RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Check out the new RT Community
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / Conspiracy of Silence
Conspiracy of Silence

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Get this Movie
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
  • Bookmark and Share

Conspiracy of Silence (2004)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
33 %
Tomatometer

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted: 24

Fresh: 8

Rotten:16

Average Rating: 5.1/10

Rated: Not Rated

Runtime: 90 mins

Genre: Dramas

Theatrical Release:Dec 3, 2004 Limited

Synopsis: A powerful indictment of the Catholic Church, CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE is a memorable debut from writer/director John Deery. Set in Ireland, Deery formulates his plot around whispers and rumors... A powerful indictment of the Catholic Church, CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE is a memorable debut from writer/director John Deery. Set in Ireland, Deery formulates his plot around whispers and rumors surrounding the sexuality of priests, then pulls them kicking and screaming onto the screen. Father Frank Sweeney (Patrick Lynch) is a Catholic priest who becomes HIV-positive following several sexual dalliances with other men. Exiled from the priesthood after a botched attempt at bringing his sexual status into the public domain, Sweeney commits suicide. Local newspaper reporter David Foley (Jason Barry) is intrigued by Sweeney's death, and sets about investigating the deceased Father's seminary. His legwork leads him to Daniel McLaughlin, a local student of the seminary who has been expelled due to an after-hours meeting with a practicing priest. The crestfallen student explains the nature of his expulsion to Foley, allowing the reporter to draw Sweeney and McLaughlin's stories together to form a compelling case about the outdated ethics of the Catholic Church. But the Church is a formidable opponent to Foley's protests, leading to late-night encounters with some shadowy figures, and an anonymous death threat against his family. Meanwhile, McLaughlin is torn between the girl he left behind when pursuing his dream of becoming a priest, and the wishes of his family to somehow pick up the pieces and find another seminary. It all builds to a hugely satisfying conclusion, with director Deery setting up a final confrontation between Foley, McLaughlin, and representatives of the Church on a live television talk show, which leads to a surprising and unexpected denouement to the movie. [More]

Starring: Jonathan Forbes, Jason Barry, Brenda Fricker, Hugh Bonneville

Starring: Jonathan Forbes, Jason Barry, Brenda Fricker, Hugh Bonneville, John Lynch, Jim Norton, Sean McGinley

Director: John Deery

Director: John Deery
Screenwriter: John Deery
Producer: Davina Stanley

[See More Credits]

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

Jul 19, 2005

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for Conspiracy of Silence

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
Arrange By: Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out New York | comment Comment
08/16/07
Wally Hammond
Time Out New York
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Time Out

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat

Catholic nay-sayers will probably have a field day with the movie, but most would be better served by any one of the numerous documentaries that cover the same topic.

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
08/08/05
Christopher Null
Filmcritic.com

Isn't quite up to the task of intelligently advocating for change.

Full Review Source: Miami Herald | comment Comment
03/18/05
Connie Ogle
Miami Herald

The kind of film that has its heart in the right place: exposing corruption. But it loses credibility by doing so in a melodramatic way.

Full Review Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel | comment Comment
03/17/05
Laura Kelly
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

A good cast (Brenda Fricker, Hugh Bonneville and assorted veterans of British and Irish film and TV) gives Deery's film weight and credibility.

Full Review Source: Orlando Sentinel | comment Comment
03/11/05
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel

[A] fervent yet scattershot film.

Full Review Source: Orlando Weekly | comment Comment
03/10/05
Steve Schneider
Orlando Weekly

The need to portray the powers-that-be at all levels -- from the Vatican to the local parish -- in the worst possible light intrudes upon the movie, making it feel like a personal vendetta.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | comment Comment
02/11/05
Ruthe Stein
San Francisco Chronicle
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Conspiracy of Silence is well-meaning but has has no faith in its audience.

Full Review Source: Groucho Reviews | comment Comment
01/29/05
Peter Canavese
Groucho Reviews

Though Conspiracy of Silence misses a chance at being a first-rate drama, it sheds much-needed light on an area that the mainstream press has mysteriously abandoned.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
12/08/04
Eric Monder
Film Journal International

An often-riveting film.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
12/05/04
Kim Williamson
Boxoffice Magazine
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Flick Filosopher | comment Comment
12/05/04
MaryAnn Johanson
Flick Filosopher

The limp thriller plot Deery constructs to frame his theological inquiries is both artificial and not very interesting, a lethal combination.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
12/03/04
Maitland McDonagh
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Certainly a debate over the church's tradition of an unmarried clergy ... could be a good and worthy one. But a quick, clumsy melodrama -- complete with awkward, pop-scored sex scenes -- isn't the best venue.

