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Jim Sturgess, Ben Kingsley, Kevin Zegers, Natalie Press, Rose McGowan ... see more see more... , Gavin O'Connor , Kris Edlund , Nathan Hughes , Nick Dunning , William Houston

Loosely based on the remarkable true story of the British undercover agent who successfully infiltrated the IRA, writer/director Kari Skogland's thriller takes its title from author Martin McGartland'... read more read more...s best-selling book of the same name. Set at the absolute height of the Irish civil conflict, Fifty Dead Men Walking begins as 22-year-old Martin McGartland is recruited by the British police to infiltrate the IRA and report back with intelligence. It's an extremely dangerous job that could result in death or worse should his true identity be revealed, yet McGartland realizes that the information he's gathering will save countless lives. At first, the prospect of being discovered provides something of a rush for McGartland, though that initial buzz quickly wears off when his true identity is revealed and he's forced to attempt an impossible escape. Two decades later, McGartland is still on the run. Sir Ben Kingsley, Jim Sturgess, and Rose McGowan star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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68% liked it

3,479 ratings

Critics

87% liked it

47 critics

R, 1 hr. 58 min.

Directed by: Kari Skogland

Release Date: September 10, 2008

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DVD Release Date: January 5, 2010

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Flixster Reviews (479)

  • Deano78
    April 3, 2011
    Deano78
    A decent thriller based on a true story of a member of the IRA who passed information on the the British special service. I don't think it helped that I didn't know what the film was about and it took about 20mins into the film to get a good idea of what was going on. It's well a... read morected and an interesting story especially as based on real events. However the isn't a great deal of action and it is a little long as well. ok but not great.
  • LWOODS04
    December 14, 2010
    LWOODS04
    Cast: Ben Kingsley, Jim Sturgess, Rose McGowan, Kevin Zegers, Nathalie Press, Nick Dunning, William Houston, Gavin O'Connor, Nathan Hughes, Kris Edlund

    Director: Kari Skogland

    Summary: Belfast hood Martin (Jim Sturgess) is recruited by a British agent (Ben Kingsley) to in... read morefiltrate the IRA during the height of the Northern Irish conflict and quickly becomes embroiled in a dangerous game that could cost him his life if his secret is found out. As other informers are brutally murdered, Martin starts to look for a way out, but his handler urges him to stay undercover in this taut political thriller based on a true story.

    My Thoughts: "This is a very well done film, with a great cast and script. Having it based on true events is what makes this story that much more compelling. Jim Sturgess, did a great job and held his own with Mr. Ben Kingsley, who without having to say it but I will, was brilliant. I love Kevin Zegers as well and thought he pulled off the Irish accent very well. It's a very gritty film and with the way it begins, it definitely catches you and holds to the end. You know it comes to a bloody ending from the beginning. So that was a smart way to hold the audiences attention til the end. The story is just sad on both sides. Being American, I don't have a full understanding of the Northern Irish conflict with the British. But I do know that, from the film, Martin McGartland, was just trying to save lives on both ends. He made a great sacrifice with not only his life, but of his families too. *SPOILER* The scene where he's sitting in the car and watching his girlfriend and son knowing it will be his last time seeing them, well that was just heartbreaking. *END OF SPOILER* It's definitely an interesting watch. So see it if you haven't."
  • allan913
    November 22, 2010
    allan913
    It's The Departed meets Spy Game. A first-rate, stylish and adrenaline-charged edge of your seat thriller. It packs pure powerhouse thrills and suspense from beginning to end. A masterpiece. A heart-pounding, shocking, spellbinding and absolutely breathtaking movie that you just ... read morehave to see. An unforgettable and darkly realistic thriller of the finest kind. A highly stylized and explosively well-made film. Jim Sturgess and Ben Kingsley give electrifying performances, they have raw and exciting chemistry. Sturgess gives a breakout performance that shines of movie star caliber. Kingsley is brilliant, showing why he is one of the most professional and commanding actors around.
  • itsjustme2004
    October 14, 2010
    itsjustme2004
    Boy, that IRA business is nasty. They did a really good job on this film. Fine acting. Fine production. I really enjoyed this, even though I couldnt understand half of what they were saying...lol.
  • CrookedlittleB33
    June 10, 2010
    CrookedlittleB33
    Amazing story, great cast and a well thought-out way to show how it all went down. A bit slow to get into at first and then WHAM....shit happens and you don't know what's going on. Hey all you Eire lot, how was Zegers irish accent? xD
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    June 8, 2010
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Fifty Dead men walk is the story of Martin McGartland and his successful attempt at infiltrating the Provisional Irish Republican Army. The film is an itimate look at the Irish struggle for independence and you ultimately understand why the IRA has committed such acts of terroris... read morem. Ultimately violence is not the answer, and by the IRA cease fire of 1994 3,700 victims had been claimed by IRA terrorism. Fifty Dead Men Walking is a chilling account on the IRA and its a terrific thriller from start to finish. This will definitely make understand the why behind the IRA'S course of action, but you will ultimately disagree with the IRA struggle.
  • neverteaseaweasel
    January 26, 2010
    neverteaseaweasel
    Looking back upon 50 Dead Man Walking the only thing that really sticks out is that the whole thing is incredibly edgy. Seriously, it is as if every aspect of it was presented in such a way as to make it off-color or shocking. The problem is that, besides that, there really is no... read moret anything notable about it. It isn't even as much that the film is bad, as much as it just does not do anything to be particuarly good. It really is engagin and interesting enough to watch; but it is not going to stick with you. I realize this is a fairly worthless review, but I just do not have anything else to say about 50 Dead Men Walking. Its an edgy film spectacular, and worth a watching, just do not expect to remember a thing about a week later.
  • middleeasternfilms
    January 24, 2010
    middleeasternfilms
    Only spanish subtitles?!? Are you kidding? The way these micks talk you can barely undertand a word, but I tried and thus missed a large portion of this movie. But Jim Sturgess was pretty good and Sir Ben Kingsley just doesn't know how not to act. Maybe after watching this film a... read moregain I might actually be able to translate at least half their lines?
  • gator681
    December 12, 2010
    gator681
    "Fifty Dead Men Walking" starts with Martin(Jim Sturgess) looking underneath his car in Canada for a bomb, thereby missing the gunman who shoots him multiple times. That might have something to do with events in Belfast, starting 11 years previously with him selling stolen goods... read more, primarily lingerie, which is against strict IRA rules that get his pal Frankie(Connor McNeill) kneecapped. Admittedly, Martin really has no choice since Catholic, he cannot work a legit job since they all go to the Protestants. Fergus(Ben Kingsley, almost unrecognizable) might have a job for him. The bad news is Fergus is special branch. So, taken is he with Martin's fearlessness(bordering on recklessness/stupidity, actually) that he wants him to inform on the IRA for him.

