Angela's Ashes

R

Released Jan 21, 2000

2h 25m

History

Drama

Biography

List

52%

Tomatometer

85 Reviews

81%

Audience Score

10,000+ Ratings

In 1935 when it is more common for Irish families to leave their famine-stricken country for America, the impoverished McCourt family does the reverse. Following the sudden death of her 7-week-old daughter, Angela (Emily Watson) and her unemployable, alcoholic husband, Malachy Sr. (Robert Carlyle), set sail from New York Harbor to Cork with their four children.

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Critics Consensus

In spite of its attempts to accurately record Frank McCourt's memoirs, the onscreen adaptation fails to capture any of the drama or humor of his life.

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Globe and Mail

Rated: 3/4

Mar 19, 2002

Full Review

Steven Rosen

Denver Post

Lacks the magnificence of his book, but it is worth seeing.

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

John Anderson

Newsday

There's a compelling momentum to Angela's Ashes, Alan Parker's very faithful, if poetically subordinate, version of McCourt's book, which imposed elegance on squalor and intelligence on the indolence cultivated by poverty.

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Tom Cassidy

Common Sense Media

Seeing the bleak, rainy, flooded slums of 1930s Ireland through the eyes of the young lead character, we're spared the total despair of his parent's grief and sometimes find fun in the dirtiest corners of the drab streets.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 1, 2021

Full Review

Patricia Hluchy

Maclean's Magazine

One of the film's strengths is the art direction: never has back-lane Ireland looked so festering, sombre and raindrenched.

Oct 14, 2019

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

A tedious, vastly disappointing film that does not do justice to the wonderful and touching book upon which it is based.

Rated: C

Mar 17, 2011

Full Review

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ZEN

Francis McCourt was an Irish-American teacher and writer. A very courageous tragicomic memoir of the misery and squalor of his childhood. Many people haven't a clue how much he went on to do after leaving Irland, helping numerous inner school children in New York who other teachers' families gave up on due to learning disabilities, poverty, and so much more. Frank didn't give up on any of them. Many of those children went on to attend college, medical law school, and many other amazing things. Also Frank many do not realize Frank's formal education in Limerick ended at age 13 when the Irish Christian Brothers rejected him as a student in their secondary school. He graduated in 1957 from New York University with a bachelor's degree in English. He taught at six New York schools, including McKee Vocational and Technical High School in Staten Island, New York City College of Technology in Brooklyn, Seward Park High School, Washington Irving High School, and the High School of Fashion Industries, all in Manhattan. In 1967, he earned a master's degree at Brooklyn College, and in the late 1960s, he spent 18 months at Trinity College Dublin, failing to earn his Ph.D. before returning to New York City. He became a regular English teacher at Stuyvesant High School after his doctoral studies. He was an amazing man, an amazing risk-taking, sharing his life story. Fabulous Movie as well as book you can not put down.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

One of my favorite book's! Even though I feel like the book and the movie are completely different, it still was an Amazing movie! Definitely recommend watching!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

dane m

Critics: 51%?? Audience: 81% What is wrong with the critics? They complain about it not being honest enough. Bullcarp. Read the book first. Then watch it. You'll get the gist of the misery and hopelessness. Alan Parker knows Ireland and the people who live and barely live in it. I loved it. And I'm only half Irish.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I loved it. It was absolutely amazing to watch.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I have seen it - I remember very little of it but I remember being moved by the story and the drama

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/19/20

Full Review

Audience Member

Very distressing tale of a young Irish lad growing up in poverty in Ireland prior to WW2. Must see all-round for the performances and musical score.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/10/20

Full Review

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Alan Parker

Director

Emily Watson

Angela McCourt

Robert Carlyle

Malachy McCourt Sr.

Joe Breen

Young Francis "Frank" McCourt

Ciaran Owens

Middle Francis "Frank" McCourt

Michael Legge

Older Francis "Frank" McCourt

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Synopsis

In 1935 when it is more common for Irish families to leave their famine-stricken country for America, the impoverished McCourt family does the reverse. Following the sudden death of her 7-week-old daughter, Angela (Emily Watson) and her unemployable, alcoholic husband, Malachy Sr. (Robert Carlyle), set sail from New York Harbor to Cork with their four children.

Director: Alan Parker
Producer: David Brown, Alan Parker, Scott Rudin
Screenwriter: Frank McCourt, Laura Jones, Alan Parker
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Scott Rudin Productions, Dirty Hands Productions, David Brown Productions
Rating: R (Strong Language|Sexual Content)
Genre: History, Drama, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 21, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 18, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $13.0M
Runtime: 2h 25m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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