The Field [DVD]

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Another great acting performance by Richard Harris.I believe that a few of the characters were somewhat uglier than they needed to be. The ending was not what I expected. Nonetheless I give it 5 stars. It’s still about Ireland and stars Richard Harris.

Lets face it - it's a dark movie. The acting - aside from Berenger's performance (who I like) - was all top notch effort. The politics behind the village deals. The pull that Bull (Harris) has over everyone is so uncompromising. The sanctity of marriage and the taboo of divorce exhibited in his home by the uncomfortable, unnatural silence. Bean's work was so unlike him now, that it was fascinating to watch. Tom Berenger did yeoman work, but could've been any American. (I thought he was TOO nonchalant.) This is a must see for die-hard Richard Harris fans to see his Oscar nominated work. He displays all he has: the lifted eyebrow and gaze, every facial twitch, his defiant body language, his proverbial embrace of the land. It's all amazing to watch. But it is as cheerless as the rainsoaked sod.

Shot in the Connemara in and near Leenaun, the film is based on true story of an unaware, insensitive globalizing Yank vs. a traditional farmer-herder (you can read the newspaper story on the wall in the local pub). It's the story of our era, of the power of globalizing money vs. local tradition and peoples' lives. Richard Harris is simply incomparable in this film, he never played a role more strongly to my knowledge. The scene where he accepts the Tinker girl's challenge and dances down the floor to meet her is worth the entire film, is absolutely charming! Having grown up in the south of Ireland, he simply played himself in the film, or at least that's my guess. For a comparable reflection of local culture in a film, one would have to turn to Robert Duvall's also incomparable portrayals of Texans. The ending is "King Knut", but that tale of his beating the waves is misinterpreted, Knut (and The Bull as well) was not a fool.He killed the Yank. Well, he should have killed the priest too. Oh, not really, murder isn't the answer but they both deserved a good, swift kick in the rear end and to be stopped as well. I was told in Ireland that the case is realistic, that disputes over land could easily lead to murder. Part of the local culture.

This is a movie, whose depths will especially be recognizable to those who have something of a knowledge of Jesus' New Testament parables. For others it will still be an exploration of the fragility of human life. It has been a long time since I watched this movie so don't recall the names of the characters. But Richard Harris plays the role of a family patriarch who has labored over a field for most of his life as a tenant and assumes that when the property becomes available he will be able to purchase it and his life work of instilling fertility into a small piece of land will be at last his own property. To everyone around him, this seems only right. Then enters Tom Berenger as an American whose family had long ago left Ireland and sees this piece of property as something that can be developed for a whole different purpose and become a source of much needed investment into a relatively poor Irish community. The rest of the movie is an unfolding story of a man's ambition, pride, and diligence seeking his final reward whatever may be the costs. It is, in my opinion, one of the most powerful films ever created.

Not a light-hearted movie. A look at one man's attempt to take care of his land and his way of life. Richard Harris is compelling in this tale of an influential man in a small town. A powerful ending that will leave you sitting in your chair just thinking about the movie.

"The Field" with Richard Harris, says it is powerful, and imo., it IS POWERFUL. Acting is superb, I thought, every single actor in this film. Am inclined to love anything with Richard Harris and also Tom Berenger who has a small part in this but does it up royally. The nuances and facial expressions of Harris in this movie would almost be enough without a spoken word; however, he does speak. This film has it all for the Irish who were not wealthy, even the jig dance which my mother could do. Have to put it again, very powerful film!

Bought this movie (based on reviews) prior to a trip to Ireland. DEPRESSING movie. It is not one that will make you want to see the Irish countryside or meet the people. (As a side note: both the Ireland and its people are lovely!) The only thing I could identify with was the hard work that went into preparing the land for cultivation by removing all of the rocks and mucking the land. The rest of the movie seemed to be poorly written fiction with "name" actors who did not measure up to their meager roles. This movie is best left in the jewel case or on the shelf.

Exceeds J.B.Keane's original play in tragical effect- a minor fault committed in the beginning leads to catastrophe an self-destruction.Set in the same location as M.McDonagh's "The Beauty Queen...", it gives a much deeper insight into the way of thinking in rural Ireland.

Superb old Irish Film. Captivates realistically the drama and society at that time. Richard Harris played a first class roll. Worth buying.

My Father had The Field on VHS and he would watch this movie all the time because Ritchard Harris was his favorite actor

J'ai choisi cette note pour la qualité globale du film.Il est juste regrettable que ce film ne soit qu'en anglais sans aucun accès à un sous titrage

Der Film ist super und wer Irland liebt, muss ihn einfach gucken! Leider ist er nur auf Englisch bzw. Irisch. Aber man kommt halbwegs mit.