    Based on a true story, "Fifty Dead Men Walking" might seem a little familiar to anybody who has seen more than a few movies about the conflict in Northern Ireland. The movie is shot in a gritty realistic style that gives the viewer a very good idea of what it was like to live in such a tumultuous time and place, where a simple incident could start a riot. That sets up the suspenseful story told through the eyes of an informer, explaining thoughtfully without sentimenality why such a person should be thought of as a hero due to the amount of lives Martin saved(hence the movie's title), even with money changing hands. Because when it comes to terrorism, there are no sides, just lives lost.
  • fb208103125
    August 30, 2011
    fb208103125
    A story based on real events in Ireland's history, 50 Dead Men Walking is a brutal and gritty tale of Martin McGartland and his heroic actions that led to saving dozens of lives. The film is rather bleak and void of bright colors, which suit the film but it is still wonderfully ... read morelensed. There are some moments that you may wonder what is happening and the story tries to implant several events quickly, but overall it is an all around well paced film. Recommended only if you can handle torture and other violent acts for the good of a country at war.

View All Fifty Dead Men Walking Reviews

Critic Reviews

Lisa Schwarzbaum
August 26, 2009
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

Jim Sturgess makes a believable cocky lad who signs on for the con; an oddly bewigged Ben Kingsley is fussier and too actorly as his handler. Full Review

Michael Phillips
August 21, 2009
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune

Skogland is a crisp and efficient storyteller. She keeps the players vivid and relatively honest, and never shies away from the brutalities. Full Review

Joe Neumaier
August 21, 2009
Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News

Sturgess is solid and Kingsley predictably sneaky, but the atmosphere -- scurries through the Catholic/Protestant border, tense stand-offs, spontaneous riots -- is what's genuinely gripping. Full Review

Stephen Holden
August 21, 2009
Stephen Holden, New York Times

A streamlined, adrenalized thriller that is not as deep as it would like to appear, treads a retrospective political tightrope.

Wesley Morris
August 20, 2009
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe

Fifty Dead Men Walking provides another example of what happens when mediocre moviemaking meets an interesting life. Full Review

Roger Ebert
August 20, 2009
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

In this film, Skogland, as Kathryn Bigelow does in The Hurt Locker, demolishes the notion that women can't direct action. Full Review

Aaron Hillis
August 18, 2009
Aaron Hillis, Village Voice

Proves how easy it is to shamelessly bilk audiences of their empathy with an "inspired by true events" credit. Full Review

James Adams
July 31, 2009
James Adams, Globe and Mail

It's a pretty fine film, thanks largely to the performances (and look) of its crackerjack cast, as well as Jonathan Freeman's restless, gritty cinematography and a lickety-split script. Full Review

Greg Quill
July 31, 2009
Greg Quill, Toronto Star

The movie, shot it Ireland, has a gritty, documentary feel and a sharp, dramatic pulse that never really falters. Full Review

Mike Edwards
March 13, 2011
Mike Edwards, What Culture

A 'war on terror' thriller set in Ireland? Surprisingly, it works. Full Review

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