My Left Foot (1989)
Average Rating: 8.2/10
Reviews Counted: 33
Fresh: 33 | Rotten: 0
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: 8/10
Critic Reviews: 7
Fresh: 7 | Rotten: 0
No consensus yet.
liked it
Average Rating: 4/5
User Ratings: 24,189
My Rating
Movie Info
An alternative to the general run of "triumph over the odds" biopics, My Left Foot is the true story of Irish cerebral palsy victim Christy Brown. Paralyzed from birth, Brown (played by Hugh O'Conor as child and Daniel Day-Lewis as an adult) is written off as retarded and helpless. But Christy's indomitable mother (Brenda Fricker) never gives up on the boy. Using his left foot, the only part of his body not afflicted, Brown learns to write. He grows up to become a well-known author, painter, and
Sep 13, 1989 Wide
Aug 16, 2005
HBO Video
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Cast
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Daniel Day-Lewis
Christy Brown -
Ray McAnally
Mr. Brown -
Brenda Fricker
Mrs. Brown -
Ruth McCabe
Mary Carr -
Fiona Shaw
Dr. Eileen Cole -
Hugh O'Conor
Young Christy Brown -
Cyril Cusack
Lord Castlewelland -
Alison Whelan
Old Sheila -
Declan Croghan
Old Tom -
Eileen Colgan
Nan -
Marie Conmee
Sadie -
Sarah Cronin
Girl Friend -
Phelim Drew
Brian -
Martin Dunne
Waiter -
Tom Hickey
Priest -
Patrick Laffan
Barman -
Eanna Mac Liam
Old Benny -
Darren McHugh
Young Benny -
Keith O'Conor
Young Brian -
Ger O'Leary
Mourner -
Derry Power
Customer in Bar -
Owen Sharp
Young Tom -
Britta Smith
Nurse -
Adrian Dunbar
Peter -
Jean Doyle
Woman with Pram -
Milt Fleming
Mourner -
Julie Hale
Rachel -
Patricia Higgins
Viola -
Simon Kelly
Liam -
Eileen Kohlmann
Violin -
Conor Lambert
Punch and Judy Puppetee... -
Margaret Lyons
Piano -
Ulick O'Connor
Critic -
Hilery O'Donovan
Cello -
Daniel Reardon
Tony -
Charlie Roberts
Mourner -
Kirsten Sheridan
Young Sharon -
Lucy Vigne Welsh
Petra -
Jacinta Whyte
Jenny -
Don King
Double Bass
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All Critics (33) | Top Critics (7) | Fresh (42) | Rotten (0) | DVD (21)
All performances are on the mark in this perfect little film.
For all his character's travails the film as a whole winds up surprisingly upbeat.
Day Lewis' re-creation of writer/painter Christy Brown's condition is so precise, so detailed and so matter-of-fact that it transcends the carping about casting an actor without cerebral palsy.
Top CriticAn intelligent, beautifully acted adaptation of Christy Brown's first book.
My Left Foot is a great film for many reasons, but the most important is that it gives us such a complete picture of this man's life.
Not only does Day-Lewis master the physical aspects of the role, the minute-to-minute struggle of almost complete paralysis, he lives the painful genesis of an artistic character.
A fairly generic biopic with an amazing turn by Daniel Day-Lewis.
Deviating from the standard Hollywood biopic, Sheridan's chronicle told with candor, realism, and humor the story of paraplegic writer-artist Christy Brown, embodied in a tour-de-force Oscar-winning performance by Daniel Day-Lewis.
[The film] leaves one with an overwhelming sense of the miraculousness of life and of this man's spirit.
Even if all My Left Foot had to offer was Day-Lewis's performance, it'd be a must-see movie.
Nothing can detract from the power of this film, especially Daniel Day-Lewis' astonishing performance as Christy Brown.
Daniel Day-Lewis gives a startling, dazzling performance.
If you haven't seen the film, it's worth at least a rental, since Day-Lewis' performance is positively amazing.
Avoid[s] investing the truly inspirational moments in Christy Brown's development with the sort of treacly sentiment that... Hollywood considers 'inspirational.'
Much of the pricelessness of My Left Foot comes from Daniel Day-Lewis's spot-on portrayal of Brown, the first acting job that made critics and awards voters really take notice of him.
A rich cinematic experience, this uplifting British production will leave you in awe of the extraordinary Christy Brown.
This wonderful film, perfect in setting the scene of the era and locale, could not be a better story of hope and inspiration.
This wonderful film, perfect in setting the scene of the era and locale, could not be a better story of hope and inspiration.
Not included in the round-up of critic reviews is the four-star notice by Roger Ebert, who thought about writing his piece with his left foot.
It's easy to imagine what My Left Foot might have looked like in the hands of a lesser director like, say, Ron Howard.
Audience Reviews for My Left Foot
Super Reviewer
Super Reviewer
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- Christy Brown: Get in that car before I kick your ass
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- Mary Carr: And you typed all of it with your left foot?
- Christy Brown: I didn't do it with me nose.
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- Mrs. Brown: If I could give you my legs, I'd gladly take yours.
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- Christy Brown: I think you're brilliant.
- Dr. Eileen Cole: I'm only as brilliant as my patients.
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- Mrs. Brown: A broken body is nothing to a broken heart.
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- Dr. Eileen Cole: With speech therapy, I could teach you how to say "Fuck off" more clearly.
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