Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1688 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-01-15
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.77:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: German, Italian, Spanish, English, French
• Subtitled in: German, English, Danish, French, Finnish, Bulgarian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Turkish, Hungarian, Swedish, Dutch, Czech
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
If it had been written as a piece of fiction no one would have believed it, but In the Name of the Father is the true story of one of the most shocking episodes in British legal history. Dealing with the events surrounding the Guildford pub bombing in 1974 and the subsequent 15-year fight for justice, the film portrays a nation in the grip of an anti-system, desperate to find culprits at any cost, however immoral, illegal or brutal. By playing out the drama in personal as well as political terms--the relationship between Gerry Conlon (Day-Lewis) and his father (Pete Postlethwaite) becomes the story's centrepiece--the film works on numerous levels, but the events are no less shameful for it. The court case that ultimately freed the three men and one woman only takes centre stage for the last 20 minutes but despite that--and the fact that the outcome is no secret--it is high drama and completely gripping. This is an unmissable example of genuinely courageous cinema.

On the DVD: Where the real-life events behind the film might have offered huge scope for additional material, the DVD provides little beyond production and cast notes. The film's re-creation of both 1970s Belfast and London is very realistic, intensified by the anamorphic screen ratio, and the excellent soundtrack (including Bono, Sinead O'Connor and Thin Lizzy), which helps drive the action, is intensified by the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. --Phil Udell

Customer Reviews

What NO Oscar
This was a fantastic, emotional, and fustrating story of how injustice can come out political expediancy. It tells the story of how the British establishment cared little about punishing the guilty as long as they were seen to punish someone. If anyone has any doubts about how torture and questionable interrogation methods have no place in a civilised society (not to mention the fact that it produces inaccurate results) watch this movie. It will make you despair for the British legal system.
A flawless central performance by DDL would normally be a shoe in for an oscar but perhaps the political story influenced the cautious oscar panel.

a screamer
released in 1993,and a film i watched in the cinema as an underage kid,this was something else,a passionate film,a film that had character and based on real life events and a film that poked holes at the english,what more could i want,those initial youthful feelings have faded as i have got older but the impact of the film remains.
The film is based on the real; events of four irish people accused of an attack on a pub in guildford where innocents are killed,they are wrongfully imprisoned and made as scapegoats,all of this is indeed true,there are however some tall tales introduced to give the film more edge and bite but that can be forgiven.
The film is a journey of one mans fight to prove his innocence essentially,a struggle to adapt to the hatred spat at him and the fall out for those around him such as family and friends.
The acting is top notch and the film moves along and never glamourises anyone really,a job well done.

Heart-wrenching and Inspiring
'In the Name of the Father' may move a little slow but most of the time in succeeds in being both heart-wrenching and inspiring. It's a very political film based on the true story of an small-time Irish hoodlum Gerry Conlon (Day-Lewis), his hippie friends, his relatives and his father being falsely convicted of London/Ireland IRA bombings. The film follows Gerry in prison and his fight to get him and his family out. Daniel Day-Lewis gives an incredible performance, while Pete Postelwaithe who plays his father is amazing in every scene. Emma Thompson is good for her very limited screen time as Gerry's lawyer and you should look out for a bit part played by Oscar Nominee Tom Wilkinson (In the Bedroom) towards the end. 'In the Name of the Father' was nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director - Jim Sheridan, Best Actor in a Leading Role - Daniel Day-Lewis, Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Pete Postlewaithe, Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Emma Thompson and Best Adapted Screenplay.