Waking Ned Devine (1998) PG - 4 Stars

Filmed in a quaint little country side of Ireland, this was such a refreshing little movie. The kind of town where everyone knows each other and their business. I don't remember seeing these actors before but they were a great bunch of characters. From Fin who chases away his girl because he smells liked pigs, to Jackie and Michael, the two skinny dipping motorbike riders.

The town, Tulaigh More, consist of mostly elderly people with their grown children and a few kids here and there. Everyone lives a meager live style and visits their church and pub. Jackie (Ian Bannen), and Annie O'Shea (Fionnula Flanagan), are an older married couple living to make ends meet. Everyone in town plays the lottery, hoping for that chance to strike it rich and have the finer things in life. When Jackie learns that someone in the village is holding a winning ticket, he and Annie try to narrow down who it must be. But when Jackie stumbles across the winning ticket, is held by one of his older friends, Ned Devine. Problem is, when Ned looked at the winning ticket, a huge smile came to his face and then he died, but not before signing the back of the ticket.

Now if the lottery commission finds out that Ned has died, the money will be forfeited. And with Ned having no family left behind, the only other thing to do is cash in the ticket. With the help of his friend Michael O'Sullivan (David Kelly) the two decide to pretend Ned is still with us and claim the ticket.

The lotto man (Brendan F. Dempsey) shows up to meet with Ned Devine and fill out required forms to prepare the winnings and he wants to question the town to make sure Ned is who he says he is. This is something Jackie hadn't thought of. Now with the man coming back in a few days, the two must convince the town to go ahead with their plans and split the money 52 ways with everyone. Everyone, that is, except for the town witch Lizzy Quinn (Eileen Dromey). She's convinced there is more money to be made for her by turning the town in for fraud. Can the town convince Lizzy to go along with their plans in time?

Fox Searchlight Pictures
Director: Kirk Jones
Writer: Kirk Jones
Producers: Richard Holmes, Glynis Murray

I viewed 8/08