Tony You think you know what the story is all about with the opening scenes. A man who was sexually abused as a child tells the priest in the confessional that priest is dead. Then states he didn't kill him, he wants ultimate revenge, to kill our innocent good priest, real payback in a way. But it then plays on that theme to show how Ireland, a highly Catholic country is changing. Lots of characters are introduced leading what the Church would once call immoral lives. They all in their own way ask who are you to preach morals to us after all the revelations that have happened. Very thought provoking, well acted, great scenic cinematography. It's no spoiler to say this reminded me in pace and ending of the classic Get Carter.

mikejonesundisputed I wasn't expecting much from this Irish drama but was pleasantly surprised at the content and thoroughly enjoyed this movie.The ever-reliable Brendan Gleeson plays Father James a quietly well-meaning priest who is threatened by an unknown during confession. The movie shows the following week as Father James tries to go about his duties whilst having the threat hanging over his head.It is no one-man show and excellent support is given by Game of Thrones actor Aiden Gillen as well as Dylan Moran and the 79 year old M.Emmet Walsh along with a few other familiar faces.The sensitive drama, accompanied by some darkly humour and often thought-provoking situations, is brilliantly acted, beautifully shot and is certainly a hidden gem.You will enjoy this movie and also come away thinking a lot about life.

Tweekums As this film opens Father James is taking confession; an unseen voice tells him that he was abused as a child and he intends to kill Fr James the following Sunday. He does not blame Fr James for what happened to him; he just believes that it is appropriate that a good priest should die for the sins of a bad one. FR James discusses the matter with his bishop and says he knows who it was that made the threat but doesn't do anything to report him even after the bishop insists that such a threat isn't covered by the sanctity of the confessional. Over the following week he continues to minister to his parishioners although they aren't interested in what he has to say; taking Sunday communion seems to be all the religion they want. He also has his daughter, from before he took holy orders, come to visit him following a failed suicide attempt. During the week somebody burns his church to the ground; it would appear that the threat was serious.Given that this stars Brendan Gleeson in the leading role one might expect an enjoyable dark comedy like 'In Bruges' or 'The Guard' however this is much bleaker. There are some laughs to be had but for the most part there is just the feeling that protagonist Fr James is doomed and that most of the people he deals with in his rural Irish parish don't want him interfering with the way they live their lives but expect him to listen to their troubles without judging them. Brendan Gleeson is great in the lead role; he makes the characters just a little world-weary but still someone who wants to do what is right. The rest of the cast are pretty solid making us believe in their flawed characters… even if it is a little hard to believe that so many damaged people could reside in one small community in County Sligo. The setting, beautiful, rugged and somewhat bleak adds to the sense of foreboding. Overall I'd certainly recommend this although I'd caution that you have to be in the right mood; it certainly isn't a feel-good movie.

Leofwine_draca CALVARY is a disappointing and depressing Irish drama about a Catholic priest in Ireland struggling with life in the present day. He finds himself the subject of a death threat thanks to one of his congregation who was abused by another priest as a child and encounters characters with various hang-ups who seem to delight in taking their problems out on him.I had a feeling that this wouldn't make for much in the way of entertainment and I was right. CALVARY is a gloomy and pointless movie that seems to be destined to assuage Catholic guilt more than anything else. There's no real story here, just the main character interacting with other characters before an inevitable outcome. No shock, no surprise, no involvement, just endless nihilism.The one thing the film has going for it is Brendan Gleeson in the lead role. He's big and warm-hearted and keeps you watching despite his character's deficiencies. The supporting cast is less assured. Kelly Reilly is unconvincing as the supposedly sympathetic daughter character while Chris O'Dowd is out of place and acting rather than living his role. Aiden Gillen is reliably sinister. M. Emmet Walsh has a random cameo. I knew Domhnall Gleeson would show up somewhere and he doesn't have much to offer either. If I want gritty Irish realism I think I'll stick to something like ADAM & PAUL in future.