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Daniel Day-Lewis, Ray McAnally, Brenda Fricker, Ruth McCabe, Fiona Shaw ... see more see more... , Hugh O'Conor , Cyril Cusack , Alison Whelan , Declan Croghan , Eileen Colgan , Marie Conmee , Sarah Cronin , Phelim Drew , Martin Dunne , Tom Hickey , Patrick Laffan , Eanna Mac Liam , Darren McHugh , Keith O'Conor , Ger O'Leary , Derry Power , Owen Sharp , Britta Smith , Adrian Dunbar , Jean Doyle , Milt Fleming , Julie Hale , Patricia Higgins , Simon Kelly , Eileen Kohlmann , Conor Lambert , Margaret Lyons , Ulick O'Connor , Hilery O'Donovan , Daniel Reardon , Charlie Roberts , Kirsten Sheridan , Lucy Vigne Welsh , Jacinta Whyte , Don King

An alternative to the general run of "triumph over the odds" biopics, My Left Foot is the true story of Irish cerebral palsy victim Christy Brown. Paralyzed from birth, Brown (played by Hugh O'Conor a... read more read more...s child and Daniel Day-Lewis as an adult) is written off as retarded and helpless. But Christy's indomitable mother (Brenda Fricker) never gives up on the boy. Using his left foot, the only part of his body not afflicted, Brown learns to write. He grows up to become a well-known author, painter, and fundraiser, and along the way falls in love with nurse Mary Carr (Ruth McCabe). There's no sugarcoating in My Left Foot: Brown, a heavy drinker, was by no means lovable. Day-Lewis and Fricker both won Academy Awards for their performances, and the film was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. Also notable are the late Ray McAnally in his next-to-last film role as Christy's father, and venerable Cyril Cusack as Lord Castlewelland. Director Jim Sheridan co-scripted with Shane Connaughton from Christy Brown's autobiography. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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90% liked it

23,032 ratings

Critics

100% liked it

33 critics

R, 1 hr. 43 min.

Directed by: Jim Sheridan

Release Date: September 13, 1989

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DVD Release Date: August 16, 2005

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Stats: 1,454 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,454)

  • brownman83
    August 4, 2011
    brownman83
    My Left Foot is an inspiring, well made drama about a man with cerebral palsy and the only limb in his body which he can fully control is his left foot. Nominated for 5 Academy Awards and winning 2 of them, My Left Foot was a huge win for critics and audiences alike. With stupend... read moreous acting from Daniel-Day Lewis and a breakthrough performance from Brenda Fricker, My Left Foot not only proved to be an excellent film, but an emotionally captivating drama about believing in yourself and never giving up.

    The acting within this movie was amazing. Daniel-Day Lewis won his first Oscar from his performance in this film, and would win one more 17 years later. His ability to move and act like a man with cerebral palsy was amazing, and in one intense scene at a restaurant in which he acted just like a child stole the show. He proved to be one of the best actors out there, as many you RT goers have said in blogs, but I have only seen one other film of his (Gangs of New York), and that performance blew me away. So I was completely surprised when I saw this film and this performance, for it topped Gangs of New York, and he became one of the best actors of all time in my mind. Brenda Fricker did an excellent job as well, showing how loyal the character of a mother is, and how emotionally touching they can be. And although she hasn't made any other great acting gigs within her life, she is still a one of a kind actor with a real tendency to make great performances. I also thoroughly enjoyed Fiona Shaw's performance, as she did amazing job acting within the restaurant scene, which I adored.

    The story itself is very strange. The opening scene might make one turn away from this film (for I almost did), because it's a bit disgusting staring at a man's foot for three whole minutes. But as you give this film time, and as the story goes on, you get very engrossed in the film. If this film was made in present time, with well done cinematography and editing, then this film would've been a masterpiece. The character development is phenomenal. I loved the growth and the attachment you have toward the characters within the film. It follows this man's life, and it shows how much he changes and how much mature he gets, and it's really a nice aspect to the film. But that brings me to the point of my favorite, most dramatic scene in the film; the restaurant scene. At one point in the film, the attitude of the film shoots up from a happy, every-things-going-well scenario, to a sad, angry kind of moment. Now, I don't want to ruin the scene for you, but it's the scene in which Daniel's acting is the best, the story is the best, and the overall change in character development is the best. I loved the scene, and I hope everyone who reads this does, too.

    In the end, this film is a very well done movie, but would've been much better if made in present time. I found the last scene in the film to have been my least favorite part, though. Now, I know many of you might disagree with this, but I think this last part was a bit to rushed. It also seemed a little cheesy, for after everything that happened in his life, all of a sudden, everything seems alright. I didn't like it much, but feel happy to disagree, for I would like to read your comments on this scene. All in all, My Left Foot deserved its spot on the nomination for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, but I really couldn't see it having a win for Best Picture. With an inspiring story, well acting cast, but alright cinematrapghy and editing, I give My Left Foot a 75%. Thanks for reading!

