In lesser hands this dark and non fictional film could be maudlin and self serving. It could also be the typical โ The Catholic Church is evil and burn all the clergy for the evil actions of a minority of the sum total.โ This exquisite small film is exactly the opposite of that . It is brilliant piece of cinema that is profoundly disturbing and affecting in tandem. Murphy is a talent like no other. He is an actor at the very top of his game no matter what the genre of film he chooses to perform in. He wears the character he is inhabiting and you literally feel the cold, the uncertainty, the lack self confidence and indecision come through the screen from his character and inhabit you the viewer. Murphy is such a gifted auteur it is almost defies belief. The director sets the tone and atmosphere so compellingly and Murphy inhabits this world seamlessly with all the requisite emotional nuances in perfect balance in nearly silent screams of terror and insecurity. This is what all small cinema should aspire to be. I give it 10 stars because it is presented and performed at twice the normal limits of top marks. It took me back to the pre streaming days of Tuesday , my only day off, going to the West End throw back tickets and sitting in cold, dark and yet beautiful small theater to watch a hopeful and new talent present a similar small production to produce a slice of magic for the theatre going public.Then afterwards grabbing the cheapest takeaway available and hopping on the tub to my Earls Court rented room to watch โTruly,Madly,Deeplyโ on my 10 inch B&W Telly in my 50 square foot lap of luxury.
To be forthright and direct I well add this final thought: if you do like this film that falls on your shoulders because you are just incapable of appreciating the finest of artistic work on display and have the typical attention span of a mobile obsessed , instant gratification in 10 words or less and could actually get bored watching an 80 minute master class in nuanced story telling. I feel so sorry for you and your ilk because true pleasure escapes you at every turnโฆโฆ