Ash Wednesday (2002)

Director:

Edward Burns

Writer (WGA):

Edward Burns (written by)

Release Date:

19 March 2004 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Ash Wednesday is set in the Manhattan of the early 1980's and is about a pair of Irish-American brothers (Burns and Wood) who become embroiled in a conflict with the Irish Mob.

Plot Keywords:

Ash Wednesday | Priest | Irish Mob | Irish American | Catholic

Cast

Brian Burns	...	Cousin Mike Moran
Vincent Rubino	...	Vinny Boombata
Jimmy Cummings	...	J.C. (as James Cummings)
Elijah Wood	...	Sean Sullivan
Pat McNamara	...	Murph
John DiResta	...	Pete at the Bar
Edward Burns	...	Francis Sullivan
Malachy McCourt	...	Whitey
Chris McGovern	...	Whitey's Driver (as Christopher McGovern)
Peter Gerety	...	Uncle Handy
Jimmy Burke	...	Red Kelly (as James Burke)
Stephen Murphy	...	Whitey's Man
Brian Delate	...	Crazy George Cullen
Teresa Yenque	...	Mrs. Diaz
Julie Hale	...	Maggie Shea

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive language and some violence.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Finland:K-15 | Netherlands:16 (DVD rating) | Canada:14A | Singapore:NC-16 | UK:18 | USA:R | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

IFC Productions

Goofs:

Factual errors: During conversation, the police detective reminds the priest about the murder "three years ago" and the priest concurs, saying it was three years ago to the day. Both dates in the film are supposed to be Ash Wednesday however, which falls on a different date each year -namely 46 days before Easter - and can occur anywhere from the first week of February until mid March. In 1983 (being the date that the murders took place in the film) Ash Wednesday fell on February 16th and in 1986, it was celebrated on the 12th of February.

Quotes:

Francis: They thought you were the smart one? I must've looked like a friggin' retard!

Movie Connections:

References Black and White (1999/I)

Soundtrack:

Let It Ride

a good, tight, suspenseful drama.

October 14, 2004. I viewed this film last night and I must say that I was in suspense the entire film. I truly believed that the younger brother was in imminent danger. The older brother (Ed Burns) was in danger as well. Trying to convince his brother of his stupidity was done not with yelling or shouting, but understated by a character who by his admissions had lived two lifetimes by the age of thirty.

I am a movie fan who does not expect "Gone With The Wind" or "To Kill a Mockingbird" with every film I watch. This film had an excellent cast who performed beautifully. The director kept an even pace throughout because of the impending double-twist surprise ending.

One gifted actor, who never gets enough credit from the public, only his peers and producers and directors is James Handy (Father Mahoney). I see him constantly appearing in one movie after another as well as numerous guest-starring appearances on TV. He was especially "despicable and conniving" on N.Y.P.D.Blue. Usually plays unsympathetic characters. He, like the rest of the cast were truly believable.

I don't know whether or not you'll be talking about this film for years and years. But I do know that most of you will enjoy this approximately 90 minutes of suspenseful entertainment, will recommend viewing to your friends and may watch this film a second and third time. I know I will!!