Genres

Visitors Review

2012-05-24 20:30:33

"So if I wasn't a transvestite terrorist, would you marry me?"

Imagine my surprise when, shortly after seeing "Shortbus" and finding it a tiny bit lacking in comparison to its predecessor, creator John Cameron Mitchell's "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," I come across "Breakfast on Pluto" and find that the true cinematic sibling, the real companion/follow-up to Hedwig has actually been made by... Neil Jordan?!"Wait," I think, "that can't be right." But it's true! The same Neil Jordan who made such serious non-musical and non-episodic fare as "Mona Lisa," "Michael Collins" and "The Butcher Boy" (and comes dangerously close here to making the same movie twice, having previously made the more, er, straight-laced transvestite-amidst-the-IRA classic "The Crying Game" (also with Stephen Rea)) manages to break free from most of his previous directorial rhythms and create the same kind of mixture of the hilarious and the horrific, the grandiose and the grotesque, the outrageous and the understated that John Cameron Mitchell so ably concocted in Hedwig.So is it strange that Neil Jordan has made more of a Hedwig II than its own originator has? Well, it would seem that way at first - until you listen to the commentary track and hear that the main reason Jordan specifically wanted to revisit what some might consider old material was because he loved the attitude brought to the proceedings by the main character Kitten (luminously played by Cillian Murphy, whose eyes all but blaze with a quiet strength) - so brave yet childishly naive. To shine a light of absurdity on aspects of Jordan's prior works that Kitten would chastise as being "so serious, serious." (And, to be fair, I doubt John Cameron Mitchell would be satisfied rehashing "Hedwig" for the rest of his moviemaking career...)Still, for Hedwig fans, the similarities abound - from the main character's difficult transvestitism and its glam rock accoutrements to the colorful energy infused into almost every scene. Here, however, instead of Hedwig's heartbroken callousness, borne of an abandoned lover, Kitten is able maintain an innocence and purity amidst her heartbreak, which itself is borne of an abandoned mother.A couple of notes I didn't see in the other reviews here: 1) in addition to the much-mentioned standout supporting performances by Liam Neeson and Rea, also very noteworthy is the outstanding job first time actor Gavin Friday does in his portrayal of glam rock show band singer Billy Hatchet. 2) Be on the lookout for Patrick McCabe (the author upon whose work this film is based) in an amusing turn as the affronted teacher at Kitten's school.Though not a musical per se, this is a very music heavy film, with the traditional score being replaced by the songs of the era. I would definitely recommend this movie to those who loved Hedwig - for those who wish that there would be a sequel, I think this is as close as another film is going to come without being completely derivative. And for all those who haven't yet seen Hedwig, suffice it to say that you will probably enjoy this film greatly if you enjoy quirky, energetic, sweeping and episodic cinema that isn't afraid to mine comedy from some pretty dark places. (p.s. the title quote for this review is one of Kitten's many provocative utterances. And if you don't find it particularly funny, well that's probably an indication that this movie is not for you...)

hurstdragn 2012-05-24 17:52:08

A great film that never drags...

I saw BOP in Toronto last week and it was one of my favorites (of the29 I saw). Cillian Murphy was fabulous as the brave and relentlessseeker of the truth who faced life with conviction even when everythingaround him seemed to be disintegrating. Liam Neeson as the town priestwas credible and at times heartbreakingly genuine in his reactions tounfolding situations. Stephen Rea was an unorthodox but sweet magicianwho brought a great deal to his small part. The supporting cast,especially Brendan Gleeson and Ruth Negga, acted with realism andintensity that helped bring the film to life. Neil Jordan, whose trackrecord stands on its own, delivered a delicious dim sum that left mewanting more and at the same time completely sated. Declan Quinn'sdulcet cinematography, much like that of Monsoon Wedding and VanityFair, made the film one of the most lustrous at Toronto. After gettingthe willies watching how evil Murphy can be it was great to see him asan uber-hero. Oh, and did I say I want some of those outfits?

