When the Sky Falls

R

2000

1 hr. 48 min.

Crime

Drama

List

20%

5 Reviews

Tomatometer

24%

100+ Ratings

Audience Score

Investigative journalist Sinead Hamilton (Joan Allen) lives in a deteriorating Dublin infested with crime, drugs and corruption. Hamilton risks her life to expose the ruthless drug trade that is holding the city captive, as well as its possible connections to the Irish Republican Army. Her scathing articles win the public's attention, but they also make her the target of an infuriated criminal underworld and a crooked police force. Both will do everything they can to stop her.

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dave j

Friday, April 25, 2014 (2000) When The Sky Falls THRILLER/ DRAMA Initially a made-for-TV movie, now available for rent starring Joan Allen as Irish crime-investigating reporter Sinead Hamilton, investigating the death of a person named Martin Shaughnessy, and his connection to the IRA as well as other unethical practices regarding drugs being sold to minor children. Although, it's based on an actual person, at least 75% of the movie has been fabricated, particularly the scenes how some of Dublin's police are being treated by the criminal public. In this movie, people can be assaulted and still get away with it, since it's the ridiculous my-word-against-yours sort of thing. And women are allowed to get assaulted by criminal men for trespassing, for the movie is so ludicrous, we don't even get to witness the court proceedings about how some people are able to get away from it- only that they're able to beat the system. If it wasn't for Joan Allen's acting this movie would've been too unbearable to watch. 2 out of 4 stars

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Although it is not as good as the Cate Blanchett's "Veronica Guerrin", based on the same story, it is a fine film on it's own. I am surprised by the poor reviews. Joan Allen does a great job in the main role. It is a very interesting story, moves along well. I found it very interesting and skillfully made.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Dublin, Ireland 1996: Journalist Sinead Hamilton has begun a series of articals on the Dublin Heroin trade and the men behind it. The Heroin dealers are muscling in on the "Ordinary Decient Criminals" and the letting the IRA take the blame for the murders, well the police are powerless restrained by laws that favour the criminals who flaunt them. Driven to protect her own child Sinead begins a crusade to rid Dublin of the smack dealers, aided by a cop at the end of his teether, and a shady contact from within the Dublin underworld, but every Crusader paints a target on his or her own back. Based on the life and murder of Irish Crime Reporter Veronica Guerin in 1996 When the Sky Falls is a gritty story about an insperational woman and the men who killed her. Stripping away Hollywood romanticsm Hamilton (played by Joan Allen) is played as a driven woman but not without her doubts and fears. Patrick Bergen plays Mackie the cop who helps Hamilton and fumes at the system that ties his hands (he mentions soending 5 years putting away a drug smuggler who gets sentenced to 10, reduced to 5 for good behavior and paroled after 2 who then returns to smuggling drugs) and finds he's forced to bend the letter of the law to preserve its spirit. Well acted, suffers a bit from its low budget and it earns its R rating, the activities and crimes of the Heroin smugglers arn't softened (nor is the IRA's response to them). A must see.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

UK draamaa/jannaria tyylipuhtaimmillaan tama reilu parituntinen. Rosvot ovat rumia ja julmia ja toimittajanainen yrittaa toimia kaupunkinsa parhaaksi paljastamalla huumebisneksen salat. Leffaa katsoessa tulee mieleen Taistelupari (Dempsey& Makepiece) sarja, niin paljon samaa on kuvauksessa, toiminnassa ja henkilohahmoissa. Suht ok perusjannari, joka pohjautuu ilmeisesti jollakin lailla tositapahtumiin...

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

Audience Member

how can i watch d fuken film

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

6.5/10. Although it is not as good as the Cate Blanchett's "Veronica Guerrin", based on the same story, it is a fine film on it's own. I am surprised by the poor reviews. Joan Allen does a great job in the main role. It is a very interesting story, moves along well. I found it very interesting and skillfully made.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

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John Mackenzie

Director

Joan Allen

Sinead Hamilton

Patrick Bergin

Mackey

Liam Cunningham

John Cosgrave

Kevin R. McNally

Tom Hamilton

Jimmy Smallhorne

Mickey O'Fagan

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Empire Magazine

Rated: 2/5

Mar 30, 2001

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Jul 18, 2005

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Christopher Null

Filmcritic.com

Remarkably little story...

Rated: 2/5

Jul 28, 2001

Full Review

Cheryl DeWolfe

Apollo Guide

Rated: 72/100

Jul 19, 2001

Full Review

Ian Mantgani

UK Critic

A witless examination of a woman who is only ever seen in superficial details.

Rated: 1/4

Mar 30, 2001

Full Review

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Synopsis

Investigative journalist Sinead Hamilton (Joan Allen) lives in a deteriorating Dublin infested with crime, drugs and corruption. Hamilton risks her life to expose the ruthless drug trade that is holding the city captive, as well as its possible connections to the Irish Republican Army. Her scathing articles win the public's attention, but they also make her the target of an infuriated criminal underworld and a crooked police force. Both will do everything they can to stop her.

Director: John Mackenzie
Executive Producer: Peter Newman, Kevin Menton, Marie Louise Queally
Screenwriter: Ronan Gallagher, Colum McCann, Michael Sheridan
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (DVD): Jul 24, 2001