`Evelyn' shows a new face of Brosnan
By ERIN ENGLISH
Scene Movie Critic
Pierce Brosnan is associated almost entirely with James Bond to the average American. However, those who go to see "Evelyn" might be pleasantly surprised that Brosnan, can, in fact, play something other than a secret agent.
Based on the true story of Desmond Doyle (Pierce Brosnan), "Evelyn" tells the story of a working class Irishman fights to get his three children out of the Catholic orphanages they were placed in by the government after his wife abandons their family. Told that his children, including daughter Evelyn (Sophie Vavasseur), cannot be released without permission of both parents, Desmond has to fight the state in court in order to free them.
This leads into a courthouse drama involving the first time that Irish law was challenged under the Constitution. "Evelyn" bears a resemblance in format to such classic movies as "Inherit the Wind," which dealt with groundbreaking cases in the United States: start with a heartfelt tale, have real people fighting the state, set up a few setbacks and tack on a historically accurate, but still happy ending. Though not the most original format of all time, the trial scenes are neither heavy-handed nor nor overly sentimental.
Bruce Beresford ("Driving Miss Daisy") is a skilled director and never goes too far overboard during the course of the movie. In fact, he seems to be channeling the best of Frank Capra. "Evelyn" doesn't try to be something that it isn't, and retains the character of a small, charming picture throughout. The ending of the movie is never much in doubt, and you are never deceived into thinking that it should be. Viewers are not supposed to get the feeling that there is no hope for this family.
The politics in the movie are minor, despite the legal significance of the actual case on which "Evelyn" is based. Desmond is forced to battle both the Church and the state to retrieve his children. Criticisms of this movie calling it anti-Catholic are misinterpreting it greatly. Instead, the movie itself is imbued with traditional Catholic values while demonstrating that the law was incorrect and not in harmony with the Church's actual position on the importance of family. It is the state that is criticized for not seeing this, not the Church.
As Desmond, Pierce Brosnan is decidedly unlike Bond. Desmond is a flawed man, and Brosnan does his best to bring those flaws to light in a convincing manner, though not without hamming it up. Vavasseur's performance is well done in a role that could easily irritate. Solid supporting performances from Aidan Quinn as a Yankee barrister, Stephen Rea as a stoic solicitor and Stephen Bates as a former rugby player turned lawyer round out the movie.
The movie does have its flaws. It rather foolishly tries to tack on a love story between barkeeper Bernadette (Julianna Margulies) and Desmond, which rings hollow. Beresford stretches the schmaltz too far in ways that are cliché and derivative, particularly during Evelyn's turn on the witness stand.
While not an excellent picture, it strives and achieves simplicity over empty sophistication in a manner that is classic.
All Scene Stories for Thursday, February 6, 2003