Samet Atasoy 2012-05-22 20:59:06

Magically Transmitted Reality

The main feeling I personally got from the movie is that the wholeworld has gone nuts and Patrick (Cillian) is the only good one in the''gone-bad'' basket, yet people think he is abnormal. He expresseshimself quite well, he is calm, understanding, and he is loving. Allthe things done by people except Patrick is very harsh compared to him.And he is isolated in that way too. The police officers tell him ''itdoesn't make sense'', because Patrick wants to remain in his ''sweetcell''. And this line for me is of great importance, in terms of ''Asif anything we do makes sense''The movie, in general, grasps you like a book, as it intends with it'schapters. The main point about the movie is that it focuses on Patrickand what happens to him. Not the random drama of a woman trapped in aman's body. That is what really defines movie. It really does not tryto tell us how dramatic a life of a transvestite can be. It says, theseare caused by the dream-like desires of a boy, any boy. The movie alsois very intimate, it feels like if you were to walk right in the sceneand start talking to the characters, they would be okay with it. Patricia Kitten Braden, is not a character that you would encountereveryday. However remote his existence feels, he is real just the same.Although in the beginning, he is a bit offensive against people whotries to ''correct'' him. That changes as his journey continues. Themore he is accepted the ''nicer'' he becomes. When he is young, hemight even look as if he is trying to provoke people, but then again,don't we all? Patrick's positive and even unrealistic approach to life seems to helphim remain quite unwounded throughout his life. Without nothing magical happening, many things that happen meets us ina magical sense. It is nothing but Patrick's point of view to theworld.The line between real and observers reality is smartly drawn and thereis a very satisfying amount of smart lines...

2012-05-22 04:12:10

Well-acted (Especially by Liam Neeson) But Too Episodic And Lacks a Strong Story

Using 36 short chapters, `Breakfast on Pluto' follows the life of Patrick "Kitten" Braden (Cillian Murphy) like journal, or Charles Dickens novel. Patrick is an orphan in a small Irish town, leaves the strife-torn country (the film is set in the glittering 70s) and goes to London in order to find his 'real' mother. And he meets a lot of strange but interesting characters on the way. The difference is, unlike Pip, Patrick, or Kitten, is a transvestite. As the story unfolds, you will sense that this Neil Jordan film is based on a book. The book is written by Patrick McCabe whose book `The Butcher Boy' was also filmed by Jordan in 1997.To some viewers who expect character development in Kitten, `Breakfast on Pluto' would be a disappointing experience. And if you're looking for something very `campy,' you may also be disappointed. Kitten is at times more like an observer of a series of the incidents - some bizarre, some sad, some happy, including his own fantasy world. Consequently the characters surrounding Kitten are sometimes more interesting than he. I know Cillian Murphy is a talented actor (and he was nominated for Golden Globe for this role), but in this film the supporting actors like Liam Neeson, Ian Hart, Brendan Gleeson and Stephan Rea are more impressive in spite of the brief time given to them. To be frank, the characters of Kitten, who heartily dislikes the word `serious,' may look monotonous compared with them, partly because he acts as if he never takes everything seriously including himself (even when so many people are dead). So why should we take him seriously?[CHANGES] Maybe this is not the biggest problem for you, but even if you have not read the book on which the film based, you will realize that changes are made. As one of the previous reviewers rightly said, Neil Jordan changed the content of the book considerably. I won't write about it, but Jordan, who gave us an edgy 'thriller Crying Game,' is obviously trying to give a lighter and happier tone to the original material, which includes some disturbing elements.Not that the film lacks its original merit, though. Liam Neeson gives another touching performance as Father Bernard (with the nod to 'Paris, Texas'), but maybe the film should have explored his guilt-ridden character more. The pop soundtrack is fun, and speaking of music, there are cameos from musicians: one from Gavin Friday (as the singer of traveling band) and the other from Bryan Ferry as "Mr. Silky String." But you may seriously ask `Do we really need these episodes?' In spite of occasional fun and insight, `Breakfast on Pluto' suffers from its sprawling storyline that attempts to include as many things as possible. Delete the episode about the stage magician/hypnotist, one extended cameo from Neil Jordan's regular Stephen Rea, and amusing as the episode is, the film remains almost the same without it. In this way you might want to skip several chapters to reach the conclusion, knowing that those skipped chapters may contain some good things. The ending is worth your waiting, but probably the film could have delivered it much faster, with the much shorter time than 135 minutes, I am afraid.

