all her appeal, is miscast as the lead. She simply doesn't do "earthy" convincingly. The emotional stakes throughout seem false. The crisises, such as Marion's collapse from cancer, seem forced. The script's machinations are ham-fisted and obvious. But most disturbingly, the depictions of the Irish and of Irish life are chock-full of cliché and stereotype. Here are the Irish having a rollicking good time at the pub. Here are the Irish banning together to help one of their own. Here are the Irish being moved and touched. Here are the Irish dancing a jig. Here are the Irish bouncing back with wit and tough humor. And at all times, they are very, very IRISH! The film comes off more as someone's fantasy of what Irish people are like more than anything real.
One of Agnes Browne's dreams is to attend a Tom Jones concert.Two-thirds of the way through, I was simply persevering to get a look at Mr. Jones He does show up eventually, but even that seems a little odd (that's not a spoiler, he's in the credits, you know he's coming one way or another). He remains a phenomenal performer but, after the film's haphazard attempts at a gritty realism, watching the 60-ish Jones portray his 20-something self is just bizarre.
Thankfully the children make AGNES BROWNE bearable. Each a quirky individual in his or her own right, they provide the film with some of its truest moments and best performances. AGNES BROWNE is not without its charms, but in other hands - and most importantly, with better writing - it could have been a much better movie.
Satisfying ending
LNHGrem10 April 2003
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie - found myself laughing out loud at many points. It had one of the most satisfying (even if slightly predictable) endings I've seen in a while. I would recommend it as a family movie - but not for small children due to some violence and sad things.
Tom Jones and the camp factor
merie22 May 2000
Warning: Spoilers
Entertaining. That is how I would describe 'Agnes Browne'. The film is witty at times. Angelica Huston is almost believable as an Irish mammy ("I don't know my husband's maiden name"). The French baker is an eerie Gerard Depardieu lookalike. The (real British/Irish) supporting actors are excellent (Ray Winstone! you love to hate him as usual).
SPOILER COMING UP
Entertaining, almost belieavble, only to be spoiled by mr foghorn Jones making an appearance at the end, not looking at all the way the period of the film would suggest (especially on stage). And oh my word, another one of those cliche happy endings. Not that I have anything against happy endings. It's just that you can see this one coming about half an hour in advance....
SPOILER COMING UP
Entertaining, almost belieavble, only to be spoiled by mr foghorn Jones making an appearance at the end, not looking at all the way the period of the film would suggest (especially on stage). And oh my word, another one of those cliche happy endings. Not that I have anything against happy endings. It's just that you can see this one coming about half an hour in advance....
Fun, Fairy Tale of a Story
obrienl2124 January 2004
I think some of the others who commented on this movie were too harsh...it's not meant to be a human drama of great porportions. It's simply a fun, fairy tale that is a feel good movie. It's not made to make you think about the social plight of widowed Irish mothers in the 1960's...it's made to give you a good laugh and to leave a smile on your face.
And that it did. I particulary like the relationship between Agnes and Marion...I think it was a perfect display of women's relationships, and how they change and grow over time.
I admit I found the characters a bit "oirish" at times, but it was lovely and fun. I give it 7/10.
And that it did. I particulary like the relationship between Agnes and Marion...I think it was a perfect display of women's relationships, and how they change and grow over time.
I admit I found the characters a bit "oirish" at times, but it was lovely and fun. I give it 7/10.
Another one for my Irish film collection
emuir-12 September 2014
I enjoyed this humorous account of life among Dublin's poor in the same way I enjoyed the humor of Love on the Dole and similar films of the working class combating grinding poverty with humor. Fortunately the film did not give in to standard clichés: e.g. the date with Pierre did not lead to a man meets woman, man loses woman, man gets her back and they live happily ever after (after he had given Mr. Billy the thrashing he deserved). It would be a very brave man willing to take on a widow with seven children.
I could not help wondering why Agnes did not go to the Garda over Billy's loan sharking to young children, but perhaps the poor of Dublin don't involve the police. Agnes, who we saw many times defiantly marching through the streets aiming her pram like a weapon, did not seem to be the type to be intimidated by Billy.
There were some major flaws: 1) when Agnes went to collect her widow's pension and was served by a very rude unhelpful clerk. In reality the clerk would have realized she was dealing with a woman who had just lost her husband and been helpful and solicitous.
