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Radio, Film & Television
The Movies: The divine works in mysterious… and hilarious ways Waking
Ned Devine {on video} What would you do if you won the lottery? You find this theme everywhere—in literature, film and certainly around the supper table. In Waking Ned Devine, director/writer Kirk Jones has given us a lottery film…and it is a winner. Set in a tiny Irish village this movie tells the story of two old friends, Jackie O’Shea and Michael O’Sullivan, who learn that someone in town has won the lottery. Working on the wealth-by-association theory, they conspire to identify and befriend the winner. If you live in a small town you will truly appreciate their entertaining combination of diplomacy and total breach of privacy. They find, however, that the winner, the dear, sweet Ned Devine, has died from the shock of seeing his own ticket number show up on the "telly." In a plan, inspired by greed and exuberance more than cleverness, they decide that they will pretend to be Ned Devine and claim the prize for themselves. But the plot thickens, or rather twists like a roller coaster track, as the Lottery Office begins its investigations. Director Jones has every classic comedy set-up in place. The city slicker lottery official is literally taken for a ride by the two friends who play the simple country bumpkins while attempting to defraud. There is the hilarious impersonation of Ned Devine. There is the slapstick scene that no film should be without—skinny old man riding naked on minibike. The humor in this film comes also from its playful twists on the fairytale form. Yes, there’s even an evil witch who threatens to crush our heroes. And a beautiful young woman and handsome young man in love. {But she can’t marry him until he gives up pig farming.} There’s the fairytale ending, although perhaps not what you’d expect. And there’s magic when Ned Devine appears to Jackie O’Shea in a dream telling him what he must do next and turning down a second helping of roast chicken. But this film is not a fairy tale, nor is it simply a wacky ride from humorous scene to humorous scene. It’s a film about what is truly important. It’s about friendship and community. The characters are quirky but real. The breathtaking Irish scenery of this little coastal village gives us a universal context for a small story. The cast is perfect, headed by Ian Bannen as Jackie, Fionnula Flanagan as his practical but loving wife, and David Kelly as his gentle and vulnerable friend, Michael. And the acting is wonderful; each actor achieves the delicate balance needed to portray people who are overstated with their personalities, but understated with their deeper feelings. The beautiful and varied score of traditional Irish music helps tell the more universal side of this story. Amazingly, this is Kirk Jones’debut film. Having filmed commercials in London for eight years, he was inspired by a news clipping about the postmistress of a tiny village who won the lottery. "I spent quite a lot of time in Southern Ireland," said Jones in a 1998 interview. "I just listened, listened, listened. I had to get the rhythm of the way the local people spoke … If I got stuck with the script, I’d go down to the pub for the evening, come home and work into the night. If you missed this little emerald in the theaters, perhaps its because Jones refused to sell out. Hollywood offered him a $35 million budget, but wanted him to make his character half the age of Michael and Jackie. He was asked to move the setting from Ireland to Canada. It was suggested he cast Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau in the roles of the two Irish friends. He returned home looking for $3.5 million instead. The low budget film was received well at several of the international film festivals, including Cannes. But Jones has gone back to commercials. "I really enjoy ads anyway, but what it allows me to do is earn my money doing ads. It gives me the freedom not to commit to a studio." At the end of Waking Ned Devine, the characters learn what the true prize is. It seems that Jones has something in common with his characters. ******* ******* |
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