Full Review Source: Newark Star-Ledger | comment Comment
12/03/04
Stephen Whitty
Newark Star-Ledger
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

While the subject of enforced priestly celibacy is important, here it is dealt with in a workman-like manner lacking vibrancy.

Full Review Source: New York Post | comment Comment
12/03/04
V.A. Musetto
New York Post
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Deery's points are well-taken, but they would have been a lot better made if he hadn't taken so many easy shots at the church by demonizing its local authorities.

Full Review Source: New York Daily News | comment Comment
12/03/04
Jack Mathews
New York Daily News
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

For American audiences who have followed recent Church scandals, this less-than-penetrating exposé will be of mild interest.

Full Review Source: Film-Forward.com | comment Comment
12/03/04
Kent Turner
Film-Forward.com
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: AV Club | comment Comment
12/02/04
AV Club

John Deery's modest drama is one big, obvious argument against the vow of celibacy for Roman Catholic priests, but it has heart.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
12/02/04
Anita Gates
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
See More Topics...

Related Forums for Conspiracy of Silence

Click here to be the first to post a message on this forum.

See All

More DVDs

Close
Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
79%
79%
Gran Torino
30%
30%
12 Rounds
23%
23%
Confessions of a Shopa…
—
The Code
39%
39%
Inkheart

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
22%
22%
Push
12%
12%
The Unborn

More New Releases…

RT On Current TV

What’s Hot On RT

5 Favorite Films

5 Favorite Films

Director Kathryn Bigelow on Hurt Locker, more

Revisiting Hogwarts

Revisiting Hogwarts

Day 2: The Chamber of Secrets

Humpday Clip

Humpday Clip

An exclusive peek at the indie comedy!

RT on Current TV!

RT on Current TV!

Check out the RT Show this Thursday!

Other News

Close
  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Warners Shortens Green Lantern Wishlist Source: Hollywood Reporter
4
  • Harold Ramis Talks Ghostbusters 3 Source: MakingOf.com
4
  • Spider-Man 4 Gets Its Third Writer Source: Latino Review
54
  • Warners Wins Favorable Ruling in Superman Case Source: Variety
16
  • Remo Williams Rides Again Source: Risky Biz
10
  • Mortal Kombat 3 Filming in September? Source: Slashfilm
82
  • MacGruber Gets a Director Source: Variety
39
  • PG-13 Turns 25 Source: VideoETA
8
  • Weekly Ketchup: Universal Takes on Asteroids
92
  • Brandon Routh Talks Superman's Future Source: Moviehole
98
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Deconstructing Harry, Day 1: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
66
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Transformers and Ice Age Tie for Top Spot
59
  • Weekly Ketchup: Universal Takes on Asteroids
46
  • Five Favorite Films with Kathryn Bigelow
39
  • Critics Consensus: Bruno is Certified Fresh
29
  • Total Recall: Mock Docs That Rock
28
  • RT on DVD: Knowing, Push, The Unborn Unleashed
26
  • Deconstructing Harry, Day 2: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
24
  • Five Favourite Films with Jaime Winstone
18
  • Watch RT on Current TV
6
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • RT Interview: Director Carlos Cuaron on Rudo and Cursi
0
  • RT Interview: Tony Scott on The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
10
  • Cannes 2009: RT Interview - Sally Hawkins on We Want Sex
2
  • RT Interview: Tilda Swinton on Julia
5
  • Hollywood Legend Debbie Reynolds Reflects On her Life in Showbiz
10
  • Exclusive: McG Talks Terminator Salvation
24
  • Georgia Groome - Fresh Talent on RT
5
  • RT Interview: Reading The Reader with Stephen Daldry
11
  • RT Interview: Oscar Nominee Melissa Leo
7
  • Carey Mulligan - Fresh Talent on RT
7
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • Conspiracy of Silence at Rotten Tomatoes
  • Conspiracy of Silence at AskMen

Fresh Links

Featured
Point-Counterpoint: Bruno
Point-Counterpoint: Bruno External Link

MSN's David Fear and Frank Paiva go head to head discussing the pros and cons of Bruno star Sacha Baron Cohen.

The New Cult Canon
The New Cult Canon External Link

The AV Club's Scott Tobias takes a second look at David Lynch's cult classic, Lost Highway.

Tom Cruise's 10 Best Roles
Tom Cruise's 10 Best Roles External Link

TIME takes us on a 25-year long journey into the superstar's career, giving us a look at his 10 best roles.

A Baywatch Comedy?
A Baywatch Comedy? External Link

BuzzSugar reports on Paramount's plans to rebirth the iconic TV show as a comedy film.

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.