Customer Reviews

Divorcing Jack

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Divorcing Jack is a hilarious, preposterous romp that ain't gonna be up most folk's alley. It's got a top drawer cast that one wishes, perhaps, were in a slightly better film, but they make the most of the material and often take it up a notch or two beyond where one expects it to go.

David Thewlis is terrific as Starkey and he bumbles through plot twists that are almost dizzying. Joining him is a terrific performance by Aussie actress, Rachel Griffiths, who at this point in her career seems capable of doing just about anything. Her gun toting stripper nun bit is priceless.

Obviously, from so many negative reactions, Divorcing Jack is not a typical feel good film, but for those who enjoy figuring out the nearly indecipherable, double crossing agents, chase scenes, strippers in nun drag, symbolism, the ongoing situation in Northern Ireland tossed with some bitter, black and often delicious humour, check out Divorcing Jack. You just might surprise yourself!

This movie is an offbeat, dark comedy, which brings to light the corrupt political climate of Northern Ireland and the presence of the IRA.
David Thewlis plays his quirky character to the hilt and beatifully balances the seriousness of the IRA ex-con, Pat Keegan (Jason Isaacs).
I loved this movie, with all of it's wit and humor. See it, I think you will be pleasantly surprised!

This is a comedy classic - filmed at a time when peace was just breaking out in Northern Ireland after nearly 30 years of pain, hurt and suffering. The Northern Irish have a good laugh at the stupity of the war and indeed themselves as only they can!

A vastly underrated film that was practically ignored by both critics and viewers, Divorcing Jack is a highly enjoyable, and often powerful, film with a terrific cast and a very clever title that keeps you interested to the last minute. It's good to see David Thewlis, one of the finest British actors of his generation, play the lead in a British film - as he did in his prime, and not a side character in Hollywoodian films like Harry Potter. His performance in Divorcing Jack isn't quite as remarkable as the one he gave five years before in Naked but it's fantastic by its own right, and just like in Naked Thewlis creates an anti-hero that is egoistic, weak, detestable, and entirely believable; if you're looking for a noble hero to sacrifice himself for the greater good because that's the right thing to do, look elsewhere. Dan Starkey cares for himself and makes excuses for nobody; and that makes him a protagonist you can relate to.

There are some neat surprises in the supporting cast: Australian born Rachel Griffiths - AKA Brenda Chenowith of HBO's terrific Six Feet Under - who was practically anonymous in 1998, is terrific as Thewlis' stripper-in-nun's-clothing sidekick, and supplies some of the film's funniest moments. Jason Isaacs, who, like Thewlis, has recently familiarized himself with American audiences through the Harry Potter movies, in bone-chillingly excellent in the lead villain role. The beautiful Laura Fraser (who had recently made a career for herself in Hollywood with supporting roles in movies like Titus, Vanilla Sky, and A Knight's Tale; but anyone who happened to catch the excellent BBC mini-series Neverwhere will surely remember her as the charming Door) has a part that's brief but unforgettable. American TV regular Richard Grant is lovely and believable as the visiting reporter from the US who came to cover the upcoming elections but is more interested in learning about the difference between the different types of scotch. And experienced British actor Robert Lindsay steals the show as the dodgy candidate. Finally, a brief but hilarious cameo from the charming Bronagh Gallagher (The Commitments) as a taxi driver.

The film's messages about the horrors and idiocy of war and particularly the Irish civil war are familiar and would have been corny in a straight drama, but as in Catch-22 and other classic black comedies, the absurd humor of the film makes it powerful. If you take any of the two aspects of the film - comedic or political - and separate it from the other, maybe it really isn't all that good. Perhaps that's why it failed to find its audience in the US and most of Europe. Myself, I've lived my entire life in Israel, and am familiar with a war between two neighboring factions that always seems on the brink of resolution just before the situation explodes again, and that has its highest price in the innocent lives of people on both sides who just want to be left alone in peace, while the leaders of both peoples carry on their senseless warmongering. Divorcing Jack has a simplistic view of the situation but it's important to make it heard. The ending is inevitable and almost predictable, yet it's the only proper ending this story could possibly have. Divorcing Jack is highly recommended; it's neither a romantic comedy nor a straight thriller, but it's a good and powerful film to enjoy and to think about.

