Black '47

Name: Black '47
Genre: Action, Drama
Released: September 28, 2018
Duration: 100 min
Rating: 65
Cast: Barry Keoghan, Ciaran Grace, Colm Seoighe, Freddie Fox, Hugo Weaving

2018

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Generally favorable reviews based on 12 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Ratings

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7.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Ratings

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Black 47

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Movie Details & Credits

IFC Films | Release Date: September 28, 2018 | R

Starring: Barry Keoghan, Ciaran Grace, Colm Seoighe, Freddie Fox, Hugo Weaving, James Frecheville, Jim Broadbent, Moe Dunford, Sarah Greene, Stephen Rea

Summary: In 1847, battle-hardened soldier Feeney (James Frecheville) deserts the British army to return home to Ireland, where he finds his country ravaged beyond recognition by the Great Famine. When he discovers that his mother has died of starvation and his brother has been hanged by the British, something snaps, sending Feeney on a relentlessIn 1847, battle-hardened soldier Feeney (James Frecheville) deserts the British army to return home to Ireland, where he finds his country ravaged beyond recognition by the Great Famine. When he discovers that his mother has died of starvation and his brother has been hanged by the British, something snaps, sending Feeney on a relentless quest to get even with the powers-that-be who have wronged both his family and his country. There is only one man who can stop Feeney’s bloody crusade: disgraced British army veteran Hannah (Hugo Weaving), whose own loyalties may be more complex than they appear. [IFC Films]… Expand

Director: Lance Daly

Genre(s): Action, Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 100 min

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Critic Reviews

Lorry Kikta

Oct 2, 2018

The cast in this film is incredible. Read full review

Jessica Kiang

Sep 26, 2018

Daly’s characterful, slow-burn tale is a well-crafted experiment in grafting genre onto disregarded history. Read full review

Stephen Whitty

Sep 26, 2018

This is a simple, macho morality tale—of the oppressors and the oppressed, of good and evil, and of the one man who sets out to settle the scales of justice. And the level on which it works is primal—and frighteningly effective. Read full review

Glenn Kenny

Sep 27, 2018

Since this is a rare feature film to treat the Irish famine, it’s a little odd that it tilts so heavily toward a genre exercise. But as a genre exercise, it’s pretty potent. Read full review

Empire Ian Freer

Sep 24, 2018

Black 47 lacks the seriousness and rigour of other displaced Westerns like The Proposition and Sweet Country. But Lance Daly’s film is gripping enough to suggest Ireland’s tragic backstory is a frontier full of resonant riches. Read full review

IndieWire David Ehrlich

Sep 26, 2018

While the script is far too spotty and unfocused for the film to be anything more than the sum of its parts, the setting — and the set-pieces that Daly creates from it — is enough to prevent this unlikely genre mash from being a blight of its own. Read full review

Derek Smith

Sep 24, 2018

As the historical specificity embedded in the film’s more expansive opening act is abandoned, the more predictable, archetypal trappings of a revenge narrative begin to take hold. Read full review

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User Reviews

osulle

Mar 31, 2019

Well acted with hauntingly beautiful background. This movie captures the desperation that Irish people felt during the Famine

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Rebecca31

Sep 29, 2018

Considering the horrific events that took place during the Irish Famine it really is a wonder why we’re only getting a film about it now. Sure it’s a genre film, very much rooted in revenge with a real Western feeling to it but maybe the success of Black 47 will spark a series of IrishConsidering the horrific events that took place during the Irish Famine it really is a wonder why we’re only getting a film about it now. Sure it’s a genre film, very much rooted in revenge with a real Western feeling to it but maybe the success of Black 47 will spark a series of Irish famine movies because Black 47 is just one take on it and it’s gripping cinema at it’s best.

Directed by Lance Daly, Black 47 tells the story of an Irish ranger (James Frecheville) who has been fighting for the British Army and returns to Ireland to find his family. He is shocked at the famines destruction of the country, starving families evicted from their homes with only the rags on their back. One of the bleakest films I’ve seen in years with a beautifully haunting soundtrack by Brian Byrne. It’s almost strange to say I enjoyed this film but who doesn’t love a good revenge story and from the moment it started I was fully absorbed in this film. Hugo Weaving, Barry Keoghan and Stephen Rea are terrific. Frecheville particularly is the standout performance, doing one of the best Irish accents I’ve heard in a film. I’ve heard so many actors get the accent so horribly wrong it’s refreshing to hear someone get it right. Admittedly some critics can be overly nice to Irish films but with Black 47 believe the hype. Highly recommended, make sure to take the time to check this one out.… Expand