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August 1, 2014

At the Movies: 'Calvary' deserves the widest possible audience

By DAVID ROONEY
The Hollywood Reporter

LOS ANGELES — John Michael McDonagh's 2011 debut, “The Guard,” provided the wonderful Brendan Gleeson with a vehicle for some of his best screen work, playing an Irish West Country cop unencumbered by diplomacy skills. But “Calvary,” the follow-up collaboration of the writer-director and lead actor is in a whole different league. Gleeson's performance as a man of profound integrity suffering for the sins of others is the lynchpin of this immensely powerful drama, enriched by spiky black comedy but also by its resonant contemplation of faith and forgiveness. Representing a considerable leap in thematic scope and craft for McDonagh, “Calvary” deserves to reach the widest possible audience.

As with the work of McDonagh's younger brother, the playwright, screenwriter and director Martin McDonagh, an inherent irreverence is essential to both “The Guard” and this film. But don't let the gags, the ripe profanity and the wicked comic characterizations fool you. The director of “Calvary” appears utterly serious about exploring the uses and abuses of spirituality in a world of toxic disillusionment and cynicism.


 
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