Seniors in Mississippi

Waking Ned Devine

Description

When Ned Devine dies from shock after winning the lottery, two longtime friends, Micheal and Jackie, discover the body and agree Ned would want them to benefit from his good luck. They embark upon an outrageous scheme to claim the ticket but first they have to get all the townsfolk to go along with their plan!

When local wag Jackie O'Shea (Ian Bannen) discovers that one of his neighbors in the village of Tulaigh Mohr is a lottery winner he sees a chance to share in the wealth. Things get complicated when Jackie and his pal Michael O'Sullivan (David Kelly) discover that the winner, Ned Devine, died of shock at the very moment he learned of becoming a millionaire. Undaunted, Jackie and Michael dispose of the lucky stiff and hatch a plot to impersonate him and claim the prize. Soon the whole village is involved and the plot rapidly thickens.

This film has been compared to The Full Monty, but it lacks the vein of desperation that added depth to that film. Instead, Waking Ned Devine is closer in tone to classic British comedies like Whisky Galore!, with its cast of eccentrics gleefully conspiring to outwit the authorities. Those with a low tolerance for twinkly eyed Irish charm might be tempted to steer clear, although the movie is saved, for the most part, by its central performances. Bannen is superb as an old man who is clearly hungry for any excitement he can drum up and David Kelly is remarkable as his scrawny sidekick. Kelly has had a long career as a character actor in film and television, but here he has a chance to really let loose. His naked motorcycle ride is a marvelous set piece and in all of his other scenes his twitchy, perfectly timed performance quite simply steals the movie. --Simon Leake

Reviews

Rating: 2 / 5
Date: 2010-08-29
Summary: "Waking Ned Devine"

Unfortunately I cannot play this DVD as my player is unable to read it in Australia and I will have to look into having it made compatible. Shame really as I had looked everyone for this DVD and was so pleased with myself for managing to get hold of a copy... So at this stage can't rate it. Cheers, Debbie

---

Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2010-07-15
Summary: "a lovely spot to live, die, and be remembered"

This movie is so charming and delightful that I had to watch it twice, just to get back to that wonderful place. The characters are such fine people - wouldn't you like to know every one of them - and they're all amazingly real and believable, which is surprising, given the fantastic circumstances. I even believe that the Water Horse is still there in the lake, bigger now no doubt, but still pleased to come whenever a boy whistles.

The scenery was breath-taking; the music was hauntingly beautiful. The funeral scene, the final song, oh, just everything about it was so solid and good. Lots of little treasures, too: like when the main character is giving a speech and his wife silently steps through the door into the back of the room. The change in him while he continues the speech - the quiet love in his eyes - it is a lovely thing to experience. And let me just add that the experience is so worth repeating.

Think I'll go and watch it again.

---

Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2010-07-05
Summary: "Watch This Movie"

This movie never got the national attention it deserved. If you watch it you won't be disappointed.

---

Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2010-06-02
Summary: "One of my all-time favorite movies"

A truly remarkable tale about a close knit village. The minute a touching scene ends a funny scene begins. Great movie.

---

Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2010-05-16
Summary: "A Happy Video"

I loved this video and wanted to share it with my family, which is why I bought it. It is very well executed and acted and the story line is satisfyingly complex. It is always nice to see the little guys get something good instead of the big guy/corporation/government/bad guy, whatever. The music is good too.