Comedy

Waking Ned

Tomboy Films

Canal+

France

United Kingdom

English

Gaeilge

Latin

Ian Bannen

David Kelly

Fionnula Flanagan

Susan Lynch

Brendan Dempsey

James Nesbitt

Paul Vaughan

Maura O'Malley

Robert Hickey

Paddy Ward

James Ryland

Fintan McKeown

Eileen Dromey

Kitty Fitzgerald

Dermot Kerrigan

Jimmy Keogh

Matthew Devitt

Rennie Campbell

Eamonn Doyle

Raymond MacCormac

Larry Randall

Jim Ashford

Lewis Charles Barham

Colin Bendall

Dodo Bickerdike

Joy Birnie

James Bishop

Peter Bradford

Steven Burke

Derick Bussey

Norman Cain

Margaret Cain

Peter Carroll

Barbara Clague

Pam Courtenay Smith

Edwina Crebbin

Jill Cruddace

Ted Cruddace

Heather Dawes

George Egee

Jill Foster

Susan Hidson

Margaret Horsfield

John Kaighin

Una King

Anne Lace

Shirley Lewney

Alix Morrey

Pat O'Donohue

Ged Pearce

Stella Pixton

Joyce Pullin

Charlie Read

Thomas Reeder

Adrian Robinson

Alan Strachan

Alexandre Heylen

Kirk Jones

Henry Braham

Richard Holmes

Glynis Murray

John Ebden

Neil Peplow

Ros Hubbard

Stephen Margolis

John Hubbard

Martell

Paul Bradburn

Shaun Davey

Rosie Hackett

Anne Oldham

Nora Robertson

Jack Stew

Mark Tanner

Abi Harris

Mark Ezra

MJ Bassett

Peter McGinn

I know that no movie is perfect, but I am hard pressed to think of any criticism for this movie, known as Waking Ned Devine here in the U.S. Perhaps I will come up with a weakness by the time I finish writing this.

This is a feel good movie from start to finish. Okay, a character dies at the beginning, but only right after he wins the lottery. They set up the action by introducing several characters and fill in background on them. Then the story itself is told simply and well.

Kirk Jones wrote and directed the film, which apparently stated out to be a ten-minute short. Fortunately for all of us, he was encouraged to expand it to a full-length feature. It won or was nominated for a lot of awards. So,e actors agreed to be made less than usual to ensure the film got made, and I believe some people who lived where it was filmed (Isle of Man) took part also. Oddly enough, Jones still only has a handful of film writing credits. Before movies he made some very successful advertising commercials.

In addition to being a funny, charming movie, the soundtrack is one of my favorites for a movie. The music sets the mood and even helps tell the story in places.

Well, sorry, I guess I didn’t think of anything critical to say about Waking Ned (Devine).

CinemaSerf

"Jackie" (Ian Bannen) has an ingenious way of getting his wife "Annie" (Fionnula Flanagan) to bring his ice cream to his armchair - he feigns a lottery win! That sets the tone for the rest of this light-hearted comedy as he discovers that one of their number has actually won over £6 millions. Now it's a tiny village, so together with his pal "Michael" (David Kelly) the three of them begin a process of elimination to discover the real winner. Nobody seems to be splashing the cash, though! The puzzle is finally solved when they clock that "Ned" hasn't been seen for a while. A trip to his house delivers sad news but an opportunity - if only they can convince the lottery man... This reminded me a little of the original "Whisky Galore" (1949) in that it presents a community with a chance to engage in some community mischief which is, of course, entirely fraudulent - but leaves you hoping that they get away with their plan. The pacing is almost perfect, Bannen and Kelly gel well together and there are a few daft sub-plots to help keep the film moving along nicely. I maybe wouldn't use a phone box there anytime soon, though!

Waking Ned Devine (1998) Trailer

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Waking Ned

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Cast

Ian Bannen

David Kelly

Fionnula Flanagan

Susan Lynch

Brendan Dempsey

James Nesbitt

Paul Vaughan

Maura O'Malley

Robert Hickey

Paddy Ward

Box office

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