Cowboys & Angels (2003)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

David Gleeson

Writer:

David Gleeson (writer)

Release Date:

7 April 2005 (Germany)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

How far you go is up to you...

Plot:

The story concerns a hapless civil servant who gets more than he bargained for when he moves into an...

Plot Keywords:

Fashion | Drugs | Civil Servant | Student | Catwalk

Awards:

5 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Michael Legge	...	Shane Butler
Allen Leech	...	Vincent Cusack (as Alan Leech)
Amy Shiels	...	Gemma
David Murray	...	Keith
Frank Kelly	...	Jerry
Colm Coogan	...	Budgie
Sean Power	...	Frankie
Alvaro Lucchesi	...	Bunny
Frank Coughlan	...	Richard Walsh
Nigel Mercier	...	Inspector
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jennifer Barry	...	Estate Agent
Jason Cahill	...	Bouncer
Padraig Campbell	...	Detective Black
Louise Carey	...	Girl in Street
Michael Carney	...	Gardai
Patrick Clohessy	...	Man Fighting in Street
Richard Conlon	...	Gardai
Cathal Costello	...	Bouncer #1
Peggy Coyne	...	Old Lady
Mairéad Crowley	...	Doris
Randall Daly	...	Airport Security Guard
Frank Dineen	...	Street Thug
Helena Enright	...	Woman Showing Apt.
Ned Farrell	...	Gardai
John Finn	...	Bouncer
Mike Finn	...	Garda (raid) #2
Karen Fitzgibbon	...	Accident Woman
Niamh Foley	...	Supermacs Girl
Naomi Hanrahan	...	Girl in Street
Angela Harding	...	Mrs. Butler
Armor Harris	...	Gardai
Mary Harvey	...	Esther
Ollie Hayes	...	Newspaper Vendor
Susan Holmes	...	Woman in Hallway
Mary Jackman	...	Fashion Show Model
Niall Johnston	...	Mr. Cusack
Danielle Lawlor	...	Fashion Show Model
Alanna Littleg	...	Fashion Show Model
Kieran Lynch	...	Garda (raid) #1
Julie McEvoy	...	Supermacs Girl - Extra
Maeve McGrath	...	Anne
Michael McGrath	...	Mud Club Student
Brian McNamara	...	Landlord #2
Sharon McNeill	...	Fashion Show Model
Brian Mortell	...	Man Fighting in Street
Garry O'Brien	...	Man Fighting in Street
Mary-Louise O'Callaghan	...	Fashion Show Model
Thomas O'Connor	...	Gardai
Dan O'Driscoll	...	Fashion Show P.A.
Moira O'Dwyer	...	Mrs. Cusack
Martin Philips	...	Detective Roche
Grania Preston	...	Nuala Colgan
Dermot Purcell	...	Photographer
Robert Quigley	...	Bouncer #2
Ann Quill	...	Garda (interview room)
Niamh Quinn	...	Fashion Show Model
Dan Sheehy	...	Landlord #1
Des Waddick	...	Garda
Sue Waters	...	Girl in Street

Also Known As:

The Real Thing (Ireland: English title) (working title)

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

Ireland | Germany | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:15 | Australia:MA | Ireland:15 (DVD rating) | Ireland:15PG | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

County Limerick, Ireland

Company:

Wide Eye Films

Trivia:

Writer/director David Gleeson had worked in the Department of Agriculture office where the scenes in the movie were filmed. Some of the extras are the people with whom he used to work.

Quotes:

Shane: Now, for the first time in my life, I can see what is beautiful, and what's really important. And it's all around. So close, you just have to reach out and it's there. I've found my voice. Show me how to use it.

Movie Connections:

Featured in 2005 Glitter Awards (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

Star O'Munster 2

Makers of Headrush, take note!

Now here's the right way to do a drama/comedy involving Ireland's drug scene. (Makers of Headrush, take note!) Shane is so young and fresh-faced that we instinctively want to take him on our lap and give him a big hug--even though he's 20. His mother gives him a religious medallion and frets as he moves into a flat in the middle of Limerick. And she's right to. Shane is a lost soul looking for something and/or someone to belong to. His flatmate Vincent, on the other hand, is très cool and seems to have everything under control. We think we know where things are heading, but not everything happens quite exactly the way we expect. Being a movie, things move in a clear arc and do end very tidily, but still this film gets at some real truths about what life is like for young Irish men these days. What seems strange for an Irish movie is its sense of optimism and its celebration of people finding themselves. Shane is played by Michael Legge, whose previous experience playing a Limerick character was as one of three actors to play the young Frank McCourt in Angela's Ashes. Here he makes a very convincing transformation from insecure youth to newly found self-confidence. Allen Leech is likewise convincing as Vincent, who does a queer-eye-for-the-straight-guy number on Shane. Also on hand are David Murray, playing a more menacing version of his character in Flick, and Frank Kelly, managing to erase his "Father Jack" image as Shane's co-worker who symbolizes the dead end of a safe path through life.