Evelyn

Here you go southern Utah movie buffs. Those who have been crying out (yours truly included) for the local movie theaters to bring independent, limited-release films of merit to our area have been given a belated Christmas gift. Obscured in last year's holiday rush of mega-movies, the heartwarming film "Evelyn" was released and quickly, quietly dropped out of sight. Now it surfaces in our neighborhood and if ever a film deserved our collective cinematic attention, this sparkling little gem is it.

Set in Dublin, Ireland, "Evelyn" tells the earnest story of Desmond Doyle (Pierce Brosnan) a Father of three who struggles to make a living, battles the dreaded pint and loses not only his philandering wife but due to 1953 Irish law, his children in the process. Based on true events, this modern day fable follows Doyle who, with gritty persistence and the encouragement of a pleasant barmaid, Julianna Margulies (of T.V's "E.R." fame) and talented legal counselors (Stephen Rea, Aidan Quinn, and Alan Bates) strives to beat the Irish system and be granted back the "mutual society" of his children.

This quaint and fairly predictable film would quickly gather a bad case of mushy moss if it weren't for the stellar cast, the humble environs in which the story is told and the refreshing air of faith promoting sentiment that gently tugs, never abruptly so, at the heart strings. Predictability is the anathema of suspense movies not feel-good movies. Did "Titanic" get demerits because we knew the boat was going to sink?

You might think the serious subject matter would weigh down the proceedings. However, director Bruce Beresford ("Driving Miss Daisy" "Tender Mercies") displays an artful restraint, allowing Doyle's plucky charisma and the guileless glow of his young daughter Evelyn, (Sophie Vavasseur) to elucidate the film with an honest, gentle spirit so uncommon in movies today.

"Evelyn" is a film for those that rarely go to the movies "because they don't make movies like they used to." Well, apparently they do and the proof is now playing at a cinema near you.

We'd better get out and support beautiful, uplifting movies like "Evelyn" so they will continue to make them and our local theaters will continue to bring them here. And yes, this late arrival from last year would have easily made it into the Mad About Movies "Best of 2002."

Does that mean I prefer 007 as an Irish father fighting for his family over rescuing Halle Berry in his disappearing Aston Martin? Tough call.

Go see "Evelyn," and bring your "Da." He'll thank you. Mad About Movies grade: A- (Rated PG for thematic material and language). Agree or disagree? E-mail Bruce at Madaboutmovies2@aol.com

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