Crossmaheart (1998) Online

This advice is valid for all movies made adapted from the novels of Colin Bateman. Please read the book!

I was delighted to see the first film made entirely on location in Northern Ireland for about 20 years and it looks pretty good but unfortunately the movie isn't so hot, too often trying to be funny and failing totally. There's confusion between Catholics & Protestants beginning with the lead being a Protestant called Kevin, impossible in Belfast! Too much violence & foul language substitute for coherent plot development and the identity of the "mystery" villain in the second half is so obvious. Gary Kemp's music is a refreshing change from the usual Irish cliches but this is rather uninvolving. Lead Gerard Rooney is a John Lynch look-alike but the comparison doesn't run to acting ability. Unless you yearn for a glimpse of the "Old Country" give it a miss.

I was delighted to see what claims to be the first film made entirely on location in Northern Ireland for about 20 years and it looks pretty good but unfortunately the movie isn't so hot, too often trying to be funny and failing totally. There's confusion between Catholics & Protestants beginning with the lead being a Protestant called Kevin, most improbable in Belfast! Too much violence & foul language substitute for coherent plot development and the identity of the "mystery" villain in the second half is so obvious. Gary Kemp's music is a refreshing change from the usual Irish cliches but Crossmaheart is rather uninvolving. Lead Gerard Rooney is a John Lynch look-alike but the comparison doesn't run to acting ability. Unless you yearn for a glimpse of the "Old Country" give it a miss.