Calvary

Overview

Writer-director John Michael McDonagh reunites with actor Brendon Gleeson in this near perfect black comedy which takes a standard murder mystery plot and turns it on its head. For starters the hit is an all-round good guy who isn't guilty of committing any crime. Secondly, he's made aware of his impending death well in advance. In the confession box Gleeson, who plays Father James, is told by a parishioner that he intends to kill him.

The would be assassin explains he was abused as child and wants revenge. He's chosen Father James because killing a good priest will have far more impact that killing a bad one, see? He gives James till Sunday week to put his affairs in order. James thinks he knows who the man is but the audience is left guessing.

The Irish village isn't short of potential suspects. Could it be Michael Fitzgerald, the lonely, wealthy buffoon played by Dylan Moran, the seemingly jovial butcher (Chris O'Dowd), the menacing publican (Pat Shortt) or the cynical doctor (Aidan Gillen). It's hard to know, they all seem more than a bit sinister.

We learn that Father James hasn't always been a priest. The recovering alcoholic had a wife that died young and a daughter who tries to do the same. Fiona (Kelly Reilly) comes to visit after attempting to slash her wrists. Their relationship is rocky but provides much needed tender moments to counter balance all the spitefulness among the village folk.

It's the kind of place where husbands beat their wives and revellers get high in pub toilets, not really caring who sees them. It's telling that the community's most upbeat member is the unbeliever doctor Gillen. "The atheistic doctor; it's a cliched role," he says. "There aren't that many good lines."

The most interesting part of the film isn't the whodunnit factor but the way Calvary reflects the hell on earth people create for themselves. The script is packed with brilliant one-liners and Gleeson is magnificent as Father James, the slightly flawed good priest willing to sacrifice even himself for the greater good. But will it come to that? Ah well, all will be revealed come Sunday week.