Ash Wednesday (2002)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

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 | Irish Mob | Irish American | Priest | Hell's Kitchen

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: In the beginning, three years after the opening shooting, when a group of guys are at the bar, one comments on how Dolly Parton was on Johnny Carson last night. Dolly Parton didn't appear on the Tonight Show in the 1980s until 1986.

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:

Shoot 'em Down

Not great but OK

First of all, it could have been shorter due to the redundant establishment of the primary story line. A couple more scenes of Ed Burns walking around the streets with that boring musical theme and I may have given up on this film.

Elijah Wood was totally miscast. A more wrong casting of the role of Sean is not imaginable. OK, maybe imaginable if you include Pee Wee Herman. I agree with another writer here that Oliver Platt could've gotten some more dialog and scenes, but that's what it is. He probably liked the idea of playing a heavy for a change. He should do more I think.

I figured the closing scenes to a "T"... from the saloon showdown to the reason for the crew cap and peacoat. I claim no particular brilliance, it seemed pretty obvious.

All in all I'd say watch it when it appears on cable, save the rental fee. A 6.5 - 7.0 rating is generous but I like Ed Burns, stories about Irish street hoods and a plus when it's Hells Kitchen in NYC instead of the Southies. No offense Boston.