IR Film Review: BELFAST [Focus]

The texture of a film about childhood but a reflexive one at that offers the possibility to find an interesting emotional gesture while making more of a sweeping dramatic narrative at the same time. "Belfast" is Kenneth Branagh's love letter but also his contemplation on his youth within the context of family. There is an interesting balance here that is sometimes achieved but most of the time it is too subtly progressed despite a very clear path. Branagh's films especially his early ones, bustles with drama and energy and cinematic flourishes even when the budgets were lower.

"Belfast" in many ways feels like a stage play. People change but one can still see that verve in a film like "Murder On The Orient Express" [but again that is set with established IP). While there are moments of levity and dramatic essence in "Belfast", it never quite reaches that waterfall moment when we understand this boy's life. Jude Hill as Buddy (aka young Kenneth) is quite good but he comes off more ingenue structured although when he really lets loose he finds a lyrical pace. The issue is just having seen "Cmon Cmon", the difference in artifice in child actors does makes a difference. Branagh is always capable but he seems far better with adult actors despite some wonderful notes.

Judi Dench of course finds a way to take the cake again as the grandmother just knowing the right amount of gravitas to pour on and her prating image is one of the lasting images of the film and captures its essence better than anything else. Ciaran Hinds as Pop is able to get that great character play that he has been working towards for many years having mostly been cast as the baddie. His mischievousness works nicely with Jude. Caitriona Balfe as the mother gets some of the best dramatic elements because it is her love of home despite the conflict of Belfast in 1969 that permeates through. A scene in a kitchen reflects this and later informs a similar scene with her child who unlike her can't hold his emotions in. The strife of Belfast around is palpable but having been there in recent years and heard the stories, the film doesn't gives it a dread that it should. The beginning beats of the film paint the picture but it moves more into character drama (aptly so) but it never quite gets the anchor set.

Some moments like those of anxiety and adolescent play and romance have a good texture but again never reach a crescendo that of course Branagh is perfectly capable of doing. Perhaps because this was made more independently and to make sure it was made, Branagh played it a different way (as he wrote it as well). That is understandable but it still feels like a letdown. Jamie Dornan has the least power of all in the cast. Compared to Balfe, his screen presence just doesn't quite shine through. A late music sequence while nostalgic, also seems out of place as again the film almost feels like a stage play but with a cinematic flair that never quite takes off. "Belfast" is a perfectly acceptable film. It is just not as great as it could be. B

By Tim Wassberg