Calvary

Calvary is the kind of film I can only watch once, not because it's poor quality, but quite the opposite: one needs only to see it once for there to be a lasting impression. John Michael McDonagh's third film as a director and fourth film as a writer is high quality cinema, one which he has beautifully written.

I admit that while "calvary" is a word I had heard before (it's in the lyrics of Les Misérables, for goodness' sake), I looked up a definition both before and after the film. I wanted to know what it meant in and out of context. The two historical/religious definitions reference Christ and the Crucifixion, as either the place outside Jerusalem where Christ was crucified, or a sculpture representing the event, displayed in the open air. A more secular use of the word refers to a period of intense mental suffering.

Knowing that, and knowing the McDonagh brothers's reputation, ought to help prepare a viewer for the experience that is Calvary. That being said, the film has an interesting premise, and an excellent play-out, whether or not you can foretell the ending.

The inimitable Brendan Gleeson carries Calvary as Father James, a well-educated, well-meaning priest whose life is threatened during confession; he is given one week until the confessor and would-be-murderer makes good on his threat. There are a surprising number of people antagonizing the Father in Sligo, and one of them plans to kill him. If you're good with voices, you'll figure it out; regardless, it's clear that no one has any interest in making things easier for Father James.

If you're good with voices, you'll know right off who the real threat is, but it's likely that you'll keep watching for the performances. Brendan Gleeson, Kelly Reilly, Chris O'Dowd, and a fairly demonic-looking, nearly-unrecognizable Domhnall Gleeson. Oof, that prison hair cut. I'm hoping it's a wig. I'm pretty sure Brendan Gleeson would be riveting if he recited the phone book, and his likability is valuable as Father James.


Edit 12/23/14:
I'd like to see Calvary receive some sort of awards season laurels, to increase its visibility here in the States, but it very nearly slipped past my radar. I've also been informed that it's a companion film for The Guard, also starring Brendan Gleeson, but I have yet to obtain a copy for comparison. That being said, I was pleased to discover that Calvary made a BuzzFeed list (thereby securing it space in the pop-culture library). Can't say that I agree with the list, but it's a starting point for discussion, at least.