My Left Foot (1989)

How can anyone really talk about the achievement of My Left Foot without concentrating upon the performance of Daniel Day-Lewis? Although the film was nominated for Best Picture of 1989, the primary reason it got noticed was his lead performance as the artist Christy Brown. Without the work of Day-Lewis, this film might not have gotten as much attention.

Brown was born with cerebral palsy and only slowly learned the ability to draw and write and speak. The film shows the struggles that Brown faced, and the actor who plays him at a young age, Hugh O'Conor, is quite marvelous. He plays Brown before the artist learned to speak clearly enough to be understood, so this is mostly a silent performance. O'Conor's face is so expressive, though, that you're always able to understand his emotions.

However, when Day-Lewis begins his performance, that's when the real fireworks begin. Unlike Dustin Hoffman's performance in Rain Man, which I have always found to be rather one-note, Day-Lewis is totally committed to the full portrayal of a man with cerebral palsy. He distorts his body and his face. He demonstrates the struggle that Brown faced just to form words. He uses his left foot to draw and write, and Day-Lewis shows remarkable dexterity in these scenes. He also allows us to note his slow progress over time. It's the kind of acting that makes you forget that you're watching a performance. You do feel as though you're watching the person himself.

I also admired the performance of Brenda Fricker as his mom, and the supporting actors who play his siblings are good too. Fiona Shaw as the doctor who works with Christy to learn how to speak is luminous. You can see why Christy would fall in love with her. One of the most heartbreaking scenes is at the restaurant when he finds out that she is engaged to another man; his rage is uncomfortable to watch, yet it shows you the depth of Day-Lewis' commitment to the role.

I do have one major criticism of the film, and that's with the way that it was edited, with the flashbacks throughout the film. The "frame" for the movie is a presentation of Christy Brown at an event at a country estate and his flirtation with the nurse who looks after him while awaiting his moment on the stage. I do think My Left Foot would have worked just as well as a more straightforward narrative. Then it could have perhaps maintained a bit more of the intensity of feeling that certain scenes create. Still, overall, it is competently made and interesting to watch, but it's only Day-Lewis that elevates it to a film that could be considered Best Picture material.