2) The relationship with her eldest son should have been more detailed, and his meeting with the carpenter who was willing to take him on as an apprentice and teach him a a trade rather than leave him to dead end jobs interspersed with the employment dole was rushed through. One minute we saw the boy watching Mr. Aherne, next minute they are at the door asking for money for apprentice tools. There was certainly enough time to expand this part of the story as the film was only 91 minutes long. We needed to see what Mr. Aherne saw in the boy that made him willing to take him on as an apprentice without a bond. Was Mr. Aherne an old friend of Agnes and her late husband? 3) The ending with the brash Tom Jones did not play well and would have been better with Agnes all dressed up and leaving for the concert, or as a dream/fantasy sequence, with her waking up and finding Pierre waiting for her having helped the children get their tea ready. Not to put down Tom Jones, but his presence was jarring.
Still these are minor gripes in what was a charming film.
I could not help wondering why Agnes did not go to the Garda over Billy's loan sharking to young children, but perhaps the poor of Dublin don't involve the police. Agnes, who we saw many times defiantly marching through the streets aiming her pram like a weapon, did not seem to be the type to be intimidated by Billy.
There were some major flaws: 1) when Agnes went to collect her widow's pension and was served by a very rude unhelpful clerk. In reality the clerk would have realized she was dealing with a woman who had just lost her husband and been helpful and solicitous.
2) The relationship with her eldest son should have been more detailed, and his meeting with the carpenter who was willing to take him on as an apprentice and teach him a a trade rather than leave him to dead end jobs interspersed with the employment dole was rushed through. One minute we saw the boy watching Mr. Aherne, next minute they are at the door asking for money for apprentice tools. There was certainly enough time to expand this part of the story as the film was only 91 minutes long. We needed to see what Mr. Aherne saw in the boy that made him willing to take him on as an apprentice without a bond. Was Mr. Aherne an old friend of Agnes and her late husband? 3) The ending with the brash Tom Jones did not play well and would have been better with Agnes all dressed up and leaving for the concert, or as a dream/fantasy sequence, with her waking up and finding Pierre waiting for her having helped the children get their tea ready. Not to put down Tom Jones, but his presence was jarring.
Still these are minor gripes in what was a charming film.
Most families will love it but....................................
mulhollandman21 September 2006
Agnes Browne is a recently bereaved, stall owner and mother of seven children. With her best friend and fellow stall owner Marion Monks, she works hard every day to feed, house and clothe herself and her children. This has all to be done while still trying to pay off a ruthless loan shark called Mister Billy. She enjoys a pint and a singsong in the pub but when she has a rare moment to herself she likes to dance to her Tom Jones records.
Agnes Browne is another directorial effort from the wonderful Anjelica Huston and with her in the main role I would expect a lot better than what I received for my moneys worth. The problem with this film is that John Goldsmith's adaptation of Brendan O'Carroll's hit " The Mammy " is terrible and it plays to the worst kind of paddy whackery since Darby O'Gill and the little people. Goldsmith totally misses the point of the book and it is very obvious by surname alone that Goldsmith is not Irish and his comprehension of Irish humor is zero considering it has been more successfully demonstrated in different films by different writers. He totally leaves out the essential components that made O'Carroll's book so successful. " The Mammy " is certainly about a woman in 1960's Dublin fighting to bring up her kids, but the books more endearing feature is the respect that the children have for their mother. One example I can give is the relationship that builds between Agnes Browne and her eldest son Mark. In the book it demonstrates greatly that Mark's desire to get a job is not just to get out of the boredom of school but it is in necessity to provide for his family. The book also richly illustrates how Mark through careful observation of his mother gains her financial resourcefulness and how he thoughtfully gives back to his family. In return he receives the respect an adult would receive from his mother and siblings because of his willingness to accept adult responsibility at the tender age of 14. This kindness is also encouraged by his new boss and mentor Henry Wise a Jewish man whose fireside chats with Mark on his Sabbath encourage Mark to look to a brighter horizon and realizes the values of his mothers words. Great substantial stuff is replaced by mediocre trash by re-naming Mr. Henry Wise to Mr Ahern and cutting his influence right out and creating the rubbish loan shark Mister Billy. This is of course is to create tension and entertainment for the fickle international audiences. John Goldsmith should never have been hired to adapt this script.
