Owd Bob (1998)

Well, I haven't read the book. And my feeling is that the movie never lives up to the book anyway. It can't. It's a movie. But I still enjoyed it very much for what it was. The performances were good all around, and it was poignant. If you're looking for just a good interpersonal relationship type movie that's short and sweet, this is it.

Having viewed this film numerous times on cable I had to purchase it. What a delicous talent pool. The actors have been in numerous British/ Irish productions. The scenery alone is worth seeing the movie. The gorse in bloom is a delight for the eye. This is a family film with dramatic acting taking credit not sillyness. The sheepdogs of course steal every scene but the Isle of Man location is breathtaking. I wish the soundtrack was availble but alas it's not. It's toe tapping Irish music. Sit back and enjoy this one.

Here is a powerful and moving tale of strained familiar relationships set amid the picturesque hedgerows on the Isle of Man. James Cromwell (`Babe') stars as Adam McAdam, an embittered widower whose blame-laying has become a way of life and the fuel that stokes his feud with neighboring sheep farmer Keith Moore (Colm Meaney). Along comes McAdam's orphaned American grandson (Dylan Provencher), who strikes up a relationship with Moore's daughter (Jemima Rooper) and becomes a voice of reason when both men's championship dogs are suspected in a series of sheep killings.Cromwell is excellent as the stern, tight-lipped McAdam, an almost menacing departure from the farmer we all loved in `Babe.' Beautifully photographed and scored with wonderful Irish rhythms, `Owd Bob' is strong stuff that tugs at the heartstrings and should appeal to film lovers worldwide. By the by, the odd title (a remake of Robert Stevenson's 1938 film) is the name of one of the dogs.

When I saw this at the video shop I expected another Lassie clone and was prepared to quickly disappear after the start and go read a book. However, once the video started we never stopped. What unfolded was a strikingly true-to-life story about young people having to deal with loss and old people having to come to grips with what is really important.Set in the same beautiful countryside as Waking Ned Devine (only this time the Isle of Man plays itself) this is the story of the America-raised grandson (David) of a crusty old sheep farmer (Babe's James Cromwell) being sent to the Isle of Man after the death of his parents in an accident. (shades of Fly Away Home) However, unlike the fantasy of a young girl learning to fly an ultralight, we just have a young boy learning to work on a farm. He finds himself, though, in the middle of an old conflict between his grandfather and the other townsfolk, in particular the family of his ex-landlord who's daughter becomes David's friend much to his grandfather's dismay.The sheepdog trials which formed the center of Babe and which turned them into a bit of a farce, are shown in a much more realistic and enjoyable light where you truly come to appreciate the skill of the dogs, and the close relationship they have with their masters.These Canada-UK co-productions rarely get their fare share of attention in the States which is too bad considering the quality compared to the flood of children's drek coming out of Hollywood. Do you family a favour, ignore the liner notes (which on our copy from the video shop were *completely* wrong) and get rent this video today!