Based on the true story of a man who contested the Supreme Court in 1950s Ireland as he fought to gain complete custody of his children, EVELYN is a departure for Pierce Brosnan. Known for his television work in "Remington Steele" and for his movie appearances as James Bond, he's come to symbolize suave sophistication and any woman's ultimate romantic icon.
With this movie, Brosnan attempts to go against type. He succeeds to a degree, because for the entire movie, all one can see is Brosnan with an Irish accent, playing a sweet hard working Irishman who has that Irish temper that flares in one inopportune (but justifiable) moment and will come to bite him later on via a cartoon vengeful nun. Note the mention of the word Irish: it's for a reason. I felt as though I was being hammered with it, it's as if the movie wanted to make sure I knew just where EVELYN was taking place.
EVELYN has another big problem. Several siblings get separated after they are taken away from Brosnan's Desmond Doyle, but the story chooses, for inexplicable reasons, to focus on the Dickensian experiences of the daughter -- who grants the movie its title -- who meets the aforementioned cartoon nasty nun who seems all too eager to enforce her discipline.
Also, even at its 90 minutes it seems just a tad long and a shade too manipulative for me to really feel the story. A moment when young Sophie Vavausseur as Evelyn has to testify her case against the prosecution does feel real, and has a quiet mysticism about it. Other than that, much of what happens in the movie has a perfunctory element to it. The inclusion of actors Aidan Quinn, Stephen Rea, Alan Bates, and Julianna Margulies brings little relevance. KRAMER VS. KRAMER, Irish-style.
With this movie, Brosnan attempts to go against type. He succeeds to a degree, because for the entire movie, all one can see is Brosnan with an Irish accent, playing a sweet hard working Irishman who has that Irish temper that flares in one inopportune (but justifiable) moment and will come to bite him later on via a cartoon vengeful nun. Note the mention of the word Irish: it's for a reason. I felt as though I was being hammered with it, it's as if the movie wanted to make sure I knew just where EVELYN was taking place.
EVELYN has another big problem. Several siblings get separated after they are taken away from Brosnan's Desmond Doyle, but the story chooses, for inexplicable reasons, to focus on the Dickensian experiences of the daughter -- who grants the movie its title -- who meets the aforementioned cartoon nasty nun who seems all too eager to enforce her discipline.
Also, even at its 90 minutes it seems just a tad long and a shade too manipulative for me to really feel the story. A moment when young Sophie Vavausseur as Evelyn has to testify her case against the prosecution does feel real, and has a quiet mysticism about it. Other than that, much of what happens in the movie has a perfunctory element to it. The inclusion of actors Aidan Quinn, Stephen Rea, Alan Bates, and Julianna Margulies brings little relevance. KRAMER VS. KRAMER, Irish-style.