Because of the script it is very hard to know what the supporting actors are like individually but I they gain my respect as they give heart and soul to characters despite the storyline. It is will great difficultly I will say that it is the first time I have had to badmouth Ray Winstone who I am a great fan of. His Irish accent is as bad as the script he may have played a relocated English loan shark. Anjelica Huston is good, not great, I think the dual duties of acting and directing may have got the better of her. Her role was a very hard one and I think she would have been casting a prominent English actress like Julia Walters or Emma Thompson in the role. Anjelica may have lived in Ireland in her youth but her compression of Irish Humour is as bad as John Goldsmiths. She misses a lot of great moments in both her direction and acting. Some of which might have saved the film from this reviewer's disdain.
To cut a long story short. I love the book on which this was based. On it's initial release I went to the cinema eagerly to watch it but hopes and anticipation were replaced by scorn and loathing for all American productions based in Ireland. Granted families will love this but what I am saying is instead of becoming another family hour movie on some television station, it could have been ten times better and more beneficial for us all. 4 out of 10
Agnes Browne is another directorial effort from the wonderful Anjelica Huston and with her in the main role I would expect a lot better than what I received for my moneys worth. The problem with this film is that John Goldsmith's adaptation of Brendan O'Carroll's hit " The Mammy " is terrible and it plays to the worst kind of paddy whackery since Darby O'Gill and the little people. Goldsmith totally misses the point of the book and it is very obvious by surname alone that Goldsmith is not Irish and his comprehension of Irish humor is zero considering it has been more successfully demonstrated in different films by different writers. He totally leaves out the essential components that made O'Carroll's book so successful. " The Mammy " is certainly about a woman in 1960's Dublin fighting to bring up her kids, but the books more endearing feature is the respect that the children have for their mother. One example I can give is the relationship that builds between Agnes Browne and her eldest son Mark. In the book it demonstrates greatly that Mark's desire to get a job is not just to get out of the boredom of school but it is in necessity to provide for his family. The book also richly illustrates how Mark through careful observation of his mother gains her financial resourcefulness and how he thoughtfully gives back to his family. In return he receives the respect an adult would receive from his mother and siblings because of his willingness to accept adult responsibility at the tender age of 14. This kindness is also encouraged by his new boss and mentor Henry Wise a Jewish man whose fireside chats with Mark on his Sabbath encourage Mark to look to a brighter horizon and realizes the values of his mothers words. Great substantial stuff is replaced by mediocre trash by re-naming Mr. Henry Wise to Mr Ahern and cutting his influence right out and creating the rubbish loan shark Mister Billy. This is of course is to create tension and entertainment for the fickle international audiences. John Goldsmith should never have been hired to adapt this script.
Because of the script it is very hard to know what the supporting actors are like individually but I they gain my respect as they give heart and soul to characters despite the storyline. It is will great difficultly I will say that it is the first time I have had to badmouth Ray Winstone who I am a great fan of. His Irish accent is as bad as the script he may have played a relocated English loan shark. Anjelica Huston is good, not great, I think the dual duties of acting and directing may have got the better of her. Her role was a very hard one and I think she would have been casting a prominent English actress like Julia Walters or Emma Thompson in the role. Anjelica may have lived in Ireland in her youth but her compression of Irish Humour is as bad as John Goldsmiths. She misses a lot of great moments in both her direction and acting. Some of which might have saved the film from this reviewer's disdain.
To cut a long story short. I love the book on which this was based. On it's initial release I went to the cinema eagerly to watch it but hopes and anticipation were replaced by scorn and loathing for all American productions based in Ireland. Granted families will love this but what I am saying is instead of becoming another family hour movie on some television station, it could have been ten times better and more beneficial for us all. 4 out of 10
Flashes of brilliance, ruined.
leeloo6722 February 2003
Warning: Spoilers
As a fan of watching movies without knowing anything about what is going to happen, it is my belief this comment contains spoilers.
I have never seen a movie quite like this one. Some of the scenes and situations were brilliantly crafted, and others were complete junk. The end result are brilliant scenes speckled with garbage, and the garbage scenes are very, very confused and confusing. I will explain in my plot summary that follows. All the plot summaries I had read about this movie say something completely different (read the one on imdb.com) than what I feel this movie is actually about.
This movie is the story of Agnes Browne, and her budding friendship with a neighboring woman, Marion. I suppose they knew each other before Agnes' husband's death (movie starts with the funeral), but apparently they didn't become best friends until after the funeral. Unbeknownst to Agnes, but knownst to us, her friend has cancer.
