Intermission (film)
Encyclopedia
Intermission is a 2003
Irish comedy
crime film
directed by John Crowley
which tells a story of a young couple and people surrounding them. The film is set in Dublin, Ireland
and is filmed in a TV drama style with several storylines crossing over one another during the course of the film.
Mark O'Rowe
wrote the screenplay for this black comedy
, set in Dublin, which is shot in a documentary-like style.
) is a petty criminal always involved in trouble. Lehiff’s nemesis, Garda
Detective Jerry Lynch (Colm Meaney
) presents himself as a savior who fights the "scumbags" on Dublin’s streets, and enlists the help of Ben Campion (Tomas O'Suilleabhain
), an ambitious film-maker and the bane of his "go-softer" boss, who considers Lynch too nasty a subject to be shown on a mainstream “docusoap” series on Irish terrestrial TV.
Ben is told to focus his attention on Sally (Shirley Henderson
), who helped passengers after their double-decker bus crashes on its side. Sally is deeply insecure about her looks, and grows bitter when her sister Deirdre (Kelly Macdonald
) flaunts her new boyfriend, Sam (Michael McElhatton
), a middle-aged bank manager who has left his wife of 14 years, Noeleen (Deirdre O'Kane
), leaving her to question her own self-worth as a woman and wife.
Deirdre is the ex-girlfriend of John (Cillian Murphy
), who is utterly lost without Deirdre and will do anything to win her back. Thus, he gets involved in an absurd plan: kidnap Sam, force him to go to his bank, and get ransom money. This plan involves Mick (Brían F. O'Byrne
), the man who had driven the bus which crashed, and Lehiff. As might be expected, things go awry when Sam, who has the money, is assault
ed by an enraged Noeleen on the street. Mick and John flee the scene without their money.
Mick becomes obsessed with getting revenge on the boy, Philip (Taylor Molloy), who had lobbed the stone into the windshield, causing him to swerve and crash the bus he was driving (and for which he got fired). Things do not go quite his way, and he ends up learning a bitter lesson. As for Lehiff, Lynch corners him in an open field, and the scene is set for a confrontation that ends in a way nobody expects.
As the credits roll, Noeleen and Sam are in their house watching television, obviously back together, with her bullying him into changing the channel by hand, as opposed to using the remote control.
Noted critics Roger Ebert
and Richard Roeper
gave the film good reviews.
Roeper describe it as "a likable film about nasty people"
2003 in film
The year 2003 in film involved some significant events. Releases of sequels took place with movies like The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, Pokémon Heroes, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines,...
Irish comedy
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
crime film
Crime film
Crime films are films which focus on the lives of criminals. The stylistic approach to a crime film varies from realistic portrayals of real-life criminal figures, to the far-fetched evil doings of imaginary arch-villains. Criminal acts are almost always glorified in these movies.- Plays and films...
directed by John Crowley
John Crowley (director)
John Crowley is an Irish television, theatre and film director. He is perhaps best known for his feature film debut Intermission .-Education:Crowley earned a B.A. in philosophy from University College Cork.-Career:...
which tells a story of a young couple and people surrounding them. The film is set in Dublin, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and is filmed in a TV drama style with several storylines crossing over one another during the course of the film.
Mark O'Rowe
Mark O'Rowe
- Personal Background :Mark O'Rowe was born in 1970 in Dublin, Ireland, to parents Hugh and Patricia O'Rowe. He grew up in Tallaght, a working class suburb just south of Dublin, and he claims that much of the violence in his work stems from watching and rewatching a tremendous amount of violent,...
wrote the screenplay for this black comedy
Black comedy
A black comedy, or dark comedy, is a comic work that employs black humor or gallows humor. The definition of black humor is problematic; it has been argued that it corresponds to the earlier concept of gallows humor; and that, as humor has been defined since Freud as a comedic act that anesthetizes...
, set in Dublin, which is shot in a documentary-like style.
