Breakfast on Pluto (2005)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Neil Jordan

Writers:

Neil Jordan (written by) and
Pat McCabe (written by) ...

Release Date:

13 January 2006 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

In the 1970s, a foundling lad, Patrick "Kitten" Braden, comes of age by leaving his Irish town for London, in part to look for his mother and in part because his trans-gender nature is beyond the town's understanding.

Plot Keywords:

Glamour | Adoption | Down Syndrome | Gay Interest | Glam Rock

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 7 wins & 12 nominations

Cast

Cillian Murphy	...	Patrick 'Kitten' Braden
Morgan Jones	...	Bulding Site Worker
Eva Birthistle	...	Eily Bergin
Liam Neeson	...	Father Liam
Mary Coughlan	...	Housekeeper
Conor McEvoy	...	Young Patrick Braden
Ruth McCabe	...	Ma Braden
Charlene McKenna	...	Caroline Braden
Seamus Reilly	...	Lawrence
Peter Owens	...	Butcher
Emmet Lawlor McHugh	...	Young Irwin
Bianca O'Connor	...	Young Charlie
Paraic Breathnach	...	Benny Feely
Pat McCabe	...	Peepers Egan / Schoolmaster (as Patrick McCabe)
Owen Roe	...	Dean

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality, language, some violence and drug use.

Runtime:

129 min | France:122 min

Country:

Ireland | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

UK:15 | Australia:M | Finland:K-15 | France:U | Argentina:16 | Netherlands:MG6 | Portugal:M/12 | USA:R (certificate #41673) | Singapore:NC-16 | Hong Kong:IIB | New Zealand:R13 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | South Korea:15 | Spain:13 | Ireland:15A

Filming Locations:

Ardmore Studios - Herbert Road, Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland

Company:

Pathé Pictures International

Trivia:

The barman who shouts at John-Joe after he smashes the glass is the owner of the real bar where this scene was shot, The Harbour Bar in Bray.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Kitten is attacked by the man in the car, she fends him off with her perfume bottle and flees the vehicle without the coat she entered the car in. Later on she is seen wearing that coat.

Quotes:

Bertie: You know, Kitten, I made a decision a long time ago.
Patrick "Kitten" Braden: What decision was that?
Bertie: That I wasn't destined for sentimental side of things. But if I ever did let myself fall for someone, I think it would be a girl like you.
Patrick "Kitten" Braden: Bertie, please, I have to stop you. There's something you should know.
Bertie: Or maybe what I should say is, it would be a girl not a million miles away from where I'm standing. What's the matter, Princess?
Patrick "Kitten" Braden: Well, you see, the thing is, Bertie, I'm not a girl.
Bertie: Oh, I knew that, Princess.
Patrick "Kitten" Braden: You did?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Features Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (1955)

Soundtrack:

Sugar Baby Love

Neil Jordan returns to his best material: gender bending and the IRA

This spellbinding, tightly written, tightly wound, full speed ahead film is Neil Jordan's best work by far since his 1992 hit, "The Crying Game." And, interestingly, in this new film, Jordan returns to exactly the same intertwined themes that marked "Crying Game": the armed struggle of Northern Irish Catholics against the British Crown and gender bending.

Unlike the last minute revelations in "Crying Game," however, here the protagonist's transsexuality is placed front and center from the getgo. Cillian Murphy gives a bravura performance as Patrick "Kitten" Braden, in a story set in the 60s and 70s. Murphy oozes sensual vitality and is a world class flirt, but he's also genuinely kind and compassionate toward everybody.

The story is divided into 35 brief, fast paced "chapters" following Kitten's life over several years, first in a village near Belfast, later in London. The musical score, which is extraordinarily good, is an eclectic mix of everything from 40s pop tunes to Harry Nilsson and Van Morrison. Good supporting turns are provided by Liam Neeson, Ruth Negga, Stephen Rea, Gavin Friday and Brendan Gleeson. My top rated narrative drama of 2005: grade 10/10 A.