Average Rating: 5.7/10
Reviews Counted: 85
Fresh: 44 | Rotten: 41
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.
Average Rating: 5.3/10
Critic Reviews: 26
Fresh: 10 | Rotten: 16
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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Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 21,849
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Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir by Frank McCourt, Angela's Ashes is an alternately funny and heartbreaking look at growing up in Ireland. Born in Brooklyn, NY, young Frank (Joe Breen) moves at an early age to Limerick, Ireland, with his parents Angela (Emily Watson) and Malachy (Robert Carlyle), who have been unable to support their family in America and are hoping for better prospects in their home country. But things hardly improve once they settle in Limerick; as McCourt puts it,
R, 2 hr. 25 min.
Dec 25, 1999 Limited
Jul 18, 2000
Paramount Pictures
All Critics (108) | Top Critics (31) | Fresh (47) | Rotten (41) | DVD (16)
Mostly misses the humor, lyricism and emotional charge of Frank McCourt's magical and magnificent memoir.
Watson, the queen of suffering-female roles, is as good as ever.
A quietly triumphant experience.
Probably (Alan Parker's) best movie after The Commitments.
A tedious, vastly disappointing film that does not do justice to the wonderful and touching book upon which it is based.
Sometimes humorous and wholly inspiring tale.
I enjoyed the relentless gloomy realism, the refusal to put a happy face on McCourt's miserable childhood.
Misses the mark as an exceptional drama yet manages to vividly convey the soul-shattering effects of poverty.
Like bread without yeast, 'Angela's Ashes' minus the author's wit can't rise to meet expectations.
A dreary, ultimately punishing adaptation of Frank McCourt's memoir, where every other scene has somebody either getting sick, puking or dying.
Fantastic film. Could watch this over and over again. The cast were fantastic and the acting was even better. A poignant story that had you reaching for the tissues because you were either laughing too hard or crying.
June 23, 2011Super Reviewer
I'm pretty interested in reading the book now. As much as goes on in this film, I can't imagine it picked up on all the wonderful subtleties you can put in a book.It's not an easy film to watch, but all the difficult parts are worth it to see the beautiful moments. They're especially powerful if you've ever, like Frank
July 27, 2007Super Reviewer
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