My Left Foot
My Left Foot ★★★★ 1989 (R)
A gritty, unsentimental drama based on the life and autobiography of cerebralpalsy victim Christy Brown. Considered an imbecile by everyone but his mother (Fricker, in a stunning award-winning performance) until he teaches himself to write. He survives his impoverished Irish roots to become a painter and writer using his left foot, the only appendage over which he has control. He also falls in love and finds some heartaches along the way. Day-Lewis is astounding; the supporting cast, especially Shaw and Cusack, match him measure for measure. 103m/C VHS, DVD . IR Daniel Day-Lewis, Brenda Fricker, Ray McAnally, Cyril Cusack, Fiona Shaw, Hugh O'Conor, Adrian Dunbar, Ruth McCabe, Alison Whelan; D: Jim Sheridan; W: Shane Connaughton, Jim Sheridan; C: Jack Conroy; M: Elmer Bernstein. Oscars ‘89: Actor (Day-Lewis), Support. Actress (Fricker); British Acad. ‘89: Actor (Day-Lewis), Support. Actor (McAnally); Ind. Spirit ‘90: Foreign Film; L.A. Film Critics ‘89: Actor (Day-Lewis), Support. Actress (Fricker); Montreal World Film Fest. ‘89: Actor (Day-Lewis); N.Y. Film Critics ‘89: Actor (Day-Lewis), Film; Natl. Soc. Film Critics ‘89: Actor (Day-Lewis).