The generous folk at Warner Bros. have made the historical drama Michael Collins free to watch online. Above, you can watch the Neil Jordan-directed film that runs for two hours and 12 minutes.
To watch the movie, click the above play button at the left of the feature image.
The 1996 film is based on the life of Irish revolutionary leader Michael Collins, played by Liam Neeson. It chronicles Collins’ role in Ireland’s struggle for independence from British rule, focusing on the turbulent period of the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921) and the subsequent Irish Civil War (1922-1923).
Acting alongside Neeson is Julia Roberts as Collin’s real-life love interest, Kitty Kiernan. Aidan Quinn plays fellow revolutionary Harry Boland; Alan Rickman plays Éamon de Valera, the Irish politician and revolutionary, while Stephen Rea plays the fictional character of Denis Dermot.
Bloody Sunday
Collins is portrayed in the film as a charismatic and driven leader who rises to prominence through his involvement in the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) and his leadership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). His efforts are largely focused on using both guerrilla warfare and political manoeuvring to challenge British authority. The film depicts his role in organizing the ambush of British forces, including Bloody Sunday in 1920, when Collins’ intelligence network helped orchestrate the killing of British agents.
In retaliation, British forces attacked a crowd of civilians at a Gaelic football match at Croke Park, resulting in the deaths of 14 civilians, while many others were injured. Two boys aged 10 and 11 were among those shot dead.
The film also highlights the complexities of Collins’ leadership. As a pragmatist, Collins becomes increasingly involved in the political negotiation process. He is one of the key figures behind the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921, which established the Irish Free State as a self-governing dominion within the British Empire. Collins’ support for the treaty, however, leads to a deep rift within the Irish Republican movement, splitting his supporters from those who view the treaty as a betrayal of full independence.
The conflict between pro-Treaty forces, led by Collins, and anti-Treaty forces, led by figures like de Valera, results in brutal clashes. From there, we won’t say much more so as not to spoil the film.
Reception
Upon its release, Michael Collins was met with a generally positive reception from critics, especially for its performances, particularly Neeson’s portrayal of the iconic Irish revolutionary leader. Critics also appreciated the film’s ambitious scope in telling the complex and tumultuous history of Ireland’s struggle for independence. The film’s depiction of key events, such as the Anglo-Irish Treaty and the subsequent civil war, was seen as a powerful portrayal of the internal divisions within the Irish independence movement.
Michael Collins performed relatively well at the box office, grossing around $30 million globally. While this wasn’t a massive hit compared to some major blockbusters, it was a solid performance for a historical drama of its nature. The film had an estimated production budget of $25 million.
Alan Rickman as Éamon de Valera and Liam Neeson as Michael Collins in a scene of the film named after Neeson’s character. (Image: Warner Bros.)