Fools of Fortune ** (1990, Iain Glen, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Julie Christie, Sean T McClory) – Classic Movie Review 11,354

Julie Christie is seen at her best in the 1990 film Fools of Fortune.

Director Pat O’Connor’s 1990 British drama Fools of Fortune is written by Michael Hirst, based on the novel by William Trevor. It follows the fortunes of a wealthy Protestant Anglo-Irish family in the 1920s who are shattered when an attack on their rural home by the Black and Tans leaves Willie Quinton (Iain Glen)’s father (Michael Kitchen) and two sisters dead.

Quinton’s mother (Julie Christie) becomes an alcoholic and he has an unfulfilled affair with his English cousin (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio).

Fools of Fortune is beautifully made, with a good sense of place and emotion, but it is slow and ponderous, and Glen is overwrought. Christie, however, is seen at her best for a long time, changing convincingly from vivacious wife to shattered widow.

Sean T McClory plays the young Willie Quinton. Also in the cast are Niamh Cusack, Tom Hickey, John Kavanagh, Mick Lally, Niall Toibin, Ronnie Masterson, Tom Hickey, Amy-Joyce Hastings, Hazel Flanagan, P G Brady, Jimmy Keogh, and Frankie McCafferty.

Fools of Fortune is directed by Pat O’Connor, runs 109 minutes, is made by Channel Four Films, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Working Title Films, is released by Palace Pictures (1990) (UK) is written by Michael Hirst, based on the novel by William Trevor, is shot in Eastmancolor by Jerzy Zielinski, is produced by Sarah Radclyffe, is scored by Hans Zimmer, and is designed by Jamie Leonard.

Pat O’Connor has been married to Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio since 1990.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,354

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