Plot
Lehiff (Colin FarrellColin Farrell
Colin James Farrell is an Irish actor, who has appeared in such film as Tigerland, Miami Vice, Minority Report, Phone Booth, The Recruit, Alexander and S.W.A.T....
) is a petty criminal always involved in trouble. Lehiff’s nemesis, Garda
Garda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
Detective Jerry Lynch (Colm Meaney
Colm Meaney
Colm J. Meaney is an Irish actor widely known for playing Miles O'Brien in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He is second only to Michael Dorn in most appearances in Star Trek episodes. He has guest-starred on many TV shows from Law & Order to The Simpsons...
) presents himself as a savior who fights the "scumbags" on Dublin’s streets, and enlists the help of Ben Campion (Tomas O'Suilleabhain
Tomas O'Suilleabhain
Tomas O'Suilleabhain is an Irish actor. He regularly appears on Irish television and in film roles. O'Suilleabhain regularly contributes to the Irish Language arts.-Film:*Fifty Dead Men Walking - RUC Officer*Studs...
), an ambitious film-maker and the bane of his "go-softer" boss, who considers Lynch too nasty a subject to be shown on a mainstream “docusoap” series on Irish terrestrial TV.
Ben is told to focus his attention on Sally (Shirley Henderson
Shirley Henderson
Shirley Henderson is a Scottish actress. She is perhaps best known for her role as Moaning Myrtle in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire .-Early life:...
), who helped passengers after their double-decker bus crashes on its side. Sally is deeply insecure about her looks, and grows bitter when her sister Deirdre (Kelly Macdonald
Kelly Macdonald
Kelly Macdonald is a Scottish actress, known for her role in the independent film Trainspotting and mainstream releases such as Nanny McPhee, Gosford Park, Intermission, No Country for Old Men and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2...
) flaunts her new boyfriend, Sam (Michael McElhatton
Michael McElhatton
Michael McElhatton is an Irish actor and writer.-Selected filmography:* A Tiger's Tail* Spin the Bottle* Intermission* The Actors* Blow Dry* Saltwater* Crushproof* I Went Down* Perrier's Bounty-Selected Stage Career:...
), a middle-aged bank manager who has left his wife of 14 years, Noeleen (Deirdre O'Kane
Deirdre O'Kane
Deirdre O'Kane originally from Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland, became a stand-up comic in 1996 and got into the finals of the BBC New Comedy Awards of that year. She has played at the Edinburgh Festival every year since including 2001 where she not only performed her own solo show, Deirdre O'Kane...
), leaving her to question her own self-worth as a woman and wife.
Deirdre is the ex-girlfriend of John (Cillian Murphy
Cillian Murphy
Cillian Murphy is an Irish film and theatre actor. He is often noted by critics for his chameleonic performances in diverse roles and distinctive blue eyes and general sex appeal....
), who is utterly lost without Deirdre and will do anything to win her back. Thus, he gets involved in an absurd plan: kidnap Sam, force him to go to his bank, and get ransom money. This plan involves Mick (Brían F. O'Byrne
Brían F. O'Byrne
Brían Francis O'Byrne is an Irish actor who works mostly in the United States. He was born in Mullagh, County Cavan.O'Byrne first attracted notice for his performances in the Martin McDonagh plays The Beauty Queen of Leenane as Pato Dooley and The Lonesome West...
), the man who had driven the bus which crashed, and Lehiff. As might be expected, things go awry when Sam, who has the money, is assault
Assault
In law, assault is a crime causing a victim to fear violence. The term is often confused with battery, which involves physical contact. The specific meaning of assault varies between countries, but can refer to an act that causes another to apprehend immediate and personal violence, or in the more...
ed by an enraged Noeleen on the street. Mick and John flee the scene without their money.
Mick becomes obsessed with getting revenge on the boy, Philip (Taylor Molloy), who had lobbed the stone into the windshield, causing him to swerve and crash the bus he was driving (and for which he got fired). Things do not go quite his way, and he ends up learning a bitter lesson. As for Lehiff, Lynch corners him in an open field, and the scene is set for a confrontation that ends in a way nobody expects.