brocksilvey 2012-05-17 17:45:04

Tries for Whimsy, Settles for a Great Soundtrack

With "Breakfast on Pluto," Neil Jordan attempts a whimsical picaresquetale but creates instead a pale and glaringly underdeveloped movie.Cillian Murphy tries with all of his might to inject some vitality intothe character of Patrick Braden, an effeminate boy who grows up to be across-dressing gamine, a sort of modern-day Scarlett O'Hara who wantsto prance through life without getting his feet dirty in any of theworld's messiness. Instead of the Civil War, the backdrop here is 1970sIreland and the constant threat of violence posed by the IRA. Patrickleaves his home to search for his mother, who abandoned him when he wasa babe, and inadvertently finds himself mixed up with the terroristgroup. From there he flees to London and has all sorts of what we'resupposed to think are nutty adventures, until a happy ending findsPatrick at peace and all right with the world.None of this really works. Neil Jordan, a filmmaker whose repertoiresuggests political preoccupations, does not seem at any momentconvinced by the fantasy or optimism of his own film, so everythingrings false. Nothing that happens to Patrick, good or bad, seems tohave any significant consequences, and we don't ever really learn muchabout him or about what he himself has learned on his journey. Ibelieve Jordan intends for us to believe that Patrick has grown as aperson over the course of the film, but I only believe that because ofthe conventions of picaresque stories, not because I saw any growth inPatrick's character. The screenplay works double time to race throughall of the plot points -- it feels as if the screenwriter were adaptingan 800-page novel to the screen but didn't want to leave anything out.The story introduces a character in one scene only to send him packingtwo scenes later without having made any tangible impact on the story."Breakfast on Pluto" is not a bad movie, and despite its flaws stilloffers a moderately enjoyable ride. The awesome pulsing soundtrackhelps greatly, and often does much of the work that should have fallento either Jordan or his actors. I found myself at times responding tonothing but the music, which does not make for a whole-heartedrecommendation of the film, but I'll take what I can get.Grade: B-

Lee Eisenberg 2012-05-17 02:36:54

not a planet anymore

Pluto's recent demotion from planet to 'dwarf planet' brings to mindanything involving it, including "Breakfast on Pluto". This movie doesnot focus on a morning meal on the former ninth planet, but onsomething totally different. It's about a gay Irishman (Cillian Murphy)looking for his mother in London amidst the "troubles" in the 1970s.The movie looks at many things: homophobia, English discriminationagainst - or should I say "oppression of" - the Irish, and MitziGaynor. Watching the movie, one may feel tempted to do a number ofthings, namely visit Ireland and rant against the British army. And itmerits much discussion about the word "serious".But overall, this movie isn't just about homosexuality. It's also aboutfinding one's place in the world. And who would have ever guessed thatwe would see this against a background of disco and the IRA? NeilJordan has reaffirmed himself as a dependable director. Also starringLiam Neeson, Stephen Rea and Brendan Gleeson.

mart-burton 2012-05-15 20:34:49

All in all, worth watching.

Harry Nisson singing bits of a few of tracks that I loved from back inthe eighties. Me And My Arrow. The Moonbeam Song. You're Breaking MyHeart, possibly the first song to say "so f*ck you", so sweetly withfull orchestra. Nicely broken up with handwritten numbered sceneheadings. Kind cute. But then Kitten (Cillian Murphy) has a last nameof Kitten, and this is a tranny-ish, Irish comedy. And there areserious bits, with a touch of the IRA. And Kitten moves to London. Anexplosion and his creative imagination helps him through it. Dry humourat its best permeates. He's hunting for his mammy. There are somegritty Neil Jordan bits as would be expected. Good soundtrack of theperiod as well. Well-acted scenes. Good story development. All in all,worth watching.

