50 Dead Men Walking

This relatively unknown movie was a real jem and one of the best movies to come out this year. Think about Leonardo DiCaprio's role in "The Departed" and then give it an Irish twist and that is exactly what 50 Dead Men Walking was about. Here we have Martin McGartland, played astonishing well by Jim Sturgess, born an Irish lad, and living in his early 20's during the 1980's conflict between the Irish Republican Army and British Police. Martin is a street criminal who is receiving more recognition from the IRA by rebelling against the British Police but come to realize that their cruel tactics do not sit well with him. Because of this he decides to become a secret mole for the British Police as he moves his way up the ranks in the IRA. All the while, he increasingly worries for the safety of his family and fears that his covert identity will become known which will inevitably lead to his death and the death of all his loved ones.

This film works on a few different levels; first the acting. Jim Sturgess and Ben Kingsley nail their roles which really adds to the emotion this movie was trying to evoke with the climax of the plot benefiting the most. And second, since this was a true story, it gave me a true, and what felt to be very accurate, portrayal of what happened during that 1980's conflict between opposing forces. I can't say enough how tremendous this movie was so 50 Dead Men Walking rightfully earns a solid A.