Rory O'Shea is a warm story about overcoming challenges. It is interesting to note that one of the lead actors, Steven Robertson, is no stranger to beating the odds. The talented actor battled with severe dyslexia in school. In college, he was named Student of the Year. It appears that he had a good foundation upon which to build a character that struggles with disabilities.
Rory O'Shea (James McAvoy) arrives at a regimented group home with a passion for life that seems to have faded for many of the other residents. Rory has passion that equals his propensity toward bad judgment. His antics upset the balance of the group home, where dismal routine seems to be the flavor of the day. Every day. Unsuited for an environment that stifles individuality, Rory seeks placement in an independent living environment. However, his poor judgment in the past prevents the board hearing his case from approving his application.
Rory plies his infectious personality on another resident who suffers from cerebral palsy. Michael Connolly (Robertson) has been in homes his entire life. He has never really lived life. Rory manages to draw Connolly out of his shell, to the obvious chagrin of Eileen (Brenda Fricker), who has oversight for the group home. Rory's tendency toward manipulation and crossing unspoken lines has a way of offending the people around him...even those who care for him. In contrast, Connolly possesses an innocent charm and keen intellect that provides some balance. The two develop a keen friendship based on their reliance on each other as they each overcome different obstacles.
Christian O'Reilly created the original story that Jeffrey Caine based his screenplay on. The pair have created an interesting set of characters who have diverse qualities. The interactions between the characters are integral to the story which examines their interdependence. The relationships were credible, and supported by sharp dialogue. Connolly cannot speak clearly due to his affliction. O'Shea understands Connolly and is able to translate for him, which sets the foundation for their friendship. This also sets the foundation for the writing, which has to find creative ways to inform the audience regarding Connolly's portion of any conversation. This dialogue was carefully constructed without having O'Shea simply translate or repeat everything back. It was an excellent use of creative writing to move the story without drawing attention to the method in which the dialogue was created and/or translated.
Robertson's role had to be trying. I can't imagine shooting an entire movie with dialogue that can't be understood by the audience. It must have been frustrating. Although Robertson handled that part well, there were times that I felt like the disability was a put-on. His performance was solid, but not perfect. McAvoy, on the other hand, never seemed to create that doubt in my mind. There was a scene where he was driving a car that seemed implausible to me, but that was not a knock against his performance. Romola Garai complemented the two actors with a great performance as their store clerk turned nurse.
I am not exactly sure why Rory O'Shea was given an R rating. The film does not have any overtly objectionable material. There were some adult themes and suggestive language, but nothing that appeared to merit such a strict rating. There was no nudity, drug use, violence or sex. The entire film centers around two men dealing with disabilities, which created some strong drama. But that didn't seem inappropriate for younger audiences. I would not restrict viewing of this film to any age category. It was an exceptional and instructive piece of cinema. Run time is one hour, 44 minutes.
Rory O'Shea surprised me. I wasn't sure if it was going to be a preachy contrived film about dealing with disabilities, a sappy buddy flick or a well-produced drama. Luckily, it was the latter. Director Damien O'Donnell opted to use comedy while limiting the melodramatic to create a balanced enjoyable film. The importance of this story lies in the themes, which are not forced. It is nice to enjoy a film without being beat over the head with an agenda. The story felt empowering. Strong characters, great dialogue and credible performances (mostly) were nicely melded together into a polished light drama. 8/10.
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