    If you still don't understand why I gave this film a 75%, please visit this blog below:

    http://www.rottentomatoes.com/user/935623/blogs/?id=703501
  • jamers2011
    June 28, 2011
    jamers2011
    A great, touching film about a man who suffers from Cerebral Palsy. See this fo the Oscar winning performances by Daniel Day-Lewis and Brenda Fricker!
  • ajv2688
    April 2, 2011
    ajv2688
    A very Irish movie, I couldn't tell what they were saying in some scenes. The story is interesting for a while, but I got it about half way through, and wasn't interested anymore, so it was boring for me. If you really like serious dramas, you'll like it better than I did.
  • MeetMeinMontauk
    December 26, 2010
    MeetMeinMontauk
    I had never heard of this in any film class or anything but Netflix seems to have figured out my love of Daniel Day-Lewis and recommended it. Holy hell. 20 minutes in and I was so astounded by the acting, if I was on the Oscar committee I would have given Day-Lewis and O'Conor aw... read moreards retroactively. The filming was a bit hokey, but the acting was so superb that I'm giving it 5 stars regardless. It's not even the kind of story I normally enjoy watching, but any Daniel Day-Lewis film carries that much weight.
  • FrizzDrop
    July 22, 2010
    FrizzDrop
    Wonderfully acted, surprising, and very emotionally charged.
  • fb619846742
    November 24, 2009
    fb619846742
    A triumphant story about an incredible man who wouldn't let his broken outer shell cripple his creative mind and his courageous spirit. Daniel Day-Lewis, who I consider to be in a league of his own, gives one of the best performances caught on-screen, ranking with Edward Norton's... read more performance in "American History X" and Marlon Brando's in "The Godfather". It's plotted well, with his story being shown mostly in flashbacks, and a few scenes will bring you close to tears. Imperfect only due to one out-of-place silly scene, but undoubtedly a movie that everyone should see.
  • SirPant
    September 23, 2009
    SirPant
    Great film, definitely Daniel Day-Lewis?s best to date & Brenda Fricker is also fantastic! Brilliant, touching and a true story!
  • bottcorecords1
    January 7, 2009
    bottcorecords1
    The magnificient Daniel Day Lewis won an oscar for his portrayal of Christy Brown, an Irish painter/writer born with cerebral palsy. This, however isn't a melodramatic tragedy and there's no pity to be found in the film-making. Only two or three scenes in the movie get overwhelme... read mored by the innate sadness in Christy's existence, the rest of the film is devoted to the joys and pains of living in an enormous Irish family. There are so many kids in this family, only a few of them get to sit at the dinner table at dinner time, the rest have to sit in the other rooms. They sleep four to a bed, and at times it seems the only space not being taken is the ceiling. The first years of Christy's life were the hardest, when he was mistakenly treated as mentally retarded, you can see the pain in his eyes of being locked into this body, unable to communicate with anyone. The neighbor women call him a dummy and a dunce to his face, and try to teach him the alphabet with baby books. Only by learning to control his left foot (the only body part not wracked with debilitation), does he finally convince the world he has a fully functioning mind within the crippled body. It's mighty heavy stuff. The older Christy is a more complex character, going through all the angst of teenagehood, and then developing an artistic vision that takes him into his own gallery exhibitions. He writes his autobiography, but his own life seems to take a backseat to that of his family, especially his mother. They never treat him as a burden and they never show him anything but love, and this movie is like a love letter to his mother.
  • tsigur
    November 1, 2008
    tsigur
    To say that Daniel Day Lewis gives a jaw dropping performance would be an understatement. I actually got sqirmy thinking about how he had to put that record on, write, move around, all by his left foot. Hugh O'Conor is just as good as the younger Christy. It made me feel extremel... read morey lazy as well. This guy has done more with his left foot than I have ever done. Also, loved the relationship of Christy and his father. Really great stuff.
  • 76Majikat
    October 31, 2008
    76Majikat
    A phonominal true story brought to life by the fantastic performances of Daniel Day Lewis and Brenda Fricker.

    This Jim Sherridan film really grasps the poverty of the era which really gives you a sense of a working class family during this time. Also captured well was the Mot... read moreher and son relationship and the strength of a family that stands together.

    Powerful, emotional and brilliant.

View All My Left Foot Reviews

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff
March 26, 2009
Variety Staff, Variety

All performances are on the mark in this perfect little film. Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
March 10, 2008
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

For all his character's travails the film as a whole winds up surprisingly upbeat. Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 20, 2003
Vincent Canby, New York Times

An intelligent, beautifully acted adaptation of Christy Brown's first book. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

My Left Foot is a great film for many reasons, but the most important is that it gives us such a complete picture of this man's life. Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Not only does Day-Lewis master the physical aspects of the role, the minute-to-minute struggle of almost complete paralysis, he lives the painful genesis of an artistic character. Full Review

Hal Hinson
January 1, 2000
Hal Hinson, Washington Post

Jim Sheridan's My Left Foot must be the most passionately empathetic film about a physical affliction ever made. Full Review

Wesley Lovell
August 15, 2011
Wesley Lovell, Oscar Guy

A fairly generic biopic with an amazing turn by Daniel Day-Lewis. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
March 26, 2009
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Deviating from the standard Hollywood biopic, Sheridan's chronicle told with candor, realism, and humor the story of paraplegic writer-artist Christy Brown, embodied in a tour-de-force Oscar-winning p... Full Review

Angie Errigo
March 10, 2008
Angie Errigo, Empire Magazine

[The film] leaves one with an overwhelming sense of the miraculousness of life and of this man's spirit. Full Review

March 10, 2008
Film4

Even if all My Left Foot had to offer was Day-Lewis's performance, it'd be a must-see movie. Full Review

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My Left Foot Trivia

  • Which of the following movies did not win the Academy Awards for Best Picture?  Answer »
  • In what 1987 James Orr/Johnny Yune movie will you find this quote: "With my right foot, I will kick your face. With my left, I will kick your nose. With my fingers, I will poke your eyes out. Take a good look at my face. I'm an oriental."  Answer »
  • Daniel Day Lewis portrays Christy Brown, an artist born with cerebral palsey, name this movie.  Answer »
  • he was in my left foot, last of the mohicans, and in the name of the father who am.i  Answer »
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