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Liam (2000)

tomatometer

70

Average Rating: 6.4/10
Reviews Counted: 76
Fresh: 53 | Rotten: 23

Though Liam's harrowing story is reminiscent of Angela's Ashes, it showcases strong performances, including one by child actor Anthony Borrows.

83

Average Rating: 7.4/10
Critic Reviews: 24
Fresh: 20 | Rotten: 4

Though Liam's harrowing story is reminiscent of Angela's Ashes, it showcases strong performances, including one by child actor Anthony Borrows.

audience

70

liked it
Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 1,074

My Rating

Movie Info

A young boy struggles with his family during England's pre-war depression in this drama directed by Stephen Frears. Liam (Anthony Borrows) is a seven-year-old growing up in a working-class family in Liverpool during the early 1930s. Liam's dad (Ian Hart) and older brother Con (David Hart) both work at the nearby shipyards, and his sister Teresa (Megan Burn) works as a domestic for a wealthy Jewish family. Liam, who suffers from a speech defect, is not always happy at school, where his teacher

R, 1 hr. 31 min.

Art House & International, Drama

Jimmy McGovern

Mar 12, 2002

Lions Gate Films

Cast

All Critics (89) | Top Critics (27) | Fresh (53) | Rotten (23) | DVD (5)

Liam is largely devoid of emotion. He's a detached, distanced observer, and it's hard for the viewer not to feel the same way.

November 6, 2002 Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune | Comment
Minneapolis Star Tribune
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The harshness of his movie is affecting, never completely demoralizing.

October 28, 2001 Full Review Source: Sacramento Bee | Comment
Sacramento Bee
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It's been beautifully made with tact and care.

October 12, 2001 Full Review Source: Salon.com | Comment
Salon.com
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One of [Frears'] loveliest, most heartfelt films.

October 9, 2001 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | Comment
San Francisco Chronicle
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Beautifully cast and acted, with young Borrows giving a performance as natural as it is heartbreaking.

October 9, 2001 Full Review Source: Detroit Free Press | Comment
Detroit Free Press
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A heartbreakingly beautiful film.

October 9, 2001 Comment
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Better suited to the intimacy of television than a cinema outing.

March 26, 2003 Full Review Source: RTE Interactive (Dublin, Ireland) | Comment

...its dramatic efforts are contrived and strain credibility.

February 14, 2003 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | Comment
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

It is an ugly story with the ring of truth, and could hardly be more timely.

October 21, 2002 Full Review Source: San Diego Metropolitan | Comment
San Diego Metropolitan

A dark, disturbing and vivid portrait of how the toxic fuels of poverty and powerlessness are transmuted into violent religious and ethnic hatred.

October 15, 2002 Full Review Source: Cincinnati Enquirer | Comment
Cincinnati Enquirer

Stumbles a bit with a muddled final act, but it's not enough to mar this generally fine film.

May 9, 2002 Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | Comment
Apollo Guide

Frears has put enough heart into the movie to overcome its limitations.

April 4, 2002 Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | Comment
Filmcritic.com
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Liam

The trials and tribulations of a 7 yr old lad in 1930's Liverpool. Oppressed by poverty and his Catholic faith, Liam tries to cope with a speech impediment and a school system determined to literally beat the devil out of him. A gritty, solid little film that falls somewhere between Angela's Ashes and This Is

July 23, 2009
flixsterman
Randy Tippy

Super Reviewer

A good concept that would have been much better served by a more subtle touch, in both writing and direction. The film's hysterics are not charming or exciting, and within a matter of 10 minutes the narrative has settled into dull repetition. Although some of the set-ups are adequately paid off in the third act, it's

February 9, 2011
T.S.M.
Timothy Maddocks

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