Film Review: Five Minutes of Heaven (2009)
All wars end, yet their scars linger long, haunting both participants and victims, decades after the last shot is fired. This unsettling reality is explored in Five Minutes of Heaven, a 2009 drama directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel.
The plots unfolds in 1975 in Lurgan, a Northern Ireland town deeply affected by The Troubles. Alistair Little (portrayed by Mark Davidson) is a 17-year-old Protestant boy who, as a member of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), commits an act of violence that forever alters lives: he shoots and kills James Griffen, a young Catholic man, while his eight-year-old brother Joe (played by Kevin O’Neill) witnesses the horrific event. Fast forward to decades later, with Northern Ireland now at peace, an older Alistair (played by Liam Neeson) emerges from prison as a transformed man. He has renounced violence and is burdened by remorse for his past actions. In a bid for absolution, he agrees to meet Joe (played by James Nesbitt), now an adult, in front of television cameras—hoping for some form of forgiveness. However, Joe's motivations are starkly different; he has been consumed by anger and dreams of vengeance, arriving at the studio with a concealed knife.
The screenplay, crafted by British television writer Gregory Hibbert—renowned for his work on Prime Suspect—was initially developed for the BBC. Hibbert's characters are inspired by real-life figures who, unlike their fictional counterparts, chose not to confront each other. Nevertheless, he successfully engaged film producers to secure a larger budget and attract Liam Neeson—arguably Northern Ireland’s most prominent film star—to one of the lead roles. This collaboration adds significant weight to the film’s exploration of its themes.
Oliver Hirschbiegel, acclaimed for his direction in the 2004 film Downfall, helms this project with skill. He adeptly builds tension and engages audiences during the first half of the film, creating an atmosphere ripe with anticipation as viewers await the confrontation between Alistair and Joe.
However, despite its promising start, Hibbert’s script ultimately falters as it approaches its conclusion. The extensive focus on the fictional television studio encounter culminates in an unconvincing resolution that feels overly melodramatic. The buildup leads to an anticlimactic finale that fails to deliver on the tension established earlier in the film.
What elevates Five Minutes of Heaven beyond its narrative shortcomings are the powerful performances from its two leads. Neeson convincingly embodies a middle-aged man tormented by his past choices, portraying Alistair's internal struggle with authenticity and depth. Meanwhile, James Nesbitt delivers a compelling performance as Joe Griffen, navigating an emotional landscape filled with rage and sorrow.
Despite these standout performances, they are insufficient to lift the film above its somewhat predictable narrative arc centred on reconciliation and moving forward. With The Troubles now a decade behind them, Five Minutes of Heaven loses much of its immediacy and relevance. Tragically, recent developments in Northern Ireland suggest that old animosities may resurface—not between Catholics and Protestants but against immigrants—hinting at a cyclical nature of conflict that remains pertinent today.
RATING: 4/10 (+)
Blog in Croatian https://draxblog.com
Blog in English https://draxreview.wordpress.com/
InLeo blog https://inleo.io/@drax.leo
Hiveonboard: https://hiveonboard.com?ref=drax
Rising Star game: https://www.risingstargame.com?referrer=drax
1Inch: https://1inch.exchange/#/r/0x83823d8CCB74F828148258BB4457642124b1328e
BTC donations: 1EWxiMiP6iiG9rger3NuUSd6HByaxQWafG
ETH donations: 0xB305F144323b99e6f8b1d66f5D7DE78B498C32A7
BCH donations: qpvxw0jax79lhmvlgcldkzpqanf03r9cjv8y6gtmk9
Posted Using InLeo Alpha