Customer Reviews

The Miracle [VHS]

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Given that Neil Jordan is a well-known, highly successful director, it's a shame that this early film of his has not received a DVD release. "The Crying Game" was shot not long after Jordan wove this Irish seaside tale of two teens, bored out of their gourds, who construct elaborate fantasies about the people who populate the grotty promenades of Bray. Their innocent fun turns quite serious when a mysterious woman, an American behind dark sunglasses, appears on the scene. The boy, Jimmy, is smitten. He's a great wit, gifted of the gab, and he plays saxophone with his drunken father's band of sad old men. The American femme fatale becomes the obsession he has no desire to shake. He stalks with the kind of intensity that can only lead to tragedy. While the film admittedly becomes redundant, with the sweet crush becoming far too Sophoclean for comfort, the repartee between the kids and the choppy Irish dialogue makes this Jordan film a memorable one. The soundtrack theme, a version of "Stardust" by Winton Marsallis, is also extremely affecting: beautiful rendition to be sure. The fact that "The Miracle" avoids mention of the Troubles and stays free of the blarney that Hollywood typically pours on Irish themed projects certainly distinguishes this bit of pre-Celtic Tiger cinema.

An absolute gem of a film, and far better than some of the more famous Neil Jordan films (Interview with a Vampire comes to mind). A delicate story, written and directed by Jordan, about two fanciful teenagers in a small Irish seaport town, and the mysterious American actress who comes to act there in a stage version of "Destry Rides Again." Beverly D'angelo, a terrific actress who has been wasted in a bunch of "National Lampoon" films (but beautifully used in "Hair" and later "Sweet Dreams" as Patsy Cline), gives a wonderfully nuanced performance as the actress with a secret, and young newcomers Niall Byrne and Lorraine Pilkington are remarkable as the teenagers. Not available on DVD, and seldom shown on TV, but look for the old VHS. Funny and touching and altogether worth your time.