Saipan, Glenn Leyburn's and Lisa Barros D'Sa's film about the infamous row between Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy before the 2002 World Cup, seems to have lost its way. The movie is obsessed with detail – from the tracksuits to the sweatshirts – but this attention to realism raises more questions than answers.
The film's dramatized scenes often feel like an exercise in mimetic reproduction rather than a genuine attempt to capture the essence of a historical event. While accuracy is admirable, it's not enough to justify the creative liberties taken with the story. In fact, some scenes are downright problematic, like the "stick it up your bollocks" tirade in the hotel restaurant. This pivotal moment has been reduced to a cartoonish scene that doesn't do justice to the actual events.
The film also struggles to convey why the Keane-McCarthy row was so divisive in Ireland. Without context, viewers are left wondering what drove the conflict and why it resonated with so many people. The contemporary clips featuring RTÉ's coverage and phone-ins offer a glimpse into the nation's emotional response, but these moments feel disconnected from the rest of the film.
The portrayal of Keane is excellent, thanks to Éanna Hardwicke's performance, while Coogan's McCarthy feels more like an impression than a genuine representation. However, even with talented actors, it's hard not to notice inconsistencies in their performances – Coogan is three inches shorter than Hardwicke, and the age gap between them feels jarring.
Ultimately, Saipan feels like a dramatization rather than a documentary. While the faithfulness of its recreations is admirable, the film's reliance on mimetic reproduction without adding depth or context makes it feel shallow. By taking creative liberties with the story, the filmmakers may have lost sight of what made this moment so significant in Irish history.
In an age where film and television are constantly trying to recreate moments from our past, Saipan poses a fundamental question: why is dramatization necessary when we already have archives of events? Is it not better to present conflicting views rather than relying on a simplistic narrative that's not rooted in reality?
The film's dramatized scenes often feel like an exercise in mimetic reproduction rather than a genuine attempt to capture the essence of a historical event. While accuracy is admirable, it's not enough to justify the creative liberties taken with the story. In fact, some scenes are downright problematic, like the "stick it up your bollocks" tirade in the hotel restaurant. This pivotal moment has been reduced to a cartoonish scene that doesn't do justice to the actual events.
The film also struggles to convey why the Keane-McCarthy row was so divisive in Ireland. Without context, viewers are left wondering what drove the conflict and why it resonated with so many people. The contemporary clips featuring RTÉ's coverage and phone-ins offer a glimpse into the nation's emotional response, but these moments feel disconnected from the rest of the film.
The portrayal of Keane is excellent, thanks to Éanna Hardwicke's performance, while Coogan's McCarthy feels more like an impression than a genuine representation. However, even with talented actors, it's hard not to notice inconsistencies in their performances – Coogan is three inches shorter than Hardwicke, and the age gap between them feels jarring.
Ultimately, Saipan feels like a dramatization rather than a documentary. While the faithfulness of its recreations is admirable, the film's reliance on mimetic reproduction without adding depth or context makes it feel shallow. By taking creative liberties with the story, the filmmakers may have lost sight of what made this moment so significant in Irish history.
In an age where film and television are constantly trying to recreate moments from our past, Saipan poses a fundamental question: why is dramatization necessary when we already have archives of events? Is it not better to present conflicting views rather than relying on a simplistic narrative that's not rooted in reality?
. It's all about the details, but where's the heart of the story? The tension between Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy was more than just a disagreement - it was a reflection of Ireland's complex emotions during that time 
. We should be exploring why this moment resonated so deeply with people, not just rehashing what happened in a hotel restaurant 
. And yeah, I don't get the stick-it-up-your-bollocks line either... it feels like they're trying too hard to be dramatic 
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. It's just so... boring! Can't we get some real context and depth in our storytelling for once? This Saipan film is all about mimetic reproduction, but it feels like an exercise in being thorough rather than actually capturing the essence of what happened. And don't even get me started on how they portrayed Keane - Éanna Hardwicke nailed his performance, but Coogan's McCarthy just felt off 
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. I mean, I love Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy, they're legends, but Saipan feels like a watered-down version of their story. They took so many details to make it look realistic, but it's actually kinda boring in the end 
. And don't even get me started on the scenes that are totally dramatized – I mean, come on! The "stick it up your bollocks" thing is just ridiculous 
. What really bothers me is that they lost sight of why this whole thing was so big in Ireland. It's like they forgot to add some context and depth to the story. The only good part is Éanna Hardwicke's performance, she's amazing as Keane! But overall, Saipan just feels like a lazy attempt at recreating history 
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Like, is there no room for nuance or interpretation? And don't even get me started on the fact that they got some scenes totally wrong. That whole "stick it up your bollocks" moment? It's just so... cartoonish.
. I think the film's just trying to bring this infamous moment into the present for us, and sometimes that means taking some creative liberties.
3 inches difference in height btw hardwicke & coogan, that's some next level acting skills 
The attention to detail is cool, but if the execution isn't there, what's the point? 