Here follows several touching scenes, brilliantly crafted, with perfect dialogue, etc...:
Agnes runs into Marion's husband, who sort of tells Agnes what is going on. Agnes tells him it's not the end of the world, and he replies, "It is for me".
Later, Marion says her one wish is to learn to drive a car, and they both are sitting in a car waiting for the instructor. He comes around to the driver's window and gesticulates in what could either be interpereted as an obscene gesture or sign language for Marion to roll the window down. The women assume the former is the case, Agnes says he wants a "w**k", and they laugh. He then asks Marion to turn the "knob", and they again laugh. The guess his name is "Dick" and are dissapointed to find out his name is Tom. They fall into absolute hysterics when he announces his full name, "Tom O'Toole".
At the beginning, Agnes has no money because she hadn't yet started getting her husband's death benefits. She is forced to borrow from a loan shark briefly. Soon after she gets her retroactive death benefits, and there is a bizarre scene where she pays him back in a lump sum and they are both ungrateful to each other. At this point, I felt it was very clear Agnes had a good amount of money, as she even bragged a little about it. Further proof of this occurs when we see Agnes and Marion go out bar hopping. Then suddenly, the next day, she cries when her 7 kids complain and she is upset she doesn't have the money to feed them all. Then, in stark contrast again, Agnes and Marion take a day off from their fruit and flower stands and go to the coast, they go shopping for expensive clothes for Agnes' daughter, they take expensive driving lessons... not exactly money problems here. All of these scenes do exist however to show us the bond of friendship that is building between these two women and again we see specs of brilliance. I thought the money problems were long since over. When one of Agnes' kids borrows 6 pounds from the earlier loan shark, the money problems mysteriously reappear when payment time comes. 6 pounds! Agnes tries to scrape up the 10 pounds owed (interest) and seemingly can't come up with that, despite the money being offered to her by a Frenchman named Pierre who is in love with her, and despite her doing several things, including selling her wedding ring! She bravely tells Pierre she refuses to be reliant on a man. Then she gets money out of nowhere from her late husband's work union, and also Tom Jones bizarrely helps save the day (making her reliant on Tom Jones, who I believe is a man).
I really like Anjelica Huston. But in this movie, you really notice her terrible attempt at an Irish accent, which faded in and out, was never really right, and was extremely distracting. Her acting at points was also very bad, as in the funeral scene at the beginning where she realizes she is at the wrong grave. There were many points where it seemed as though she was concentrating too hard on just trying to get the accent right. In other scenes she had a look on her face that seemed she was just pleased she got the accent right for a change. She produced this movie, and should have known better than to put herself in it. She should have known it needed a severe re-write before production. It makes me think she doesn't quite have the minerals to do this many jobs on one production.
I have never seen a movie quite like this one. Some of the scenes and situations were brilliantly crafted, and others were complete junk. The end result are brilliant scenes speckled with garbage, and the garbage scenes are very, very confused and confusing. I will explain in my plot summary that follows. All the plot summaries I had read about this movie say something completely different (read the one on imdb.com) than what I feel this movie is actually about.
This movie is the story of Agnes Browne, and her budding friendship with a neighboring woman, Marion. I suppose they knew each other before Agnes' husband's death (movie starts with the funeral), but apparently they didn't become best friends until after the funeral. Unbeknownst to Agnes, but knownst to us, her friend has cancer.
Here follows several touching scenes, brilliantly crafted, with perfect dialogue, etc...:
Agnes runs into Marion's husband, who sort of tells Agnes what is going on. Agnes tells him it's not the end of the world, and he replies, "It is for me".
Later, Marion says her one wish is to learn to drive a car, and they both are sitting in a car waiting for the instructor. He comes around to the driver's window and gesticulates in what could either be interpereted as an obscene gesture or sign language for Marion to roll the window down. The women assume the former is the case, Agnes says he wants a "w**k", and they laugh. He then asks Marion to turn the "knob", and they again laugh. The guess his name is "Dick" and are dissapointed to find out his name is Tom. They fall into absolute hysterics when he announces his full name, "Tom O'Toole".