2012-05-15 15:11:38

...and THEN life became difficult.

"Breakfast on Pluto": Starring Cillian Murphy and Liam Neeson. Set inIreland starting in the 1950's, this is the story of a boy who, fromthe very start, had a mother who deserted him, a father he never knew,and he saw himself as a girl. This made for a very difficult life. Withhim, we swish our way through his life with platform shoes, three closefriends, lots of gentle sadness, episodes of violence, mysteries thatdesperately need solving, and unexpected places where peace might befound. At first feeling predictable, even kitschy, "Breakfast on Pluto"takes on a more and more serious tone through the eyes of a maincharacter who seems to have but one choice. (Warning: if you have adifficult time with "low class" English and Irish accents, this filmwill require extra concentration.)

claudiaj-1 2012-05-11 15:21:39

u know u are the greatest actor on the planet when

the character you are playing, (Kitten Brady)is all that the viewingaudience sees, not the actor playing Kitten, but seeing only Kitten.How does he do that?(Cillian Murphy). The story is so sweet on so manylevels. Kitten is so playful and yet his determination to find his mum,puts him on a journey where we see Kitten's incredible vulnerability,giving him his incredible strength. He can't help what he is and it isbeautiful to watch. Alas, we could do with some more Kitten Brady's inthe world. The film is segmented into chapters that I found mostamusing and really helped the story line along, because so much isgoing on in such a short amount of time. You must listen very carefullythrough the Irtish brogue accents to catch some great one liners. Thisis a film to see at least twice, to catch all the nuances. The endingmade me tear up and was great closure for all that he has endured, helearned a lot and is happy for it. If Cillian Murphy doesn't get aGolden Globe or better yet an Oscar for this performance, or at least anomination, to get this genius of an actor the accolades he deserves.

vanilla-skies 2012-05-11 08:07:40

???

This is one of my favorite movies, along Magdalene sisters, anothergreat Irish movie based on a real story. The main reason I liked thismovie was for Patricks personality. He's exceptional. He was differentand you couldn't break him. he was genuine, he still saw hope when heknew he was despaired. This movie introduces all sorts of genres. Themusic chosen was perfect, and fit well in situations and the time lineof the movie. the only other character i can see as exceptional asPatrick Kitten is Willy Wonka. One other thing that makes me happy toknow when i watched this movie is there wasn't a grave significance ofstereotyping. Though I question the implications of diversities inimportance to movies. This movie offers a moral by the end, It wasn'ttoo obvious for me at first because i was stunned at how it all endedup. All in all this is a movie I recommend because it isn't a Hollywoodmovie and thats the best part. I find independent movies to stay trueto their context. Go rent it!!!!

Zia Wiki 2012-05-09 12:28:18

My understanding on Breakfast on Pluto

If you see the trailer of this movie, you can think this is a bore.You can think this is only a movie to celebrate gay people and nothingelse, but you're wrong.Here Cillian Murphy is SUPERB in his interpretation of this gay guygrowing up in an Ireland torn apart by the Northern Ireland affair.Patrick "Patricia Kitten" Braden is gay and all of the people look athim like he is the weirdest people they ever known.I think that what really makes Cillian and this film GREAT is the factthat his character is not at all intimidated by the people and hisfellow citizens, but he is able to mock back the people who considerhim an aberration and at the same time he finds his interior balanceaccepting his gay sexual tendency since he's a young boy.I recommend this movie.

philip-ct 2012-05-08 20:10:24

You are being served now!!