As the credits roll, Noeleen and Sam are in their house watching television, obviously back together, with her bullying him into changing the channel by hand, as opposed to using the remote control.
Cast
- Colin FarrellColin FarrellColin James Farrell is an Irish actor, who has appeared in such film as Tigerland, Miami Vice, Minority Report, Phone Booth, The Recruit, Alexander and S.W.A.T....
as Lehiff. Like many of the characters seen in the movie, Lehiff has a talent for trouble with the law. His character is incomplete without doing something criminal, and indeed, many, if not all, of the characters in the movie seem totally dysfunctional and as incomplete as he is, albeit in their differing ways. - Cillian MurphyCillian MurphyCillian Murphy is an Irish film and theatre actor. He is often noted by critics for his chameleonic performances in diverse roles and distinctive blue eyes and general sex appeal....
as John, Deirdre's former boyfriend - Kelly MacdonaldKelly MacdonaldKelly Macdonald is a Scottish actress, known for her role in the independent film Trainspotting and mainstream releases such as Nanny McPhee, Gosford Park, Intermission, No Country for Old Men and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2...
as Deirdre - Colm MeaneyColm MeaneyColm J. Meaney is an Irish actor widely known for playing Miles O'Brien in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He is second only to Michael Dorn in most appearances in Star Trek episodes. He has guest-starred on many TV shows from Law & Order to The Simpsons...
as Detective Jerry Lynch - Shirley HendersonShirley HendersonShirley Henderson is a Scottish actress. She is perhaps best known for her role as Moaning Myrtle in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire .-Early life:...
as Sally - Deirdre O'KaneDeirdre O'KaneDeirdre O'Kane originally from Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland, became a stand-up comic in 1996 and got into the finals of the BBC New Comedy Awards of that year. She has played at the Edinburgh Festival every year since including 2001 where she not only performed her own solo show, Deirdre O'Kane...
as Noeleen - Michael McElhattonMichael McElhattonMichael McElhatton is an Irish actor and writer.-Selected filmography:* A Tiger's Tail* Spin the Bottle* Intermission* The Actors* Blow Dry* Saltwater* Crushproof* I Went Down* Perrier's Bounty-Selected Stage Career:...
as Sam, a middle-aged bank manager - Tomas O'SuilleabhainTomas O'SuilleabhainTomas O'Suilleabhain is an Irish actor. He regularly appears on Irish television and in film roles. O'Suilleabhain regularly contributes to the Irish Language arts.-Film:*Fifty Dead Men Walking - RUC Officer*Studs...
as Ben Campion, an ambitious film-maker - Brian F. O'ByrneBrían F. O'ByrneBrían Francis O'Byrne is an Irish actor who works mostly in the United States. He was born in Mullagh, County Cavan.O'Byrne first attracted notice for his performances in the Martin McDonagh plays The Beauty Queen of Leenane as Pato Dooley and The Lonesome West...
as Mick, the bus driver - Ger RyanGer RyanGer Ryan is an Irish film and television actress, whose credits include Queer as Folk, Family, The War of the Buttons, The Van, Moll Flanders, Driftwood, A Love Divided and Intermission....
as Maura, the mother
Technical details
- IFCO Rating: 15PG (cinema) / 15 (video)
- BBFC Rating: 18
- MPAA Rating: R
Reception
The film was well received by Critics. Rotten Tomatoes gave the film an aggregate rating of 73% based on 93 reviews, with the critical consensus describes the film as "An edgy and energetic ensemble story".Noted critics Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Roger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter. He is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.Ebert is known for his film review column and for the television programs Sneak Previews, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, and Siskel and Ebert and The...
and Richard Roeper
Richard Roeper
Richard E. Roeper is an American columnist and film critic for The Chicago Sun-Times and now a co-host on The Roe Conn Show on WLS-AM...
gave the film good reviews.
Roeper describe it as "a likable film about nasty people"