My Left Foot:
The Story of Cristy Brown

Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Brenda Fricker, Alison Whelan, Declan Croghan
Directed by: Jim Sheridan
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Biography
1989

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Christy Brown (Daniel Day-Lewis) was born with cerebral palsy, who learns to paint and write with his only controllable limb- his left foot.

Review:

Tim: This is a good film that tells the very powerful story of Christy Brown. The true story is so amazing- so hard-to-believe that you'd almost swear this is fiction. How could a man with control of only his left foot become an accomplished writer and painter? The story is absolutely amazing. It is inspirational, and heartwarming, especially when you see how Christy's family rallies around him to provide support.

Despite its other strengths, the movie is almost completely about Daniel Day-Lewis. He gives an absolutely stunning performance. Day-Lewis gave himself completely over to the role. He is so believable, and the performance so amazing that you simply will not be able to believe your eyes. He is fantastic. He gets some great support from Brenda Fricker, who plays his supporting mother. She's very enjoyable as well, and both Day-Lewis and Fricker received Academy Awards for their performances. The cast here is the real story.

I felt like the film had a few flaws. One, the movie didn't really speak to me on any emotional level. I liked the story, and it was great fun rooting for Christy Brown to overcome the obstacles in his life. There were a few emotional moments during the scenes of his early life. These are the best parts of the film. The movie's conclusion is surprisingly devoid of emotion. I wish the movie ended more powerfully. This is perhaps the film's biggest flaw. The movie feels like it begins to waver a bit as it goes on, losing its focus just a bit.

My Left Foot is really an opportunity for Daniel Day-Lewis to give a showstopping, unforgettable performance. The film also tells a powerful story that will amaze and make you believe that humans are capable of much more than most ever achieve. It is inspirational, and a good movie.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: In the Name of the Father, Gangs of New York, There Will Be Blood