Love & Rage (1999) User Reviews (9)

Insinuates, Seduces, and Terrorizes

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 21 April 2014]

Love & Rage is a film set in post Parnell Ireland where a psychotic peasant and Irish Republican Brotherhood member Daniel Craig first insinuates himself into the household of wealthy divorcée Greta Sacchi. Then he seduces and terrorizes her. It's all based on a true incident.

That he's an IRB there is no doubt it's thought first that he's working for the cause. By becoming overseer of Sacchi's estate he can provide a hideout for weapons and people should they become persons of interest as suspected rebels. But it's clear soon enough that Craig has a psychotic agenda all his own.

The film is dominated by Daniel Craig who is both fascinating and repellent in a portrayal of pure evil. Being both British and a divorcée the locals aren't a great source of help for Sacchi. Her personal maid Valerie Edmond is maimed trying to help her and Sacchi herself is disfigured.

How it all end is for you to see the film for, but this one is a must for fans of the newest James Bond in an un Bond like role.

deliciously crazy

[wickedspice83 · 6/10 · 8 December 2006]

I just added this one the my growing list of "to see" Daniel Craig movies.

Craig plays James Lynchehaun an Irish peasant that is awfully sneaky. Greta Scacchi plays Agnes MCDonnell a very rich divorcée who becomes involved with Craig when he becomes the manager of her estate. Unfortunately his dark side is revealed a little too late.

While watching it I was pleasantly surprised. Its a fascinating little story. Craig is absolutely sinful, its much different than most of the roles I have seen him in and he goes from accent to accent with great ease. Kudos to Craig. Scacchi does a fantastic job going from tough independent woman to a slave to her feelings. Really nice film. If you have a chance to see it, I recommend you do.

Hmmm.....

[Foutainoflife · 5/10 · 19 October 2018]

While watching this I will admit I found myself becoming lost as to what Daniel Craig's character was really up to. I understand this is supposed to be based on actual events but it was somewhat anticlimactic and I was left thirsting for more understanding. What saves this film for me is that it was well acted and I enjoyed the overall presentation. I enjoy period movies both fictional and non fictional and this was well set, costumed and toned. While I won't be putting this up on some high pedestal, I was an ok movie.

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned!

[stingaree1 · 21 April 2002]

Good plot, a bit predictable, but enough twists and turns to keep you interested. Beautiful scenery and a solid sound track add to the overall enjoyment of the viewer. The central plot is of a man using the affections of whoever he meets (male or female)to his own benefit. Greta Scacchi is great as a lonely woman who falls for the scoundrel only to be tragically hurt by him. The ending is great and leaves the viewer feeling justice has been served.

Creepy, pointless movie...

[dwpollar · 3/10 · 8 September 2021]

1st watched 9/6/2021 - (Dir-Cathal Black): Creepy, pointless movie wasting the talent of Greta Scacchi and others. This movie starts in the present and than they look back on what happened to a wealthy landowner, played by Scacchi in an Ireland farm area. She sees a handsome newcomer at a festival, and than he starts forcing himself into her life. The man, played by Daniel Craig, is aggresively confident and this attracts Scacchi's character. They than start meeting up for a series of sexual encounters with Craig's character becoming increasingly more out of control, creepy and strange but this doesn't stop Scacchi with continuing until he rapes her under the influence of alcohol. It almost becomes like a horror movie at this point with Craig being the evil monster. This story is based on a historical book, which floors me - because the Craig character is so evil and crazy. There is not a lot to recommend in this movie, except perhaps the relationship between Scacchi and her roomie Bittie as they try to console each other, but that's about it. She has a doctor friend who also falls under the spell of Daniel Craig adding some homosexual overtones. The ending is about as crazy as the Craig character, but I will leave that to those who want to watch the movie. In my opinion, this is one to bypass.

good but rushed ending

[ksf-2 · 7/10 · 27 April 2022]

Period piece. Daniel craig, several years before he did casino royale. Greta scacchi. This one runs like a jane austen, but the book was actually by james carney. Female landowner agnes macdonnell hires lynchehaun to manage the estate on an island off ireland. From their very first meeting, things are a little tense and brusk between them; lynchehaun resents taking orders from a woman, and agnes is determined to keep him in his place. Or is it more than that? They begin an affair. Lots of talk of ministers and sermons. When lynchehaun gets violent and abusive, agnes wants out. But lynchehaun isn't ready to go away. Then things go from bad to worse. A rather rushed ending, in the last ten minutes. The story was basically solid, but it feels like most of the last reel ended up on the editing floor. Directed by cathal black. It's entertaining.

Political and sexual allegory set in 19th century Ireland

[brianlync · 8/10 · 24 March 2005]

First, a correction. Love and Rage is based not on a novel but on a work of history by James Carney, 'The Playboy and the Yellow Woman'. The anti-hero of the film, Lynchehaun, was the inspiration (in part) for Christy Mahon in 'The Playboy of the Western World' by John Millington Synge and is mentioned in the play as 'the man (who) bit the yellow woman's nostril on the northern shore'. The film was shot in the house on Achill Island, Co Mayo where the real life events took place. Agnes MacDonnell, the character played by Greta Scacchi, continued to live on the island until her death in 1926, wearing a veil and a silver nose. Lynchehaun escaped from prison in Ireland and fled to the United States where, despite the efforts of the British government, the Supreme Court refused to extradite him on the grounds that his attack on Agnes was a political offence. For American, British and, especially, Irish viewers, the film has a lot of contemporary political relevance.

Evil Walks Among and Within Us

[macpet49-1 · 10/10 · 9 January 2007]

It is said that great art ought to disturb. Well, I found this movie quite disturbing as I did Hitchcock's Psycho and others that reveal the demons within and without. It is Daniel Craig's show all the way. He is becoming the great actor but I'm not sure I'm happy for him. He has the habit of swallowing each movie whole that he is in lately. I have always had a theory of so-called larger than life actors--they are egotistical and ravenous, not unlike Craig's character here. I believe that choice of roles is determined like eye color from birth. Genetically, people are predisposed to choose roles that reveal or employ something basic in their own personality. (No need to mention Mel Gibson--he jumps out at you.)I'm not saying that Craig is a psychopathic sociopath, but that his persona has elements that enable that type to live and breath and be believable. I noticed this in the past with actors like Nicholson, Pacino, Dean et al. There is something really too large in their own personalities that I find disturbing. I also notice they tend to be attracted to similar characters way beyond being character typed. It is interesting that this Lynchehaun was an actor as well. Their genius is in lying to us. Ronald Reagan did it marvellously. The question is, how does one sleep at night knowing these people rule the public's mores, fashions, ideals, etc. Is it any wonder America is under at war with itself? Anyway, enjoy the play, the play's the thing, no? Except, what do we do in a world where playacting is no longer an escape from reality but a deep dive into it? Personally, I miss the halcyon days of my youth when I naively did not know so much about the nature of mankind.

Response to other Review

[Zando777 · 9 October 2013]

Why do people always have to interject their ignorant, uninformed, irrational leftist opinions/rantings into their film reviews and comments, even when the film has absolutely no connection to politics?

This is highly annoying, especially when the people claim to be somehow more informed or intelligent, despite the lack of any basis.

As for the film -- it didn't really make any sense. Disjointed vignettes that don't add up or hold together. An inexplicable, inconclusive, and unsatisfying ending.

Hopefully the comments will explain the film somewhat. Not generally not worth watching.