In America

A remarkable film from Jim Sheridan, with captivating performances from Sarah and Emma Bolger as the young daughters. Paddy Considine should have had an oscar nomination here.

Something about the entire thing felt really insulting and manipulative. I liked it at times, but by the end I just didn't care anymore.

pithy review: will make you appreciate life. date viewed: may 22, 2010 highlight(s): well developed interesting characters. strong overall cast, especially sarah bolger's performance as christy. ET game of chance scene. trick or treat scene in the apt. building. lowlight(s): nothing offhand. favorite line: ....i love anything alive. verdict: recommended.

Super cozy 00s movie with a sweet nostalgic vibe. The performances of the two sisters were great. Makes sense that they're real life siblings. Something that left me wondering tho: why did the parents continually blame the fall for the death of the child when it was determined during his stay in the hospital that he died from a brain tumor? What am i missing here?

A wonderful film. Yes, it's melodramatic, and yes, some of the dialogue is a bit too pat. But the other elements just outweigh all that for me, beginning with the eyes and liveliness of those two beautiful children. Hounsou brings a much needed center of gravity to the film, and the story works as an emotionally-centered, "Leave your baggage behind and come to America, the land of opportunity" kind of story. But really, those two kids simply make the movie.

Probably the best child actors i've seen in a movie. They could have ruined it all, being given so much of the story, but they nailed it with a crown. In America is maybe overly sentimental and has a Spielberg-miracle vibe, but it's a cozy and charming catalyst to have a parasocial love relationship with the USA

Very moving. Strong performances from the children.

So much of this is so good, especially the convincingly brittle but still loving familial dynamics; Morton and Considine and both Bolgers help make an effortless transition between the parent’s eye view and child’s eye view without short changing either side. Too many broadly drawn extraneous characters occasionally detract; Hounsou is quite affecting, but the character feels forced and unconvincing, especially as his relationship to the family is given virtually no time to properly develop.

Sappy, dated story of new Irish immigrants. Just not interesting.

Melodrama is fine, bad melodrama, which I think this is not...to me.

From great writing to superb performances from the entire cast, In America is one of those films that struck me as a near masterpiece. This is a loving ode to America, a place where a struggling Irish family finds hope, happiness and miracles as well. Recommended !!!

Tries so hard to manipulate a reaction from the audience, but the only reaction it's getting from me is my stomach starting to cramp. This story feels obviously personal since Sheridan lathers on as much cream as possible to make you feel sorry for "him and "his family".

Everybody did such a good job! Those girls were perfect, and I just love Samantha Morton.

So what does living in unemployed squalor mean to two lovely Catholics from Ireland? That's right, you guessed it: Have another child.

One of the best movies of 2003, it will make you cry but in that good way. It's not so much sad as it is just touching.

Can't talk about it. It makes me cry.

I suspect I'm gonna be saying this a lot for Jim Sheridan movies, but this gets by almost exclusively on its acting. A lot of the unsubtle writing, including stereotypes, clichés, and sentimentality, is smoothed over by the lovely performances, especially the Bolger sisters, who are literally perfect. I feel a little guilty about giving it such a high rating when it has so many problems (there's even an Uncle Tom played straight) but those little girls were just too adorable for me to resist.

Very melodramatic, but sometimes that's OK.

In America is a fascinating watch that has only become more relevant over time.

Moving and great storytelling.

Contrived melodrama with some poor dialogue. The unappealing adult leads are balanced by excellent performances by the two children, and a very nice musical interlude by Sarah Bolger. Nevertheless, the film fails to hold the interest of the viewer.

Good and depressing, with excellent acting. I'll watch Samantha Morton in anything.

That this story is deeply personal to writer/director Sheridan comes through in the beautifully written script. Touching throughout.

85.000

Good movie about children living in the place you wouldnt want them to live. Scenes with the ventilator/airco will stay with me.

kinda all over the place.

In America is a fascinating watch that has only become more relevant over time.

Wonderful performances all round which made this film a huge success in my opinion. I would recommend this to anyone with a heart.

Freaky sex scene drops this a bit, but the children really steal the show. Weak child actors would have made this absolutely unbearable to watch, but instead they give the film an absolute vibrance.

Very good.

Painfully boring with characters it's just not possible to care about. It was very difficult to figure out why this film exists and I found it impossible to finish it.

Touching portrait of a young Irish family finding their way in America-has the feel of a home movie and is told through the eyes of children, which accounts for its slightly whimsical feel.

Entertainment: 3 -- the kids were adorable, but the adults were just so-so. Spirituality: 1.5 -- you can do anything if you put your mind to it; grief and letting go of someone who has passed. Sustainability: 1 -- openness to people who are very different to you.

87.500

Sad but gives a good heart-warming feeling

I didn't get invested enough in this movie. Djimon Hounsou as Mateo was a surprise. Some of the story was poorly told or felt too manipulative. Performances were mostly good but uneven. Accents were hard to understand at times. A few gritty and memorable scenes, such as the junkie with a knife to his throat still wants to be friends, and trying to win the ET doll at the carnival. The little girls were adorable. I should have liked it more. Cutting a few scenes would have helped a lot.

This movie was also nominee for few Oscars. Jim Sheridan does good movies and he succeeds with "In America". Film is telling somewhat true story what also happened with directors family. The honesty and reality are key elements. And two little angels too.

The best film about a family ever. There are both joys and sorrows to be found in the life of this immigrant family, trying to make ends meet in New York City.

Many great performances, but the story is manipulative. People do not go silent, stop and stare because you walk in with home made costumes (that were very good by the way). A small example of how this film plays with emotions.

I don't know why I couldn't like this movie. I tried really, really hard, I swear.

I felt this was a very slow moving movie. It isn't a roller coaster ride of emotion (until the last 20-30 minutes, which had me in tears), the drama builds slowly. I don't think it's a movie a lot of people would sit through. I would have given it a much lower score but the feeling it evoked in the last bit of the movie definitely bumped up the rating.

Nice and sentimental hallmark movie - okay it's a little better acted than that and has a couple of memorable scenes. Still, while the story weaves through a mosaic of immigrant life in New York, the story itself is never that cohesive and there's a leap to get all the characters to their ending. The two cute little sisters pull this movie up.

A rich and moving story about an immigrant family adjusting to life in New York.

Fantastic movie. Feels genuine.

I don't remember this at. Should probably rewatch. But, I mean, Paddy Considine, Samantha Morton . . these are my favourite people.