One of the best films i have seen

A Disappointing Continuation

I gave this film a 9 out of 10, because it was exactly what I expected it to be.

It isn't all that great, actually. Really cheesy and very predicable of how certain scenes are gonna turn play out. However, I guess that's the charm of it all, because I would consider this one of my guilty pleasures.

I watched this at home on DVD from my public library. Don't know why I missed seeing it when it came out but I did.Calvary is the place outside Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified. The name has meaning for this movie because the one week we see of Father James' life parallels the life of Jesus, trying to do what is right and teach others a better way to look at life while sin and corruption is all around him. Brendan Gleeson is Father James, a priest in a small Irish community by the sea where everyone knows everyone else. The story starts with Father James in the confessional, an unseen parishioner is not there to gain absolution for his sins, he tells James that he was sexually abused for several years when he was a young boy. The abusive priest is dead now but to clear his conscience the man will kill Father James a week Sunday, in either days. He tells him to meet him on the beach.So part of the mystery throughout the movie is who the intended killer is? We see him interacting with Father James but we don't know who it is at the end.Not a pleasant movie because of the subject but it is a very good character study of Father James, how he can try to deal with this issue and others.

In John McDonagh's film 'Calvery', a priest is threatened by a parishioner, who announces his intention to kill him a week hence. We then see the priest having mostly one-to-one conversations with his troubled (and troublesome) flock; he knows which one wants to kill him (for the crimes of the church in general, not for his personal sins), but we do not. The setting is a somewhat archetypal west-coast Irish village. What's good about the film is its portrayal of a man clearly sincerely motivated by his belief and his sense of duty, nonetheless wrestling with a profound crisis of self-interest. That said, the story is contrived, almost deliberately stylised; I liked it, but the point remains elusive.

Directed and written by John Michael McDonagh with all the usual Irish actors in abundance. Same thing seemed to happen in a film 3 years before - The Guard. Also featured Brendan Gleeson, and had a lot of great lines and much promise; but seemed to loose something by trying to be too provocative at times.Calvary has a truly great script delivered by a wide variety of the actors. There's genuine insight and humour there, and could be overheard anywhere in Ireland if we all used our heads a bit better.'bout an hour in, and I think it's time to concentrate a little harder on where it's going. If you're thinking of trying it, I'm fairly sure you won't be disappointed.

To make it short, this is a brilliant script with amazing performances, but if you want to truly get depressed and hate the ending, go for it. Gleeson is brilliant as always, but I left this movie feeling completely vacant of any positive outcomes and any sign of love of life. Yes, the problems of the church are of no secret when it comes to the acts of abuse upon young boys from some of the priests, but we have seen this time and time again over the years and this one just was too tough for me, as the only person that I was really rooting for does not get the satisfaction that he deserves. Make no mistake, this film is greatly written and wonderfully acted and directed. Gleeson is such a natural actor who fills every role with his amazing ability to play any character. Just be ready for a ride on the negativity train throughout.