An under the radar movie - one of a few action/thrillers made by Trio Film, a short lived company. I watched this mainly because it was directed by Don Sharp the Aussie, who also dealt with IRA stuff in Hennessy.
This has a great start and finale. IRA expert Sean Rogan (Tom Bell who I wasn't that familiar with but good) is busted out of prison for a mission. It's blowing up an electrical factory. He doesn't want to do it but sort of mopes around and then does it.
The middle act is a little dull despite a strong cast - people talking about the Troubles, and everyone being sympathetic to the IRA but not the methods. I read an item in the book which called Rogan an "IRA Hamlet" - which is true. But we never get inside his head - why he joined up, why he softened. This needed to be dramatised somehow - to have him fall in love, or to meet his estranged son or something. He has a sort of relationship with Susan Hamphire who is a character of great potential - the daughter of a rich man caught up with the romance of the struggle... but she feels undeveloped. She just sort of hangs around.
Quickest fix - give him an ex girlfriend who he reconnects with... she carried his kid. He reconnects with the kid. Maybe the girfriend is killed off. Have Hampshire's character as more of a fanatic.
The acting is strong - Philip O'Flynn especially as a grinning cop but also Ed Begley as an IRA fanatic determined to use violence (in a few years that character would achieve his dream), Noel Purcell as an enormous beard.
The Irish settings help. The direction is fine.
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