At the beginning, Agnes has no money because she hadn't yet started getting her husband's death benefits. She is forced to borrow from a loan shark briefly. Soon after she gets her retroactive death benefits, and there is a bizarre scene where she pays him back in a lump sum and they are both ungrateful to each other. At this point, I felt it was very clear Agnes had a good amount of money, as she even bragged a little about it. Further proof of this occurs when we see Agnes and Marion go out bar hopping. Then suddenly, the next day, she cries when her 7 kids complain and she is upset she doesn't have the money to feed them all. Then, in stark contrast again, Agnes and Marion take a day off from their fruit and flower stands and go to the coast, they go shopping for expensive clothes for Agnes' daughter, they take expensive driving lessons... not exactly money problems here. All of these scenes do exist however to show us the bond of friendship that is building between these two women and again we see specs of brilliance. I thought the money problems were long since over. When one of Agnes' kids borrows 6 pounds from the earlier loan shark, the money problems mysteriously reappear when payment time comes. 6 pounds! Agnes tries to scrape up the 10 pounds owed (interest) and seemingly can't come up with that, despite the money being offered to her by a Frenchman named Pierre who is in love with her, and despite her doing several things, including selling her wedding ring! She bravely tells Pierre she refuses to be reliant on a man. Then she gets money out of nowhere from her late husband's work union, and also Tom Jones bizarrely helps save the day (making her reliant on Tom Jones, who I believe is a man).
I really like Anjelica Huston. But in this movie, you really notice her terrible attempt at an Irish accent, which faded in and out, was never really right, and was extremely distracting. Her acting at points was also very bad, as in the funeral scene at the beginning where she realizes she is at the wrong grave. There were many points where it seemed as though she was concentrating too hard on just trying to get the accent right. In other scenes she had a look on her face that seemed she was just pleased she got the accent right for a change. She produced this movie, and should have known better than to put herself in it. She should have known it needed a severe re-write before production. It makes me think she doesn't quite have the minerals to do this many jobs on one production.
The Luck of the Irish
george.schmidt27 April 2004
AGNES BROWNE (1999) **1/2 Anjelica Huston, Marion O' Dwyer, Ray Winstone, Tom Jones
(cameo). Huston, who also co-produced with filmmaker Jim Sheridan and
directs in her big-screen debut, gives it her all as stoic, decent
Irish mother of seven in Dublin circa 1967 whose adjustment to
widowhood takes its toll in her daily struggle to keep her brood
under wraps even as she attempts to enjoy her life as it proceeds.
Straight forward but no real sense of palpable tension even as it
dredges up the themes of death, poverty and an unsteady future.
(cameo). Huston, who also co-produced with filmmaker Jim Sheridan and
directs in her big-screen debut, gives it her all as stoic, decent
Irish mother of seven in Dublin circa 1967 whose adjustment to
widowhood takes its toll in her daily struggle to keep her brood
under wraps even as she attempts to enjoy her life as it proceeds.
Straight forward but no real sense of palpable tension even as it
dredges up the themes of death, poverty and an unsteady future.
What the feck
Prismark108 August 2016
If you are a fan of Mrs Browne's Boys then Agnes Browne serves as a sort of a prequel. The lead character is played Anjelica Huston who also directs.
The film was co-written by Brendan O'Carroll and based on his source material who also pops up as a drunk.
The film is set in a poor working class district of Ireland of the 1960s. Agnes Browne has lost her husband and has to support her seven young children. She needs to borrow money from a loan shark until her widow's benefit comes through.
Over time she pays off the loan shark but loses a close friend to cancer and finds romance with a neighbouring French baker and dreams to see Tom Jones in concert.
The film is rather bittersweet than the raucous comedy we are more used to. The story is thin, more of a slice of life in a harsh Dublin environment when working class families stuck together. The story does not always hang well together though.
Anjelica Huston makes the best out of a low budget, she makes herself appear dowdy until she goes on a date with the French baker and then pampers herself. She gets an earthy performance from her cast but Ray Winstone who puts on a good Irish accent is too much of a cartoonish villain and that is because the script is rather flat.
The film was co-written by Brendan O'Carroll and based on his source material who also pops up as a drunk.
The film is set in a poor working class district of Ireland of the 1960s. Agnes Browne has lost her husband and has to support her seven young children. She needs to borrow money from a loan shark until her widow's benefit comes through.
Over time she pays off the loan shark but loses a close friend to cancer and finds romance with a neighbouring French baker and dreams to see Tom Jones in concert.
The film is rather bittersweet than the raucous comedy we are more used to. The story is thin, more of a slice of life in a harsh Dublin environment when working class families stuck together. The story does not always hang well together though.
