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24th February 2016
06:33pm GMT
Title: Michael Collins
Director: Neil Jordan
Irish release date: November 8, 1996
Worldwide box office: $11,092,559
Irish certificate rating: PG/12 (video rating)
Tag Line: 'Ireland, 1916. His dreams inspired hope. His words inspired passion. His courage forged a nation's destiny.'
https://youtu.be/nvFV6xOWK9I
Clip via YouTube/Warner Bros.
Plot's it all about?
Michael Collins is a biopic blockbuster about the Irish revolutionary leader, Michael Collins, and his fight for Irish independence against the British Empire.
Starring Liam Neeson as the titular character and shot largely on the streets of Dublin, Michael Collins captivated and divided audiences alike, just as the man himself did decades previously.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Michael Collins, and with the blu-ray and cinema re-release set for March, now is as good a time as any to look behind-the-scenes at an Irish classic.
Instead, Sligo director Neil Jordan, who had won an Oscar for The Crying Game, took over and Cimino has not directed a feature movie for the last 20 years.
Neeson was Jordan's indisputable first choice, having seen the Antrim actor star in the theatre.
Despite being 43 at the time, the Taken hero thrilled viewers with his portrayal of the 31-year-old Collins.
Image via generalmichaelcollins
Eventually, he became fascinated with the former Minister for Finance's character, as well as his almost contradictory actions of starting an army before attempting to decommission it; a trait that embodied a lot of Irish society between 1916 and 1922.
It took over a decade for the concept of the movie to be realised and, as we saw above, it very nearly didn't happen for Jordan.
However, after the success of his major flick, Interview with the Vampire, Jordan used his new-found fame to bring his Collins script out of the woodwork, and away he went.
Jordan also wasn't the only one who had an interest in making the movie, with Richard Harris and Robert Redford both, reportedly, keen to do something on the project in the preceding years.
However, neither plan came to fruition.
Perhaps most eye-opening was Julia Roberts' inclusion.
Like Brad Pitt in True Romance, the Oscar winner became involved in the movie after ringing up Jordan and declaring her interest in playing the character of Kitty; the love triangle-cause between Michael and Harry.
While her performance was very impressive overall, her attempt at the, admittedly difficult, Irish accent was not universally appreciated.
The film was also a very early introduction for audiences to Cork actor, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, who played the crucial role of the assassin. The position only arose after Tom Cruise was unable to appear in a cameo role.
Lastly, Brendan Gleeson may have played a small part in the film, but his influence off-screen was significant.
Neeson was known to regularly ask Gleeson for advice between takes, having featured as Collins in the 1991 movie, The Treaty.
Incidentally, the infamous Croke Park scene, where the British Army invaded the pitch and massacred players and fans, was filmed at the Carlisle Grounds - home to Bray Wanderers.
https://youtu.be/QOiQRkK1tyg
Clip via Lefan123
