Fifty Dead Men Walking
Fifty Dead Men Walking
R | 21 August 2009 (USA)
Fifty Dead Men Walking Trailers

It's 1989, and in a Belfast torn apart by conflict and terrorism, petty criminal Marty McGartland is recruited by the British police to infiltrate the IRA. Guided by Special Forces officer 'Fergus', McGartland gains unparalleled insight into the organisation's dealings, providing his British handler with priceless, life-saving information. Based on a true story.

Reviews
Karry

Best movie of this year hands down!

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VividSimon

Simply Perfect

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Stellead

Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

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FirstWitch

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

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Mike-DD

I went into this without much expectation, since I don't normally watch "true-story" films, but I was pleasantly surprised.It's basically about a Belfast man recruited by British intelligence to spy on the IRA during the Troubles. After the starting "high", he begins to struggle with moral dilemmas, like informing on friends. In the meantime, his personal life becomes more complicated with a pregnant girlfriend and family troubles.I enjoyed Ben Kingsley's character - the handler Fergus, and Jim Sturgess played Martin surprisingly well. The story moves along briskly, but still left a bit of time for you to ponder the choices being made. I thought the execution was well-done too. It really made you feel for the main characters - you can literally feel Martin's anguish (on so many levels) and Fergus' self-righteousness (deserved or not) at times.Be aware though that the real Martin disavows the film though. So I'm now interested in reading the book so I can read his version of it.

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msmchug

This was a great film and told the story of Marty McGartland who worked for both the IRA and the police during the height of the IRAs criminal activity. Very quickly you like the main character who comes to the attention of both the police and IRA when he starts to get involved in petty crime.He works his was up the ranks on both sides. He gets involved in assaults murders and bombings.. All of which he tells his detective friend "fergus" about. It's worth mentioning that every visit to Fergus ends up with Marty getting a wad of cash! I think the film is very kind to Marty as you feel sorry for him and think he is being used by both camps for there own gain, however he did alright and how nice is joining the IRA then grassing them up for money... So Marty can't be as innocent as the film portrays! None the less I was rooting for him and when he gives up information to fergus knowing it could get him caught and the IRA are starting to suspect he could be a grass, things go terribly wrong. After some initial hiding Marth gets caught and tortured but manages to survive. It's quite nail biting and painful. The police mess things up... Of course. The story line touches on some of the politics around who was going to pay for and hide Marty given that he became the IRAs most wanted. He does start a new life and they do find him, but he lives again and is currently in hiding! After watching this movie I wanted to know more about Marty. I would definitely recommend this film.

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paul david

I had no idea who martin McGartland was until I watched this movie, unlike the main character in HUNGER and ironically I watched this directly after watching matt Damon in The Informant. If that title was misleading, this one certainly was not, though working out why they called it 50 dead Men walking takes some thinking about in the context of the movie. It refers of course to the 50 men who would have died if Mr McGartland didn't save them from assassination.This is a very powerful piece of British drama set in the 1980s. it is a very intense film but the story is easy to follow and the film overall is enjoyable without ever being full of violence or bad language. I still have images in my mind from HUNGER and FIVE MINUTES OF HEAVEN, not top mention the 'Barley' movie and of course Michael Collins.I do agree that too much attention as a distraction in the movie to the two young women who feature in Mr McGarlands life and there should have been greater emphasis on the actual political role he had to play for the IRA and for the British Police.Harrys Game was indeed a top production but should not be compared to this new movie. Ben Kingsley was 'spot on' as Fergus and added the quality to the film it might otherwise have lacked.another well made British film, keep it up!

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Felix Yaroshevsky

It's an 'acudrama', but it does have cinematographic value.The glass is not half full OR half empty. It is half full AND half empty.The IRA vs. the British Occupying Forces and its Intelligence Services. There are fathers and sons on both sides. THAT is the main theme of the film. When Martin, who was just shot, and is probably dying, asks about the family, he names Dean ("Fergus"). Passionate Mikey - one of the senior members of the IRA - recommends and promotes Martin and in the ecstasy of his initiation talks with profusely tearful face about the drama involving his son, clearly identifying him with Martin.The passion/sadistic exaltation free from guilt (because it is covered by ideological indulgence) fuels the majority of the characters on BOTH sides. Terrorism/insurgency and anti-terrorist security forces always are charged by the excitement of having a license to kill, torture and terrorize.Interestingly, the only true integrity in the film (like in real life) is evident in those whose loyalty would be questioned by the majority of the functionaries on both sides. There are some not so believable scenes: i.e. "Fergus" trusting the 'confession' about the whereabouts of Martin or the scene of Martin's escape through the window.However, the film is well worth watching.

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