This film is about a transvestite on one level, but it is also a lotmore: it's about, belonging, being, loving and being loved. What couldhave been a one-dimensional caricature becomes a three dimensionalmovie in the hands of a good director like Neil Jordan, and actors suchas Liam Neeson, Stephen Rea, and Cillian Murphy (who is magnificent).Cillian Murphy imbues Patrick "Kitten" with growing dignity as he/shematures through the film, and at the end she has become a self-assuredwoman, who has 'found' family, her mother and father, and a meaning inlife.The film does not shy away from the Irish-English conflict, either, andthe prejudice directed against "Paddy" is appalling, reminiscent of "Inthe Name of the Father." It is not for the faint-hearted, be aware!Costumes and music of the late 60's / early 70's are both equallyimpressive. There is an excellent soundtrack.In all, I found the film quirky and uplifting; a friend with mepronounced it "depressing". Whatever, it needs to be seen and Provo'san interesting view of the times in which the story is set. Judge forourself.

2012-05-08 18:05:25

Thought-Provoking and Brilliant

This review is from: Breakfast on Pluto (DVD) I saw this film as a fan of Cillian Murphy, thinking it'd be an enjoyable time. WOW - I was totally unprepared. The film is, as has been said, an emotional rollercoaster, but it's inspirational for anyone, never mind a sweet boy lost in an entirely too serious world. The cast, directing, lighting, music and script are all fantastic - I've never seen The Crying Game, but who cares if they're similar. Jordan stalwart Stephen Rea is sweetly malevolent (no, not an oxymoron) as Bertie, the magician; Liam Neeson does a fantastic and at times hilarious turn as the town's repressed priest; Ruth Negga is wonderful as Kitten's best friend, and what can one say about Cillian Murphy. Admittedly I'm biased, but the man just blew me away. Amazing talent and a real wish to get into the soul of such a complex character. He's incredibly dedicated to his craft and in this instance, it paid off. It moved me to tears. The story is choppy and jumps from place to place, but that's the point - at the very beginning of the film, there's even a graphic that says "Chapters From My Life." It's not a linear story, per se; it's a series of interwoven vignettes showing just how Kitten overcomes. If Kitten were just as "serious, serious" as her world, she'd have curled up and died long before the end and everything working out. The music is also fantastic - the soundtrack really embodies Kitten and her never-say-die, understated attitude. Lots of '70s pop and glam rock, most notably Dusty Springfield and "The Windmills Of Your Mind." Great, great choices. Some closed-minded individuals might draw back in horror at anyone saying they admire a transgendered or gay person, but honestly? This film gives us a character portrait of someone who we'd all do worse than to emulate. Kitten simply never gives up. It's an endearing trait, no matter who you are.

Fiendish_Dramaturgy 2012-05-08 01:54:57

Moving

I was reluctant to give this a watching. The synopsis seemed a bitconflicted to the point of being muddled, and yes, the screenplay doestend to hold true to this analysis, while maintaining a beautifulnuance, all the same.Patrick/Paddy Kitten is a cross dressing transsexual from a very earlyage, much to the horror of his foster mother. He leaves home by mutualconsent, and goes in search of his mother via the parish priest whoarranged his foster care.This tale is witty and clever, but the story is quite serious; a wordwhich receives a great deal of reflection in this film. It (the tale)centers around young Kitten and his quest for roots, family, love, andself.All set against a backdrop of Disco and the IRA, oddly enough, but itworks as a compelling drama. Cillian Murphy, Liam Neeson, BrendanGleeson.It rates an 8.3/10 from...the Fiend :.

