WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT?

The Last of The High Kings was made in 1996 and was directed by David Keating.

Schools over but confused Frankie (Jared Leto) really does not know what to do....he is convinced he has failed his exams and is counting down to the day his results arrive. On top of this he has fallen madly in love with two girls......Jayne Wayne and Romy Casey.

His parents are also some what difficult to handle with his father being a part time actor and his mother being an over emotional Celtic Warrior!

The film is set in the late 70's in Ireland and is really quite enjoyable.

WHO'S IN IT?

Actor/Actress

Christina Ricci

Catherine O'Hara

Gabriel Byrne

Jared Leto

Colm Meaney

Stephen Rea

Renee Weldon

Lorraine Pilkington

Emily Mortimer

Karl Hayden

Jason Barry

WHO HELPED MAKE IT?

Role	Person
Producer	Tim Palmer
Director	David Keating
Screenwriter	David Keating and Gabriel Byrne
Editor	Humphrey Dixon
Photography	Bernd Heinl
Designer	Frank Conway

ANY OTHER FACTS?

Year Made	1996
Length (min)	95
Where was it made?	Howth, Dublin
MPAA (USA)	N/A
Rating (UK)	15
Formats Available	35 mm colour

REVIEWS

From "Film Review" January 1997
Rating Given:

Equivalent to "Ok"

Schools out, but 17-year-old Frankie is in for a bummer of a summer as he ticks away the days until the exam results he knows he's screwed up. But at least he lives on the beautiful Irish coast, just below Dublin, with his wacky family. There, his actorly Dad (Byrne) communicates in Shakespearean couplets and spends most of the movies, unseen, in the US. There's his retarded younger brother who says nothing at all and his flame-haired mother (O'Hara) who's convinced that Protestants are the devil's buttermilk and constantly chides Frankie into line. For they are the Griiffin family, direct descendants of Celtic kings, defenders of the Irish nation. That's a big burden for a teenager to shoulder and Frankie (admirably played by US TV hunk Jared Leto) is appropriately shy, confused and cute.

Being a rites of passage tale there's the 'rebellion against parents' and 'loss of virginity' action. Being Irish there's also the consideration of sectarian intercourse. A friend from the US (Christina Ricci) comes to stay but Frankies mind is already tempted by a frisky 'proddy' duo down the road.

This pleasant film about growing up in late '70s' Ireland set to Elvis and 'Tin' Lizzy. The films stolen by Stephen Reain in a tiny cameo as a know-it-all cab driver who's had everyone on his back seat; "Joyce, now he was tight. Wouldn'y give you the steam of his own piss."

Abstract from "Film Review" January 1997. Written by Stuart Kilby.

From "Empire" January 1997
Rating Given:

Equivalent to "Good"

If the title suggest another worthy period drama, then the sight of a naked teen heart-throb (Leto) scabbling around some schoolgirl's front lawn in search of his Y-fronts should soon assuage any doubts. For this is far less a tale of battling feudal clans than a gentle coming-of-age comedy, a lesson in how to survive the summer before A-level results unscathed.

It's 1977 Dublin, and the only member of his family that Frankie Griffin (Leto) can tolerate is Noely, his brain-damaged little brother. Said state of family affairs is due largely to frankie having two over-emotional parents: gabriel Byrne is a part-time father and full-time actor; and his mother (O'Hara) the real head of the household. A mad drama queen.Convinced his world is going to end with his exam results, Frankie tries to arrange a party where he can seduce one of his school's most gorgeous girls.

Unfortunately, the fact that Frankie would have to beat of girls with a stick escapes everyone but Ricci, Who, in a brief but amusing appearance as an American cousin, goes straight for the guy's zipper.

The cameos from her, Colm Meany as a lascivious MP and Stephen Rea as a loquacious cabby are so good they are in danger of overshadowing the rest of the film. Which means that although Leto's mercifully accurate Dublin brogue and good looks should please fans of his cult American TV show My So-Called Life, the film around him is somewhat lightweight.

Abstract from "Empire" January 1997. Written by Louise Brealey.

The Last of The High Kings Film Review

The year is 1977, the place is Dublin, and the music is Thin Lizzy. Based on Ferdia MacAnna's novel of the same name, Last of the High Kings tells the story of Frankie, who is convinced he's going to fail his school exams and that all his dreams will be on the scrap heap. He's becoming increasingly obsessed with two girls, Jayne Wayne and Romy Casey, but the most powerful woman in his life is his mother, a Celtic Warrior Queen who tells her children they are descended from the High Kings of Ireland. To her, Protestants are enemies of the Irish state and the British are emissaries of the devil.

On his m wall Frankie marks the days remaining until the dreaded arrival of his exam results when his life will end. In truth, Frankie is smart, gifted, courageous and very attractive to the opposite sex. Gradually he realises this and relaxes a little as he sees an exciting life ahead of him - and thatąs what this summer is all about!

This site is Hosted by Reseller Hosting Specialist Heart Internet

Looking for a Holiday Cottage in Cornwall? Find Out About My Holiday Cottage

Back To The Christina Ricci Movie Page