Angela's Ashes is an excellent film. Since I have not read the book, I'll have to leave the book-to-film comparison task to others, knowing that films usually suffer in that exercise.

Most of the story takes place in Limerick, Ireland, starting in the early 1930s, and deals with a destitute Catholic family. The mother seems to get pregnant all the time and the father has a drinking problem, plus, he is considered an outsider since he is from Northern Ireland. These factors render him virtually unemployable and his family suffers. I knew going in that this would be very heavy material, but I did not leave the theatre depressed.

The central character is son, Frankie, who grows up to be the book's author, Frank McCourt. On screen, Frankie as a boy is seamlessly portrayed by three excellent young actors, Joe Breen, Ciaran Owens, & Michael Legge.

Based on his critically lauded and extremely popular memoir, the film is narrated by an adult actor portraying Mr. McCourt. This device makes us aware that Frankie will survive his wretched early years, and live to write his book.

Director Alan Parker (The Commitments, Mississippi Burning, Midnight Express, Fame) is in top form here. The cinematographer, Michael Seresin (Fame, Birdy, City Hall), has worked with director Parker many times throughout their careers and none of their films has looked better than this one. An argument could be made that the film makes the terrible conditions look too attractive, but I wouldn't change a thing. Having the awful events of their lives beautifully photographed makes it more palatable for the viewer, and that helps.

I had a difficult time with the first hour of the film, since it is particularly grim. I found myself wondering if I wanted to subject myself to the remaining hour and a half. I'm glad I stayed. After that first hour, things become less intense and some much needed humor is introduced. As is the norm these days, Angela's Ashes is a long movie. Given the source material and the fact that it is a true story, I see no way to tell the story in any less time.

The entire cast is wonderful and I find myself forgetting that they are actors rather than the real people portrayed! Emily Watson (Breaking The Waves, Hilary & Jackie) and Robert Carlyle (Trainspotting, Priest, The Full Monty) play the parents and are the only cast members that were familiar to me. They do their usual excellent work. The original musical score is the work of John Williams and it is worthy of award consideration. I did not detect anything similar to any of his earlier work including the scores for Star Wars, Superman, Close Encounters Of The Third Kind, or ET.

This is a film that I suspect most adults will appreciate.

Wayne Case works in the film industry in Hollywood, and still can't help himself - he loves the movies!