Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageLiam (2000)
Director: Stephen Frears
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
Liverpool in the 1930s. Seven-year-old Liam (Borrows) lives in a working class Irish Catholic neighbourhood, with an older brother and sister, devout mam (Hackett) and hard working dad (Ian Hart). But the Depression is beginning to kick, and work on the docks becomes scarce. The once proud breadwinner becomes embittered as he's forced to beg for a day's work. He blames his bosses first, then the Church, and finally he falls in with the Black Shirts and blames the Jews. Meanwhile Liam's suffering spiritual torment in religious instruction as he prepares to take his First Communion. McGovern's tub-thumping and angry humour is potent enough, and the film forces a kind of grim compassion for its painfully misdirected anti-hero. Hart doggedly refuses to soften this man, and that in itself commands respect. But the movie (made for BBC TV) goes straight where you'd expect, and the running gag involving Borrows' saucer-eyed urchin soon wears thin. (From the book The Back Crack Boy by Joseph McKeown.) TCh.Author: TCh
Cast & crew
Director: Stephen Frears
Producer: Colin McKeown, Martin Tempia, Ulrich Felsberg
Cast: Ian Hart, Claire Hackett, Anne Reid, Anthony Borrows, Megan Burns, David Hart, Russell Dixon, Julia Deakin full cast
Duration: 91 mins
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Stephen Poliakoff discusses 'Glorious 39'
Stephen Poliakoff’s ‘Glorious 39’ is his first film for cinema since ‘Food of Love’ in 1997. Dave Calhoun met him
Is 'Paranormal Activity' the new 'Blair Witch'?
How does a film go from DIY experiment to box-office smash? 'Paranormal Activity' director Oren Peli explains
Steven Soderbergh on 'The Informant!' and 'The Girlfriend Experience'
We talk to Steven Soderbergh about his two forthcoming films: one featuring a porn star, the other a chubby Matt Damon
A gateway to all things 'New Moon'
In anticipation of 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon', Time Out is offering the chance to pick up a limited edition pack with three exclusive magazines and a free poster.
London Children's Film Festival
Read our exclusive reviews of films playing at the 2009 London Children’s Film Festival
The films that deserve a TV spin-off
With Roland Emmerich suggesting he'd like to make a '2012' TV spin-off, we propose some more movie-to-TV serialisations
The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'
Masters of contrary comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen have struck gold again with their latest, ‘A Serious Man’
Michael Haneke discusses 'The White Ribbon'
Dave Calhoun met with Michael Haneke in Munich to mull over the details of his Palme d'Or winner, 'The White Ribbon'
Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?
Time Out ponders the influences behind James Cameron's anticipated space-opera on the basis of the trailer
Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam
In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations
What do you think?
Post your review now