THE DEVIL'S OWN

US, 1996, 110 minutes, Colour.
Harrison Ford, Brad Pitt, Natascha Mc Elhone, Margaret Colin, Ruben Blades, Treat Williams.
Directed by Alan Pakula.

The IRA is not the most popular group in today's world and one does not find very many films sympathetic to them. Not that The Devil's Own is sympathetic to their terrorism. But it does try to show some of the human elements behind them.
The film is a well-crafted thriller, rather more quiet than most despite its subject. Young Frank Maguire, from a peaceful fishing village, sees his father shot at the dinner table. He later becomes an IRA officer who escapes a British military ambush and goes to the US to collect weapons.

Brad Pitt, with a credible Irish accent, plays the IRA man who is unforgiving but whose loyalties are tested when he boards with a NY cop who welcomes him, unaware of the truth, and becomes something of a surrogate father. Harrison Ford is the cop who is also torn by loyalties, friendship and truth in his own work on the city streets and with his partner.
The film's appeal is in its two stars. The camera is always drawn to them and they draw the audience to them. As well, with its more working-class setting and a picture of ordinary suburban American life rather than the frequent glamorous settings we see, it feels more `real' than many thrillers. And Harrison Ford is acting and looking his age. It does not stay vividly in the memory, but it is a satisfying drama.

1. The impact of this drama about Ireland, the USA, the IRA? Terrorism and violence? Audience knowledge of the troubles in Ireland, of the IRA itself? Attitudes towards terrorism and the rights and wrongs in Northern Ireland?

2. A '90s perception of the IRA and the troubles? An American perspective? The history of violence and terrorism? The support of the US, especially with morale and with finance?

3. The prologue, the beauty of the sea, the fishermen coming home, the quiet Catholic family, the gunman bursting in and the shooting? His father killed before Frankie's eyes? The emotional impact of this prologue?

4. The title and the focus on Frankie? Growing up with the resentment against the military? His joining the IRA militia? Their violence and their vengeance? His role as an officer? The visualising of the terrorist action, the British and their violence against the IRA?

5. The atmosphere of the United States? The Irish in the US, the contrast of the way of life - yet the Irish bringing their troubles to the United States?

6. Brad Pitt as Frankie? Screen presence? Credible? His accent? The background of his family and his father's death? His escape from the military action in Northern Ireland? His motivation to go to the US? The link with Tom, being introduced to his family, the mother and the three daughters? The basement, his fitting in, the comfort of home? Being a son to Tom? Tom's response? The bond with Megan and her place at the judge's house? The judge and his sympathies, setting up deals, money? Frankie taking the name Rory? Contact with Sean? The deal about the missiles, the contrast with Billy Burke? The effect of the double life on Frankie?

7. Harrison Ford as the sturdy American presence? The ordinary citizen? The Everyman character? The New York cop but his beat on Staten Island? His relationship with the judge, doing him a favour? Welcoming Frankie into his home? Becoming a father to him? Protective? The humour about his wife and three daughters and the women controlling the home? Seeing him at work, in the precinct, crime in New York? The Hispanic background of so many of the criminals? Eddie and his Hispanic background? A man of integrity, trusting the judge?

8. The judge, his status, cover? Getting the money, believing in the cause? Megan in his household? Communicating plans and information? Her attraction for Frankie, knowing him in the past? The danger for the judge?

9. Billy Burke, his clubs, arms deals? His henchmen? The dealings with Frankie? His greed, the violence? Sending his thugs to the home to terrorise Tom's family? The delay? The build-up to the confrontation with Frankie, the torture of Sean and then his death? Getting the money, the explosive in the bag and his death?

10. Tom and the background of his working life, Eddie and his shooting a criminal? Tom and his disillusionment? Wanting to leave the force? Discussions with his wife? The attack in his home, the violent response, finding Frankie's money? Realising the truth and his being imposed on?

11. The portrait of Tom's wife, the daughters? The American household? Making Frankie welcome?

12. The background of the FBI and the British Secret Service? Wanting co-operation? The pursuit of the IRA and terrorists?

13. The confrontation between Tom and Frankie on the boat? The parallel with the boat at the start? The father and the son? The inevitability of American moviemaking morality with Frankie having to die, even though sympathetic and having some kind of heroism, and Tom having to succeed and survive? The dramatics of the fight on the boat? Audience sympathies towards each man?

14. The value of having dramas about the IRA? Personalising the issues by stories? Audience judgments about right and wrong, violence, nations' rights, terrorism?