My Left Foot Movie Review 1989

A gritty, unsentimental drama based on the life and autobiography of cerebral-palsy victim Christy Brown. Considered an imbecile by everyone but his mother (Fricker, in a stunning award-winning performance) until he teaches himself to write. He survives his impoverished Irish roots to become a painter and writer using his left foot, the only appendage over which he has control. He also falls in love and finds some heartaches along the way. Day-Lewis is astounding; the supporting cast, especially Shaw and Cusack, match him measure for measure.

Distribution

Home Vision Cinema, c/o Image Entertainment, 20525 Nordhoff St., Ste. 200, Chatsworth, CA 91311, URL: http://www.homevision.com

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 103 minutes.
Originally from Irish.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Writers, Physical Problems, Art & Artists, True Stories, Dublin, Biopics: Writers, Director/Star Teams: Sheridan & Day-Lewis, 4 Bones

Screenplay

Shane Connaughton, Jim Sheridan

Cast

Daniel Day-Lewis, Brenda Fricker, Ray McAnally, Cyril Cusack, Fiona Shaw, Hugh O'Conor, Adrian Dunbar, Ruth McCabe, Alison Whelan

Cinematography

Jack Conroy

Director

Jim Sheridan

Music

Elmer Bernstein

Producer

Miramax Films, Granada Film Productions

Awards

Oscars 1989: Actor (Day-Lewis), Support. Actress (Fricker); British Acad. 1989: Actor (Day-Lewis), Support. Actor (McAnally); Ind. Spirit 1990: Foreign Film; L.A. Film Critics 1989: Actor (Day-Lewis), Support. Actress (Fricker); Montreal World Film Fest. 1989: Actor (Day-Lewis); N.Y. Film Critics 1989: Actor (Day-Lewis), Film; Natl. Soc. Film Critics 1989: Actor (Day-Lewis).