.... This movie is for you. Now, now one shouldn't make fun of the Northern Irish situation the way it was 10- 15 years ago, but the movie isn't all about it. Do not misunderstand me the whole Irish war thing plays a part in this movie but let's meet the main character....

Starkey.... A drink-a-lot -of- beer happy Irish guy who works for a news paper always on the edge of being kicked out if he doesn't deliver a good story soon!!! He happens to meet some high positioned politicians daughter who happened to be the ex girlfriend of a loony terrorist/ dealer named Cow Pat Keegan < I think I wrote the name right > . And even though Starkey is married and loves his wife he falls for the gal who is killed in the 1st third of the movie.

Starkey now on the search for the gals killer meets a whole bunch of people along the way some of em funnier then others, realizing somewhere down the road that the last words of the dieing gal weren't Divorcing Jack but...... oh I almost told you ... you going to have to find that one out for yourself.

Fact of the matter is one either likes this movie or hates it. I personally liked the dark humor. It's a change from the usual oh so happy bubbly comedies that we have come accustomed with. And even though some of the parts in this movie don't seem to make sense I believe that's the point making the movie even funnier.

Sadly there haven't been any extra's on the DVD; so if you are looking for interviews on the movie by cast and crew you are not going to get that. And it's a movie for grown ups only due to all the bad words in it you know F and S words which one shouldn't be surprised by since the movie is as Irish as it can be. Some of you might have trouble to understand the sometimes thick accent but its still worth seeing this movie!!!!

When my friends come over and want to see a movie, I always keep this one as a recommendation. The movie is funny, action packed, and features some wonderful performances by brilliant actors. I recommend picking up a copy for those nights when you and your friends can't make up your minds.

I loved this film. It's a cute comedy that is definatly a must have for any Thewlis fans. I agree with the fact that it's a dark comedy. I strangely found myself cracking up at the absurdness of the "serious scenes." I'm just upset that on my copy I didn't get any of the extra footage!

Popular Northern Irish novelist Colin Bateman wrote the screenplay for this 1998 film, based on his novel Divorcing Jack, an example of the dark romantic comedy/thriller that has become his trademark.

Dan Starkey, played by David Thewliss with dynamic, nearly accidental Northern charm, is a Belfast newspaper columnist who incurs wrath from his wife for his womanizing and from his editor for not toeing the newspaper's political line.

After his editor yells at him to "find a real story!" we next see him drinking copious amounts of beer on a bench in the Botanic Gardens, where he meets a young student, later ending up in bed with her and soon getting mixed up in murder and a political cover-up. Pursued alternately by IRA and loyalist thugs, the police, and the politician's henchmen, Starkey races to find the killer before the murder is pinned on him---and the thugs finish off his wife and best friend.

Along the way he meets a few helpmates---an American journalist (Richard Gant) and a beautiful nurse (and part-time stripper) dressed as a gun-wielding nun (Rachel Griffiths). Dan's own disguise includes a messy woman's blonde wig and a denim `70s ensemble a friend finds at a charity shop. ("These trousers are slightly flared!" he objects loudly, right before the cops burst in.)

Directed by David McCaffrey at a fast comic pace, the film is full of dark and quick Northern wit, quirky character acting and an intelligent script that give it a style similar to Trainspotting and Pulp Fiction, but with a Northern Irish political reality rumbling in the background like a gathering storm. Similar to Pulp Fiction, this film also includes the fun presence of Bronagh Gallagher, here playing a very funny, slightly put-out Belfast cab driver.

Not suitable for children under 17. Very suitable for anyone wanting a funny and slightly dramatized glimpse into Belfast life before peace had been fully secured.

- Caroline Oceana Ryan
Author, AN OLD CASTLE STANDING ON A FORD: One Yank's Life in an Almost Peaceful Belfast (Eloquent Books, 2010)
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A highly entertaining comedy set in Ireland during the troubled years. Although the politics is not part of the core story, it is not far below the surface. Some understanding of the political landscape will help a lot but it is not essential. The film is superbly acted as expected. Recommended

Extremely fast shipping and great quality. It was a used VHS tape but it had hardly any wear on the cover and plays well!