Anjelica Huston makes the best out of a low budget, she makes herself appear dowdy until she goes on a date with the French baker and then pampers herself. She gets an earthy performance from her cast but Ray Winstone who puts on a good Irish accent is too much of a cartoonish villain and that is because the script is rather flat.
immensely likable little film
Buddy-5111 March 2001
`Agnes Browne' is a genuine charmer, a simple, but heartwarming comedy/drama directed by and starring the magnificent Anjelica Huston. Set in a lower class Dublin neighborhood in 1967, the story centers around Agnes, an attractive woman whose husband has just died leaving her sole provider for her seven children, ranging in age from early adolescence to diaper-wetting toddler. With the love of her best friend, Marion, to support her (this almost seems to be more of a love story between them than between Agnes and Pierre, the local Frenchman who falls for her), Agnes learns to cope with financial set backs, the neighborhood extortionist, the growing pains of her children and, most tragically, the terminal illness of someone very dear to her heart.
`Agnes Browne' could have emerged as a heavy-handed wallow in tragedy and bathos, but those involved both in front of and behind the cameras have managed to maintain an air of breezy likeability even in the film's darkest moments. If there is a criticism to be leveled against the movie, it would probably be that the film is actually - at a mere 92-minute running time - a bit too short. We occasionally feel we are being rushed from one event to another without time for proper reflection. Moreover, a number of the characters prime among them Pierre and several of the children tend to get lost in the shuffle. As the silent, sensitive and understanding merchant who woos and wins Agnes, Pierre simply seems too much like the `ideal man' stereotype who always seems to be just waiting in the wings the moment one of these attractive but harried movie widows/divorcees is starting life anew out on her own.
A much more well rounded and three-dimensional character is that of Agnes' best friend, Marion, (beautifully portrayed by Marion O'Dwyer), a warmhearted, fun-loving woman who provides the kind of confidant and companion that all of us would love to have in our lives. But the real selling point of `Agnes Browne' is, undoubtedly, the luminous performance delivered by Anjelica Huston herself. This fine actress manages to flow seamlessly in and out of a wide variety of emotionally demanding moods and moments. Stern and demanding one moment, she can be forgiving and loving the next. Whether alternately strong or vulnerable, idealistic or pragmatic, heartbroken or joyful, Agnes is a character who demands and earns the complete attention and respect from the audience who can't help but be riveted by her every move. With her glowing portrayal, Huston literally lights up the center of this movie.
Yes, the fairy tale ending may seem a bit out of place perhaps. Yet, in a way, for all its moments of death, heartbreak and sorrow, `Agnes Browne' never really aspires to be anything BUT a charming fairy tale. Given the quality of so much of what we see up on the screen, we really couldn't ask for more.
`Agnes Browne' could have emerged as a heavy-handed wallow in tragedy and bathos, but those involved both in front of and behind the cameras have managed to maintain an air of breezy likeability even in the film's darkest moments. If there is a criticism to be leveled against the movie, it would probably be that the film is actually - at a mere 92-minute running time - a bit too short. We occasionally feel we are being rushed from one event to another without time for proper reflection. Moreover, a number of the characters prime among them Pierre and several of the children tend to get lost in the shuffle. As the silent, sensitive and understanding merchant who woos and wins Agnes, Pierre simply seems too much like the `ideal man' stereotype who always seems to be just waiting in the wings the moment one of these attractive but harried movie widows/divorcees is starting life anew out on her own.
A much more well rounded and three-dimensional character is that of Agnes' best friend, Marion, (beautifully portrayed by Marion O'Dwyer), a warmhearted, fun-loving woman who provides the kind of confidant and companion that all of us would love to have in our lives. But the real selling point of `Agnes Browne' is, undoubtedly, the luminous performance delivered by Anjelica Huston herself. This fine actress manages to flow seamlessly in and out of a wide variety of emotionally demanding moods and moments. Stern and demanding one moment, she can be forgiving and loving the next. Whether alternately strong or vulnerable, idealistic or pragmatic, heartbroken or joyful, Agnes is a character who demands and earns the complete attention and respect from the audience who can't help but be riveted by her every move. With her glowing portrayal, Huston literally lights up the center of this movie.
Yes, the fairy tale ending may seem a bit out of place perhaps. Yet, in a way, for all its moments of death, heartbreak and sorrow, `Agnes Browne' never really aspires to be anything BUT a charming fairy tale. Given the quality of so much of what we see up on the screen, we really couldn't ask for more.
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