The Actors (2003)

Director:

Conor McPherson

Writers:

Neil Jordan (story) and
Conor McPherson (screenplay)

Release Date:

17 April 2003 (Ireland)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

Thick as thieves. Only thicker.

Plot Keywords:

Debt | Wheelchair | Disguise | Stage Play | Irish

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Michael Caine	...	Anthony O'Malley
Dylan Moran	...	Tom Quirk
Michael Gambon	...	Barreller
Lena Headey	...	Dolores
Miranda Richardson	...	Mrs. Magnani
Michael McElhatton	...	Jock
Aisling O'Sullivan	...	Rita
Ben Miller	...	Clive
Abigail Iversen	...	Mary
Michael Colgan	...	Audition Director
Deirdre Walsh	...	Camcorder Girl
Bill Hickey	...	Stage Doorkeeper
Veronica O'Reilly	...	Box Office Attendant
Paul Ward	...	Maurice - Usher
Brian McGuinness	...	Dermot - Usher

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

UK:91 min

Country:

UK | Germany | Ireland

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M | Ireland:15A | UK:15 | USA:R | Finland:K-11 | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

Company:

Bórd Scannán na hÉireann

Soundtrack:

Could It Be Love?

Expecting to be disappointed, after a while it took me by surprise and ended excellent

I like Dylan Moran from his work in Black Books, although I found some of his stand-up to be really indulgent in terms of long confused gaps... however I was intrigued to see this film starring he and Michael Caine and curiosity got the better of me.

I was stunned.

Dylan's vocal range and characterisation of the different people he was playing in the film was absolutely perfect, something beyond the skills of a mere stand-up comedian and really truly on a par with alec guinness, john hurt and the other greats- truly he was skilled in his portrayal.

Michael Caine was a very convincing prima donna and the standard british film device of having a precocious child on hand to be overly wise and withering worked- the only aspect I didn't really like was the unbelieveable plot feature of the chemistry between Dolores and the cockney gangsta's hard man played by Dylan.

Other than that, it was great.

I also like the non-cop-out ending where it did end up happily ever after, but with MC getting a beating. OK, it's not exactly being strung up by your goolies and beijng disembowelled (which is what a real crime boss would do to you if you nicked £50k off them) but it showed at least a small measure of reality in the story.

I liked the film, and I would recommend it to anyone- but- I would also warn them not to turn it off after 15 minutes because it started a bit slow. If you stick it out, then it will all come back.

And with regards to the swearing- well, they're in Ireland. It wouldn't be real otherwise.