EilisNiGhliasain France and the UK financed this film; it does not originate in the US as the website suggests. And did these countries ever do a great job! What does net worth mean to you when you hear "Waking Ned Devine" costs $3 million to make. And its box office return values at $55,257,450?Speaking of a lottery, Ned Devine - a resident of a village in Ireland named Tullymore/Tulaigh Mhór wins the Irish National Lottery. And his friend Jackie finds him dead rocking and smiling in front of the television with the prize ticket in his hand. Later Jackie dreams Ned wants he and the Tulaigh Mhór folk to have the winnings. So Jackie enlists Michael - actor David Kelly (1929-2012) whom "The Irish Times referred to...as the "grand old man of Irish acting" - to help him achieve Ned's supposed wish.The ensuing shenanigans all take place on the beautifully filmed landscape of the Isle of Mann. The script, sea and scenes will keep you soaring in the ambience of Ireland right up to the final Sláinte. Happy St Patrick's Day, 2018!

SimonJack The promo for this film says it all. "When a lottery winner dies of shock, his fellow townsfolk attempt to claim the money." But, it's a lot more than just a planned fraud or crime. "Waking Ned Devine" is a comedy about life and friendship and sharing with neighbors. The perpetrators and brains behind the deal have a sense of doing justice to the memory of Ned. A scene near the end seems to send a message that that's how providence would have this story play out. The movie starts off with people in the small coastal village of Tullymore, Ireland (Tulaigh Mhor) watching for the weekly drawings in what seems to be the Irish National Lottery. Jackie O'Shea (played by Ian Bannen) and his wife Annie (Fionnula Flanagan) see a small item in the Dublin news that leads them to trace the jackpot winner to their village of 52 people. Jackie and his friend, Michael O'Sullivan (David Kelly) devise a plan to try to find out who the winner is. The happenings before the discovery that Ned Devine is the winner, are hilarious. Then, when they discover he died while watching the TV drawing, with his winning ticket in his hand, the idea about claiming the prize for themselves take hold. Humor runs rampant as these two gents call to claim the prize, and then enlist the whole community, saying that everyone will get an equal share. Of course there has to be a hitch – and that's in the person of Lizzy Quinn, played by Eileen Dromey. The film is rife with comedic scenarios and wonderful sidesteps about local romance and friendships. This is a wonderful, beautifully acted, hilarious and warm comedy that all should enjoy. It was filmed entirely on the Isle of Man with some wonderful scenic shots along the coast of the Irish Sea. The village of Tullymore is fictitious. Incidentally, the lottery prize is 6,894,620 pounds. In 1998 US dollars that's nearly $18.2 million. Divided 52 ways, it comes to almost $350,000 per person in Tullymore.

popcorninhell In a word, Waking Ned Devine is delightful. It brings to mind similar small-town comedies like Cold Turkey (1971) The Full Monty (1997) and more recently The Amateurs (2005) only with a decidedly more Irish sense of humor. The film opens with the elderly Jackie (Bannen) and wife Annie (Flanagan) watching the lottery on TV. Jackie has been playing for years and isn't the least bit surprised he's not a winner. The next day there are rumors about town that someone in the village had indeed won big and in an attempt to ferret them out, everyone starts playing nice. Among the suspected winners is Pig Finn (Nesbitt) a poor farmer with a crush on local beauty Maggie (Lynch). After a while Jackie finds out the winner was elderly fisherman Ned Devine (Keogh) who died from the shock of it.From that point on the movie remodels into a bit of a caper in the style of Whisky Galore (1949). Jackie and his friend Michael O'Sullivan (Kelly) decide it's best to claim the money for themselves (it's what Ned would have wanted), and attempt to defraud the lottery to the dismay of the sensible Maggie who just as soon not see her husband in jail. They come up with a plan which all turns in on itself when the Lotto Observer comes to the sleepy town of Tullymore making inquiries.The film's state of mind is one of serene goofiness. We laugh but not in the same way you would an overly broad piece of American slapstick. We're laughing with the eccentric townsfolk not at them. It's a little story about little people doing things of such importance to them, that you as the audience can't help but invest in their happiness. It helps that the entire film takes place in Ireland (though really on The Isle of Man). The stunning greenly beauty of the island helps put these characters into perspective. Every small village home and tiny store seems to melt into the rolling hills, rocky cliffs and leafy wood. There's almost a sense of nobility in how these people live and the relationships that they have formed with one another.Everyone in the community of Tullymore does a fine job as an ensemble though if one were to point at a stand out it would be David Kelly who approaches the entire situation with elderly naivety. "Michael's never lied a day in his life," Annie says without intent to compliment. And indeed Kelly doesn't wear dishonesty well. He fidgets under scrutiny and can only be properly convincing as Ned Devine's double after a few drinks. Yet there's a deeper truth to what the character tries to do and when he finally comes to terms with the true meaning of the lottery and how much good the money can do, he goes along with the ruse. Also worth mentioning is Maura O'Malley as the town misanthrope Mrs. Kennedy. She drives her scooter across town with the wicked determinism of Margaret Hamilton on a broom.Waking Ned Devine is a spirited slice-of-life comedy that amuses with the power and quirk of the ensemble. It features some stunning images of Isle of Man which automatically put the small island on my already lengthy must-see list. Finally, it exhibits some excellently sharp directing and screen writing on the part of Kirk Jones. With a deft mix of black comedy and quaint small-town Provincialism, Jones and the entire crew behind this film know a small story can yield big heart and hearty laughs.

ajgonzalez576 Waking Ned Divine is an great film in which the story line can be put into any type of culture and scenario. This movie brings a world on a comedy in with the of excitement and drama. The actors in this film really complemented each other. None better than jackie oshea , a fun loving personality that you cant resist his charm.This is movie is based a fun loving little town tuck away from any city life. so people in the town all know each other and its rare that anything really goes on with out someone knowing eachothers business. This movie will make you feel right at home, that comfortable feeling like you know each and every character is very real. you cant help to fall in love in love with this movie. and i am very excited to say this is one of best foreign movies i have seen in while , and highly recommend it to any one looking for a laughable movie with a touch of drama.