Belfast (2021)

 This was a delightful little film.

Pros: Kenneth Branaugh's ode to his childhood, growing up in 1969 Belfast, the little Buddy (Jude Hill) grows up before our eyes. He goes from playing outside to seeing an angry mob growing, upset that Catholics live in the community. He has one of the few neutral families in the area, a stubborn father (Jamie Dornan) who refuses to pick sides, but rather wants to move the family due to his job in England. Filled with great acting, and a solid plot, this film was truly solid, with few flaws. The cinematography is also great, mixing in the color films little Buddy goes to see with the natural black and white of the film. 

Cons: Not really a con, I suppose, but Caitriona Balfe (as Ma) was robbed of an Oscar nomination as she gave the strongest performance, as a woman who both loves and hates her husband due to his tax evasion, deserving throwing plates at him. I was also thrown when the film started out in color, though it quickly dips to its black and white cinematography as the film goes back to 1969. We also don't know why the family choices to remain neutral, that would have been nice to know. And hopefully Billy got over his childhood crush on Catherine (Olive Tennant).

Recommend: Yes

Grade: A

Side Notes:

-Ciaran Hinds and Judi Dench were solid as Buddy's grandparents and did receive Oscar nominations though Balfe was by far better than Dench.

-The pinnacle moment of this film is when a grocery store is looted and Ma forces Buddy back to the scene of the crime which almost leads to disaster.

-The family makes the right decision to leave at the end of the film.

-We also never learn why Pa dodged paying his taxes.

-Older brother, Will (Lewis McAskie) is unfortunately not given much of a personality, but he seems loyal to his family just as little Buddy is. 

-Ma suffers from such brutal anxiety that she vomits every morning (at least I assume its anxiety rather than morning sickness). 

-Ma and Pa never get real names, or least they are never mentioned in the film.