2012-05-07 14:41:04

Okay.....I guess I didn't get it

It would seem from all the positive reviews of this film that I am completely off base in my review. However, I have to be true to myself and give it the rating I have.Yes, Cillian Murphy is a star and he is the lead of this film. Yes, Neil Jordan directed it. Yes, Stephen Rea, Brendan Gleason, Liam Neeson and several other major UK actors appear in it. Yes, it is based on the book by the same name.But what is the point? I just didn't get it.Patrick is an orphaned boy who grows up with with a local Cavan (Ireland) woman who adopts him. He rejects her at every turn and decides early on that he wants to be a woman and find his own mother. Apparently in this tiny little Irish hamlet there is no such thing as homophobia as Patrick (to the viewer's eye) does not receive much adverse reaction from the other boys (only the priests and the women in town). He eventually leaves, adopts the name Kitten, and goes to London to find his mother who abandoned him. Why? Well, ostensibly to find out why he was abandoned and also to glean some nugget of truth from this supposed "Mitzi Gaynor" lookalike. Along the way he "joins" a band, gets involved with the IRA, a magician, and then becomes a peep show oddity. In each situation, he manages to truly avoid any REAL adverse reaction to his lite-drag personoa. Sure, he almost gets killed by a man in a car (former Roxy Music lead Bryan Ferry), but he comes out of that somewhat unscathed as well. It plays like farce at times and then other times it is serious. It is uncertain how the director wants us to truly react to the whole thing (there are CGI birdies throughout the film that speak to the audience and each other). Cillian Murphy as Kitten is oddly svelte enough to carry the part. Something of a pretty boy actor, Murphy is a formidible actor. I like him! I just didn't understand this character.I truly believe that this film scores high marks with some people who may or may not identify with the lead character's seeming separation from society. However, it did not "speak" to me.I found it overly drawn out and quite boring, largely. The only interesting aspects for me were the IRA involved ones.I'm assuming that "Kitten's" search for his mother was the sole driving force in his young life. However upon meeting his mother, he must have had some sort of catharsis that didn't come through the screen, because I didn't "get" that he no longer needed her. I also didn't see any change in Kitten's life as a result of having met his/her mother.Jordan's own The Crying Game more aptly connected with the disenfranchisement that a transvestite feels than this film did.Acting aside, I found this film a complete waste of my time.

Flagrant-Baronessa 2012-05-07 07:44:51

The Crying Game meets Velvet Goldmine meets... Cillian Murphy!

It is admirable that a film of such tragic content can manage bothaccessible and enjoyable. In the front row for the 'tragic' part isKitten, a flamboyant, high-spirited transvestite who falls prey toprostitution and accusations of terrorism in Britain during the late1960's. In the enjoyable end are the film's layered performances,fluent narration and, arguably its goldmine, the music...The opening of 'Breakfast on Pluto' sees a lively Cillian Murphy strutdown the street to Sugar Baby Love by the Rubettes, with long blondehair, red lipstick and a killer dress, playfully exchanging sass withonlookers and flirting with life. He is exuding courage. Cut to a bleaksmall Irish town on the border and a young woman leaving her babyoutside the Bishop's door in a basket. The baby is Kitten and thebishop is Liam Neeson, whom upon discovering this new 'gift' adopts aconfused, troubled expression that he wears well for the rest of thefilm.Where the good ol' Bishop stays the same – patient but troubled –Kitten shifts onto a path that undoubtedly deviates from the strictconventions of the Irish community; he develops a fondness forcross-dressing in ladies' clothes, writing racy stories and expressinghimself creatively. Walking around in an idealist bubble of dreamswhile being harshly raised as a 'bastard' child, Kitten's bubble burstseventually and he runs off seeking greener pastures in London where heultimately resorts to fully-fledged prostitution.Although I am no member of the Cillian Murphy camp, I credit wherecredit is due and this film is a showcase for his unique talent. I say'unique' since realism is typically sought from actors today and Murphyembodies the opposite – he is theatrical, over-the-top, colourful andflamboyant which is why he fits the part of a transvestite so well. Hischaracter, Kitten, stands up for what he believes in and when facedwith injustice – such as false accusations for IRA bombings – heindulges in music, writing and art, descending into his own mind andnever once letting the bitterness overcome him. The soundtrack to'Pluto' is nothing short of remarkable, sewing together the narrativewith deft strokes. It is simply peppered with 1960's/1970's gems.Yet the film's heaviest weapon in its arsenal is contrast, a devicethat Neil Jordon clearly has wielded to perfection here. One minute itis bursting with hippie music – a sprawling surge of contemporary flairand fury that takes the form of fashion, music and lifestyle. The nextminute it zooms back in on the bleak little Irish town making itovertly clear to the reader why Kitten fled his native town for Londonin the first place. Yet there's that familiarity about it, and LiamNeeson... needless to say, Pluto delicately juxtaposes the life inIreland with the life in London during this era. In the portrayal ofthe latter, it aptly balances tragedy with comedy, funny with grave,bleak with colourful. It is a gripping amalgam of qualities.'Breakfast on Pluto' is devoid of any discernible flaws, except thatthere is a multitude of characters to keep track of and it seems asthough the film itself loses focus at times because of this, andbecause of a pacing that occasionally drags. A little condensationwould be nice, perhaps. It also tips over into absurdity at a fewpoints such as a maid talking to Liam Neeson's crotch (not that Ididn't enjoy the close-up!) in one of Kitten's fantasies. it needs tobe said: it carefully treads between stupid and fun. But it does itextremely well.8 out of 10

