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'PILGRIMAGE': Four and a Half Stars (Out of Five) An Irish medieval thriller starring Tom Holland (now of 'SPIDER-MAN' fame) and Jon Bernthal (of TV's 'THE PUNISHER' fame, and 'THE WALKING DEAD'). It tells the story of a group of Irish monks (in 1209 Ireland) transporting a holy relic to Rome. When they realize just how important the relic is, their journey becomes much more dangerous. The movie costars Richard Armitage, Stanley Weber, John Lynch and Eric Godon. It was directed by Brendan Muldowney, and it was written by Jamie Hannigan. It's received mostly positive reviews from critics, and it's being released on VOD and at the Box Office (in limited indie theaters) this weekend. I really enjoyed it. The story is set in 1209 Ireland, a time when tribal wars were extreme and Norman invaders were becoming more dominant. A group of monks are tasked with delivering their holiest relic to Rome. They're lead by a young Novice (Holland), and a mute lay-brother (Bernthal) with a mysterious and violent past. As the monks realize how valuable and significant the relic is (to others as well), their journey becomes much more dangerous (and quite bloody). Disputes between the monks themselves also become a serious problem. The film is pretty well made, acted and it's quite involving. It's pretty dark, and it's also surprisingly graphically violent! It has some pretty good commentary to deliver on religious beliefs too, and the horrific power many people give them. It also has three good performances from Holland, Bernthal and Armitage. Holland actually reminds me a lot of Frodo in the film, he looks a lot like him and there's even a lot of parallels between the two roles (and the movies even). Armitage is a great villain too, but the coolest part of the film has got be Bernthal as the badass mentally unstable antihero. I had a lot of fun watching him dominate his action scenes. It's an entertaining movie for sure. Watch an episode of our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: https://vimeo.com/230044658

Between CENTURION, BLACK DEATH and VALHALLA RISING, this is a gruesome, gritty, brutal medieval tale, not for the squeamish, not for the sissies, billions miles away from Hollywood or Guy Ritchie's crap destined to idiots. I enjoyed it from the beginning to the end. No super heroes here, only characters facing their destiny, their doom. There should be many more films like this one. Hands up folks. But I perfectly understand that not everyone can like it.

This is very good. far more realistic than Hollywood might produce. it's interesting, much dogma was born of superstition, identifications that without science, were attributed to whatever godly (natural) forces our people believed in at the time. However, belief is a force unto itself and it does serve to manipulate circumstance. that is in here too. well told

This strong, atmospheric, and beautifully-made little film did not disappoint based on reviews that either put it in the trash for "gratuitous violence" or gave it a firm pat on the head for a good attempt. I see the value in the latter assessment - working on a budget, this film does a lot with what it has, providing hauntingly beautiful vistas of an ancient Ireland and making its story stretch beyond its small shooting framework. The actors, too, make so much of the script they've been given, with great performances throughout. Although this does lead me onto the main drawback of the film: the characters are largely undeveloped, especially that of Diarmuid - who is the protagonist no less - and his Brothers. We can see that he cares about them a lot - after all, "the monastery is all he's ever known" - but more development would have been crucial to making me really care about whether they lived or died, failed or succeeded. The most interesting characters for me were Geraldus and the Mute, "grey" characters whose backstories are hinted at if never fully disclosed, and with sublime subtlety in the case of Bernthal's character. The characters we do get to truly see are rewarding, albeit darkly, and were one of the film's greatest triumphs - it just would have been great to see the same treatment given to the lead protagonist and primary villain. In the other camp, I don't think the story could have worked without the levels of violence, savagery, and loss that we see, which the viewer must witness with the same unblinking acceptance that the characters do. In this, there is a hidden depth to Pilgrimage, a story about Ireland, the land where "there was never peace". One review focused around the particular Irishness of the film rang true in some places - that the colour shown here is multiple shades of grey, and little green - if not in others. This is not a deconstruction of the "Irish" mythos, but it does touch, tenderly and reverentially, upon the idea of an unattainable relic: to know peace, both within and without, a dream not limited to this country but echoed in Jerusalem and beyond. Though it does not present its findings in a wholly satisfying parcel, the film did provoke thought about where that quest for peace could lead us next - to what bloody ends or watery graves? To what loss and to what triumphs? "Where to now?"

As a student of theology I am always drawn to movies like this. However, I am often left disappointed, and somewhat frustrated. This one is no exception but overall it is definitely worth a watch. As a movie it is a good yarn with a story line that moves along quite nicely. As far as performances go they are very strong. Tom Holland is a great young actor who is more than up to his role. He walks the line of young naive man faced with difficult theological choices and as such earns the viewer's sympathy and admiration. I am a fan of Jon Bernthal ever since his appearance in The Walking Dead and will watch anything with him in it. He carries off the role of mute with a commanding and menacing presence. A task not easy to accomplish with very limited dialogue. Richard Armitage also does a fine job Although I cannot comment on the accuracy of his French accent :). Stanley Weber, John Lynch and the whole supporting cast are all very capable and believable. The director Brendan Muldowney does a fine job and I will watch with interest for his future work. I also really like the use of many languages which always adds an interesting ingredient to any movie. If I were to sum this story up I would in the following: "A story of faith and ambition and how one can be usurped by the other." As a story about a relic and what it inspires, it is a fine one. The power of faith is a fascinating aspect of humanity. We all need to believe in something whether it is the big bang theory or creationism. Faith, if strong enough, can motivate us to wondrous achievements or diabolical destruction. Powerful faith and the symbols of it also attract the ambitious. Ambition is also in us all and its draw is impossible to deny. When faith meets ambition a battle is imminent. This story is nuanced and faceted with elements such as loyalty, betrayal, friendship and revenge but which all flow from the primary motivators: faith and ambition. For the average viewer it may be too much so and as such the attention to detail may be lost. However, that does not take away from the performances which are very strong, the story which is engrossing and the cinematography which is magnificent. I love to see the beautiful Irish landscape portrayed on the big screen. My only caveat was the ending. I found it unsatisfying. I will say no more than it lacked any positive conclusion. The banality of the human struggle. We live, we struggle and we die. HEY: They don't all die in the end. I am not saying that in case you think I just spoiled the ending. Well they don't but I found it just rang too much of the initial cynicism of Ecclesiastics: Vanity of vanities; all is vanity. However, even the writer of Ecclesiastes realised that there are things bigger than ourselves and there is purpose to it all that only God knows. So we trust in God and do the best we can. It could be argued that this message was in the movie but I did not find it apparent in the ending. There were certainly elements displayed, particularly when they follow the bell in the bog. However, it just seemed to unravel at the end. I am an optimist and I like happy endings, especially in the movies I watch. Failing that I settle for resolution. I got neither. I watch movies to be entertained, not to be depressed or frustrated. If I want that i just go out my front door. Thank you very much. Having said all that I realise it is only a movie and as such it a right good one. Overall, a recommended watch.

The ancient times of Ireland are fascinating, yet rarely represented in cinema. This film offers a glimpse of the burgeoning Christian faith, ancient and mysterious pagan traditions, and military upheaval. These forces characterise Ireland in the 1200s. There are clashes between belief systems and brutal military forces. The film portrays devout faith and a closeness to nature. The hills and valleys are beautiful, and often depicted in a suitably harsh and forbidding manner, while the plot and characters are nicely layered with good action-packed twists and turns. I recommend this film to anyone with an interest in Ireland, ancient times, or religion.