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50 Dead Men Walking [DVD] [Region 0]

1 disc
Region Free (info)

Inspired by the remarkable true story of the British undercover agent who successfully infiltrated the IRA, writer-director Kari Skogland's fact-based thriller takes its title from author Martin McGartland's bestselling novel of the same name. Set at the absolute height of the Irish civil conflict, FIFTY DEAD MEN WALKING begins as 22-year-old Martin McGarland is recruited by the British police to infiltrate the IRA and report back with intelligence. It's an extremely dangerous job that could result in death or worse should his true identity be revealed, yet McGartland realizes that the information he's gathering will save countless lives. At first the prospect of being discovered provided something of a rush for McGartland, though that initial buzz quickly wears off when his true identity is revealed and he's forced to attempt an impossible escape. Two decades later, McGartland is still on the run. Ben Kingsley, Jim Sturgess, and Rose McGowan star.
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Credits

Ben Kingsley, Krishna Banji, Ben Kingsley, Rose McGowan, Kevin Zegers, Jim Sturgess, Natalie Press
Critic Reviews

3.5 stars out of 4 -- "The performance of Jim Sturgess as McGartland helps place his decision into the day-by-day process of acting on it."
Chicago Sun-Times
"The decibels, energy and overall quality are high in writer-director Kari Skogland's FIFTY DEAD MEN WALKING, her supremely well-made, highly stylized, graphic tale..."
Hollywood Reporter
3 stars out of 5 -- "The suspenseful spy thriller FIFTY DEAD MEN WALKING will surprise espionage fans....Canadian filmmaker Kari Skogland uses a brutal shooting to launch her film into action."
Box Office
"The scenes between Sturgess and Kingsley are riveting, as Kingsley alternately cozens and commands, playing his reluctant informer like a fish on a line." -- Grade: B
A.V. Club
"Sturgess has been The Next Big Thing for about three years now, and he legitimately earns that distinction here: All crazy eyes and sneering charm..."
Movieline
"Writer-director Kari Skogland's sharp-edged, doc-style drama is loosely based on the true story of Martin McGartland..." -- Grade: B
Entertainment Weekly
"Terrific performances and an array of kinetic action scenes help distinguish FIFT DEAD MEN WALKING..."
Los Angeles Times
"Kari Stogland's thriller turns the story of torment, torture, and perpetual betrayal into a fleet-footed pop item....The action is swift and sure."
Film Comment