June 28th: BREAKFAST ON PLUTO (Neil Jordan, 2005)
Irish writer Patrick McCabe is an internationally-acclaimed novelist, with two novels making the prestigious Booker Prize shortlist. His 1992 work The Butcher Boy was adapted for the screen by Academy Award-winner Neil Jordan (The Crying Game, Interview With The Vampire), who had worked in a variety of genres over the years. Jordan came calling again with a desire to film McCabe's next big success Breakfast On Pluto.
Jordan and McCabe worked together on the screenplay, retaining its fabulistic nature and its 30+ chapter headings. Unlike most Irish films, particularly about the period, they aimed to keep things flamboyant and comedic, not ignoring the traditional sense of community but focusing on the determined individualism of their main character.
With relative newcomer Cillian Murphy (Batman Begins, 28 Days Later) in the lead role, Jordan assembled a supporting cast of many former collaborators from Ireland including Liam Neeson, Brendan Gleeson (Gangs of New York), Stephen Rea (veteran of 7 Jordan films including The Crying Game), Ian Hart (The End of the Affair), as well as musicians Bryan Ferry and Gavin Friday, and a young Ruth Negga (Loving).
Behind the camera is Irish cinematographer Declan Quinn (Leaving Las Vegas, In America), accentuating the brighter colors of the settings in both Ireland and London. Location work was done in Northern Ireland's capital Belfast, counties Kilkenny and Wicklow, and coastal Essex in England. The eye-catching costume design is by Eimer Ni Mhaoldomhnaigh (In America, Love & Friendship), with production sign by Tom Conroy (TV's The Tudors and Vikings).
Because the film takes place during an exciting time of rock music, with musical performance playing a key role in the story, a wide assortment of songs from the period were compiled for the soundtrack, eschewing more obvious acts like David Bowie and T-Rex for the likes of Harry Nilsson, Billy Paul, Buffalo Springfield, Jerry Vale, Slade, and Van Morrison. Jordan's daughter Anna contributed original piano pieces for the early section of the film.
Breakfast on Pluto was fairly middling at the box office and divided critics, but had some very vocal champions. It received nominations for Best Film and Best Actor by the European Film Awards, a Golden Globe nomination for Murphy's performance. Best Director, Actor, and Screenplay wins from the Irish Film & TV Awards, and a special citation from the USA's National Board of Review for Excellence in Filmmaking.
Running time is approx. 2 hours.
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