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Angela's Ashes (1999)

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All Critics
Top Critics

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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Movie Info

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.

Art House & International, Drama

Directed By: Alan Parker

Written By: Laura Jones, Frank McCourt, Alan Parker

In Theaters: Dec 25, 1999 Limited

On DVD: Jul 18, 2000

Paramount Pictures

Angela's Ashes Trailer & Photos

Cast

Emily Watson
Angela McCourt
Robert Carlyle
Malachy McCourt
Joe Breen
Young Frank
Ciaran Owens
Middle Frank
Michael Legge
Older Frank
Ronnie Masterson
Grandma Sheehan
Pauline McLynn
Aunt Aggie
Liam Carney
Uncle Pa Keating
Eanna Mac Liam
Uncle Pat
Andrew Bennett
Narrator
Shane Murray-Corcoran
Eanna MacLiam

Critic Reviews for Angela's Ashes

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.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

Todd McCarthy

Variety

Top Critic

Watson, the queen of suffering-female roles, is as good as ever.

January 1, 2000 Comment

Jonathan Foreman

New York Post

Top Critic

A quietly triumphant experience.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: ReelViews

| Comment

James Berardinelli

ReelViews

Top Critic

Probably (Alan Parker's) best movie after The Commitments.

January 1, 2000 Comment

Mike Clark

USA Today

Top Critic

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

March 17, 2011 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

| Comment

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

Sometimes humorous and wholly inspiring tale.

October 14, 2007 Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com

| Comment

Michael Dequina

TheMovieReport.com

I enjoyed the relentless gloomy realism, the refusal to put a happy face on McCourt's miserable childhood.

July 23, 2007 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com

| Comment

Rob Gonsalves

eFilmCritic.com

Misses the mark as an exceptional drama yet manages to vividly convey the soul-shattering effects of poverty.

August 21, 2002 Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice

| Comment

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality and Practice

Like bread without yeast, 'Angela's Ashes' minus the author's wit can't rise to meet expectations.

August 2, 2002 Full Review Source: ReelTalk Movie Reviews

| Comment

Betty Jo Tucker

ReelTalk Movie Reviews

A dreary, ultimately punishing adaptation of Frank McCourt's memoir, where every other scene has somebody either getting sick, puking or dying.

July 2, 2002 Full Review Source: Matinee Magazine

| Comment

Jason Clark

Matinee Magazine

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Audience Reviews for Angela's Ashes

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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, 2011

Bethany Murphy

Super 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, 2007