Very few films end up on my hard drive, but this one has stayed there the longest! It is brilliant: crafted to perfection in both writing, editing, photography and performances by actor who rarely get mentioned for their work. It's honest and remains true to the belief that a good story trumps all other production values. I have seen it, and shared it, with everyone I come in contact with. It will last forever, and those that have passed on since they participated in this film will live on because of it! It was their BEST work! Just like life, it has a mixture of comedy and drama. There are no "dead" characters or wasted time within the film. Each scene and character has a purpose for being there and without them the story line would suffer. If you don't watch any other film... watch this one!

Ireland, as a subject in fiction, lies in the curious hinterlands between fantasy and reality. While the gritty, ugly violence in the North remains a present memory, Éire cannot quite shake off her aura of romance.Waking Ned Devine embraces the magic side of Ireland, perhaps to too great an extent, forgetting to ground itself in a harsher reality. Yet even in its absurdest moments, the talent and charm of the cast anchor the story, lending just a touch of gravitas to what is ultimately the tale of leprechauns stealing gold.Our chief leprechaun is the irrepressible Jackie O'Shea, played with panache and roguish delight by Ian Bannen. His best friend, and every bit his equal, is lanky, timid Michael O'Sullivan (the great David Kelly). They live in Tullymore (Tulaigh Mhór), an idyllic coastal village with 52 inhabitants. When Jackie and Michael deduce that a local has won the lottery, they concoct a string of harebrained devices to identify and ingratiate themselves to the "lucky sod." It takes a while to discover that he is, in fact, elderly fisherman Ned Devine, who promptly after realizing his win, died from the shock of it.Jackie and Annie, his rosy-cheeked wife (Fionnula Flanagan), sit quietly in their kitchen and share solemn, small-town generalities about Ned's decency and kindness. It is, of course, a tragedy to die in the face of such a pot of gold; it's worse than ordinary death. Going to bed, they say a simple, rehearsed prayer for the soul of Ned Devine, and go to sleep.In a rather vague dream, Jackie becomes convinced Ned intends him to claim the money. It's such an absurd proposition, such an obvious self- deception, that we laugh along with Jackie, recognizing our own tendencies to lie to ourselves. If the story had tried to justify events following in any sort of believable fashion, I would have instantly lost sympathy with our errant leprechauns, but as it is, we are still in the realm of fantasy. And, as Roger Ebert observed: "Stealing 6.8 million pounds from the lottery is, of course, not too wicked."So Jackie and Michael set to work, cleaning up the corpse and searching Ned's documents (we're starting to realize this is rather a black comedy). The next morning, they call and make the claim, much to Annie's dismay. There is now no turning back, and with the unexpectedly early arrival of the lotto man, things are off to a break-neck pace. The plot quickly spins into a complex rivalry of cleverness versus an increasingly impossible task. Refusing to resort to quick fixes (except in one sublimely evil deus ex machina), writer/director Kirk Jones seems to delight in throwing up ever higher obstacles for our heroes.In the interim, time rolls on, as we come to know each of the eccentric citizens of Tullymore. Lizzy Quinn, the village witch, rouses everyone's hatred with her mean-hearted greed. Mrs. Kennedy at the Post Office is happily expecting a new grandchild. Giggly old lady Kitty is determined to trap bachelor Michael. An intelligent, precocious child bonds with the insecure, but kind, temporary priest of Tullymore's only church. The local pig farmer (James Nesbitt, of Hobbit fame) romances a darkly beautiful single mother (Susan Lynch, The Secret of Roan Inish), who rejects him on the basis of the smell of pig (another example of how lightly the film takes real relationships.) It takes full advantage of the unearthly beauty of the Isle of Man, soaring green cliffs and rocky shores, misty hollows and vast oceans, haunted by the wail of bagpipes, the beat of bodhran, and the swift thrill of a fiddle. Catholicism forms a stately (if passive) backdrop to the quaint village, and Lux Aeterna is worked into the soundtrack beautifully. Unlike many films, it is often content to let the camera rest on the gentle shadows, to let the seconds tick by as an old man sleeps. There is a beauty, an idyllic goodness to it all that guides me into Faerie.Despite its full acceptance of rather shady moral actions, the film is ultimately about generosity, a spirit of community, and the laughter of friends. Also crime. It has just enough magic to convince us that's a worthy cause. Originally posted at: http://www.longview95.blogspot.com/2014/07/waking- ned-devine-movie-review.html

This is a great movie for the whole family. Waking Ned is a fun story about a small village in Ireland. This movie shows what the people can do for money, even in the smallest places on the world, everything with a lot of fun. The main story pass around Jack and Michael, two old guys that discovered about a winner in their village. First they try to figure out who won the money, and then they discovered that the winner is dead, Ned Devine. After this they make a plan to receive this money, passing for Ned. The plan start very small but after a little while the whole village is involve. Some great stories happen along the main plan, not making the film around just one fact. Is a good movie and a great opportunity to see with anyone.

Waking Ned Divine is an great film in which the story line can be put into any type of culture and scenario. This movie brings a world on a comedy in with the of excitement and drama. The actors in this film really complemented each other. None better than jackie oshea , a fun loving personality that you cant resist his charm.This is movie is based a fun loving little town tuck away from any city life. so people in the town all know each other and its rare that anything really goes on with out someone knowing eachothers business. This movie will make you feel right at home, that comfortable feeling like you know each and every character is very real. you cant help to fall in love in love with this movie. and i am very excited to say this is one of best foreign movies i have seen in while , and highly recommend it to any one looking for a laughable movie with a touch of drama.