ABC Film Challenge – Oscar Nominations – D – My Left Foot (1989) Movie Review

By Newguy

This is under D because of Daniel Day-Lewis in the film.

Director: Jim Sheridan

Writer: Shane Connaughton, Jim Sheridan (Screenplay) Christy Brown (Novel)

Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Brenda Fricker, Fiona Shaw, Ray McAnally, Cyril Cusack, Hugh O’Conor, Ruth McCabe

Plot: Christy Brown, born with cerebral palsy, learns to paint and write with his only controllable limb – his left foot.


Tagline – A film about life, laughter, and the occasional miracle.

Runtime: 1 Hour 43 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict: Inspirational

Story: My Left Foot starts when Christy Brown is born, he has cerebral Palsy with only being able to use his left leg, his family can’t afford to give him a proper education, leaving him at home with his mother Mrs Brown (Fricker), when the family learn of his talent for writing and drawing with his left foot, Christy (Lewis) is allowed to leave the house to see people his own age, becoming popular in the neighbourhood.

When Dr Eileen Cole (Shaw) comes to help Christy live a more open life because of her work within the field of cerebral palsy, Christy gets the recognition he deserves for his work, a full gallery show. Christy would later go onto become famous for his work which proved that even with his disability he could achieve greatness.

Thoughts on My Left Foot

Characters – Christy Brown was born with cerebral palsy, he was believed to be a bit of a disgrace to the family, only to prove that he was able to make a career out of only being able to use his left foot to paint and write. He defies all expectations he lives as full of a life as anybody else. Mrs Brown is Christy’s mother that always supported him, no matter just how difficult it was to get through each day, she does worry that his fame can cause him difficulties, but sees him smiling is always keep her happy. Dr Cole helps Christy with his disability and shows him just how full of a life he can leave.

PerformancesDaniel Day-Lewis is fantastic showing that he is the generations best actor, he is head and shoulders above the rest of the cast, who don’t do anything wrong in the film either.

StoryThe story here follows the life and struggles to Christy Brown who managed to defy all odds and become one of the greatest artists of all time. If you ever want to see just what can be achieved by somebody that hasn’t always had everything go their way in this case, against all physical problems Christy faces, he manages to make great achievements. We do watch the film through a flashback of his story being told with a new nurse, which does show us just how he saw the world growing up and how he became so popular within the neighbourhood.

Biopic The biopic side of the film is seen through the eyes of Christy and how he believed he was seen in the world, before he was embraced by it.

SettingsThe film does show the small house that Christy was raised in and how close the family and neighbourhood become as he gets older.


Scene of the Movie – The gallery.

That Moment That Annoyed Me – It is only seen through Christy’s point of view.

Final Thoughts This is a brilliantly acted biopic that shows how one man overcame what seemed like impossible odds to become one of the most famous artists in the world.

Overall: Brilliant Biopic.