Rachel 2012-05-06 08:36:26

As good as the book

Rarely do I enjoy a film as much as the book, but I liked the film version of Breakfast on Pluto more than the novel.Cillian Murphy gives a stand-out perforamnce as Kitten with an all-star Irish and British supporting cast including Liam Neeson, Stephen Rera, and Brendan Gleeson. Neil Jordan does another great job at directing, as usual. As the film's hero, Kitten is both charming and innocent in his/her naive way as she ends up admid various good and bad character and events while searhing for her mother in London. The film takes place in the late 60s and 70s and features a stellar soundtrack. The film is at times whimsical and fantastical with scenes that include talking robins are narrators.The real draw here is Murphy as the movie rests on his shoulders.

Robert McElwaine 2012-05-05 20:06:21

An enjoyably camp if superficial journey through the 70's

Thirteen years after "The Crying Game" became a box office hit on theother side of the Atlantic, It's in all probability that Neil Jordan atsome point always planned to revisit the topic of transvestism thatformed the basis of one of the most notorious twists in film history.But with "Breakfast on Pluto" the Irish director behind the similarlyquirky dark and quirky "The Butcher Boy" switches the transvestitesubject of the film from supporting player to lead protagonist. Littlesurprise considering seeing that the movie is an adaptation of PatMcCabes little known novel. Set in 1970's Ireland the film chronicles the slightly bizarre life ofPatrick "Kitten" Braden (played with sublime soft spoken campiness byCillian Murphy), as eccentric a character as goes his appearance by thestandards of the time. The movie opens in an appropriately upbeatfashion as Patrick, looking like a more dressed down version of Mr.Humphrey's from "Are You Being Served" pushes a pram through thestreets of London. As the oft used plot device of a voice over fromPatrick narrates we're taken back in flashback to his childhood, fromwhere he was left on a families doorstep as a baby, to his unsteadyrelationship with his foster mother and sister and his run ins with theschool authorities which causes nothing but consternation for hispseudo-family. But It's once our hero (or is that heroine?) leavesschool that things become slightly more interesting. An encounter heand his friends have with a glam rock band that has ties with the IRAand tragedy that soon follows eventually lead him to travel to Londonin search of his biological mother(who supposedly bears a strikingresemblance for Mitzi Gaynor). A mission that has It's fair share ofdarkly idiosyncratic twists and turns. "Breakfast on Pluto" like so much of Neil Jordan's directorial work inrecent years has hardly gained much mainstream recognition and to befrank, It's not entirely without surprise as although not a bad film byany stretch It's something of a patchy oddity. As the film's titlesuggests and It's meaning glibly explained by a the closet gay leadvocalist of the rock band that Patrick meets. The film isn't so muchabout Patrick's goal but the journey he must take to fulfil it. ButIt's a journey that while it might have been a life altering experiencefor It's central character it's less so for the audience. Althoughproceedings are given a boost from brief turns from Stephen Rea andBrendan Gleeson as a couple of peculiar individuals that Patrick comesacross, the bright lights and the seedier side of London in any periodseen on film Isn't something that hasn't been seen and done better amillion times before. Patrick's at times erratic behaviour at timesdoesn't entirely ring true in the context of how it at times isreceived by those he meets. One such case when a night out leads toPatrick being arrested by two police officers who suspect him of beinga IRA bomber leading to one of the most unusual not to say brutalinterrogation sequences put on screen. The IRA sub plot which ispresent earlier in the film, seems largely superficial aside fromevents that take place towards the movies close but doesn't justifysome of the focus it's given. For all of the more touching, poignantly humorous and moving momentsthere are in the film and there are It's fair share there's reallynothing new or insightful that is to be said when all is said and done.Murphy is staggering in the lead role as Patrick with a blend of goodnatured, naivety and endearing kookiness that his effeminate clothingIsn't just plain old window dressing. He could wear a plain old whitet-shirt a pair of blue jeans and have you convinced. With Ruth Neggafaring well and offering solid support as Charlie, Patrick's bestfriend some slack is left to be taken over by Liam Neeon who isadequate if unspectacular as middle aged priest Father Liam, a rolethat while at first offer some interest and adds a certain weight tothe plot begins to fall apart lightly given the context as how the plotunfold towards the films slightly over due climax. Although everything doesn't come together quite as Jordan would haveliked as the result of a script that he himself co-adapted. Hisreliable confident direction still manages to just hold things togetherand although uneven "Breakfast on Pluto" what it might lack in depth itpartially makes up for in a breezy whimsy that intermingles with themore austere aspects of the story, bolstered by mainly first rateperformances. Although it wouldn't be the first film I would recommendas a nostalgic look back at the 70's.

