Customer Reviews

In America

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is a film that will haunt for some time. The acting is superb; the script well-written. It is a true gem, quite different from Hollywood fare.

This story, about an Irish family that immigrates to Manhattan after the death of a son, is a sweet film about family, loss and new beginnings.

What I liked best about the movie were the very strong performances by the two young girls and the neighbor, Mateo.

On the down side, I sometimes found the Irish accents hard to understand and details were sometimes unrealistic.

The story wasn't strong enough for me to consider it outstanding, but it's an interesting watch, a nice change of pace from Hollywood and a good family film.

In America is a caring movie about an American dream that comes true. It's a sweet movie, with great acting from everyone. A true joy.

"In America," is a wonderful movie with a beautiful story. The experience of a family as seen from the eyes of their daughter. The death of a child and the struggles of starting over in a new country. This film does have ONE explicit sex part which could have been more tastefully done so the film could be called,"family friendly," but this one scene does some measurable damage to the overall viewing audiences resulting in a beautiful and inspiring story LOST to young and adolescent viewing ages that could find alot of good from the story message.
I hope producers and directors will soon get the message that even though your film may be a good one and wonderful acting such as this one, a clean, meaninful story will go farther and be accepted in more audiences than cheaping a good film with scenes unacceptable to ALL audiences. The expression of sexuality between couples is a beautiful and an individually private expression and attempts to produce this on screen results in "cheaping the expression," as evidenced in this movie.
This film would have received a 5 star from me had the necessary people utilized better judgment and more creativity in the "conception scene."

This was an absolutely brilliant human drama. This story takes place in the early 1980's and is about an Irish family with two adorable little girls who come to come to New York City to start over. The father is an aspiring actor who hopes to find work in the city. The story is full of love, anger, sorrow, and happiness. This was definitely a masterpiece. This one will make it to my top 10 of 2004.

This story is about a Irish immigrant family in New York in the 1980s. They have little money but there's lots of love in their household. The father, played by Paddy Considine, is an actor who drives a cab between going on auditions. The mother, played by Samantha Morton, used to be a teacher, but now takes a job in an ice cream parlor. The two children, played by Sarah and Emma Bolger (two real-life sisters from Ireland) are smart and sweet and lovable. The whole family is mourning the death of a third child who died at a young age after years of suffering with a brain tumor.

The only housing they can find is a huge walk-up apartment in a run-down druggie infested building which is supposed to be East Harlem. The family is poor but surprisingly cheerful and happy to be in America. Some of their experiences are humorous such as when the father tries to install a cheap air conditioner. Some made me hold my breath, such as when he tries to win the little girl a doll at a carnival and bets all the rent money. And then there is their strange neighbor, played by Djimon Housau, a Nigerian artist who is carrying an awful burden but who lets the little girls warm his heart.

The urban setting seemed almost real. And so did the family's problems. But somewhere along the line I grew a little tired of their constant positive outlook. And there where parts of the film where it just seemed too much like a soap opera and much too maudlin for my tastes.

However, this is an uplifting film. And it shows the sunshine side of the immigrant experience. The acting is outstandingly good. It's well paced and has a positive message. And for that I do recommend it.

I don't often review movies but feel compelled to do so after watching IN AMERICA three times in the past couple days. I insisted on replaying it for my young daughters, who are about the same age as the beautiful girls in the film, so they could appreciate the story of a family who live on little more than love and faith in each other.

This story is triumphant. I dare you not to cry. Highly recommend.

From the author of I'm Living Your Dream Life and The Things I Wish I'd Said, McKenna Publishing Group

In America tells the story of a family of Irish immigrants who move to America partially as a way to escape the death of a loved one. Gritty and sometimes hard to watch, this film does not romanticize the immigrant experience, laying America open to all just criticism. However, as an American, I felt proud that I finally saw a film made in the past twenty years that depicted America for what it is to the rest of the world, the land where dreams are born.

The acting is brilliant, the photography makes viewers feel like they are sweating with the suffering residents of New York, and the writing is moving. This film would not rank among the ten best of 2003 and I doubt I will ever watch it again. But the characters and events depicted will stay with me forever.

This movie was excellent. I was laughing and crying and happy all at once. This movie was not the normal hollywood movie, it was one that touched you. The acting was great all around.

I have met tons more interesting immigrants of every nation in real life with far sadder stories who were not as annoying as the family in this movie. I know everyone is going to rate this review as unhelpful now but that is the truth.

The Sullivans come to the USA illegally so that Paddy the dad can pursue an acting career but really so they can collectively move on -- at least physically -- from the death of their son Frankie, who died after falling down the stairs and developing a brain tumor. They make friends with Mateo, the man who screams and has painted KEEP AWAY on his door, when they insist he open the door for trick-or-treating.

Mateo is the only interesting non-stereotypical character in the entire movie, and the only reason to watch this. Yes, it is a good movie, but it's essentially been done before many many times. I understand this is based on a true story, and I feel for the people who lived through it, but I still don't like this movie.