NEIL JORDAN

Bil’s rating (out of 5): BBB

Ireland/United Kingdom, 2005.  Pathé Pictures International, Bórd Scannán na hÉireann, Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission, Parallel Film Productions, Number 9 Films, Irish Film Board.  Screenplay by Neil Jordan, Pat McCabe, based on the book by Pat McCabe.  Cinematography by Declan Quinn.  Produced by Neil Jordan, Alan Moloney, Stephen Woolley.  Music by Anna Jordan.  Production Design by Tom Conroy.  Costume Design by Eimer Ni Mhaoldomhnaigh.  Film Editing by Tony Lawson. 

Patrick “Kitten” Braden grows up in a tiny Northern Irish hamlet after having been born without the ability to apologize for who he is: an aspiring femme fatale.

The teenage Kitten with her long locks and polished nails (played with astonishing grace by Cillian Murphy) bears the brunt of standing out until she escapes from her small town and makes her way to the big bad city of London.

There, she solves the mystery of her parentage and makes a new smattering of friends in an effort to get to a place emotionally where she can stand on her own two feet.

Neil Jordan does a fantastic job of re-creating the seventies, and Murphy is so attractive as to make any viewer hook themselves to the screen without the slightest regret, but the pacing rushes through the story a bit too quickly and the overall effect is lighter than it should be.

Other highlights include excellent supporting performances by Stephen Rea, Gavin Friday, and Brendan Gleeson, and a superb soundtrack containing an array of pop hits.

Golden Globe Award Nomination: Best Actor-Musical/Comedy (Cillian Murphy)

European Film Award Nominations:  Best European Film; Best European Actor (Cillian Murphy)

Toronto International Film Festival:  2005