wazza_cky 2012-04-29 11:28:37

Cillian Murphy is amamamamamazing!

as my heading this really declares om what i believe is true.CillianMurphy has delivered yet another amazing performance.this young Irishactor deserves all the credit that is given to him recently.He willsore into the spotlight for sure after this movie.I for one do notthink this movie as my best cillian performance..Disco pigs rates highup in my charts,so does the Character Jim in 28 days later which i dobelieve to be his best acting yet,he was great in intermission,alsored-eye and batman..which I'm sure he will be in the new batman due outin 2008 BTW. as it says he is a developing characters in this movie soI'm not too sure but fingers crossed eh folks.

jotix100 2012-04-29 05:14:22

Kitty, kitty, kitty

Neil Jordan's films are always a pleasure to watch. There are alwayssurprises in the way he develops his movies, as he proves with"Breakfast on Pluto", which the director helped adapt for the screenwith the author of the novel, Pat McCabe. Mr. Jordan achieves anothertriumph in his distinguished career with this new movie that has agenuine and gritty look thanks to the excellent cinematography byDeclan Quinn.When young Patrick is left at the step of the small town's church,Father Bernard doesn't seem too surprised to find the young infant athis door. He is instrumental in placing the young boy with one of thetown's women who brings up Patrick until he is a teen ager. It becomesclear young Patrick is a little girl trapped in a boy's body. He beginscalling himself Kitten. His love for the outrageous makes him dress ina manner that he sticks out from the crowd. As such, he attracts theeye of a singer of a band who falls for Kitten and takes her to live ina remote part of the country. Alas, the romance takes a tragic turnbecause of Billy's involvement with the IRA.Kitten always wanted to find the "Phantom Lady", a nickname he gave tohis natural mother, who moved to London after giving him up. As hearrives in the big city, Kitten discovers a world he never knew and inmany ways, he thrives int the rich atmosphere of that swinging place atthat time. The film is, in a way, a picaresque account of Kitten's roadto maturity. His goal to find his mother doesn't happen until the endof the film. When the moment comes, Kitten is not resentful of the wayhe was left behind as he discovers that his mother has made a life forherself and her new reality.The film is a delight because the work of Cillian Murphy. Mr. Murphymakes the delightful Kitten come alive. This is a tricky part to playand with the guidance of Mr. Jordan, this young actor makes the most ofit. Equally excellent in smaller parts are Liam Neeson, Stephen Rea,Brendan Gleeson, Ruth Negg and Gavin Friday.The brilliant collaboration between Mr. Murphy, the star, and Mr.Jordan, the director, pays off in many ways making this film thedelight and fun it is to watch.